Frequently asked questions

Rates vary widely with the tile, the area and how much preparation is needed. Across the Sydney market, standard tiling labour is commonly quoted per square metre, with natural stone, mosaic and large-format work sitting higher because they take longer to lay and cut.

Other things that move the price: removing existing tiles, levelling an uneven floor, waterproofing, epoxy grout, and small or awkward areas where the set-up time outweighs the square metres.

We quote your job specifically rather than working off a rate card, so you can see what each part costs.

Either. Many clients enjoy choosing their own and buy direct from a supplier. If you would rather not, we will shortlist options that suit the room and include a material allowance in the quote.

About 10% over the measured area for a straight lay, and closer to 15% for diagonal, herringbone or patterned work. Order it all in one batch — shade varies between production runs — and keep the leftovers for future repairs.

A small bathroom re-tile is often one to two days of tiling, plus waterproofing and curing time before that. Larger bathrooms and kitchens run to three days or more, and complex layouts extend it further. A full bathroom renovation is typically one to two weeks end to end.

Usually. Freshly laid floors have to stay off while the adhesive cures, so we plan around access — tiling a hallway in halves, for example. If you only have one bathroom, tell us early and we will sequence it to minimise the days it is out of action.

Not always. Tiling over sound existing tile is possible in some dry areas, but it raises floor height at doorways and is generally not the right call in wet areas where the waterproofing needs renewing. We check what is underneath before recommending it.

We do. Floors get protected, dust is contained where we can, the site is swept at the end of each day, and offcuts, packaging and demolition waste leave with us.

In NSW, residential building work over the statutory threshold set by NSW Fair Trading requires a contractor licence, and waterproofing of wet areas is a licensed specialist category. Work also has to comply with the National Construction Code and the relevant Australian Standards.

Ask any tiler for their licence details before work starts — it is a reasonable question and a licensed contractor will not mind.

AS 3958 covers the installation of ceramic tiles. AS 3740 covers waterproofing of domestic wet areas, and AS 4654 covers external above-ground waterproofing such as balconies. We work to these as standard practice.

Yes — we carry public liability cover, and we are happy to provide a certificate of currency for your records or for a strata manager before work begins.

Yes. You receive a record of the membrane system used and the areas it was applied to. Keep it — insurers, strata committees and future buyers all ask for it eventually.

Start with the floor, because that is where slip resistance matters. Porcelain is the safe all-rounder: dense, water resistant and low maintenance. Natural stone — limestone, travertine, marble — looks superb but is porous and needs sealing and ongoing care.

Mosaics work well on shower floors because the extra grout lines add grip and let the tile follow the fall to the waste. Terrazzo is durable and water resistant with plenty of colour options.

Porcelain is fired denser and absorbs less water, so it stands up better to wet areas, outdoor use and heavy traffic. Ceramic is lighter, easier to cut and generally cheaper, which makes it a good choice for walls and splashbacks.

It resists staining and moisture far better than cement grout, which makes it worth the extra cost in showers, commercial kitchens and anywhere that gets cleaned hard. It is more demanding to install, so it is priced accordingly.

Yes. Recycled-content tiles made from post-industrial and post-consumer glass are widely available, and locally made tile carries lower transport emissions. Durability counts too — a porcelain floor that lasts thirty years has a smaller footprint than a cheap one replaced twice.

Often yes. Where the tiles and the substrate behind them are still sound, regrouting, resealing and sealing the recess can stop the leak. Where the membrane has failed or the sheeting is wet, a strip-out and rebuild is the only lasting fix — and we will say so rather than take your money for a repair that will not hold.

Usually poor adhesive coverage, a substrate that was not properly prepared, or missing movement joints. Slabs and framing move; without somewhere for that movement to go, it comes out through the tile. The fix depends on how widespread it is.

Sometimes. If you have leftovers, easily. If not, we can often find a close match, or lift tiles from a hidden area such as under an appliance or inside a cupboard and use them for the visible repair.

We are based at 23 Livingstone Rd, Lidcombe and work across the Sydney metropolitan area — the Inner West, CBD, Parramatta and greater west, the Hills, South Sydney, the Sutherland Shire, the Eastern Suburbs and the North Shore. If you are unsure, just ask.