Tile installers

[floridamedellin]

Looking for some feedback—I just got quoted $72 USD per square meter for porcelain tile installation. With about 140 sq meters to cover, that puts labor alone at nearly $10,000 USD. Honestly, that feels excessive.


Has anyone recently had porcelain tile installed? What did you pay per square meter? Do you have any referrals for excellent tile layers?


I was expecting something closer to half that rate. Any insight or recommendations would be really appreciated.

 

[FrankPintor]

I feel your pain. I don’t think tile laying is a specific profession, it would be part of what an “Albañil” does. If you can tell me where, more or less, you are, I can ask a guy who’s done some good work for us, and who we will be asking to re-lay the floors at some point. The previous lot of savages used too much lime in the cement (cheaper) and didn’t use the flex cement for underfloor heating.

 

[floridamedellin]

Im in Palermo chico on Cabello. I appreciate your help. Im trying to avoid big gaps or raised tile. Hopefully, I can find someone who has had tile done and can refer me to their installers.

 

[LuckyLuke]

I'm remodeling my property too. It helps me not to visualize the USD equivalent. $10,000 USD is a lot, $10 million pesos is not. I was quoted $3 million just to rebuild a 3 meter wall. We are both choosing a poor time to be doing heavy remodeling in USD valuations. There are many rumors that after October elections, we will see the exchange rate limits tested and your USD price could go down if you are willing to wait and see.

 

[Lanick]

That’s outrageous. Don’t pay this amount. It’s Palermo Chico gringo price. Shop around more.

 

[nikad]

The standard is 20.000 - 30.000 ars per square meter + materials.

 

[Lanick]

If you already have tiles and you like how they’re laid but just old and look ugly, you can paint them. I just did my old tiles and looks great.

 

[LuckyLuke]

If you already have tiles and you like how they’re laid but just old and look ugly, you can paint them. I just did my old tiles and looks great.

Would love to know more about this. What paint did you use? How has it been holding up with foot traffic?

 

[Lanick]

They got paint with “asmalte” that sticks it to the tile. They have it here as well. They’re very durable unless it’s an office or a shop. If it’s extremely heavy traffic area then you should try epoxy paint. You have to sand the tile with a 150-180 sand paper. Then vacuum all the dust, wipe with acetone and apply the paint. Depending on the existing color and the new color you may need 2-3 coats. In 2 days you can use your new tiles. Tried and happy so far. For the fraction but a way fraction of what it’d cost to new tiles. You can also use grout pen or regrout afterwards.