About Licensed Installer = Protection
Contractors should be licensed to perform tile and stone installations by the state that they do business in. Most states require their own license or at least recognize a license from another state such as California. When running into a job problem with a licensed installer, the issuing agency for the license can help provide a means of recourse when a complaint is filed. If an unlicensed installer is used, that governing body cannot help, and the owner is left on their own to resolve the problem.
Using licensed contractors will not only provide a path for resolving issues that may arise, but it also should help avoid those problems. Licensed contractors are more likely to have the skills, training, and experience to do quality work and are more likely to use qualified trained tile installers.
Don’t just settle on the fact that a contractor is licensed and walk away thinking the job will come out perfect. Do your due diligence to vet and verify that installers are properly trained. Not all installers are detailed minded or conscientious in their work. Ask the licensed company if they use installers that are Certified Tile Installers (CTI), or if they have Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT), or are their installers ITS Verified meaning that they have taken the 5 hour Tile Installer Thin-set Standards Verification (ITS) online course available at www.UofCTS.org. A little bit of legwork before a job starts will go a long way in helping an installation turn out great.