Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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Before
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Backsplash, tile, and flooring work as part of our Kitchen Remodeling services in Sherman Oaks covers everything from a simple subway-tile backsplash above the range to a full porcelain floor replacement that runs through the kitchen and into the dining area. Most projects in Sherman Oaks run between $1,800 and $9,500 depending on square footage, tile material, and substrate conditions – and every one of those projects at Rowan Construction Group starts with a written price before anyone picks up a grout float. If you want a number you can screenshot and compare, call us at (213) 221-0788 or read through the pricing section below.
This page sits under our full Kitchen Remodeling in Sherman Oaks service, which covers cabinet installation, countertops, lighting, and layout changes alongside the tile and flooring work described here. If you’re only doing the backsplash, we handle that as a standalone scope with the same written price and the same 365-Day Done Right Promise. If it’s part of a larger kitchen gut, the tile and flooring phases slot into the project schedule so the floor isn’t sitting exposed while cabinet deliveries are pending.
Grant Rowan has led this company since 2007, and in that time we’ve completed backsplash and tile scopes in Ventura Boulevard-adjacent bungalows, Chandler Estates split-levels, and newer construction along Sepulveda. The substrate conditions vary – older Sherman Oaks homes frequently have a single layer of vinyl over a wood subfloor that needs proper preparation before tile goes down, and we document exactly what we find before writing the price, not after demo starts.
When You Need Backsplash, Tile & Flooring
- Cracked or hollow-sounding tile on the floor or walls. Tap a floor tile and hear a dull thud instead of a solid ring – that tile has lost its bond with the substrate beneath. In Sherman Oaks homes built in the 1950s and 1960s, this is usually a sign the original mud-set mortar has dried out and shrunk. Left alone, water infiltrates the gap and the problem spreads.
- Grout that is pitting, discoloring, or growing mold at the backsplash line. The area directly behind the range and adjacent to the sink takes daily moisture and heat. When grout starts to powder or turn dark, it has stopped sealing the joint – meaning water is reaching the wall backer behind it.
- A floor that no longer matches the kitchen after a cabinet replacement. When new cabinets go in and the old ones left a raw subfloor behind, the transition between finished and unfinished flooring becomes visible. This is one of the most common call triggers we get from Sherman Oaks homeowners after a partial kitchen update.
- Lifting or bubbling sheet vinyl that was laid directly over an older resilient floor. Los Angeles County permit code does not allow more than two layers of resilient flooring before the lower layer must be removed. If your kitchen floor has a second underlayer, tile cannot go over it without a proper teardown and substrate assessment.
- A dated backsplash that makes an otherwise updated kitchen feel unfinished. Beige 4×4 ceramic tile was the default spec in Sherman Oaks kitchen remodels done between 1985 and 2005. It still functions, but it reads as old – and replacing it is usually a one- to two-day scope that costs considerably less than homeowners expect.
- Visible lippage (height variation between tiles) creating a trip or cleaning hazard. Lippage greater than 1/32 inch on a rectified tile floor is outside the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) tolerance for residential installation. We see this in DIY work and in older contractor jobs where large-format tiles were laid over an unflattened substrate.
Our Backsplash, Tile & Flooring Process
- Substrate assessment and written scope. Before we quote anything, we assess the condition of the substrate – the surface the tile bonds to. For a backsplash, that means checking whether the existing drywall is moisture-resistant or standard (standard drywall behind a tile backsplash is a known failure point in wet kitchen zones). For a floor, we check for deflection (bounce or flex in the subfloor), existing layer count, and levelness. We document what we find with photographs – that photo record goes to you before the written price is delivered, so you know exactly what the crew saw. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, the price is written before anyone starts, full stop.
- Material selection and flat-price quote. Once we know the substrate conditions, we walk through material options with you. For backsplash work, that typically means choosing between ceramic, porcelain, glass mosaic, or natural stone, each with different installation requirements and price points. For flooring, we discuss tile size (larger-format tiles require a flatter substrate, which can add to prep cost), finish, and grout joint width. The quote you receive is a flat number with a written scope – no “starting at” language, no allowances that shift after you sign.
- Prep and demolition, with signed change orders for anything unexpected. Demo on a backsplash is usually straightforward: tile comes off, the backer is inspected and replaced if needed, and the surface is flattened and primed. Floor demo is more variable. If we open the floor and find a third resilient layer, deteriorated subfloor decking, or a moisture problem at the slab level, we stop, document it with photos, write the additional scope, and wait for a signed change order before proceeding. No work advances on a change until you’ve approved it in writing – that’s the administrative discipline that has kept Rowan’s project costs within a few percent of the agreed number across more than 4,000 jobs.
- Installation to TCNA standards. Backsplash tile is set with the appropriate thin-set mortar for the tile type – large-format or heavy stone requires a medium-bed mortar rather than standard thin-set. Grout joints are sized and maintained consistently using spacers; we use non-sanded grout for joints under 1/8 inch and sanded for wider joints, because the wrong grout in the wrong joint shrinks and cracks within months. Floor tile is laid from a centered layout line, not a wall, to keep the visual pattern symmetrical. On floors, we also confirm the tile is back-buttered where the tile size or substrate requires it – skipping that step is one of the most common causes of hollow-sounding tile six months after installation.
- Grouting, sealing, and trim work. After the thin-set cures (typically 24 hours, longer for large-format tile), we grout the field, clean the tile face, and apply a penetrating sealer to the grout lines on floor installations. At the backsplash perimeter – where the tile meets the countertop and the underside of the upper cabinets – we use silicone caulk rather than grout. That joint moves slightly with temperature and humidity, and grout cracks in that location are almost certain within a year if the joint isn’t flexible.
- Final documentation and walkthrough. When the work is complete, we do a final photo record of the finished installation and walk through it with you. The 365-Day Done Right Promise is printed on the project documentation, not offered verbally – if something isn’t right within that period, we make it right. You leave with a written record of what was installed, what was warranted, and who to call.
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Backsplash and tile flooring pricing in Sherman Oaks varies more than most homeowners expect, primarily because substrate condition is invisible until demo begins. The ranges below reflect real project costs from Sherman Oaks kitchens – not national averages adjusted by a percentage.
| Scope | Typical Range | What Moves the Number |
|---|---|---|
| Backsplash tile only (20-40 sq ft, standard ceramic or porcelain) | $1,800 – $3,200 | Tile material, backer replacement, number of outlets requiring re-trimming |
| Backsplash with glass mosaic or natural stone | $2,800 – $4,500 | Material cost, mesh-mounted mosaic vs. individual piece setting, sealing requirements |
| Kitchen floor tile only (100-200 sq ft, porcelain) | $3,500 – $6,500 | Tile format size, existing floor removal, subfloor condition and leveling required |
| Kitchen floor + backsplash combined scope | $5,500 – $9,500 | Total square footage, material grade, substrate conditions found at demo |
| Subfloor repair or leveling (if required) | $400 – $1,800 added to base scope | Extent of deflection, layer count, self-leveling compound volume needed |
A few cost factors specific to Sherman Oaks Cabinets & Countertops projects are worth naming. Homes in the Chandler Estates and Kester Avenue corridors were built in a period when hardwood was common under kitchen vinyl – when that’s the case, we assess whether the hardwood can serve as the tile substrate after repairs or whether a cement backer board overlay is needed. Either path is valid; they just carry different costs and we put both options in writing so you can choose. Homes closer to the Ventura Boulevard commercial edge, particularly those that have been renovated multiple times, sometimes have three or more flooring layers that require mechanical removal – that adds to the demo line but prevents the adhesion failures that follow tile being set over a compromised base.
Material cost is the other major variable. A standard 12×24 porcelain tile costs significantly less per square foot than a large-format 24×48 rectified tile, and the installation labor for large-format tile is higher because the substrate must be flatter and the setting process is slower. We don’t markup materials at an opaque rate – the written quote breaks out labor and materials separately so you can see what you’re paying for each.
The written price comes before any work starts – that’s not a process step here, it’s the foundation of how Rowan Construction Group operates. Call (213) 221-0788 to schedule the substrate assessment. If you’ve already received a written estimate from another contractor, bring it: we offer a Free Second Opinion on any written estimate and will review it line by line at no charge.
FAQs – Backsplash, Tile & Flooring
How much does backsplash tile installation cost in Sherman Oaks?
A standard backsplash tile installation in Sherman Oaks runs between $1,800 and $3,200 for ceramic or porcelain tile in the 20 to 40 square foot range typical of most kitchens. Glass mosaic and natural stone backsplashes run $2,800 to $4,500 for the same footprint because the materials cost more and the setting process is slower. Those numbers assume the existing backer is in acceptable condition – if the drywall behind the old tile is standard rather than moisture-resistant, replacing it adds a modest amount to the base scope. We document the backer condition before writing the price, so you’re not discovering that cost mid-project. Call (213) 221-0788 for a written estimate specific to your kitchen.
Can you tile over existing tile in a Sherman Oaks kitchen?
Tiling over existing tile is technically possible but not always advisable, and in Sherman Oaks specifically the answer often comes down to the age of the home and how many layers are already present. Los Angeles County code limits resilient flooring layers, and while ceramic-over-ceramic isn’t subject to the same restriction, adding tile height at the floor level affects transitions to adjacent rooms, appliance clearances, and door swings. On walls, tiling over existing backsplash tile adds weight to the backer and can pull the original installation off the wall if the first layer wasn’t properly bonded. We assess the existing installation before recommending either path – and we put both the overlay option and the removal option in writing with separate price lines so you can make an informed choice.
How long does a kitchen backsplash or tile floor installation take in Sherman Oaks?
A backsplash-only installation typically takes one to two days: one day for demo and setting, one day for grouting and sealing after the thin-set cures. A kitchen floor replacement runs two to four days depending on the square footage, the condition of the substrate, and the tile format – large-format tiles require longer cure times before grouting begins. Combined backsplash and floor scopes in a typical Full Kitchen Remodeling project run three to five working days. Those timelines assume no unexpected substrate conditions; if demo reveals a problem that requires a change order, the scope of the delay depends on what was found. We build realistic timelines into the written schedule before work starts rather than estimating optimistically and adjusting later.
What tile brands or materials do you work with for kitchen flooring and backsplash?
We source from a range of vetted suppliers and work with ceramic, porcelain, glass mosaic, and natural stone tile depending on the application and the homeowner’s preference. For kitchen flooring specifically, we typically recommend through-body porcelain (the color runs through the tile body, so chips are less visible) in a matte or lightly textured finish to reduce slip risk in a wet environment. For backsplash, the selection is wider – glass mosaic from Atlas-sourced product lines, handmade ceramic, and large-format porcelain slab panels are all options we’ve installed in Sherman Oaks kitchens. We don’t push a single brand because the right material depends on the substrate, the use pattern, and your budget. What we do commit to is naming the specific product in the written quote so you know exactly what’s being installed before you approve the scope.
Why Sherman Oaks Homeowners Work with Rowan Construction Group
Sherman Oaks has a specific housing stock – a large number of post-war single-family homes that have been updated in layers over sixty-plus years, alongside newer construction and converted apartment buildings. What that means in practice is that no two kitchens open up the same way. We’ve found original 1950s subfloor decking that needed sistering before tile could go down. We’ve found three-layer vinyl stacks that had to come out before anyone could write an honest substrate assessment. We’ve found backsplash situations where the previous installer used standard drywall behind a full tile wall and the moisture damage ran into the adjacent cabinet box, which is why we also offer Cabinet Installation & Refacing when water damage extends beyond the wall.
Every one of those findings was documented with photographs and presented to the homeowner before the written price changed. That process is slower than writing a price from a phone-call description and starting work the next morning. It’s also why our projects finish within a few percent of the number the homeowner agreed to – because the agreed number was built on what we actually found, not what we hoped was there.
Grant Rowan built Rowan Construction Group on that discipline starting in 2007, and across more than 4,000 projects it hasn’t changed. Background-checked, uniformed crews. A live person answering calls at (213) 221-0788 around the clock. A photo record delivered at the end of every visit. And a 365-Day Done Right Promise that is printed on the project documentation, not offered as a verbal reassurance you’d have to remember later.
If you’re planning a backsplash update, a full kitchen floor replacement, or a combined tile scope as part of a larger home renovation, the first step is the same: a substrate assessment, a written scope, and a flat price before anyone starts work. Call (213) 221-0788 to schedule that assessment in Sherman Oaks. If you’ve already got a written estimate from another contractor, bring it – we’ll review it line by line at no charge and tell you exactly what you’re looking at.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner at Rowan Construction Group Sherman Oaks, serving Sherman Oaks since 2007.