Flooring Tile - what to do???

We want to redo our kitchen floor and wanted a tile floor. Unfortunately, the builder did not allow enough room under the entrance door to place tile and/or subflooring. Laminates won't fit either. We got an estimate on vinyl flooring (yuk) and were sickened when the price was about the same as tile. On top of all that, we are being quoted prices on the exact same materials, but different suppliers - they vary as much as $12 more a square yard! I know prices vary in all parts of the country, but this is a small town. Our kitchen is 11.5 X 16 feet. I know we would need to have the door raised (labor costs), and some sort of cement something put down for tile. I think we should do tile. In your experience, based on a $3.00 12x12 tile, how much would you estimate the rest would cost? What else is included, so that I have a clue about what they're charging me for? Thanks...

Much depends on whether the subfloor is concrete or wood. If it's wood, you'll need something on the floor before the tile is installed. And there are problems with concrete slabs also.

Labor costs are higher in the North than they are in the South. In Texas we do the work for almost nothing and throw in the material for free. :-)

My prices are posted on my site.

http://www.johnbridge.com/tile%20letter.htm