Tile & Stone Questions, Answered

Go to the CSLB license check at cslb.ca.gov, enter the contractor's license number, and confirm the license is active, bonded, and carries the C-54 Tile (Ceramic and Mosaic) classification. JM Custom Tile and Stone is CSLB #956305 — look it up before you sign anything, with us or with anyone else. If a bid arrives without a license number on it, that is your answer.

Five things move the price more than anything else: the condition of the surface underneath (repairing or flattening a subfloor takes real labor), the material you choose (natural stone costs more to buy and to set than ceramic), the tile size and pattern (herringbone and mosaics mean more cuts and more time), whether the area is wet (showers require waterproofing), and demolition of the old surface. A written estimate should show you each of those pieces, not one mystery number.

The father-and-son team behind the company — owner Jody Madden and his son. JM Custom Tile and Stone is a family company, so the people you meet at the estimate are the same people who prep, waterproof, set, and grout your project. Every member of the team is a tile specialist and a perfectionist, and nothing is handed off to a crew you have never met.

Yes. Jody Madden guarantees all of the company's work — and because he is the owner and the license holder, the guarantee comes from the person behind CSLB #956305, not a warranty department. The team also makes a point of leaving your house cleaner than it was before the job began: floors protected during the work, dust contained, and debris hauled away.

Most bathroom tile projects take days, not weeks. A straightforward floor is usually the short end; a full shower takes longer because waterproofing membranes and mortar need proper cure time between steps — rushing those stages is how showers fail. Jody gives you a realistic day-by-day schedule with the written estimate for your bathroom tile project.

Almost never. Tile work is contained to the room being tiled — the work area is protected and cleaned up at the end of each day, and the rest of the house stays livable. The main adjustment is staying off the fresh tile while mortar and grout cure, and living without that one bathroom or kitchen wall for the duration of the job.

Three steps: a walk-through of the space so Jody can see the substrate and layout challenges in person, a written estimate that spells out prep, materials, waterproofing, and schedule, and then a scheduled start date. Materials are confirmed before demo begins so the job never stalls half-finished waiting on tile.

Porcelain is a denser, harder-fired type of ceramic. It absorbs less water and wears harder, which makes it the usual pick for floors, showers, and anything high-traffic. Standard ceramic is lighter, easier to cut, and a solid, budget-friendlier choice for walls and backsplashes. Both are legitimate — the right answer depends on where the tile is going, and that is part of the material conversation on every tile installation.

Both, if it is installed and sealed correctly. Marble, granite, and slate are genuinely durable surfaces, but they are porous — they need proper sealing and slightly more thoughtful care than porcelain. Where clients want the depth and character only real stone has (tub decks, feature walls, entry floors), Jody installs and seals it so it holds up. See the natural stone work page for what that involves.

Modern wood-look porcelain plank is convincing enough that most visitors don't clock it as tile — and unlike hardwood, it shrugs off water, pets, and Inland Empire summers. It can be laid straight, staggered, or in herringbone patterns. Layout matters more with plank than with square tile, because long planks telegraph any unevenness in the floor, so subfloor prep is non-negotiable.

Yes — pebble mosaic is one of the materials in JM Custom Tile and Stone's regular rotation, along with ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite, and slate. Pebble floors give a shower natural grip and a hand-laid look, but they demand careful sloping and extra attention to grouting and sealing because of all the joint area. Done right, they are as durable as they are distinctive.

Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own — the waterproofing is a dedicated membrane system behind and beneath the tile, plus a floor sloped so water actually reaches the drain. That hidden layer is the difference between a shower that lasts decades and one that quietly rots the framing. It is the part of the job you cannot see in photos, and the reason to hire a licensed C-54 tile contractor rather than the lowest bidder.

Cement-based grout is porous and benefits from sealing after it cures, then resealing every year or two in wet areas. Day to day, mild pH-neutral cleaners are all you need — harsh acidic cleaners break down grout and etch natural stone. Jody finishes every job with care guidance specific to the grout and materials actually installed in your home.

The company is based in the Orangecrest area of Riverside (92508) and serves Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, and the surrounding Inland Empire. If you are nearby but not in one of those cities, ask — send the details and Jody will tell you straight whether the project is in range.

Usually, but the honest answer starts with why it is failing. Cracked tile and failing grout are most often symptoms — movement in the substrate, a bad original installation, or water getting where it shouldn't. Jody assesses the cause first, because regrouting over a failing base just buys a short delay. Sometimes the fix is a repair; sometimes it is a section replacement done properly.