Retail
Needs to handle constant foot traffic and rolling carts or displays without showing wear quickly.
What a commercial project needs
Slip-rated material
We select tile with a slip rating appropriate to the space, especially kitchens, entrances, and washrooms.
Scheduling around your hours
We plan work around your business's open hours, whether that means evenings, weekends, or a phased approach by section.
Traffic-rated durability
Commercial floors take far more daily traffic than a residential floor, so we match tile density and finish to actual expected use.
Slip rating and traffic-durability material selection
A commercial floor's material has to match the specific risks of the space. A restaurant kitchen or an entryway that tracks in Ottawa's rain and winter slush both call for tile with an appropriate slip rating, since the consequences of a slip in a commercial setting extend beyond the tile itself. Beyond slip resistance, we generally recommend a denser, more traffic-rated porcelain for commercial floors than what's typical in residential work, since foot traffic in a retail store or office lobby is consistently heavier than in a home.
Retail, office, restaurant, and medical spaces
Office
Typically prioritizes a clean, consistent look across a larger open floor plan.
Restaurant
Kitchen and dining area both need durable, easy-to-clean material, with slip resistance a real factor in the kitchen specifically.
Medical or dental
Usually calls for low-maintenance, hygienic flooring and wall tile, often installed on a tighter schedule around patient appointments.
Scheduling around business hours
Unlike a residential job where the homeowner simply isn't using a room for a few days, a commercial space usually needs to stay operational. We work with business owners to plan installation around actual operating hours, evenings, overnight, weekends, or a phased approach that sections off part of a space while the rest stays open, so the tile work causes as little disruption to your business as possible.
Commercial tile experience across Ottawa business types
Commercial tile work draws on the same core skills as residential installation, substrate prep, waterproofing where relevant, precise setting and grouting, applied at a larger scale and with a tighter schedule. Rather than quote you a specific number of past commercial jobs, we'll walk you through how we'd approach your space's material needs and scheduling constraints directly, so you can judge fit based on the actual plan for your project.
How Much Does Commercial Tile Installation Cost in Ottawa?
Commercial projects are always quoted per project given scale and material specs, though standard commercial floor tile often lands near the residential floor tile range as a rough reference point.
Commercial tile work
Quoted per project
Slip-rating requirements for kitchens, entrances, and washrooms
Traffic-rated tile density and finish for the space's actual use
Scheduling around business hours, evenings, weekends, or phased sections
As a reference point, standard commercial floor tile is often near the $10 – $18 per sq ft installed residential floor range, material and scale still set the final number
What the Standards Require
Slip resistance for wet floors
Level indoor floors expected to be walked on when wet should have a wet DCOF rating of 0.42 or higher. The rating is listed on the tile's spec sheet, so it can be checked before the tile is ordered.
Full mortar contact
At least 80% mortar contact in dry areas and at least 95% in washrooms and other wet areas, so heavy traffic does not crack tiles that are not fully supported.
Movement joints
Commercial floors need movement joints at the perimeter, at changes of plane and where tile meets other materials. Long runs of tile without them are where cracking starts.
Our Process
How a Commercial Tile Project Is Managed
1
Assess the space and requirements
We review the space's traffic, slip-rating needs, and any code requirements before quoting the project.
2
Plan around your operating hours
We schedule work around your business's open hours, whether that means evenings, weekends, or a phased approach by section.
3
Select traffic-rated material
Tile density and finish are matched to the space's actual expected use, not just its appearance.
4
Install in phases and verify
Work proceeds in the agreed sections, and each phase is checked before moving to the next so the business can keep operating.
Tiles Experts provides professional commercial tile installation throughout Ottawa, Ontario. Commercial spaces bring a different set of demands than a home renovation: retail stores, offices, restaurants, and medical or dental practices all need tile chosen for how heavily and by whom the space is actually used, and installation scheduled around the fact that the business generally still has to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you install tile in a space that stays open during the work?
In many cases, yes, depending on the layout and how the space can be sectioned off. We can plan work in phases around a working space, or schedule installation for evenings, overnight, or weekends when the business is closed, and we'll work with you to find the approach that fits your operation.
What's a slip rating and why does it matter for a commercial floor?
A slip rating measures how resistant a tile's surface is to slipping when wet, and it's a real consideration in restaurant kitchens, entryways that track in rain or snow, and washrooms. We factor slip rating into material selection for these areas specifically, rather than choosing tile purely on appearance.
Do you install tile in medical or dental offices?
Yes. These spaces typically call for durable, easy-to-clean, low-maintenance flooring and wall tile, and often need work scheduled tightly around patient hours or done during a planned closure. We coordinate timing directly with the practice to minimize disruption.
How is commercial tile different from residential tile in terms of durability?
A commercial space, whether it's a retail store, restaurant, or office lobby, sees far more daily foot traffic than a home, so we generally recommend a denser, more traffic-rated porcelain tile for commercial floors than what's typical in a residential install, matched to how heavily the specific space will actually be used.
Can you handle a multi-room or multi-area commercial tile project?
Yes, we scope and quote commercial projects of varying sizes, from a single office washroom to a larger retail or restaurant floor plan. Availability and scheduling depend on the project's size and your timeline, which we'll discuss honestly when you request a quote.