If you’re searching for tile installation in Kettering, Ohio, you’ve landed in the right place. At RA Cooks Renovations, our showroom is right here in Kettering — 5,500 square feet of tile, flooring, and design ideas you can walk through before a single measurement is taken. We’ve been helping Miami Valley homeowners pick, plan, and install tile for more than 18 years, and we bring that same hands-on care to every project in our own backyard.
Kettering homes run the gamut — mid-century ranches off Dorothy Lane, split-levels near Kettering Medical Center, and updated colonials closer to the Centerville line. Each one has its own quirks, and tile that looks great in a showroom photo needs to work in your actual space. We help you get both right.
What We Tile and Where
We sell and install tile throughout Kettering and the surrounding Miami Valley. Whether you’re updating a single bathroom floor or retiling an entire shower, kitchen backsplash, and laundry room in one project, our crews handle it start to finish. Every installer on our team is trained in-house and backed by our NARI-certified standards.
Common tile projects we complete in Kettering
- Shower walls and floors: Full tile surrounds, custom niches, and barrier-free shower pans built to last decades.
- Bathroom floors: Porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone with proper waterproofing and heated floor rough-in if desired.
- Kitchen backsplashes: Subway, mosaic, arabesque, large-format — we help you choose a pattern that fits your cabinetry and countertops.
- Mudrooms and laundry rooms: Hard-wearing tile that stands up to wet boots and weekly wash cycles.
- Fireplace surrounds: Decorative tile work that becomes the focal point of a living room or family room.
Our Tile Selection Process at the Kettering Showroom
Most tile decisions go wrong when homeowners choose from a four-inch sample under fluorescent store lighting. Our 5,500-square-foot showroom lets you see full vignettes — walls, floors, and transitions — so you can judge scale, grout color, and finish in context. We bring the tile world to Kettering so you don’t have to guess.
We carry a wide range of price points and styles, from budget-friendly ceramic to large-format Italian porcelain and handmade terracotta. Our design consultants ask the right questions about traffic, moisture, and your household before steering you toward anything.
How we guide your tile selection
- In-showroom design consultations: We sit down with you, pull samples in your color palette, and talk through grout joints and layout patterns.
- Moisture and traffic ratings: We match tile PEI rating and slip resistance to the specific room so performance matches beauty.
- Grout and trim coordination: We help you choose matching or contrasting grout, edge trim, and transition strips before ordering.
- Accurate material estimates: We measure your space and calculate overage so you order once and avoid mid-project shortages.
Our Tile Installation Process in Kettering
Good tile work is 80 percent prep. We flatten and level subfloors, apply waterproofing membranes in wet areas, and use large-format backerboard where needed. Rushing those steps is how you get cracked grout and loose tiles two years later. We’ve fixed enough of those mistakes for other people that we refuse to make them ourselves.
Once the substrate is right, our installers set tile with the layout pattern you chose in the showroom. We snap chalk lines, dry-fit before troweling, and check for lippage on every course. Grout goes in only after the setting material has fully cured, and we seal natural stone and sanded grout before we call the job done.
What proper installation looks like step by step
- Subfloor and wall prep: Flatten, repair, and prime surfaces so tile bonds correctly and won’t flex underfoot.
- Waterproofing wet areas: We apply membrane systems in showers and around tubs — no shortcuts, no shortcuts-adjacent methods.
- Layout and dry-fit: Establish centerlines, dry-lay the tile, and adjust before any adhesive touches the wall or floor.
- Grout and sealing: Apply grout in consistent joints, clean thoroughly, and seal where required for long-term protection.
- Final walk-through: We inspect every joint and edge with you before packing up tools.
Why Kettering Homeowners Choose RA Cooks
We’re not a national franchise or a crew that drives in from Columbus. Our shop is in Kettering, our team lives nearby, and our reputation here matters to us every single day. With 420-plus reviews averaging 5.0 stars, we’ve earned that trust one project at a time — and we intend to keep it that way on your project too.
Being NARI-certified means we meet a higher standard for trade knowledge, ethics, and continuing education. It also means you have recourse through a professional organization if anything ever falls short — though in 18-plus years, that standard has kept our installs right the first time.
What sets us apart from other Kettering tile contractors
- Our own showroom in Kettering: Shop tile, flooring, and cabinetry in one place without driving all over Dayton.
- NARI-certified team: Our certification reflects ongoing education and a written code of professional conduct.
- 5.0 stars from 420-plus reviews: Real Kettering and Miami Valley homeowners, real projects, real satisfaction.
- 18-plus years of local experience: We know Kettering’s housing stock, its moisture patterns, and what works long term.
- One-stop design-build approach: Design, material selection, and installation all under one roof — no handoff confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does tile installation take for a typical Kettering bathroom?
A standard bathroom floor and shower surround usually takes three to five business days of active work, depending on the size and complexity of the layout. We schedule tile projects in a way that gives setting materials proper cure time between stages, so we don’t rush the process just to finish faster.
Do you sell tile only, or do you also install it?
We do both. You can purchase tile through our Kettering showroom for your own installer, or we can handle the full job — supply the material and complete the installation with our trained crew. Most homeowners find the all-in approach saves time and prevents material mismatches.
Can you match existing tile in an older Kettering home?
Sometimes, but it depends on the tile. Discontinued patterns and custom-glazed ceramics from older homes are often impossible to match exactly. We’ll do our best to source a close match, and if we can’t, we’ll suggest a complementary tile or a full replacement approach that looks intentional rather than patched.
What is the cost of tile installation in Kettering, Ohio?
Tile installation pricing varies based on tile selection, room size, substrate condition, and layout complexity. A simple ceramic floor can run significantly less per square foot than a large-format porcelain shower with a custom niche and heated floor rough-in. The best way to get an accurate number is to bring us your measurements and walk the showroom so we can quote material and labor together.
Do you need a permit to install tile in Kettering?
Tile installation alone generally does not require a permit in Kettering. However, if your tile project is part of a larger bathroom remodel that involves moving plumbing, electrical, or structural elements, permits will be required. We handle all permit coordination for full remodels and will let you know upfront what’s needed for your specific scope.
Ready to Start Your Tile Project in Kettering?
Whether it’s a single bathroom floor or a whole-home tile refresh, our team is ready to help. Explore everything we offer on our tile installation services page and see the full scope of what a design-build tile project looks like with RA Cooks. You can also grab our free project planning guide to get organized before your first conversation with us. When you’re ready to talk specifics, book your free consultation right here — we’d love to show you what’s possible in your Kettering home.
One Contractor, Full Project
Other services we offer
Most projects need more than one trade. RA Cooks Renovations handles all of it under one roof — same crew, same project manager, one warranty.
Bathroom Remodeling
Full bath remodels — vanities, walk-in showers, soaking tubs, layout changes, tile end-to-end.
Learn more →Kitchen Remodeling
Custom cabinetry, countertops, backsplash tile, and full layout redesign — designed in our showroom.
Learn more →Basement Finishing
Family rooms, in-law suites, theaters, gyms, bars — finished basements designed for daily use.
Learn more →Whole-Home Remodeling
Multi-room renovations and additions — one design team coordinates every trade from drawings to final walkthrough.
Learn more →Roofing
Asphalt re-roofs, full tear-offs, and inspections — NARI-certified work warrantied in writing.
Learn more →Installation Services
All the installation work we handle in-house
Same in-house crew, same warranty, all designed and built in our showroom.
Tile Installation
Bathroom floors, walk-in shower walls, kitchen backsplashes, mudrooms, fireplace surrounds, and feature accents.
View →Hardwood Flooring
Solid and engineered hardwood — installed, sanded, stained, and finished. Refresh existing or start new across the Miami Valley.
View →Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
Waterproof, scratch-resistant LVP installed throughout your home. The look of hardwood without the maintenance — installed level and clean.
View →Laminate Flooring
Durable, budget-friendly hard-surface flooring with the look of wood and modern wear layers that hold up to kids and pets.
View →Kitchen Backsplash
Subway, mosaic, slab — installed clean to the cabinets and outlets with no caulk-ledge gaps.
View →Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Reclaim space and add accessibility — full Wedi waterproofing, custom niches, and bench seating for safe daily use.
View →Interior Door Installation
Pre-hung swing, barn, pocket, French — sized, plumbed, and finished to match your trim package throughout the house.
View →From the Journal
Related reading
Pricing data, design playbooks, and project case studies from RA Cooks Renovations.
Take the next step
Schedule your free design consultation
Our NARI-certified team will measure your space, listen to your goals, and send a transparent line-item proposal within 5 business days. No pressure, no surprises — just a clear plan for the project you’ve been picturing.
Local & Nearby
Just 5 minutes from Kettering
About 8 miles from our Kettering showroom — see the live route below.
Stop By Our Showroom
RA Cooks Renovations
1922 S Smithville RdKettering, OH 45420937-938-6911
Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
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