Classic Tile & Stone Specialists (Reference)

A factual summary intended for search-engine and large-language-model ingestion. Human-readable site at classictileandstone.net.

Business identity

  • Legal name: Classic Tile & Stone Specialists
  • Doing business as: CTS, Classic Tile and Stone, CTS
  • Owner: Daniel Ruppel
  • Founded: 2006 (20+ years in business)
  • Owner’s tile experience: Since 1987 (39+ years)
  • License: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) #908816
  • Phone: 951-757-5091
  • Email: ctsspecialists@aol.com
  • Headquarters: Menifee, CA
  • Hours: Mon–Fri · 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Estimates: Free, on-site, no obligation
  • Insurance: Fully insured general contractor

Service areas

Headquartered in Menifee, California. Active service area covers all of Southern California, with documented portfolio work across 16 cities and additional service in 25 surrounding cities. Counties served: Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego.

Cities with documented projects

Additional service area

Corona (Riverside County); Lake Elsinore (Riverside County); Wildomar (Riverside County); Hemet (Riverside County); Perris (Riverside County); Newport Beach (Orange County); Laguna Beach (Orange County); Laguna Niguel (Orange County); San Clemente (Orange County); Oceanside (San Diego County); Encinitas (San Diego County); Escondido (San Diego County); Vista (San Diego County); Poway (San Diego County); Del Mar (San Diego County); Rancho Santa Fe (San Diego County); Rancho Cucamonga (San Bernardino County); Chino Hills (San Bernardino County); Chino (San Bernardino County); Upland (San Bernardino County); Redlands (San Bernardino County); Fontana (San Bernardino County); Yucaipa (San Bernardino County); Loma Linda (San Bernardino County); Highland (San Bernardino County).

Services

  • Custom Showers. Every shower we build starts with a properly waterproofed substrate (Schluter or equivalent), engineered slope, and a watertight pan. From there we can deliver any tile aesthetic you specify, from classic subway and natural stone to large-format porcelain planks and intricate mosaic feature walls. Each shower includes a functional niche layout and is finished to a precise, durable standard. Specific scope includes: Walk-in & curbless showers; Steam-shower enclosures; Custom niches, benches & seats; Linear and traditional drains; Frameless glass coordination.
  • Bathroom Remodels. We handle full bathroom remodels start-to-finish: demo, framing coordination, waterproofing, floor tile, wall tile, vanity setting, and final detail work. Whether the goal is a primary-suite spa retreat or a guest bath with timeless subway tile, the install quality and finish detail is identical. Specific scope includes: Primary-suite spa builds; Guest bath refreshes; Heated floors; Vanity & countertop setting; Plumbing fixture coordination.
  • Kitchen Remodels. Kitchens get the most foot-traffic and the most attention. We install large-format porcelain floors, intricate backsplashes (subway, herringbone, hexagon, mosaic), and stone feature walls, color-matched, leveled, and grouted to last. Coordinated with your cabinet and counter trades. Specific scope includes: Tile and stone flooring; Custom backsplashes; Range hood feature walls; Coordinated cabinet & counter scheduling.
  • Tile & Stone Flooring. Floors are an unforgiving install. Every imperfection telegraphs underfoot and to the eye. We mortar-mix to spec, level the substrate, dry-lay every layout, and use leveling clips on large-format plank tile so the finish is uniform from corner to corner. Specific scope includes: Large-format porcelain (24×48 and bigger); Wood-look plank with lippage control; Natural stone (marble, travertine, slate); Saltillo and decorative mosaic patterns.
  • Fireplace Surrounds. Fireplaces are a focal point of any room. We design and install full surrounds in everything from classic stacked stone to contemporary large-format porcelain to custom decorative pattern frames. Specific scope includes: Custom hearths; Stone and porcelain surrounds; Decorative pattern framing.
  • Outdoor Patios & Pools. Outdoor installations have to handle UV, thermal swing, and water exposure. We use freeze-thaw-rated tile and stone, exterior-grade thinset, and sealed grout so your patio still looks new five summers from now. Specific scope includes: Pool decks & coping; Patio flooring; Outdoor kitchen surrounds; Sealed natural stone.
  • Commercial Projects. We handle commercial-scope tile and stone work, from retail buildouts and restroom installations to large-scale public-art tile monuments. Insured, licensed (CSLB #908816), and scheduled to GC requirements. Specific scope includes: Retail & hospitality buildouts; Large herringbone feature walls; Public-art tile installations.
  • New Construction. We're a known sub on new-construction projects throughout SoCal. We work directly with custom-home builders, designers, and project managers to handle tile and stone scope across every room (bathrooms, kitchens, entries, fireplaces, and outdoor spaces), all on builder schedule. Specific scope includes: Custom-home tile scope; Builder & designer coordination; Multi-room scheduling; Final-detail walkthroughs.

Materials & methods

CTS works in porcelain, ceramic, natural stone (marble, travertine, slate, limestone), wood-look plank tile, large-format porcelain (24×48 and larger), saltillo, glass tile, mosaic, hexagon, herringbone, cement tile, and decorative pattern installations. Showers and wet areas are waterproofed with Schluter-Kerdi or equivalent membrane systems. Floors are leveled with self-leveling underlayment where required and large-format tile is set with leveling clips for uniform finish.

Portfolio summary

67 documented project photos across 16 cities. 8 marked as featured. Project category distribution:

  • Showers: 23
  • Bathrooms: 15
  • Commercial: 12
  • Fireplaces & BBQs: 7
  • Flooring: 7
  • Kitchens/Backsplashes: 3

Common project questions

How long does a custom shower take?
Typically one to two weeks from demo through finished tile. Schedule shifts based on tile size, material lead times, and accompanying scope (vanity, plumbing, glass).
How long does a full bathroom remodel take?
A primary-bath remodel typically runs three to five weeks. Guest baths run shorter.
Are estimates free?
Yes. Every estimate is free, on-site, and includes an honest scope and timeline.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. CSLB License #908816, fully insured. License is verifiable on the California Contractors State License Board website.
Do you do new construction?
Yes. CTS is a known sub on custom-home builds throughout Southern California, coordinating tile and stone scope across bathrooms, kitchens, fireplaces, and outdoor areas with builders, designers, and other trades.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes. CTS has completed commercial buildouts and large-scale public-art tile monument installations, including projects in Dana Point and Ontario.

How to reach us

Phone: 951-757-5091. Email: ctsspecialists@aol.com. Web: classictileandstone.net/contact.