Few products offer homeowners as many options as ceramic tile in Minneapolis - St. Paul. In fact, it's not too much of a stretch to say that ceramic tile offers a wider range of design possibilities than any other material on the market. That being said, here's some info on ceramic tile in Minneapolis to give you something to think about, whether you're ready to lay tile or just testing the waters to see if ceramic tile is right choice for you.
Minneapolis Ceramic Floor Tile Costs
Most homeowners are first and foremost concerned with the cost of laying ceramic tile in the Twin Cities. ServiceMagic tracks the costs of ceramic tile installations in Minneapolis-St. Paul that originate in our system, and our data shows that the average job costs about $2,100, though we have records of projects that ran as little as $700, and as much as $4,000. Obviously the style of tile you choose can have a large impact on your final cost, given that ceramic tile can get pricey when you start looking at custom, hand painted, and more decorative lines. As a rule, however, ceramic tile products are a very cost-effective option (most run in the $5 to $10 dollar/square foot range, installed) making the size of your ceramic tile installation just as important when it comes to determining the final cost.
Minneapolis Ceramic Tile Is Full of Possibility
While the cost of ceramic tile is a big draw from homeowners across Minneapolis-St. Paul, the fact that ceramic tile meets more needs than there are lakes in Minnesota (yes, thousands) is the main reasons it's earned top status among the most popular materials in home improvement. Whether you're working on a bathroom or kitchen, installing a countertop, or building a patio, the thousands of colors, textures, shapes, styles, and sizes of tile to choose from make ceramic tile a perfect choice for just about any application. Here are some popular applications to help get your gears turning.
Ceramic Floor Tile in Minneapolis: Minneapolis ceramic floor tile is fast becoming one of the most popular uses of ceramic tile in Minneapolis. Its ability to mimic just about any tile or stone material on the market, including the likes of brick, granite, marble, and slate, has a lot to do with the rising tide of Minneapolis ceramic floor tile installations, though the fact that ceramic floor tile in Minneapolis is cheaper than the real deal in just about every instance doesn't hurt any, either. Don't make the mistake of ruling out ceramic tile for outdoor uses either. Patios and walkways are great places to install ceramic floor tile in Minneapolis, as long as you make sure to get tile manufactured to withstand Minnesota winters!
Bathroom Tile: Ceramic tile has always been a popular choice for bathrooms, thanks to the availability of waterproof tiles and the fact that ceramic tile comes in bright and exciting colors and designs. Mosaic ceramic tile is particularly hot at present, and is being used for everything from basic wall-to-wall bathroom tile installations to creating smaller decorative ceramic tile inlays inside larger Minneapolis ceramic floor tile designs.
Decorative Tile Applications: While ceramic tile in Minneapolis is perfect as a primary tiling material, the more conservative use of it in decorative applications can yield some beautiful results. Using ceramic tile (especially custom made, stamped, or hand painted varieties) to trim windows and window sills, as a decorative border around other flooring materials such as stone tile or hardwood, and as a festive accent in kitchen backsplashes and wall tile designs are just a few examples of the many ornamental ceramic tile applications for homeowners to consider.
Timelines, Installing Minneapolis Ceramic Tile, and some Homeowner Advice
How long does an average tile installation take in the Twin Cities? Drawing from the same data that allows us to give you an estimate on average costs, we can tell you that you should plan on an average ceramic tile installation in Minneapolis to take about six days, start to finish. But don't take our word for it. We make it a point to ask homeowners who use our services if they have any advice about ceramic tile installations to pass on to their neighbors. As a whole, the word on the street is that it's important to remember that tile installation is a process, and can be an inconvenience at times.
"Make sure adequate time is allowed at the end so (your contractor) is not rushed," noted one homeowner from Eagan, who pointed out that the six days an average job takes includes both short and long days put in by your contractor. Regardless of how long your contractor works each day (it will vary due to the fact that certain materials, like thinset and grout, must be given time to setup and dry before your installer moves onto the next step), you're well-advised to stay off the floor for the duration, as this homeowner from St. Paul points out. "Plan on eating out a lot. Not having a kitchen is a pain," she writes, though in the end it turned out okay. Despite having to frequent restaurants for a few weeks, that same customer finished her advice by stating it was all worth it. In her own words: "I love the end result." 
Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.