Conference 7.286::home_work

    Mike Rhodes of Concord (MA) recently completed a tile repair job
    in our 30 year old main bath.  The job was done beautifully at the
    agreed upon price and agreed upon schedule.  The bathroom has never
    looked this good since we've owned the house.  He is currently
    doing our master bath - same vintage - involving ripping out to
    the studs, replacing the copper pan, retiling all the walls and
    floor.  The price is reasonable and he has been very accommodating.
    He also does a pretty good job cleaning up after himself (although
    plaster dust does get everywhere).  We live in No. Framingham and
    he is willing to travel a reasonable distance to a job.
    
    Mike can be contacted at 617/371-7028.
    
    Evelyn

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
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Note 743.8                   Tile Layer Needed ASAP                      8 of 11
FDCV03::PARENT                                       16 lines  10-FEB-1988 13:07
                         -< Installer Recommendation >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After searching all the tile notes this seems like the only suitable
    place to post my installer recommendation.  Our 30 year old main
    bath was in desperate need of repair (guess they didn't have
    "wonder board" back in the late 50's).  We were fortunate to find
    an excellent installer who actually showed up when he said he would,
    charged a reasonable price, and did a beautiful job.  If you, for
    various reasons, are unable/unwilling to go the DIY route I highly
    recommend:  Michael Rhodes (Concord MA) Tel 617/371-7028.  (We live
    in No. Framingham so it appears he's willing to travel a reasonable
    distance.)
    
    We were so pleased with his work and professionalism that we're
    having him replace all the tile (shower, walls & floor) in  our master 
    bath next week.
    
    Evelyn

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
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Note 743.9                   Tile Layer Needed ASAP                      9 of 11
CURIE::GUTNICK                                       10 lines  11-FEB-1988 10:56
                      -<  Another Installer Recommended >-
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     I am having a master bath completely tiled and the tile installer
    we hired is doing an excellent job.  He's willing to do difficult
    and complicated things and he'll even work in mud if you want him
    to.  His name is Mark Walsh and he's located in Marlboro--he too
    will travel.
    
    Bonnie
    
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1688.3           TILERS needed as recommendations ...                3 of 3
LOONMT::TUROSH                                        7 lines  13-NOV-1987 14:06
                          -< Reliable Tile Installer >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    	I,m not sure where any of you live, but I can recomend a
    Tile/Parquet installer in the Hudson Ma., area. His name is Steve
    Letendre and he will travel a reasonable distance, his phone# is
    617-562-7183. Hope this helps.
    
                            -Dick Turosh

    We recently had to have the area around a bathtub/shower retiled.
    This was in an old house where not much of anything is plumb or
    square.  We had originally gotten a quote from Foley Tile, but their
    price seemed outrageous and we put the project off for several months.
    
    Then one day we saw some cards that somebody had put up at the local
    supermarket for a tiler.  We called Bob up and he came out and looked
    everything over, picked out some samples that matched the existing
    tiles pretty well, and gave us a quote that was quite a bit lower
    than Foley's.
    
    We decided to take a chance and told him to go ahead.  We've never
    seen this type of work done before, but it looked pretty good to
    us.  Everything he did was very careful and precise.  The wonderboard
    was fitted and squared precisely.  He had to leave the job at one
    point while we brought in a plumber to put in all new pipes. 
    
    When the plumber came in after the tiles were put on and grouted, to
    connect the showerhead, and faucets, he exclaimed that this was the best
    job of tiling he'd ever seen and asked for the guys' name for his book.
    The plumber pointed out how a lot of tilers just split a tile around
    where the pipes come out, but Bob very carefully cut circular holes in
    the tiles. 

    So we're very pleased with the job and would recommend Bob to anyone
    in the area.
    			Bob Demers
                        466 Harrington Ave.
    			Concord, Mass.
    			(508) 369-2091 or 635-0522
    
    

    For tile installation in the Nashua area, I am very happy to recommend
    Dave Tedesco 881-9796.
    
    Dave installed tiles on my kitchen backsplash this weekend, and
    will be coming back next month to do a bathroom.  The job came out
    beautifully!  I was very impressed with his attention to detail,
    and obvious dedication to his work.
    
    I think he has another job full-time, so he does tile work in evenings
    and weekends.  Since he is not a full-time tile contractor, you
    will probably have to supply the tile and grout.  He supplies
    everything else (cement, tools, etc.). 
    
    Please let him know you got the referral from me.
    

    			-< CHARLES STAPLES, HARVARD, MA >-
    
    I recommend Charlie Staples for any tile work.  I had him do my
    hallway out of slate and it came out excellent, also he did my 
    bathroom and kitchen floors.  
    
    Price was reasonable.
    
    Charlie is fully insured and licensed.  He works out of Harvard,
    Mas.  He does ceramic, quarry and slate.  He is good.
    
    Number is 508-456-3050.
    
    My number is dtn 223-5823
    ECAD::BAER
    

                         -< DAVID FINCH, WEARE, NH >-
                         -< Country Floor Covering >-
    
    I recommend Country Floor Covering for any Ceramic Tile or
    Linoleum work that you have.  Last week he put a new floor
    in our kitchen, and his workmanship was excellant.  He's
    also doing work for my in-laws.  Even though he's from NH,
    he traveled to our house in Westboro to do the work. One of
    our neighbors had another person put in a new kitchen floor,
    and I can attest to shody workmanship, and the problems that
    it creates.  But David's work was excellant!
    
    Country Floor Covering
    Rt 114
    Weare, NH
    (603) 529-7400
    
    They have a showroom that's open daily 10-6 M-S.
    
    

    I'm not sure where this note should go, but I couldn't find information
    that I needed in notes 561, 726 or 2030.
    I'm looking for a linoleum/vinyl store which also has an "excellent"
    reputation for installation (and gives written guarantees). I've
    already found vinyl which I like (Armstong Designer Solarian II) but
    unfortunately, it only comes in 6' widths. With that in mind, and
    having a VERY old house in which nothing is square or plumb, I really
    need to have a good installation job.
    
    I live in Phillipston, Ma. (out in northern central MA), and would 
    consider going as far west as Greenfield and as far east as Concord,
    MA. (However, will these stores want to go that far).
    I'm not that concerned about cost (+/- $3 a sq. yard isn't bad) but am
    very concerned about the installation job. 
    If anyone knows of stores having a good reputation for installation
    I'd really appreciate the information.
    			Cindy

    I need to find a linoleum installer that will travel to Braintree -- on
    the south shore. I've been putting off this final project of my 
    mother-in-law's kitchen, and have decided that it's time to vend it
    out.  The floor first needs to be prepped with leveling compound to fill
    screw heads. There's about 18 sq. yds of sheet flooring (solarian II).
    
    Any leads on a good installer would be greatly appreciated.  

    I would like to reccommend Paul Dolan for installing marble or ceramic
    tile.  He installed tile in my kitchen, hall, and 1/2 bath.  The
    backsplash in the kitchen will be done next.
    
    		Paul Dolan - Creative Marble & Tile
    			     Tewksbury, Ma 
     		 	     (508) 657-7734
    
    Shirley

    I would highly recommend Jim Brunelle for tiling work.  He installed
    marble floor tiles and ceramic tiles on the walls and tub-surround in
    our new master bathroom.  This also included an accent strip around the
    top of the walls and the edge of the step into the jacuzzi tub.
    
    Jim came over to give me a free estimate the same day I called him, and
    fortunately his schedule at the time (mid-June) allowed him to do the
    work a few days later.  Actually, due to the situation (previous
    general contractor became disabled in an accident *and* the timing
    was 1 week from my firstborn's due date...) and my desire to get the
    job done fast, he offered to work one day of father's day weekend and
    finish the job the following Monday (thus, a little under 2 days total)...
    
    His work was very impressive (there were lots of angles and edges and
    it all joined up perfectly) and he was a great worker - arrived on
    time, listened well to what we wanted for results, was very focused
    on the job while he worked, was done on time and within budget.  His
    estimate was actually much lower than the original contrator's, so I
    was doubly-pleased...
    
    I also have pictures if anyone's interested...
    
    Here's his business card:
    
    			Brunelle's Home Improvement
    			 o CUSTOM TILE  o WALLS
    			o FLOORS  o COUNTER TOPS
    			o QUALITY INSTALLATION AT
    			    REASONABLE RATES
    
    		   Specializing in Repairs & Remodeling
    			    Free Estimates
    
    	Billerica, MA				 (508) 663-2159

    For tile installation within a 50 mile radius of Newton, MA, I would
    like to recommend Larry Tedesco (son of Dave Tedesco mentioned in note
    2030.6).  Larry is a full time installer and does marvelous work.  We
    originally contracted with his father, Dave, to do our kitchen and
    bath.  So that we would be inconvenienced for as little time as
    possible, Dave got Larry to help by doing the kitchen.  
    
    I thought Larry's work was exceptional.  We had it done last summer so
    I've had plenty of time to note any irregularities and there are none. 
    We were out of town during installation, but Larry took it upon himself
    to add a tiled "kick-plate" area under all the kitchen cabinets and
    it looks great too.
    
    		Tedesco Tile and Marble Installations
    		(Larry Tedesco)
    		Newton, Massachusetts
    		(617) 244-1323

    Any updated recommendations for tile installers in the Nashua area?
    
    Thanks,
        - Michael

    I am looking for references for a tile installer in the Worcester, MA
    area.

    Thank you,

    LEDS::WITTMER

    Does anyone know a good ceramic tile contractor around the Arlington,
    MA area?
    
    /Joel
    

    
    I'm looking for someone who can install a tile floor in a bathroom and
    also install a fiberglass bathtub enclosure in Salem, NH. References
    here, email, or dtn 241-2526 are encouraged and welcomed!
    
    Rachelle �
    

    I welcome any and all recommendations for lineoleum deals in Nashua, NH
    or surrounding areas (Milford/Hollis/Manchester/Bedford, etc).  Businesses
    that you have dealt with and found the prices reasonable and the quality 
    of the product good.
    
    Off-line recommendations or who *not* to use welcome
    
    Thank you in advance
       Pauline

    Looking for recommendations for someone to rip up and dispose of very
    old linoleum, and install new.  This would have to be done as
    expeditiously as possible (rental unit with elderly resident who will
    not take too kindly to her house being in an uproar).  Know of anyone 
    in the Worcester MA area who does not have 100 jobs going at once, thus 
    can dedicate the time to do this quickly?
    
    Sarah  

    Is it absolutely necessary to remove the old stuff?
    
    Many mfgs. of resillient floors allow for the installation of s second
    layer on top of a first, assuming the first to be installed on
    something solid and in good condition.
    
    Edd

re: 20


Best thing is to just call aroung and ask. I recently has a few quotes done
and they all seemed to be available quickly. I ended up doing it myself
and saved a couple hundred dollars. I had to rip up the old vinyl flooring,
and a layer of tiles, and then put down a couple sheets of luan over the old 
tar paper. What a mess, but the results were worth it. For longevity,
i recommend not just putting the vinyl over the old linoleum without
at least laying down a layer of luan. You want to have a smooth subfloor.
The former methoed was done previous in my place and the floor started 
cracking in only 4-5 years.  

/james

    
    	Anybody can recomend a linoleoum and tile installer in the
    Shrewsbury Mass area?  You can reply here or directly to HELIX::TORRES.
    Thanks.
    
    Luis

    
    Looking for a Tile installer in the Westford area.  My regular
    installer has put me off for 4-5 weeks now.  I wanted this backsplash
    up for the holidays....  Help.
    
    Diane Wood
    USCTR1::DWOOD
    

    Robert Farina of Nashua
    
    Does excellent work.
    
    Phone (603)880-2088
    
    I don't know how busy he is these days but he was done some beautiful
    work and is thorough and cleans up.
    
    Marv
    
    P.S.
     Disclaimer: Bob is my brother-in-law.

    
    
    Mario Morelli
    
    Ceramic Tile & Marble Installation.
    
    Does Exellent Work.
    
    phone 508-528-3035
    
    Mario tiled our kitchen floor, about 180 SF. He has done an exellent
    job.  The work was done about 3 month ago, and I still enjoy the way
    it looks.  We had 4 contractors quote the work. Mario came in second
    least expensieve and seems most competent and easy to deal with. We 
    gave him the job, I am glad we did. 
    
    Total cost was about $4.00 per sf. This included removing old vinil
    floor, puting new layer of plywood, and tile and grout installation,
    as well as cost of all materials exept tile itself. ( Plywood, grout ) 
    
    
    I would highly recommend Mario, based on our experience.
    
    
    
    

    re: .26
    
    If you had only put this in a month ago.  sigh 8^)

    I'd like to add another recommendation for Jim Brunelle. He recently
    completed the tiling of our kitchen floor and backsplash and did a
    great job. His quote was better than the other 2 we received, he was
    punctual, efficient, cleaned up afterwards, and was a pleasure to deal
    with.
    
    		Jim Brunelle
   		 Billerica, MA
    		(508) 663-2159
    
    

    
    Anyone know of a GOOD bathroom tile installer in the Peabody
    (North Shore) area?  I need someone to repair wall tile, replace
    the floor tile, and repair wall tile around the tub after it has
    been taken out and replaced.
    
    Thanks

   Does anyone have any experience with Amherst Tile?  They
   are located in GreyStone Plaza in Nashua.  We are considering
   having them do some tiling work.  I'd be interested in any
   comments if someone has had work done by them.

   Thanks....helen

    
       Looking for a general contractor in Central Mass that will re-tile
    (remove old ceremic tile and replace with new tile) and do some minor
    remodling. I live in Auburn, so anyone from Worcester,Shrewsbury,etc
    would be fine.
    
       Jim

    
    
    Hi, I recommend Steve LLoyd.  He is in Leicester - 892-4122.
    
        He has done small and large jobs for myself and different members
        of my family.  His work is always great and the price is very good
        also.
    
                                          Tom

>   Does anyone have any experience with Amherst Tile?  They
>   are located in GreyStone Plaza in Nashua.  We are considering
>   having them do some tiling work.  I'd be interested in any
>   comments if someone has had work done by them.

Well, I thought I'd reply to my own note here.  We did end up
having the tile work done by Amherst Tile and are very pleased
with the results.  I thought the price was reasonable and they
did an excellent job.  The installer was prompt arriving to do
the work and cleaned up after himself before leaving.

We had the tile put in shortly before Christmas and so far so
good.  I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

.......helen

    I'd like to recommend:
    
    	Jim McCormick
    
    as a flooring contractor.  His card says he does carpet, vinyl, and
    tile.  I recently had him install new linoleum in my kitchen and
    half-bath.  I'm very pleased with the job.  Jim was careful (that
    Designer Solarian is not cheap!), dependable, and he even returned
    my phone calls promptly (a rarity, in my experiences with contractors!)
    He also cleaned up nicely after he was done.
    
    He can be reached at (508)851-6986.

    You might have seen a reply from me from a few years back concerning a
    search for a vinyl floor installer. We're finally getting a floor and
    are searching the greater Phillipston, Ma. area for a floor seller/
    installer. We really need a good installer since our kitchen is
    old, not square, drops 3 inches to a particular corner, and has lots
    of cabinets and a closet. We also want to buy the floor from the
    installer/seller). 
    
    Does anyone know of someone in the
    Leominster/Worcester/Gardner/Greenfield area?
    		Cindy

    This is an update on a note I posted earlier for a carpet installer
    named Jim Guilmette from Salem, NH.  This past weekend, he and his 2
    brothers did a large carpet installation job at my Father's-in-Law
    condo.  Pad and carpet were installed in a large living room area,
    stairs, and upstairs hall.  We also had the pad changed in a spare
    bedroom and the old carpet was re-installed.
    
    Jim also installed vinyl flooring in the kitchen and half-bath.  This
    included putting down quarter-inch plywood as a sub-floor for the
    inlaid.
    
    The three of them showed up at 8 AM as agreed and were finished by 1
    PM.  They did a beautiful job!
    
    Jim lives in Salem, NH, and works in the greater So. NH area.  His number 
    is 603-894-6054.  If you need more information, you can send mail.
    
    	Ted

I just had my bath tiled by Jim Kruzska of Buffalo's Best Flooring. 

	Phone: 603-886-6421

He's located in Hudson, NH and does southern NH and northern MA.  We are just
delighted with his workmanship. 

I got his name from a friend and went and saw his handiwork and never even
got a second quote.  I knew I wanted him to do my job.  However, I did 
research the going rate and so I knew I'd gotten a good price when he gave me
his quote, so I went into it with my eyes open.  

The bath is 12' by 14' with so many nooks and turns in the walls that
I counted over a dozen separate inside and outside corners.  He did floor,
walls, platform tub front and decking, and top and ceiling of the shower
stall.  Around the shower, just about every tile needed to be cut because of
the trim style we selected.  

Before contracting Jim, I bought Taunton Press' book on tile laying and
knew that my job was going to be a nightmare to properly layout the tile. 
If you've ever laid out a tile job, you know that if you select floor tile
the same size as wall tile, the grout lines on the floor have to travel up
the walls as well or it looks botched.  We also had several horizontal levels
that had to coordinate to look pleasing.  The placement of the trim on the tub
determined the location of the trim above the sink and above the shower.  When
I experimented, I decided that what with the drop in the floor of a 100 year
old house across 14', this layout problem was very nearly non-computable.  Jim
did a wonderful job. Several times while doing the layout, Jim remarked as to
how everything tied together.  Each time I reminded him that that's why I hired
him. I knew how to cut and glue tile to a wall and I have done a bath before
but this job needed an expert.  He didn't disappoint me. 

When we started, my wife and I knew what colors we wanted but after visits
to three showrooms, and perusing catalogues, still didn't know how we wanted
it trimmed.  One session with Jim and he came up with much better ideas
than any of the tile showrooms and we went with one of his suggestions and
just love it.  Friends who see the bath have used the words "stunning",
"beautiful" and "elegant" to describe the results.

I had work to do near the jobsite and had lots of time to chat with Jim and
get to know him.  I'm convinced he is honest, conscientious, and a craftsman.
He was also a pleasure to deal with and clearly his goal is a delighted
customer. He shared some anecdotes of what he's done in the past to stand by
his work that really impressed me. 

Because I know how long my job took him, I know he underbid the job but he
never complained, nor did he try to cut corners to cut his loses, so to speak.
He asked for a punch list and I pointed out one area where he'd made a 
tradeoff differently than I would of.  He hammered out the four or five
tiles and relaid new ones.  

I believe that due to a number of factors, including the size and odd shape of 
my custom bath, as well as the fact that not all walls were parallel, there was
a lot more tile cutting and careful calculating than he'd anticipated.  He 
also suggested a very elaborate trim design which he'd not personally done 
before that involved more time cutting and sizing than he'd expected.  All
that contributed to the job taking him close to twice as long as I expect
he'd estimated.  

In spite of all that, Jim's final price was exactly what he quoted us at the
beginning.  Not only were there no funny charges or attempts to recoup for his 
lost time but he refused to charge for some things which I think he could
have legitimately treated as change orders and for which he would have been
fully justified in charging additional. My wife and I are so pleased with his
work that we are compensating him for more than he billed us.

If you want to see his work, contact me and I'll be happy to show you.  
You can reach Jim at 603-886-6421.

    
    I'd like to recommend 
    
    	Tony Sacco
    
    for any tile work you may need.  We recently had Tony do a section of 
    our basement (which we just refinished) and he did an excellent job. 
    We got three quotes and his was the best.  Another reason we hired him
    was because he did my mother-in-law's basement so we got to see the
    quality of his work.  His specialty is tile (he's been doing it for
    25 years) but can also do carpentry, plastering, etc.  This was
    convenient for my mother-in-law since she needed some non-tile work done
    also.
    
    His number is 603 434-9375.  He lives in southern New Hampshire but
    also does quite a few jobs in Massachusetts (we live near Boston).
    
    I usually hate dealing with contractors but dealing with Tony was a
    pleasure.

    I am looking for recommendations for someone in the Holden, MA
    area to remove/re-tile our kitchen and hallway area.
    
    Please send recommendations to:
    
    PNDVUE::JUSSAUME
    
    Thanks,
    
    

    Does anyone have any information on Creative Floors Inc (formerly
    Fllor Design Plus) on Main Street in Holden?
    
    We are looking to have them install a large amount of tile.  We are in
    the process of checking references, but the Worcester BBB listed
    them as having an unanswered complaint.
    
    Please send mail to PNDVUE::JUSSAUME