Plan the job from the surface to the final grout
In short
For an Adelaide tiling job, shortlist businesses that service your suburb and have completed similar surfaces and layouts. Check the SA building work contractor licence and the supervisor's registered scope, particularly for wet areas or balconies. Arrange an inspection for damaged or unknown surfaces, resolve apartment permissions, and compare written itemised quotes that name who handles each stage.
Step 1
Show the existing surface before choosing a finish
Photograph the whole room and any loose tiles, cracks or damp patches. Say whether you want a small repair, replacement tiles or a new tiled area. A leak or failing floor may need work beyond tile laying; ask for an inspection before treating a cosmetic replacement as the solution.
Details that help define your tiling job
| Area | What to tell the tiler |
|---|---|
| Bathroom renovation | Leak history, existing wall and floor condition, tile removal, drainage and who is arranging plumbing and waterproofing. |
| Kitchen splashback | Wall condition, tile size and pattern, exposed edges and cuts around fittings. Identify who will arrange electrical changes. |
| Unit or apartment floor | Current floor covering, proposed tile weight and size, door clearances, shared access and any building requirements for floor noise. |
| Balcony or verandah | Rain exposure, cracks, drainage and existing waterproofing. Make clear which area is involved when checking licence conditions. |
Step 2
Check the contracting business and the supervisor's scope
In South Australia, businesses carrying out or organising building work for others must hold a building work contractor licence. Building work must also be supervised by a registered building work supervisor. Ask for both details and use the Consumer and Business Services licence register linked from the SA Government page below. Match the contracting name to the quote and check the conditions cover your work.
CBS's standard Wall & Floor Tiling supervisor scope includes wet-area waterproofing and surface preparation, but excludes replacement of wall linings or the underlying surface. Other conditions are narrower: tiling excluding wet areas does not cover a bathroom, and external-only tiling excludes balconies. Ask who will carry out and supervise waterproofing, and who will replace damaged linings or flooring if needed. Confirm the actual registration conditions rather than relying on a general description of the trade.
Ask to see completed jobs using a similar tile size, material and pattern. Check relevant insurance details and ask who will be on site, especially if more than one business is involved.
Step 3
Settle apartment permissions and safe removal
For an Adelaide unit or apartment, ask whether the property is under a strata or community title and give the manager or corporation a written description of the work. In SA strata schemes, building or structural work and changes to a unit's outward appearance generally require corporation permission. Ask which approvals your tiling, waterproofing or shared-property work needs, and keep the written decision before booking removal. Check the scheme's own rules rather than applying another state's renovation categories.
For an older home, check for asbestos before disturbing existing linings or flooring. CBS identifies tile and splashback linings among materials where asbestos was used. If the material is uncertain, obtain advice from an asbestos professional before removal begins.
Explain the actual access at your Adelaide property: stairs, lift bookings, parking, the route for carrying tiles and rubble, and permitted work hours. Agree where cutting will happen and how occupied rooms and shared areas will be protected.
Step 4
Send one brief and compare the preparation costs
CBS recommends at least two written itemised quotes for renovations and repairs. Give each business the same photos, approximate dimensions, tile product and layout. Ask the tiler to confirm measurements and quantities, including waste and spare tiles, before you order materials.
Compare removal, disposal, repairs, levelling, waterproofing, tile supply, laying, trims, grout and sealant. Ask which items are included, excluded or awaiting inspection. Agree how any concealed damage will be documented, priced and approved before extra work proceeds. A square-metre laying rate does not tell you the total cost of preparing the room.
Step 5
Confirm the layout, waiting periods and handover records
Before installation, agree the grout colour, edge treatment, prominent cuts and transitions to adjoining floors. Ask when you can walk on the surface, use the shower or clean the tiles, based on the products being installed. Plan alternative bathroom access if this is your only shower.
At handover, inspect the agreed layout, cuts, grout and edges together. Record any concerns in writing and keep the accepted quote, approved changes, invoice, tile details and care instructions. For waterproofing, retain the records agreed for your project and confirm who to contact about any later leak or defect.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- SA Government: building work contractor's licence
Contractor licensing, registered supervision requirements and access to the CBS licence register.
- CBS: building work supervisor standard registration conditions
Wall and floor tiling, narrower tiling conditions and waterproofing scope on pages 66 and 67.
- Legal Services Commission SA: strata unit holders
Corporation permission for building, structural and external-appearance work in strata schemes.
- CBS: home renovations and repairs
Written itemised quotes and asbestos precautions before disturbing tile linings or flooring.
