Mudroom Makeover: Faux Wood Ceramic Tile


Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Floor & Decor. All opinions and photography are our own and are not influenced by Floor & Decor. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog!

I shared the history and floor plan of our mudroom, then the design plans for this space, then the dramatic paint transformation, and finally chatted about finding the perfect tile from Floor & Decor for this high-traffic room. Today I’m back with my last… but BEST… mudroom update for a while.

Let’s Review

Originally we wanted to DIY this tile job, but the major issues that were lurking under this original clay tile made that pretty impossible. We hired a local contractor (thank goodness) and it took him and his partner four full days to tackle this project because it was so tedious.

Hiring Out This Project

The problem lurking under the floor was that part of the subfloor was concrete, part of it was wood and ALL of it was very unlevel.
Plus the stairs were really slanted downward, making them pretty unsafe for someone who may be unfamiliar with our house or someone not paying attention. Between the subfloor and the stairs, these contractors obviously had their work cut out for them.

They ripped out the old tile, sanded down the layer of unexpected paint on the floor, and then added a coat of self-leveler that made the subfloor far more level. After the self-leveler was set, they came back and laid the tile and… you guys, I don’t think I have stopped staring since!

I mean, can you even?! The new tile is even better than I imagined, I’m seriously obsessed with the light and airy look.

The Cost of Labor

Plus, the floor is level and the stairs are so much safer because of all of their prep work– miracle workers! Unfortunately hiring this job out did add quite a bit of money to the grand total of the project, but it was definitely worth every. I would have DIY-ed it if we could, but the floor issues were far too advanced for us to tackle ourselves. Hiring this team out for 4 full days ended up being around $3,000. Again, this was a bit more than I wanted to pay, and not necessarily the norm for the cost of a professional tile project, but the professionals said this was a lot more challenging than usual and required a LOT more work than usual.

Plus, I saved quite a bit of money by comparing prices. And buying the tile and grout from Floor and Decor helped me save even more. Here’s the exact cost breakdown for the tile:

  • Approx. 200 square feet of tile = $623
  • 2 bags of Navaho Brown Grout = $34
  • 4 days of labor (2 guys) plus their prep materials = $3,100
  • GRAND TILE TOTAL: $3,757
    *I’ll break down the cost of everything together once I we have light fixtures, furniture, a rug, etc.

Back To the New Tile

I’m so glad I went with this tile because I love the warmth it brings to the black and white paint and alsoย love the subtle hint of wood grain it brings without making it feeling too “woodsy.”

Plus, this ceramic tile is indoor/outdoor tile, so I’m hoping it will hold up to all of the elements this mudroom will see (especially throughout the winters).

Before and After

I still can’t get over the dramatic transformation of this entire room.

Just adding paint and new tile makes this space feel completely different. Now I can’t wait to start decorating!

What’s Next?!

Next on my to-do list is to figure out a rug, lights, furniture, and general decor. I’m super excited to start adding these new items, but I also want to take my time from here so I don’t fall victim to design regret. I’m trying to take on these next steps slowly and make these decisions with as much intention as possible.

I’ll keep you updated over the next few months as I fill this space. For now though, I’m just happy staring at this gorgeous space.
Thank you so much for following along on the mudroom makeover so far! I’m hoping there are a lot more dramatic transformations like this to share very soon!!

Bridget


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.