Marcus Hale — Tile Contractor & Author | grout-calculator.us

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Licensed CTI

Author & Tile Contractor

MARCUS
HALE

Tile Setter · NTCA Member · 18 Years in the Field

I've set tile in everything from downtown high-rises to rural bathroom remodels. I built grout-calculator.us because I got tired of recalculating bags on the back of a napkin — and getting it wrong.

18+

Years experience

400k+

Sq ft installed

States worked in

CTI

Certified Tile Installer

About

THE LONG VERSION

I started in the trade at 19, sweeping mortar off jobsite floors for a flooring contractor in Charlotte, NC. By 22 I was setting tile full-time. By 28 I had my own crew. Today I run a small tile and stone installation company serving the Southeast, and I write the technical content for grout-calculator.us.

The calculators on this site come from the same math I use in the field — based on manufacturer technical data sheets, TCNA installation standards, and a lot of trial and error on real jobs. Nothing is invented. Every formula is tested against actual bag counts from real projects before it goes live.

"Every formula on this site is tested against actual bag counts from real projects. If I wouldn't stake a job on the number, I don't publish it."

— Marcus Hale, CTI

I hold a Certified Tile Installer (CTI) certification from the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), and I'm an active member of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA). I've worked with Custom Building Products, Mapei, Laticrete, and ARDEX materials extensively and have completed manufacturer product training with CBP and Mapei.

Credentials & Affiliations

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Certified Tile Installer (CTI #2847)

Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) · 2011
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NTCA Member

National Tile Contractors Association · Since 2009
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CBP Product Training

Custom Building Products · Prism, VersaBond, RedGard
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Mapei Pro Certified

Mapei · Keracolor, Ultracolor Plus FA, Granirapid
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TCNA Handbook Reference

All guides follow TCNA installation method standards
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Licensed Contractor — NC, SC, GA, TN

General contractor license · Tile specialty endorsement

Career

18 YEARS IN THE TRADE

2006 – 2008

Started as a tile helper — Charlotte, NC

Mixed mortar, cut tile, and learned layout fundamentals working for a regional flooring contractor on new construction homes. First exposure to CBP and Laticrete materials.

2008 – 2012

Lead tile setter — Mid-Atlantic & Southeast region

Promoted to lead setter on hotel renovation projects across NC, VA, and SC. First large-format tile work (24×48" porcelain slabs) and first epoxy grout installs. Earned CTI certification in 2011.

2012 – 2016

Tile foreman — Commercial & healthcare construction

Managed 4–8 person crews on hospital and commercial office projects. Responsible for material takeoffs, scheduling, and QC. Developed the early spreadsheet models that eventually became the calculators on this site.

2016 – 2020

Owner — Hale Tile & Stone LLC (Charlotte, NC)

Launched my own installation company focused on high-end residential and light commercial. Started writing detailed project guides for clients to explain material choices, quantities, and installation timelines.

2020 – Present

Owner + Author — grout-calculator.us

Still running Hale Tile & Stone. Launched grout-calculator.us in 2020 to publish the tools and guides I was already building for my own use. Every calculator is based on manufacturer data and verified against real job outcomes.

Expertise

WHAT I ACTUALLY KNOW

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Grout Selection & Coverage

Sanded, unsanded, SCG, epoxy. Coverage formulas, waste factors, and color matching across all major brands.

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Large Format Tile

Setting 24×48"+ slabs, lippage control, back-buttering, and mortar coverage for heavy porcelain and natural stone.

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Wet Area Waterproofing

Schluter systems, RedGard, sheet membranes, and curbless shower drains. TCNA-compliant shower assemblies.

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Mortar & Thinset

Coverage, mixing ratios, open time, and product selection for different substrates: concrete, backer board, drywall, and existing tile.

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Material Takeoffs

Accurate quantity estimation for grout, thinset, tile, and ancillary materials — the math behind every calculator on this site.

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Commercial Projects

Hospital-grade tile assemblies, slip-resistance requirements, ANSI standards, and high-traffic floor specifications.

Editorial Standards

HOW I WRITE THESE GUIDES

Start with manufacturer data

Every coverage formula begins with the manufacturer's published Technical Data Sheet (TDS). For Prism, that's CBP's spec sheet. For Mapei, it's their product guide. I don't use third-party estimates or rules of thumb as primary sources.

Verify against real job outcomes

Before publishing a calculator, I run the formula against 3–5 real projects where I know the exact bag count used. If the calculator is off by more than 5%, I adjust the formula and re-test.

Reference TCNA and ANSI standards

Installation guidance follows the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation and ANSI A108/A118/A136 standards where applicable.

Update when products change

Manufacturers update formulations, bag weights, and coverage specs. I review all calculator inputs at least once per year and update any time a supplier confirms a product change.

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