Most homeowners choose a tile installer the same way they choose a pizza place: lowest price, decent reviews, done. Then eighteen months later, grout lines are cracking, corners are lifting, and the “deal” quote turns into a second, more expensive renovation. Tile work looks simple from the outside — cut, glue, grout — but the difference between a floor that lasts twenty years and one that fails in two comes down to steps you'll never see once the tile is down: subfloor prep, waterproofing, and leveling tolerances. The good news is you don't need to be a contractor to spot the difference. You just need to ask the right questions before signing anything. Here are the ten that matter most.

1. Are you licensed and insured for tile work in Quebec?

Ask to see an RBQ license number and proof of liability insurance, not just a business card. If an installer hesitates or says insurance “isn't necessary” for a residential job, that's a red flag — you're the one liable if someone gets hurt on an uninsured job site.

2. Can I see photos of large-format tile work, not just small tile?

Small mosaic and subway tile forgive a lot of installer error. Large-format porcelain — now standard in most renovations — does not. Ask specifically for examples of slabs 24 inches or larger; if their portfolio is all small tile, that's telling you something.

3. How do you prepare and level the subfloor?

This is the step that determines everything else, and it's also the easiest to skip. A qualified installer should describe moisture testing, self-leveling compound where needed, and flatness tolerances — not just “we'll clean it and lay the tile.”

4. What waterproofing system do you use in wet areas?

Grout is not waterproofing. Showers and wet rooms need a proper membrane system underneath the tile. If an installer can't name the product they use or explain how it's applied, water will eventually find its way into your subfloor.

5.Will I get a written contract with materials, timeline, and payment schedule?

A verbal handshake and a text message quote aren't a contract. You want material specifications (brand, size, finish), a realistic timeline, and a payment schedule tied to project milestones — not a large deposit upfront with nothing in writing.

6. What warranty do you offer on labor?

Manufacturers warranty their materials, but that says nothing about the installation. Ask specifically what happens if a tile cracks or lifts because of workmanship, not product defect, and get the warranty period in writing.

7. Can I talk to a recent client?

Photos can be curated; references can't fake a phone call. A confident installer will connect you with a recent client, ideally one with a similar project — large-format floor, a walk-in shower, a commercial space.

8. How do you handle surprises once the project starts?

Older Montreal homes especially tend to hide uneven subfloors, old adhesive, or water damage under existing tile. Ask how change orders are communicated and priced before you're mid-project and blindsided by an invoice.

9. How will you protect the rest of my home during the work?

Dust containment, floor protection in hallways, and a clear daily cleanup plan matter more than people expect, especially for occupied homes or active commercial spaces.

10. Who is actually doing the work — you, or a subcontracted crew?

Some companies sell the job and hand it to the lowest-bid subcontractor. Ask directly who will be on-site, what their experience is, and whether the person who quoted the job is the same person doing it.

None of these questions are meant to put an installer on the spot for the sake of it — they're the same questions we'd want asked of us. At Ceramique Costa, we answer all ten before a single tile is ordered, because a renovation you don't have to think about again is the only kind worth doing. If you're planning a project, book a consultation and put these questions to us directly