TJ’s Tile is a locally owned family business in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The company started in the late 1980’s. Tim Schons started installing tile evenings and weekends while working fulltime as the manager of Detroit Lakes Paint and Glass. At the time there was a real need for tile installers in the area and he thought it would be a good way to make some extra money and fill the void in the market.
Tim’s son Jesse started to tag along with his dad around age 8 and help with jobs and has never left the industry since. The name TJ’s Tile was derived from Tim’s and Jesse’s first initials after Tim left Detroit Lakes Paint and Glass in 1999 to start the business. At the time they started they had the largest tile selection in the area. The business has been run out of the family home for over fifteen years.
Alysia (Tim’s daughter) works as a part time secretary for the business. TJ’s Tile employs two full-time and couple part-time works as needed.
TJ’s Tile receives most of their business through word of mouth advertising and repeat business. They are very proud of the quality of our work and strive to be the best in the business.
Over the years Tim and Jesse have attended many classes for tile setting. In 2010 they went to the Twin Cities and took a certification test to become Certified Tile Installers and to this date are the only CTIs in the region certified by the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. The test includes a written exam and hands on skill evaluation.