Is $4 a square foot a good price for labor? How about $1.49 for each 20x20 porcelein tile? Those are my quotes and want to see if I should do it. In Texas and they told me it will include taking out old carpet and laying down tile plus grout.
It sounds reasonable enough. ASk about sealing the tile, as well! Up here, in Canada, I usually recommend a waterproof membrane be laid before the tile. This prevents water and moisture from seeping through the tile and froming mold and mildew on the subfloor. Even the best sealed tile may have a tendancy to allow moisture to wick through and attack the subfloor. BUT...that's just me! I like to do the best job possible!! You may even want to consider underfloor electric heat. Now is the perfect time to do this. At any rate, to just rip out the carpet, prep the subfloor, and tile with Porcelain tile, I think you have a pretty fair price, there.
The ideal way would be to remove the vinyl floor tiles and install your porcelain tile - HOWEVER, the issue is with the black glue under the old vinyl. Black glue was used many years ago and contains asbestos and petroleum. That being said, even if you keep it wet enough to keep the asbestos fibers out of the air, you still have petroleum residue on the floor which WILL interact with the thin set and the tiles will not stay down. I run into this ALOT in older homes and businesses, and it is best left alone, and proper steps taken to go over it. Put down wonder board, backer board, underlayment....whatever they call it in your area, and install your porcelain on top of that. Leave the old vinyl and adhesive alone.
About 1.25 a square foot to lay only..not material included..this is with minimum floor prep to do and if tiles are not cut diagonally...Diagonal laid tiles require alot more cutting and handling, layout etc..so is a little more for this...4.00 A square foot is way out of line...
