By Bruno Venichand, J. Perry & Sons — Florida CGC1540699
A general contractor hiring a tile and stone subcontractor in South Florida should expect a bid from the drawings within 48 hours, unit prices of $12–$18 per sq ft on standard porcelain floors and $25–$37 on large-format and stone, a COI naming the GC and owner, and a crew sized to the schedule. J. Perry & Sons commercial tile contractor works as a tile, stone veneer, stone slab and paver sub for GCs on commercial and multifamily projects across Broward and Palm Beach. This page is what we bid, how we bid it and how the job runs.
Subcontractor unit prices for GC bids
| Scope | Unit price (labor + setting materials) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain floor tile, 12x24 / 24x24, straight or 1/3 offset | $12–$18 per sq ft | Volume pricing from 2,000 sq ft |
| Large-format porcelain, 24x48 and up | $24–$34 per sq ft | Leveling clips, LHT mortar, 1/8" in 10 ft flatness required |
| Wall tile, porcelain or ceramic | $21–$30 per sq ft | Restrooms, corridors, feature walls |
| Natural stone floor or wall | $30–$44 per sq ft | Sealed, pattern and border extra |
| Porcelain slab walls (fireplaces, lobbies, showers) | $60–$90 per sq ft | Fabrication and handling included |
| Stone veneer, exterior or interior | $38–$65 per sq ft | Lath, scratch coat, veneer, grout |
| Porcelain or concrete pavers, exterior | $19–$39 per sq ft | Base, sand set or pedestal |
| Quarry tile with epoxy grout | $18–$25 per sq ft | Kitchens, back-of-house |
| Tile cove base | $20–$30 per lf | 4" or 6" |
| Waterproofing membrane | $4.50–$7 per sq ft | Sheet or liquid, flood-tested |
| Crack isolation membrane | $3–$4.50 per sq ft | Where the drawings or slab call for it |
| Self-leveling underlayment | $4.50–$7 per sq ft | Where substrate is out of tolerance |
| Epoxy grout upcharge | $3–$4.50 per sq ft | Healthcare, kitchens, restrooms |
| Demo of existing tile | $4–$6 per sq ft | Haul-away included |
Tile and stone are by owner or GC unless we are asked to supply. After-hours labor adds 15–30%. Prices held for 30 days on a written bid.
What our bid includes and excludes
Included: takeoff from the drawings, setting materials per spec, movement joints at TCNA EJ171 spacing with sealant, grout and cleaning, sealer on stone and cement grout, submittals and product data, mock-up panel if specified, attic stock delivered to the GC, workmanship warranty letter at closeout.
Excluded unless listed: tile and stone material, substrate flatness beyond 1/4" in 10 ft (1/8" for large-format), moisture mitigation (priced after testing), demo, floor drains and plumbing, blocking, final cleaning of the building, dumpsters.
Those exclusions are on the bid so there is no argument at the change-order stage. If the GC wants the substrate and mitigation on our side, we price it.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Send the finish schedule and the relevant sheets and we'll return a unit-price bid within 48 hours.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
How we bid from the drawings
- Finish schedule first. Every room with a tile or stone finish, the product, size, pattern and grout.
- Takeoff by sheet. Net areas from the floor plans, wall areas from elevations, cove base and trim in linear feet, transitions and drains counted.
- Specs read. Section 09 30 00 or the equivalent: mortar type, membrane, grout, flatness, mock-up, DCOF.
- Unit prices applied by scope line, with alternates where the spec allows (for example, epoxy versus high-performance cement grout).
- Bid form in the GC's format or ours, with a schedule of values, exclusions and the COI attached.
- Scope review call before award so the GC's PM and our foreman agree on what is in.
What the GC gets on site
- Foreman on every job who reads the drawings and attends the weekly OAC or sub meeting.
- Crew size to the schedule: two setters and a helper for a restroom package, four to six setters for an open floor, more on a hotel block.
- Production rates we commit to: 250–400 sq ft per setter-day on 12x24 porcelain, 150–250 on large-format, 80–150 on wall tile.
- Daily cleanup of our areas, our debris to the GC's dumpster.
- Protection of finished floors with ram board until turnover.
- Pay applications on the GC's schedule with lien releases.
- Punch list turned within the week.
Southeast Florida conditions on commercial jobs
Slab moisture. Slab-on-grade with no vapor retarder is common in Broward and Palm Beach. We test before any membrane or epoxy grout and price mitigation as an alternate.
Post-tension decks. No drilling or anchoring without a scan. Shower curbs, benches and thresholds are surface-set.
Storefront and sun movement. Soft joints at the storefront line and at the EJ171 spacing; this is in our price and we ask that the GC's layout not delete them.
Salt air. Coastal jobs get stainless or coated edge profiles and sealed stone; cement grout outdoors near the water stains within a year.
Permits and inspections. Tile is normally under the GC's permit. On healthcare and hospitality jobs we build ICRA barriers and follow the facility's hours.
Hurricane season. Our material and staging are secured or removed within 48 hours of a watch, on the GC's storm plan.
Timeline on typical GC scopes
- Restroom package, four restrooms, floor and walls with waterproofing: 3–4 weeks
- 5,000 sq ft office or retail floor with cove base: 2–3 weeks
- Hotel bathroom block, 20 rooms: 8–10 working days per block
- 1,500 sq ft lobby in large-format with a porcelain slab wall: 3–5 weeks
- Exterior stone veneer, 1,500 sq ft: 3–4 weeks
The Southwest Ranches equestrian stable stone veneer and the West Palm Beach new-construction tile upgrade are two of our documented projects that show the stone and tile sides of this work.
Commercial tile subcontractor by city
- Commercial renovation in Fort Lauderdale
- Commercial renovation in Hollywood
- Commercial renovation in Pompano Beach
- Commercial renovation in Pembroke Pines
- Commercial renovation in Boca Raton
- Commercial renovation in Delray Beach
- Commercial renovation in West Palm Beach
- Commercial renovation in Palm Beach Gardens
Related guides: Commercial tile cost per sq ft · Commercial tile flooring contractor · Commercial stone veneer for storefronts and monument signs
Tile and stone subcontractor for GCs — FAQ
What are your unit prices for commercial tile? $12–$18 per sq ft on standard porcelain floors, $24–$34 on large-format, $21–$30 on walls, $30–$44 on stone, labor and setting materials. The full list is in the table above.
How fast can you turn a bid? Within 48 hours of receiving the finish schedule and the relevant sheets for most scopes. Larger projects with multiple buildings take a few days.
Do you carry the insurance a GC requires? Yes. General liability, workers' comp and the GC and owner named as additional insured on the COI, with our Florida CGC license number on the bid.
Will you supply the tile? Either way. Most GC scopes are labor and setting materials with material by owner or GC; we can supply and manage attic stock when asked.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or email the finish schedule and drawings to jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
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