How to find a good tiler

Almost every tiling failure comes from what happened before the first tile went on. When you are choosing a tiler, ask more about preparation than about tiles.

What a proper job includes

• Checking the substrate is flat, sound, dry and rigid before starting.
• Tile backer board or tanking in showers and wet areas rather than tiling straight onto plasterboard.
• Priming where required, and the correct adhesive for the tile and the background.
• Setting out so cuts fall in sensible places and full tiles land where the eye goes.
• Movement joints on large floors and at changes of material.
• Silicone rather than grout in internal corners and at the junction with baths and trays.

What to check before hiring

• Photos of finished bathrooms and floors, especially corners, niches and cut edges.
• Experience with your tile type — large-format porcelain, natural stone and mosaic all behave differently.
• Public liability insurance in the business name.
• Whether they remove old tiles and dispose of waste.
• Whether they prepare and level floors or expect that done for them.

How tiling is priced

Tiling is usually priced per square metre for labour, with adhesive, grout and trims either included or listed separately. Expect to pay more for large-format tiles, mosaics, herringbone or brick-bond patterns, natural stone, and small awkward rooms. Removal of old tiles and floor levelling are normally extra.

Questions to ask a tiler

• What preparation does my substrate need, and is that in the price?
• Will the shower area be tanked, and with what system?
• How much wastage should I allow when ordering tiles?
• Where will the cuts fall, and how are you setting out?
• How long until the floor can be walked on and the shower used?

Ordering tiles

Order roughly ten per cent extra for cuts and breakages, more for diagonal or herringbone layouts, and make sure all boxes are the same batch. Keep a few spares afterwards — matching a discontinued tile later is close to impossible.