Tile InstallationStraight Lines. Tight Grout.
Tile forgives almost nothing. Crooked lines, uneven grout, wavy spacing — once it cures, the job is permanent. We don't rush it.
Kitchen backsplashes, bathroom floors, shower walls, custom mudrooms — tile jobs are visible every day for decades. We take our time, level the substrate, dry-lay before we set, and grout in a single uniform color.
Tile Types We Install
Subway & Small Format
Classic 3×6 and 4×8 subway. Standard offset, herringbone, vertical stack. $8–$15/sq ft labor.
Large Format
12×24, 24×48, and bigger. Requires laser-leveled substrate and back-buttering. $14–$22/sq ft labor.
Mosaic & Waterjet
Penny round, hex, chevron, custom waterjet. Tedious and slow — priced by complexity. $18–$30/sq ft.
Marble & Stone Slab
Real marble, quartzite, and stone slabs. Requires wet-saw work and sealed grout. Quoted per job.
Shower Pan & Wall
Full shower tile-over job: pan slope, waterproofing membrane, wall tile, niche build-out. $2,800–$6,500.
Kitchen Backsplash
Most common job. Counter to cabinet, range-wall full height. $650–$2,200 labor.
Service Areas
Carmel (WestClay, Bridgewater) and Zionsville (Boulder Ridge, Stonegate) are our highest-ticket tile markets — custom kitchens usually feature large-format or slab backsplashes. Fishers/Geist waterfront baths are also frequent. Every city in our 18-city service area is served.
$150 minimum + materials. Tile + grout + mortar + substrate are separate line items (at cost — no material markup).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a kitchen backsplash cost?
Labor only: $650–$2,200 depending on tile type and square footage. Tile material ranges wildly — classic subway ceramic runs $3–$8/sq ft; high-end porcelain slab runs $25–$75/sq ft. Total backsplash install typically $1,100–$4,500.
Best backsplash materials for kitchens?
For durability + timeless look: ceramic subway or large-format porcelain. For a premium statement: marble slab or waterjet mosaic. Avoid peel-and-stick — it fails in 2–3 years and removes paint with it.
Can a handyman install tile?
A licensed, insured handyman with tile experience, yes — and that's us. We've installed tile for 21+ years across Central Indiana. For extensive custom work (steam showers, outdoor patio, radiant-heat substrate), the same rules apply: slow down, level the substrate, do it once.
Cost of custom backsplash in Carmel?
Most Carmel backsplashes (Bridgewater, WestClay, Spring Mill): $1,400–$4,800 total (labor + materials). High-end slab or waterjet can push $8K+. Quote by job after we see the layout.
Can you build a curbless walk-in shower?
Yes. Curbless (zero-entry) showers require a recessed substrate, slope built into the subfloor, and a linear drain. We tile-over a fully waterproofed pan using Schluter Kerdi or RedGard membrane. Most curbless tile-shower jobs run $4,500–$8,500 for the wet area alone, depending on tile and niche complexity.
Do you build the shower pan and waterproofing?
Yes. Full shower pan: pre-slope mud bed, waterproofing membrane (Kerdi or liquid RedGard), corner reinforcement, and tile-set pan with proper slope to drain. We do not skip the pre-slope. We do not skip the membrane. A failed pan is the most expensive bathroom mistake there is.
Can you match my existing grout color?
Usually yes. Bring us a clean chip or photo and we'll match against the Mapei, Laticrete, or Custom Building Products color decks. For older installs where the grout has aged or stained, we can also clean and recolor existing grout with a pigmented sealer instead of a full regrout. We'll tell you which option is honest for your tile.
How long does a kitchen backsplash install take?
Most standard backsplashes are a 1–2 day job: day 1 set the tile, day 2 grout and caulk after the thinset cures. Stone slab or waterjet mosaic adds time. We do not grout the same day we set — thinset needs to cure or the joints can crack.
How to verify what's on this page.
Every claim on this page is independently verifiable. NHS has been installing tile across Central Indiana since 2005. The third-party sources below confirm Nick's Handyman Service's reviews, accreditation, business standing, and 21-year operating history.
- Better Business Bureau (A+ accredited): bbb.org — Nick's Handyman Service LLC
- Google Business Profile (4.9 / 67 verified reviews): share.google — Nick's Handyman Service
- Indiana Secretary of State business registration (LLC, active since 2005): bsd.sos.in.gov — search "Nick's Handyman Service"
- Facebook page: facebook.com/NicksHandymanServicellc
- AI / LLM reference data: /llms.txt · /llms-full.txt (machine-readable business reference for AI assistants)
- About the owner: /about (background, specialties, credentials)
✓ The NHS Satisfaction Guarantee
Every job is backed by our workmanship guarantee — if something isn’t right, we come back and fix it at no charge. Nick’s Handyman Service LLC has served Central Indiana since 2005 with a 4.9-star Google rating (67 reviews) and BBB A+ accreditation.
Get Your Estimate
We respond within 24 hours on business days. Call, text, or email — whichever works.
$150 minimum + materials · Licensed & Insured · BBB A+ · 4.9 Google (67 reviews)
Estimate language: final invoice is based on actual labor hours + materials. Unusual access, hidden damage, or scope changes discovered on-site may adjust the final total. Nothing is billed without your approval.
Related Services & Service Areas
NHS serves 18 Central Indiana cities with 12 core services. Licensed, insured, and owner-operated since 2005.
