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Tile subcontractors prepare surfaces and install ceramic, porcelain, glass mosaic, quarry, paver, and stone tile on floors, walls, showers, and countertops across residential and commercial projects. General contractors and remodelers typically bring the tile sub in after rough plumbing, framing, and insulation are complete in wet areas, and after slabs or subfloors are ready in dry areas. The scope's most disputed hand-off is the shower: whether the plumber or the tile setter builds the pan and installs the waterproofing membrane is set by contract, not by any code default, and gaps between those two scopes are where leaks come from. Many GCs prefer the tile sub to own the full waterproofing system so one trade is responsible for the assembly, but whichever way it is assigned, the flood test and the waterproofing inspection need to pass before any tile goes on. Substrate condition is the other recurring pitfall. Large-format tile is unforgiving of out-of-flat floors and walls, so the bid should state what surface prep is carried, what leveling costs extra, and which installation standards the work will meet; ANSI standards and the TCNA Handbook are the usual references for methods, flatness, and allowable lippage. When comparing bids, check who supplies tile versus setting materials, how layout and pattern approvals are handled, whether niches, benches, and edge trim are included, and how movement joints are treated. In California, this scope typically falls under the CSLB C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile classification, which is separate from the C-15 flooring classification. Before award, we recommend confirming the license classification and status through the CSLB public lookup and verifying current liability and workers' comp insurance.
There is no code default; it is assigned by contract, and both arrangements are common. Plumbers often set the drain and sometimes a traditional pan, while bonded membrane systems are usually installed by the tile setter as part of the tile assembly. Many GCs assign the full waterproofing system to the tile sub so one trade owns the watertight assembly, and either way the subcontracts should name who builds the pan, who flood tests it, and who calls the inspection.
Typically backer board or membrane installation in wet areas, crack isolation where specified, and surface prep within a stated flatness allowance. Large-format tile needs a flatter substrate than standard sizes, so bids should state the standard the sub is working to, what leveling is included, and unit pricing for correction beyond the allowance. Getting that in writing before award prevents the most common tile change-order dispute.
The usual reference is the ANSI A108 installation standards along with the TCNA Handbook, which tie allowable lippage to grout joint width and tile warpage rather than a single number. Naming those standards in the subcontract gives both sides an objective basis for punch-list decisions instead of arguing by flashlight. For large-format tile, tighter substrate flatness is what actually controls lippage, so prep and tolerance go together.
In wet areas, after rough plumbing inspection, framing, blocking, and insulation are done, and only once waterproofing has passed its flood test or inspection. On floors, after the slab or underlayment is accepted and before casework, trim, and plumbing fixtures are set. Tile also needs cure time before grouting and before traffic, so build those gaps into the finish schedule rather than compressing them.
Yes. The CSLB C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile classification covers ceramic, mosaic, quarry, paver, glass mosaic, and stone tile, while the C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering classification covers carpet, resilient goods, and wood, and it excludes ceramic tile. If one sub is pricing both scopes, confirm they hold both classifications or split the award.
It varies by scope. The main drivers are tile format and material, substrate condition and how much prep it needs, the share of wet-area work with waterproofing, layout complexity and pattern, and details like niches, benches, and edge treatments. Bids that look cheap often carry less prep and fewer details, so compare inclusions line by line.
