How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace Tile?

Unsightly, worn and cracked floor and wall tiles in your home can detract from its value. Damaged and missing tiles also allow dirt and mold to collect. In the kitchen and bathroom, broken tiles can let water seep into the walls and floor, where the moisture can cause serious problems, such as damp and rot.

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Fortunately, tile replacement costs aren’t as high as you might think, especially when you consider they last much longer than other types of flooring or wall coverings.

Is It Expensive to Replace Tile?

Although the cost of replacing tiles is higher than for other types of flooring, this is offset by their durability. They last longer and are easier to clean. Tiles last for up to 100 years, compared to 50 years for engineered hardwood floors and less than 10 years for most carpets.

According to This Old House, the comparative costs of flooring for a living room or kitchen of 200 square feet are:

• Ceramic tile: $5,800 (CAD 8,022)

• Hardwood: $3,530 (CAD 4,882)

• Carpet: $750 (CAD 1,037)

• Vinyl flooring: $2,180 (CAD 3,015)

How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace Tile?

According to an article in The Spruce, tile installation costs per square foot are as follows:

• Total cost per square foot. You should expect to pay between $9 and $46 (CAD 12 and CAD 64) per square foot, with an average cost of $27.50 (CAD 38).

• Tile installation costs per square foot. The labor cost to set tiles varies between $4 and $15 (CAD 5.53 and CAD 21) per square foot.

• Tile Replacement Costs for Various Projects

Tile installation costs vary depending on the application. If you’re retiling a bathroom, you need to use waterproof tiles, which are more expensive. Labor costs are generally higher because of the restricted space, compared to laying tiles in a large room.

Bathroom Tile

According to guidelines, the average size of a bathroom is between 40 and 100 square feet, but master bathrooms may be larger.

• Bathroom floor. The Spruce states that the cost to tile a bathroom floor ranges from $515 to $2,315 (CAD 712 to CAD 3,202).

• Bathroom walls. The cost of a tile backsplash in a bathroom varies between $435 and $1,265 (CAD 602 and CAD 1,750).

• Shower. Shower floors and walls need to be fully waterproof, so it’s necessary to use special tiles and grout to prevent seepage. For this reason, the cost of tiling a shower is slightly higher and may vary from $915 to $5,335 (CAD 1,265 to CAD 7,378).

Kitchen Tile

The kitchen is a heavily trafficked area, so it needs to have durable flooring. Average kitchen sizes vary between 100 and 200 square feet.

• Kitchen floor. Expect to pay between $870 and $3,850 (CAD 1,203 and CAD 5,325) to tile the kitchen floor, depending on the quality of the floor tiles used.

• Kitchen backsplash. The backsplash protects the walls from grease, water and food splashes, and it usually extends some distance above the counters and sink. Assuming the backsplash area is between 30 and 40 square feet and using an installation cost of between $10 and $50 (CAD 14 and CAD 69) per square foot, the kitchen backsplash can cost between $300 and $2,000 (CAD 415 and CAD 2,766).

Living Area

The size of the living area is typically between 100 and 200 square feet. Based on these figures, the cost to lay tiles in a living room could vary from $900 (CAD 1,245) for a smaller area up to $9,200 (CAD 12,724) for a larger area with high-quality tiles.

Tile Replacement and Installation Prices By Type

Choosing the right tiles for your home is an important consideration when it comes to appearance, aesthetics, functionality and overall tiling costs. Tile prices vary considerably depending on their finish and construction. Depending on your choice of tile, the overall cost of floor and wall tiles per square foot is as follows:

• Ceramic tiles. Made from earthen clays, ceramic tiles are fired in a furnace to achieve a glossy or matte surface. They're easy to maintain but can chip if not installed correctly. The total cost of a ceramic tile floor or wall can range from $7 to $45 (CAD 9.68 to CAD 62).

• Porcelain tiles. Manufactured from finer clays and fired at a higher temperature, porcelain tiles have a premium finish and are best for floors. The cost of a porcelain tile floor is between $12 and $40 (CAD 17 and CAD 55) per square foot.

• Natural stone tiles. Cut from granite, marble or slate, natural tile floors are attractive but need to be sealed as the material is porous. Costs range from $15 to $30 (CAD 21 to CAD 42) per square foot.

• Terracotta tiles. Made from porous clay, its warm, earthy color is a result of a high iron content in the clay. Terracotta tiles are waterproof, scratch-resistant and durable. Installation costs per square foot vary from $7 to $14 (CAD 9.68 to CAD 19).

• Glass tiles. Cut from vibrantly colored and patterned glass, glass tiles are decorative and resistant to stains. They're translucent but scratch relatively easily. Mainly used on walls, they cost between $15 and $35 (CAD 21 and CAD 48) per square foot.

• Vinyl tiles. Molded from soft plastic, vinyl tiles are comfortable to walk on but scuff easily. For this reason, they aren’t used in high-traffic areas. The cost of vinyl tiles per square foot varies from $2 to $14 (CAD 2.77 to CAD 19).

• Mosaic tiles. These small tiles are attached to a flexible mesh backing. They can be made in custom patterns. Mosaic tiles, commonly used for backsplashes and for shower floors, cost between $17 and $47 (CAD 24 and CAD 65) per square foot.

More Related Articles:

• How to Install a Kitchen Backsplash in 7 Simple Steps

• How to Clean Grout

• How Much Does it Cost to Remodel a Kitchen?

• How Much Does Drywall Cost?

• How Much Are Granite Countertops?

Special Considerations for Intricate Patterns or Mosaics

As an alternative to conventional tiles, custom-made mosaics with intricate patterns are making a comeback. These attractive motifs are specially designed for each application. Material and installation costs are relatively higher, starting from $50 (CAD 69) per square foot.

Differences Between Wall and Floor Tiles

Wall tiles are typically thinner and lighter than floor tiles. Primarily designed for their aesthetics, they often come in bright colors, patterns and a high gloss. They're generally not strong enough for use as floor tiles.

Floor tiles are thicker and heavier. They're manufactured with a slightly rough surface that increases their slip resistance. Tiles designed for use on the floor are tougher and are chip- and scratch-resistant.

Labor Costs to Remove Old Tiles and Prepare for Retiling

Tiles need a smooth, strong and even underlayment or they'll eventually crack. This requirement must be factored into your tile replacement costs. The floor must be clean, dry and free of wax or grease.

Removing Old Tiles

It’s necessary to remove the old tiles before laying new flooring. The cost to remove tiles varies but is generally between $2 and $6 (CAD 2.77 and CAD 8.30) per square foot.

Repairing the Subfloor

Before installing a backer board, you need to repair or replace damaged, damp or rotten subflooring. Typical repair costs are from $40 to $65 (CAD 55 to CAD 90) per square foot.

Installing a Cement Backer Board

You need a backer board made from fiber-reinforced cement if you’re going to install tiles over a subfloor or drywall. The board provides a strong and stable base for the tiles. It’s available in various thicknesses from 1/4 inch to 5/8 inch. Sheets cost from $5 to $8 (CAD 6.92 to CAD 11) per square foot.

Tile Laying Costs

A tile contractor generally charges between $32 and $78 (CAD 44 and CAD 108) per hour, which works out to approximately $4 to $15 (CAD 5.53 to CAD 21) per square foot.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.