Plan the work beneath and around your tiles
In short
Find a tiler who works in your Perth suburb and has completed jobs with similar tiles, surfaces and layouts. For a bathroom, establish who takes responsibility for waterproofing and drainage before comparing prices. Check whether your wider project needs a registered building contractor, resolve any strata permissions, and get written quotes that include preparation as well as laying.
Step 1
Show the existing surface, not just the tile you want
Send room photos, approximate dimensions and the tile product or a sample. Include cracks, loose tiles, damp patches and changes in floor level. Ask for a site inspection if the condition beneath existing tiles cannot be assessed from photos.
Details to include in your first enquiry
| Area to tile | What the tiler needs to assess |
|---|---|
| Bathroom or laundry | Leaks, removal of old tiles, wall and floor repairs, waterproofing and slopes towards drains. |
| Living-area floor | Existing covering, cracks, floor flatness, door clearances and the proposed tile size and layout. |
| Kitchen splashback | Wall condition, exposed edges, pattern and cuts around fittings. Explain who will arrange any electrical changes. |
| Outdoor area | Rain exposure, drainage, steps, existing movement or cracks and a tile suitable for the intended use. |
Step 2
Check experience and the registration your project needs
Ask to see recent work with your tile type, particularly natural stone, mosaics or large tiles. Find out who will actually do the work, request references and relevant insurance details, and match the business name and ABN to the quote.
WA building contractor registration depends on the work's scope, value and location. For residential building work other than a garage, shed or similar non-habitable building, the official guidance requires registration when a building permit is required, the value is $20,000 or more and the work is in the prescribed area, unless an exemption applies. A subcontractor supervised by a registered contractor named on the permit is one exemption. Ask Building and Energy or your local council how these rules apply if tiling forms part of a wider renovation.
Confirm who will arrange any required permit and registration checks before accepting the job. A contractor's registration alone does not tell you how well they can execute your chosen tile layout.
Step 3
Agree the waterproofing plan before a bathroom is tiled
Ask who will prepare the surface, apply the waterproof membrane, protect it during tiling and form the slopes towards drains. Have the contractor explain the applicable building requirements and the products they propose to use. Agree what photos and installation records you will receive before the membrane is covered.
Building and Energy's December 2021 report on wet-area waterproofing examined a small sample of buildings under construction in metropolitan Perth. It identified problems with surface preparation, drainage, membrane thickness and following manufacturers' instructions. Those findings make useful questions for your job; they do not establish the condition of your home or the quality of all Perth tilers.
If there is an existing leak, ask for its cause to be assessed before accepting a surface repair. Replacing grout or laying new tiles should not be agreed as the remedy without understanding what has failed underneath.
Step 4
Resolve apartment permissions and site access
For a Perth apartment, send the proposed scope to your strata manager or strata company before booking work. Landgate explains that the approval process depends on the scheme type, its by-laws, lot boundaries and effects on common property. Structural alterations need prior approval. Ask what permission or notice is required for your specific flooring or bathroom job, including any sound-insulation requirements in the scheme's by-laws.
Tell the tiler about stairs, lift bookings, parking, delivery access and permitted work hours. Agree where tiles can be stored, how common areas will be protected and how demolition waste will leave the property. Confirm these arrangements before setting a start date.
Step 5
Compare complete written quotes from the same brief
WA Consumer Protection recommends at least three written quotes. Ask whether a site visit or quote attracts a fee. A quote is an agreed price for the described job when accepted; an estimate is an approximate cost that may change. Confirm GST, exclusions, payment terms, timing and how potential extra work will be approved.
Compare tile removal and disposal, repairs, levelling, waterproofing where needed, materials, laying, grout, sealant, trims and clean-up. Ask the tiler to confirm tile quantities before you order and agree the layout, grout colour and visible cuts. Where hidden damage remains unknown, have the quote explain how it will be assessed and priced before additional work proceeds.
Step 6
Check the finish and keep the care instructions
Ask when you can walk on the tiles, use the shower and clean the area, based on the products used. Plan for access to another bathroom if yours will be out of use.
Walk through the agreed finish with the tiler and record concerns in writing. Check the layout, edges, grout, sealant and agreed drainage work. Keep the accepted quote, approved changes, invoices, product details and waterproofing records. Request care instructions and spare tiles for future repairs.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- WA Government: when building contractor registration is required
Permit, value and location conditions for registration, with exemptions; guidance updated July 2026.
- Building and Energy: wet-area waterproofing inspection report
December 2021 report on a small Perth construction sample; preparation, drainage and membrane installation findings, not current industry-wide compliance rates.
- Landgate: renovations in a strata titles scheme
Scheme-specific by-laws, lot boundaries, common property and prior approval for structural alterations.
- WA Consumer Protection: estimates, quotes and deposits
Written quote comparison, quote fees, estimates, GST and permission for extra work.
