We had such a great experience working with Gabriel and his team at Bencke’s Tile Bath Remodel. From the very beginning, Gabriel was incredibly communicative, responsive, responsible, and someone we felt we could completely trust. He always kept us updated, answered every question, and made what could have been a stressful renovation feel easy.
Our Jack-and-Jill bathroom was 25 years old and very builder-grade and felt cramped with way too many doors. Gabriel helped completely transform the space into a bathroom that feels so much larger, brighter, and honestly looks like something out of a magazine.
The quality of the work is exceptional. They waterproofed the bathroom properly, insulated the tub, installed a linear drain with a perfectly sloped floor so the water drains exactly where it should, and the tile work is absolutely flawless. The floating vanity, mirror, and every finish were installed with so much attention to detail.
What I appreciated just as much was that Gabriel truly stands behind his work. If we noticed even the smallest thing, he was happy to come back and make it right without any hesitation. It’s rare to find a contractor who genuinely wants everything to be perfect.
We interviewed several contractors before choosing Gabriel, and I am so glad we did. The final result exceeded our expectations, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gabriel and his team to anyone looking for a bathroom remodel. They do beautiful work, they’re honest, and they’re the kind of people you actually enjoy working with. Adding the before and after pictures for reference!
Floor Tile Installation in Richmond, VA
Bencke’s Tile installs floor tile in Richmond, VA, for kitchens, bathrooms and entryways, from herringbone and hexagon to checkerboard. Ask for a free estimate and we will measure the floor.
Call for Remodeling Service:804-244-6737- 5.0 16 Google reviews
- Free in-home estimate
- Licensed & insured
A tile floor is only as good as the floor under it
Tile does not bend. If the floor beneath it moves or is uneven, tile cracks and grout lines open up. That is why a floor job starts with a look at what is underneath.
Layout counts too. A herringbone floor can run from the kitchen into the hall and make the whole space feel planned.
Floors we set, room by room
Kitchens
Gray herringbone running through a kitchen, and terracotta hexagon in another.
Bathrooms
Hexagon mosaic, penny tile borders and marble-look tile.
Entryways
Tile that stands up to wet shoes and daily traffic.
Pattern choices
Straight, diagonal, herringbone or a black and white checkerboard. The layout changes how big a room feels.
Tile floors from our work
How a tile floor behaves day to day
Tile is hard and cool underfoot. Many people like that in summer, and a rug or heated floor can warm it in winter.
Sweep and mop with a gentle cleaner. The grout is the part that darkens first, so a quick scrub keeps it fresh. Put a mat at the door, since grit scratches glossy tile.
A kitchen or entry floor sees the most wear. A tile with some texture and a grout that does not stain make life easier.
Choosing floor tile, step by step
Porcelain
Dense and tough. A common pick for kitchens and entries, with matte and textured surfaces to choose from.
Ceramic
Fine for bathrooms and low-traffic rooms. Check that it is rated for floors, because some ceramic is made for walls only.
Natural stone
Stone floors are beautiful and individual. They need a stiffer floor beneath, sealing and gentler cleaners.
Wood-look tile
Planks of porcelain that look like wood but handle water. Long planks need an especially flat floor.
Wear rating
Floor tile carries a hardness and wear rating from the maker. Pick one meant for the traffic in your room.
Slip rating
The wet slip rating tells you how slippery a tile gets. Ask for it for kitchens, baths and entries.
What is under your old floor matters most
Tile cannot flex, so the floor beneath it has to be stiff. A concrete slab is a solid base, though it can have cracks that move. A wood floor over joists needs enough stiffness, and often an extra layer of plywood or an uncoupling sheet. Ask how the contractor checks, because a floor that bounces will crack tile.
In older houses, ask what your current floor is. Old vinyl tiles and the black glue under them contain asbestos in some homes, and the safe move is to test before sanding or breaking them up. A house built before 1978 may also have lead paint on trim and doors, which matters when a floor job touches the walls. A contractor should know the rules.
Height is another surprise. New tile and the layer under it raise the floor, so doors may need trimming, and a dishwasher may not slide back in. Ask about the transition where the tile meets another floor, and whether the new height will clear your appliances.
Floor patterns compared
Straight grid
The simplest. Joints line up, which looks tidy and uses the least tile.
Offset or brick
Each row is shifted. It hides small differences in the floor and suits long, narrow tile. Long planks are usually shifted by less than half, to keep the edges level.
Diagonal
Tile set at an angle makes a small room feel wider. It needs more cuts and more tile.
Herringbone
A zigzag of rectangles. It leads the eye down a hall and takes the most care.
Checkerboard
Two colors in a grid. Bold and traditional, and the layout has to start from a clear line.
How a project runs.
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Free in-home estimate
We come to your home, measure, and talk through what you want.
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Your price
You get the price for your job before any work starts.
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The build
Demo, prep, tile and grout, in that order.
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Walkthrough
You look over the finished room before the job is closed.
5.0 on Google from 16 reviews.
We love our new kitchen tile backsplash! Working with Bencke’s was a great experience, from the start with good communication and professionalism to the finish with a beautiful job well done!
Gabriel came by to give an estimate on doing tile work and was very thorough in articulating his approach, timeline and cost. He gave a wonderful idea to put a marble counter ledge which turned out really beautiful. He was so quick in starting the project and kept everything so clean with protecting furniture surround the bathroom. His crew were so polite and did an amazing job. I’m so grateful for them completing this so quickly. Gabriel went above and beyond to get everything done quickly but also with excellence. I would highly recommend him and his crew!
We needed an access panel for our tile bathtub and Gabriel was able to give us a quick estimate. He delivered flawlessly and we are very happy!
I can't say enough about Gabriel and his team. I put in an emergency request for kitchen and bathroom tile repairs/replacements on a Tuesday, and they were out fixing it and doing an amazing job by Thursday!! Highly recommend. Can't say enough good things! Thank you!
Mistakes that spoil a tile floor
Starting from a wall instead of the center, so the cuts at the edges look off. Not checking that the floor is flat before setting. Ignoring door heights. Using a grout that is too light at an entry, where it will stain right away. Skipping spare tile, so a later repair does not match.
Walking on the floor or moving furniture back before the grout is ready. And choosing a glossy tile for a spot that gets wet.
Clear the floor and take the photos
Clear the floor as much as you can. Photograph the room, including the transitions at the doorways. Note the flooring you have now and what is under it, if you know. Measure the room, or at least count your steps.
List the appliances that will need to move, and ask how that is handled. Bring a few tile choices and look at them in the room’s own light. Say how the room is used: pets, kids, wet shoes. It changes what a contractor will suggest.
Three things to decide before the floor starts
First, which tile. A matte finish is less slippery than a glossy one, which matters in a kitchen or an entry. Large tile shows fewer joints, and small tile shows more grout.
Second, the pattern. Third, the grout color. A close match hides the lines, and a contrast color draws them.
Frequently asked questions
Don’t see your question? Call or write and we will answer it.
The size of the room, the pattern, the prep of the floor and the tile all move the price. The estimate is free and in your home, so you get a real number for your job.
Sometimes. The old floor has to be flat, solid and dry. If it is not, the old layer comes up first.
Not right away, because the bond and the grout need time to set.
Porcelain is hard and handles water and dropped pans well. A matte finish helps with grip. We can talk through samples at the estimate.
Tile feels cool because it moves heat away from your feet. A rug helps, and so does a heated floor under the tile.
Related pages.
ServiceTile Installation
Bencke’s Tile is a tile contractor in Richmond, VA. We set tile on shower walls, kitchen backsplashes, floors and feature walls. Ask for a free estimate and we will come measure the space.
Learn more
ServiceKitchen Remodeling
Bencke’s Tile does the tile side of a kitchen in Richmond, VA: backsplashes, floors and tile repairs.
Learn more
GuideLarge Format Tile: What to Know Before You Buy
What counts as large format tile, why the surface under it must be flat, how mortar coverage and lippage work, and where big tile does not make sense.
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GuidePorcelain vs Ceramic Tile: Which One Should You Pick?
What really separates porcelain from ceramic, and which one fits a shower, a bathroom floor, a kitchen or a backsplash.
Read the guide
GuideTile Installation Cost per Square Foot
Tile installation cost per square foot from two published sources, what the labor range includes, and the extras that raise the bill.
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