Bathroom Tilers in Palmerston North

Bathroom tiling in New Zealand costs $80 to $180 per square metre for labour (tiles supplied separately). A standard bathroom (floor and shower walls) costs $3,000 to $6,000 for tiling labour. A full bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiles costs $5,000 to $10,000 for labour. Tiles themselves cost $30 to $150 per square metre depending on the type and quality. Waterproofing costs $40 to $80 per square metre. A complete bathroom tiling job (labour, tiles, waterproofing, and adhesive) costs $5,000 to $15,000.

Waterproofing is the most critical part of bathroom tiling. Under New Zealand Building Code clause E3, all wet areas must be waterproofed to prevent moisture entering the building structure. The waterproofing membrane must extend at least 1,800mm up walls in shower areas and cover the entire bathroom floor. Waterproofing is restricted building work under the Building Act 2004 and must be done by an LBP or a qualified waterproofing applicator. Failed waterproofing leads to structural damage, mould, and expensive repairs.

When choosing bathroom tiles, consider slip resistance (look for a P rating — P3 or higher is recommended for shower floors), porosity (use low-porosity tiles in wet areas — porcelain is ideal), size (larger tiles have fewer grout joints, which are easier to clean and maintain), and colour (light colours make small bathrooms feel larger). Popular bathroom tile sizes in New Zealand are 300x600mm and 600x600mm for walls and floors, with mosaic tiles (25x25mm to 50x50mm) for shower floors for better drainage grip.

Bathroom tiling is specialist work — choose a tiler with specific bathroom experience. Ask to see examples of completed bathroom projects. A good bathroom tiler will ensure proper substrate preparation (tile backing board, not plasterboard, in wet areas), apply waterproofing correctly and allow adequate curing time, set tiles flat and even with consistent grout joints, use appropriate adhesive for the tile type and substrate, and seal grout in wet areas to prevent water penetration.