"Our experience with Honesty Construction was great! Excellent communication, always arrived early and quality workmanship. We used them to remove an old patio door/install new door."
"Excellent work. Jon installed three pieces for me-a large picture over my couch, a landing mirror, and a wall clock-and handled each one with precision. He found studs, used the right anchors, and double checked the leveling. He worked efficiently and made sure that I was happy with the placement. Highly recommended."
Belfry Builders is a Lancaster County–based construction firm that handles renovation and improvement projects from start to finish. We manage every part of the job, including demolition, siding, soffit and fascia, gutters, windows, doors, overhead doors, concrete, painting, and site work. You work with one point of contact who coordinates experienced, vetted trade partners, keeps the schedule moving, and makes sure the work is done right. Our background in commercial, industrial, and institutional construction means we bring the same planning, safety, and quality standards to every project, large or small. Belfry is fully insured, bonded, and SBE-certified, and we take pride in clear communication, honest pricing, and a clean, well-run jobsite. Serving Lancaster, Chester, Berks, and the surrounding counties.
"The Groutsmith - its service, its crew and the results it provides all a 10+ - the Groutsmith takes an older tile floor and makes it look new again- I love my kitchen again thanks to them -I highly recommend The Groutsmith!"
"John was an easy-going person to work with. I could tell right away that he knew exactly what he was doing. He made recommendations to do a skim coat and gave it a day to cure. The next day he installed the tile and gave it another day to cure. The thi..."
"Kevin and his helper Alberto were very professional and courteous. They were neat, organized and cleaned up after themselves. Kevin took his time to make sure the design was symmetrical. He always stayed in communication with me by text or phone throughout the entire process. He worked with my own carpenter and plumber to coordinate the drain installation and the toiletry niche construction. At one point, he did an errand for me and picked up an extra slab of Carrera marble at Avalon Tile and I was impressed by his customer service. Kevin was the most expensive estimate I received, but I was willing to pay the extra money because I believed I was in good hands. As with most construction projects, we hit a few road bumps. Our first problem occurred with the 12x12 Carrera marble floor tiles in the master bathroom. They had to rip out the brand new marble tile and the mud floor right after it was completed because the tile pattern was erratic and aesthetically unappealing. After the fact, other tile professionals informed me that a dry layout is always necessary when installing marble tiles due to their natural variations. So I was upset that I paid approximately $2600 in additional material and labor to make it right. I should not have assumed that responsibility 100%. The second time around they did a dry layout of the floor tile and the results were phenomenal. It was a beautiful flow of marble variations. Kevin and Alberto installed 3x6 subway tile in my hall bathroom. Most of the cuts had small chips on the edges and they stood out to me because the denim color of the tile was only on the surface. I have a discerning eye and some of the cuts were directly at eye level. Kevin said that he felt it was acceptable to see chips with ceramic colored tile, but I did not agree. I am pretty particular about workmanship with high expectations. I don't expect perfection, but I am looking for something close to that. Plus, my mother owned a tile store for 7 years so I knew how it should look. I did not want him to rip out every chipped tile because I was concerned about further damage so I only focused on the cuts that were at eye level. He polished all of the edges of the new cut tiles and they met my original expectations. When Kevin installed the marble tile in my master bathroom, he was on board about polishing the edges so the tile work came out stunning! However, I wasn't happy when he asked me for another $600 to cover the cost of the additional time he spent to polish each tile. In the end, we settled on $300 to keep things peaceful but I felt I shouldn't have to pay extra for a straight edge without chips. While this road bump was a little frustrating for me, I will say that Kevin was professional and courteous throughout the entire process. He listened to my concerns and he wanted to make it right. Customer satisfaction is one of his top priorities. When Kevin installed the Carrera marble mosaic floor in the hall bathroom, his helper Alberto used the sanded Power grout that the tile store sold to me. We were under the impression that Power grout won't scratch the marble, but that was not correct. There were scratches all over my brand new floor. Again, Kevin wanted to make it right and he hired someone to restore the floor and buff the surface. It wasn't quite polished at first so he asked the guy to come back and polish it. In the end, it wasn't the same as a factory finished marble floor polish but I appreciated that Kevin wanted to correct the mistake. These kinds of things happen during construction projects and the sign of a good businessman is someone who wants to make the customer happy. I think it is also important to point out that Kevin came back to my house when the entire project was complete to correct any minor issues after I had already paid him!! I love when contractors continue to offer great service after the job is complete and after they are paid. What great service! At the end of the project, I was left with over $300 of special order tile that I could not return because Kevin's square footage measurements were higher than actual. I wanted a few extra tiles leftover, but not several boxes. Just double check your square footage on your own to make sure you are not over ordering. Kevin and Alberto also installed the Calacatta Gold marble around my fireplace. He had the patience to work with my carpenter on this project and he did a dry layout of the marble sheets. The tile work is gorgeous! The fireplace is so beautiful! It is one of my favorite things in my home. In summary, when guests visit my home they think my bathrooms look beautiful! So, if you ask Kevin up front to polish the edges of the tiles, to do a dry layout of your marble installation and then double check your square footage for tile orders - you will be in good hands."
"Until I found th Groutsmith at Brandywine - I was thinking of ripping up the old tile and putting down new. Our bathroom floors look new now - and then we did the kitchen - it looks better than new, we changed the color of the grout."
The lifespan of tile flooring can vary significantly based on the material and maintenance. Generally, tile flooring can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years, but high-quality, well-maintained ceramic tile can last 75 to 100 years. To achieve a longer lifespan, you should clean the tiles and grout regularly, reseal the grout annually, keep the floor dry, and avoid placing extremely heavy items on it to prevent cracking. Choosing a high-quality tile (Grade 1) will also contribute to its longevity.
Glass, ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone are all excellent choices for tiling a shower floor. Some glazed finishes can be slippery when wet. Your tiling contractor can provide more information on which tiles will work best for your shower floor.
Popular options include ceramic, porcelain, stone, and glass tiles, chosen based on the area (bathroom, kitchen) and desired aesthetic.
Thinset mortar is the best adhesive for ceramic tiles on concrete. It is easy to work with and has a slower dry time than mastic or epoxy mortars. This longer dry time gives the installer more time to adjust tiles, which is especially useful for DIYers who may not have tile installation experience. It can also be built up to help level any depressions or gaps in the concrete subfloor.
Generally speaking, it is better to cut tile wet when using a fast-moving wet saw to reduce dust and chipping. However, tile can be cut dry when using just about any cutting tool. Dry cutting will result in a bigger mess and may increase the risk of chipping or cracking, but if you’re just making small cuts, dry cutting is a safe and viable option. Cutting dry also means you can apply tile grout sooner, so it’s better for rushed projects.
The Toughkenamon, PA homeowners’ guide to ceramic tile services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Find out the average bathroom tile repair cost in Philadelphia, PA. Learn what you can expect to pay for local tile restoration and fix your shower today.
Tiling a shower is an investment in the look and function of your home. This guide explains the factors behind the cost to tile a shower in Philadelphia, PA.
Tile and grout cleaning brings your tiled rooms back to life. In this guide, find out the details of how much it costs to hire tile and grout cleaners in Philadelphia, PA.
Ceramic tile as a flooring option boasts a long list of advantages over other surfaces. However, there are also some key drawbacks worth considering. We’ve rounded up both the pros and the cons of ceramic tile into a helpful list.
You don’t always need a pro for ceramic tile installation. Follow these seven simple steps to transform the floor of any room in your home into the perfect space.
You can use mosaic tiles throughout your home, whether you’re interested in mosaic flooring or a mosaic tile shower. Keep reading to learn what is mosaic tile and more.
