Tile Installation in Northfield, IL
Established character homes along Happ Road and beyond — we work carefully in every one.
Northfield is one of the smaller communities on the North Shore, tucked between Winnetka and Glenview along the Happ Road and Willow Road corridors. The housing stock here skews older and more established — many homes date from the 1940s through the 1970s, with a character that reflects the community's quiet, tree-lined streets. Older homes in this area frequently have plaster walls and mortar-bed bathroom substrates, which require a different approach than the drywall-and-backer-board construction common in newer builds. We handle these substrates regularly and know when to work with what is there versus when a full demo is the right call.
Northfield neighborhoods we serve
Services in Northfield
Northfield Homeowner FAQ
Our Northfield home has plaster walls in the bathroom. Does that change the tile installation approach?
Plaster walls are common in Northfield's older homes. Tiling over existing plaster is sometimes possible if the plaster is solid, well-bonded to the lath, and the surface is not already in a wet area. For shower surrounds, we typically recommend removing the plaster and installing a proper tile backer board or foam waterproofing board — plaster is not an appropriate substrate for a wet area regardless of condition. For non-wet areas like a backsplash or feature wall, sound plaster can work with the right adhesive. We assess each situation during the walkthrough.
Are there any considerations specific to tiling in older Northfield homes?
A few things come up regularly in Northfield. Older homes often have out-of-plumb walls and out-of-level floors — slight deviations that accumulated over decades of settling. We account for these during layout planning so the tile reads visually straight even when the walls are not perfectly true. Older cast-iron tubs can also be challenging to tile around because they flex slightly — we use a flexible sealant at the tub-to-tile joint rather than grout, which prevents cracking at that seam.
How do you protect the rest of our home during a tile job in Northfield?
Tile work generates dust and debris, especially during demo. We lay down rosin paper or canvas drop cloths along the path from the entry to the work area, seal off doorways with plastic sheeting during dusty phases, and bag debris daily rather than letting it accumulate. We are careful with older homes in Northfield where hardwood floors and period millwork are worth protecting.