Subfloor Discipline
Most tile failures start below the tile. We check subfloor flex, moisture, and level before a single piece gets set — and won't tile over a subfloor that won't hold up. The extra hour of diagnosis saves the whole install.
— Tile · Central Ohio
Tile, laid level and true.
Ceramic, porcelain, stone, and luxury tile — substrate prep first, grout last, and tile that lies flat with no lippage.
Tile we install
Ceramic, porcelain, stone, luxury
Floor tile — kitchens, baths, mudrooms
Backsplashes — kitchen & bath walls
Backer board — included as standard
Leveling system — no lippage
Grout sealed — cure then seal
The Prep Makes The Tile
Tile is all in the prep.
Most tile installs don't fail because of the tile — they fail because of what's underneath. A subfloor that flexes, a skipped layer of backer board, a rushed grout line, or tile set before the thinset had a chance to bite. The finish work gets blamed but the real problem was written in on day one. Cracked tile and stained grout usually trace back to prep, not product.
We do it the other way around. Before a single tile gets set, Buddy inspects the subfloor, lays backer board for a clean bonding surface, and runs a leveling system across the field so every tile sits flush with its neighbors — no lippage, no high corners. Thinset gets the open time it needs before the tile goes down. Grout is sealed only after a proper cure. It takes an extra day. It's the difference between a floor that lasts two years and a floor that lasts fifteen.
How It Works
From the showroom sample to the sealed grout.
Four steps. Buddy and Natasha handle them all — no subcontractors, no hand-offs, no finger-pointing.
01
Showroom selection
Come by the shop at 55 W. High Street. Natasha walks you through ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, and luxury tile options — current samples on the wall, pricing straight, no upsell. She'll ask where the tile is going, how wet it gets, and which direction your light runs — and recommend from there.
02
Natasha measures + subfloor inspection
Natasha comes out to measure the room and Buddy inspects the subfloor at the same time. We check for flex, moisture, level, and any rot before we quote. The quote reflects what the job actually needs — not a template — so there are no surprise change-orders after the tile's ordered.
03
Substrate prep — backer board & leveling
This is the step most installers shortcut. We lay cement backer board for a proper bonding surface, screw it down to spec, and tape the seams. Then we run a tile leveling system across the field so every tile sits flush with its neighbors. No lippage, no rocking tiles, no spots where you can feel the edge with a bare foot.
04
Install, grout, cure, seal
Thinset goes on with the proper trowel size for the tile — we don't guess. Tile gets set, leveled, and left alone to cure. Grout follows on its own day. Then we let the grout cure the full manufacturer-spec window before we seal. Rushing the seal is how stains get locked in. Done right, you get a floor you can mop with water and forget about.
Why Buddy's for Tile
Three things that separate a tile floor that lasts.
Tile work lives or dies on details most homeowners never see. Here's what we do that the rush crews skip.
Leveling System
We run a tile leveling system on every job, not just the big ones. Every tile sits flush with the next — no lippage, no rocking, no tile edge you can feel with a bare foot. Large-format tiles and stone get it especially.
Grout Sealed Right
Grout gets its full cure window before we seal. Rushed grout locks stains and mildew in — sealed grout laid properly means a floor you can mop clean for years. It takes an extra day. It's worth it.
“
From meeting Buddy with samples at our house to the final product it has been a 5-star experience. The carpet and LVP looks amazing and our family is now enjoying it! Thank you for all the great work!
Nick Waldron · Google Review
Common Questions
Answers from Natasha.
Ceramic vs porcelain — what's the difference?
Porcelain is a denser, harder tile with a water absorption rate below 0.5% — which makes it the better pick for bathrooms, mudrooms, and anywhere water hits the floor regularly. Ceramic is softer, easier to cut, and a little cheaper — great for low-traffic kitchens, laundries, and walls. We carry both, and Natasha will walk you through which one fits your room and your budget.
Can you tile over existing tile?
Sometimes — it depends on the condition of the existing tile. If the old tile is flat, bonded solid to the subfloor, and the room can handle the added height in doorways and transitions, we can scuff, prime, and tile over it. If the old tile is cracked, loose, or the grout is failing, we take it up. Buddy inspects it on-site and gives you an honest answer — tearing out and starting clean is usually the safer long-term call.
How long does tile install take?
Most tile jobs fall in the 2–4 day range. Day one is substrate prep and backer board. Day two is tile layout and install. Day three is grout. Day four is grout cure and seal. Bigger rooms or natural stone take longer; a small bathroom or backsplash can be done in 1–2. Buddy installs every job himself, so the timeline we quote is the timeline you get.
Do you do backsplashes?
Yes — kitchen and bath wall tile included. Subway tile, mosaic, stone, glass, full-height shower surrounds, mudrooms. Same standard as floor work: clean substrate, proper thinset, straight lines, sealed grout. Call Natasha at (614) 301-1958 and come by the showroom to pick your tile.
— Start at the Showroom —
Ready for new tile?
Come by the shop on High Street and pick your tile. Natasha will walk you through samples, pricing, and what fits the room — then Buddy measures, preps the subfloor, and lays it flat.
Prefer to dial? (614) 301-1958
Buddy's Flooring LLC · 55 West High Street, London, OH 43140
Mon–Fri 9 AM–2 PM · (614) 301-1958 · Family-owned since 2019
Mon–Fri 9 AM–2 PM · (614) 301-1958 · Family-owned since 2019