Plan the surface, approvals and finish
In short
Find a tiler who works in your Brisbane suburb and has completed jobs on a similar surface. Check the contracting business's QBCC licence where required, including its scope for tiling and associated waterproofing. Arrange an inspection for leaks, damaged floors or unknown preparation, then compare written quotes covering the same work. In a unit or townhouse, check body corporate requirements before ordering materials or agreeing a start date.
Step 1
Show the tiler what the tiles will sit on
Send the suburb, approximate dimensions, whole-area photos and close-ups of cracks or damp patches. Include the tile product if you have chosen it. Ask for a site inspection when old tiles hide the floor condition or you are changing the way the area drains.
Details that change a Brisbane tiling job
| Property or surface | What to discuss |
|---|---|
| Bathroom in a raised Queenslander | Existing timber floor, movement, access underneath and who assesses or repairs the floor before tiling. |
| Apartment floor | Existing covering, proposed tiles, door clearances and the building's requirements for reducing noise through the floor. |
| Outdoor entertaining area or balcony | Rain exposure, pooling water, drainage, wet-weather grip and whether waterproofing or other repairs belong in the scope. |
Step 2
Check the contracting business and its licence scope
Queensland generally requires a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence to contract for building work valued over $3,300. Ask for the business's licence number and check its current status, licence class and conditions in the QBCC register. Match the licence holder to the name on your quote; ask QBCC if the contracting arrangement or licence requirement is unclear.
QBCC's wall and floor tiling class includes applying waterproofing for wall and floor tiling. Ask who will install the waterproofing for your job and confirm that the actual work fits their licence scope. Broader repairs or other building work may need additional licence classes; plumbing and drainage need the appropriate licensing regardless of value.
Look at examples using your tile size, material and layout. Ask about relevant insurance and who will perform and supervise the work, particularly if the business uses subcontractors.
Step 3
Settle body corporate requirements and access
For a Brisbane apartment or townhouse in a body corporate scheme, read your scheme's by-laws and ask the manager how the proposed work affects common property. Some schemes require approval for flooring changes. Hard flooring that creates extra noise for neighbours can breach noise by-laws or create a nuisance even when the flooring change itself does not need approval.
Ask what flooring details or acoustic evidence the scheme requires before you buy tiles. For an elevated house, explain stairs and where heavy materials can be unloaded. For an inner-city unit, arrange loading access, lift bookings, permitted work hours and protection for shared areas. Confirm how tile rubble will be removed.
Step 4
Compare preparation as well as tile laying
Give each tiler the same brief and ask them to confirm measurements and tile quantities before you order. Specify who supplies the tiles, the intended pattern, grout colour, edge trims and any natural-stone sealing. A square-metre rate may leave removal, floor repairs or detailed cuts outside the price.
Compare quotes for tile removal, disposal, surface preparation, waterproofing where needed, laying and clean-up. Ask what is excluded, what can only be assessed after removal, and how extra work will be priced and approved. Confirm payment terms, the proposed start and completion dates, and whether the quote is fixed or an estimate.
Step 5
Agree the finish and handover records
Before laying begins, agree the layout and visible cuts around doorways, fixtures and edges. Ask how weather may affect outdoor work and what drying or curing time the chosen products need before walking, showering or cleaning. Plan alternative bathroom access if your only shower will be unavailable.
At handover, inspect the layout, grout, trims and any agreed drainage work with the tiler. Record concerns in writing and keep the accepted scope, approved changes, invoices, tile details, care instructions and agreed waterproofing records. Retain spare tiles for future repairs and confirm who to contact if a problem appears.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- QBCC: when you need a licence
General building-work threshold, relevant licence classes and plumbing and drainage licensing requirements.
- QBCC: wall and floor tiling
The tiling class includes waterproofing for wall and floor tiling; additional work must fit the contractor's licence scope.
- Queensland Government: improving common property and lots
Scheme by-laws, common-property approvals and noise considerations when installing hard flooring.
- QBCC: seeking and comparing quotes
Consistent specifications, exclusions, payment terms and timelines when comparing contractors.
