Find a trusted tiler on the Gold Coast

Pool surrounds, alfresco areas and balconies

Outdoor tiling is a big part of the work on the Gold Coast. Pool surrounds and alfresco areas need tiles with a slip rating suited to wet, barefoot areas, a fall that carries water to the drains rather than toward the house, and movement joints so tiles baking in the sun have room to expand. Polished indoor tiles laid outside turn slippery when wet and can crack or lift.

In older unit blocks, a tired balcony membrane can let water into the unit below or the edge of the slab, and a proper fix usually means lifting the tiles, replacing the membrane and retiling. External waterproofing follows a different standard (AS 4654.2) from indoor wet areas (AS 3740), so ask your tiler which one they’re working to. Balcony work in a unit block usually needs body corporate approval as well.

Bathrooms, humidity and older homes

Lifting tiles in an older bathroom often uncovers failed waterproofing or water-damaged sheeting, so keep some budget aside for surprises. If the house went up before 1990, have the wall sheeting and old adhesive tested for asbestos before demolition starts.

Humidity is hard on grout. Shower recesses that stay damp grow mould along the grout lines, and once grout cracks, water gets in behind the tiles. Regrouting and resealing every few years costs far less than a retile, so don’t ignore drummy (hollow-sounding) tiles or grout that keeps turning black.

Is your tiler QBCC licensed?

In Queensland, tiling worth more than $3,300 needs a QBCC Wall and floor tiling licence, and that licence also covers the waterproofing that goes under the tiles. Most bathroom retiles and outdoor areas pass that amount. Search the tiler on the QBCC licensee register, check the licence is current and belongs to the business quoting you, and ask for written confirmation of the waterproofing once it’s done. The other trades’ lookups are on our Queensland licence checks page.

Gold Coast tiling prices

Most tilers here charge around $45–$100 per m² to lay standard floor tiles, with the tiles extra, and $60–$130 per m² for large-format porcelain. Outdoor areas in slip-rated tiles typically cost $60–$120 per m² to lay, and waterproofing adds around $30–$70 per m². Retiling a standard bathroom is usually $2,000–$5,500 in labour, a splashback $400–$1,200, and a regrout $300–$800. For small repairs, expect about $50–$100 an hour.

Removing old tiles adds $20–$55 per m² plus rubbish removal. The tiler price guide has the full list of indicative prices to check a quote against.

How we find your Gold Coast tiler

Let us know what’s being tiled and where, and we’ll match you with a single local tiler who’s been vetted for licence, insurance, ABN and reviews, so you won’t be fielding calls from five tiling businesses.

See tilers in other cities or what else we offer across the Gold Coast, then get a free quote for your tiling job.