Find a trusted tiler in Newcastle

Bathrooms in older Newcastle homes

Plenty of Newcastle bathrooms date from the 1950s to the 1980s, especially in the fibro and weatherboard homes around Adamstown, Mayfield, Wallsend and the older parts of Lake Macquarie. Lifting the tiles in those rooms often uncovers something: waterproofing that has failed or was never there, timber floor framing softened by years of slow leaks, or old wall sheeting that may contain asbestos. A careful tiler will check before demolition and build some contingency into the quote.

Tiling onto a timber floor needs more than tile adhesive. The floor has to be stiff enough not to flex, and the right sheeting goes down first so the tiles and grout don’t crack as the house moves. In wet areas, the waterproofing has to meet the Australian standard for wet areas, AS 3740, before a single tile is laid.

Balconies, pools and apartments

Newcastle’s apartment buildings, from Honeysuckle and Newcastle East to Merewether and Charlestown, bring their own tiling work. Balconies need tiles with enough slip resistance for wet weather, and the surface has to fall to the drain so water doesn’t pool against the door. Pool surrounds and outdoor steps need slip-rated tiles suited to wet bare feet.

In newer homes around Fletcher, Edgeworth and Cameron Park, the popular job is large-format porcelain right through the living areas. Big tiles show every dip in a slab, so the tiler may need to grind high spots or pour a levelling compound first. Movement joints around the edges and at set intervals give the floor room to move, which stops tiles cracking or lifting later.

In a strata building, a bathroom retile can affect the waterproofing that protects the unit below, so the owners corporation will often need to approve the work first. Check your by-laws and get approval in writing before booking a tiler.

Licensing and waterproofing in NSW

A tiler needs a Building Commission NSW licence once a job passes $5,000, and the wall and floor tiling licence is also what allows them to waterproof a shower or bathroom before tiling it. Search the tiler on the Verify NSW licence check, check the licence class, and ask who is doing the waterproofing and whether you’ll get a certificate for it.

Our NSW licence page explains how to read the result.

Tiling prices around Newcastle

Standard floor tiles usually cost around $45 to $100 per m² to lay, and large-format tiles $60 to $130 per m². Waterproofing adds about $30 to $70 per m², and lifting old tiles $20 to $55 per m² plus rubbish removal. A standard bathroom retile is typically $2,000 to $5,500 in labour before you buy the tiles. Newcastle tilers often price a little below Sydney.

For regrouting, outdoor areas and other jobs, check the tiler price guide.

Your Newcastle tiler, matched

Send through the room, roughly how many square metres it is and your suburb. One local tiler gets the job details, with their licence, insurance and reviews already checked by us, and nobody else gets your number. It’s free.

A bathroom often needs a plumber and an electrician as well, and you’ll find them under Newcastle trades. For other cities, try our tilers page. Ready? Get a free quote.