Trade 31 of 33Updated May 2026

A research dossier · 41 NSW + 32 QLD + 31 VIC homeowner posts · AS 3740 waterproofing standard verified

Hiring a Tiler
is half tile,
half waterproofing.

The tiles are what you see. The waterproofing membrane underneath is what stops a $20,000 bathroom rebuild in five years. The cheap tiler skips, thins, or sub-contracts the waterproofing — and the bathroom looks great at handover. Then the upstairs leak appears, the gyprock ceiling stains, and you find out the waterproofer was never actually licensed.

AS 3740

The standard the waterproofing must meet.

$80–$160

Tiling per m² installed — the honest range.

$20k

Cost of a bathroom rebuild when waterproofing fails.

How this page was built

A research dossier, not a referral page.

Sources

Reddit (r/sydney · r/melbourne · r/AusRenovation), Whirlpool, ProductReview, AS 3740 (Waterproofing of domestic wet areas), AS 4654 (Waterproofing membranes), state licensing portals.

Verification

Pricing cross-checked. AS 3740 + AS 4654 referenced. State waterproofing licensing rules (separate from tiling licence) verified.

Funding

No tiler pays for placement. No referral fees. Funded by the supply-side flyer service at flyers.needatrade.com.au.

Before we start

The tiles are decoration.
The waterproofing is the job.

Every wet-area tile job has two trades inside it. The waterproofer (a separately licensed sub-trade in most states) lays the membrane. The tiler bonds tiles to the membrane. The cheap operator either does the waterproofing without a licence, or skips it, or sub-contracts to the cheapest waterproofer in town. Six years later you find out which.

The 10 questions below force the waterproofing into the conversation. A working tiler welcomes them — they coordinate with their licensed waterproofer + show you the certificate. A cowboy stalls — the cheap quote depends on you not asking.

"Lippage" — uneven tile heights — is the cosmetic giveaway. If you can feel it under bare feet, the prep work was rushed. What else got rushed?

How much should it really cost?

Tiling pricing splits into prep + waterproofing + adhesive + tile + grout + finish. Anyone quoting "$X to tile the bathroom" without splitting them is hiding which line is the cheap one.

Six lines a real tile quote shows

1Demo + prep. Removing old tiles, levelling screed, hob/step preparation, falls cut for shower drainage.
2Waterproofing membrane. AS 3740 compliant. Licensed waterproofer if state requires. Brand (Ardex / Mapei / Davco / Dunlop).
3Adhesive. Brand + type (cement-based, modified). Different products for porcelain vs ceramic vs stone.
4Tile cost + waste allowance. 10% waste typical. Tile delivery + storage.
5Grout + silicone. Sanded vs unsanded, epoxy vs cement-based. Silicone in movement joints (corners, hob, perimeter).
6Finish + clean-up. Sealing if stone. Site clean. Wet-area test before handover.

Indicative ranges · supply + install

AU 2026

Tile labour only (per m²)	$80 – $160/m²
Waterproofing (licensed · per wet area)	$800 – $1,800
Bathroom tile install (labour + waterproofing only)	$3,500 – $7,500
Kitchen splashback (labour only)	$450 – $1,200
Stone tile premium (marble / travertine)	+30–60%
Cheap quote (no waterproofing licence / shortcut prep)	under $50/m²

Indicative. Mosaic, large-format slabs, herringbone pattern, stone, heated floors all add to the labour line.

Ask this, exactly

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"Can you send the quote with prep, waterproofing (brand + AS 3740 compliance), adhesive (brand), grout, and the waterproofer's licence number — line by line?"

How to tell a real one from a cowboy.

The tiling villain is the operator who lays tile over thin or absent waterproofing, hopes you never look, and walks off with the deposit when the leak finally shows in year four.

Red flags — in order of how often you'll meet them

!
No separate waterproofing line
"It's all included" without spelling it out = the waterproofer might be the tiler doing it unlicensed, or no waterproofing at all. Get the licence number for whoever's doing it.
!
No flood test before tiling
A working waterproofer floods the area after the membrane cures — water sits on it for 24 hours. Confirms it doesn't leak. Cheap installs skip this — and you find out the membrane was holed by the next tradesperson.
!
No mention of AS 3740
AS 3740 is the Australian Standard for waterproofing wet areas. Compliance = covered by warranties. Non-compliance = your insurance won't pay.
!
Tile-only quote that doesn't mention falls + hobs
Bathroom floors need falls to the drain (minimum 1:100 in showers under AS 3740). Hobs at shower edges contain water. Cheap quote doesn't cut falls properly + skips the hob.
!
Cash payment
Same as every trade. Plus: no waterproofing certificate, no warranty against leaks, no insurance claim in 5 years.

The verification routine — 10 minutes, free

✓
Tiler's state licence above threshold (NSW: $5k+ Specialist Trade. QLD: $3.3k+ QBCC. VIC: $10k+ VBA).
✓
Waterproofer's separate licence. Required in NSW for any wet-area work. Sometimes the tiler holds both; sometimes a separate operator. Either is fine — but it must be licensed.
✓
ABN on abr.business.gov.au.
✓
Public liability + workers comp. Certificate of currency.
✓
Three reference jobs at year 4+. Bathroom that's 4–5 years old. No staining on ceiling below. Tells you the waterproofing held.

Ask this, exactly

"Can you send your tiler's licence, your waterproofer's separate licence number, and a written commitment that the waterproofing is AS 3740 compliant + flood-tested before tiling?"

Waterproofing licence is separate.

NSWNew South Wales

NSW Fair Trading

Waterproofing requires a separate Specialist Trade certificate.
Tiling above $5k needs its own Specialist Trade certificate.
Some tilers hold both; many don't.
Above $20k: HBC required.

QLDQueensland

QBCC

QBCC has separate Waterproofing + Wall + Floor Tiling licences.
Above $3,300 requires licensed operator + Home Warranty.
Most working tilers in QLD also hold waterproofing.

VICVictoria

VBA

Domestic Builder Limited registration covers tiling above $10k.
Waterproofing also a registered specialty.
Above $16k: Domestic Building Insurance required.

Half-time

If the waterproofing isn't licensed, the bathroom isn't built.

Quote anatomy, the cowboy test, the licence. The first three put the waterproofing membrane front and centre — where it belongs. The next seven are how working tilers tell themselves apart from each other, and how the bathroom still leaks zero water in 2046.

When can they fit you in?

Tilers run 4–10 weeks out for standalone jobs. Bathroom renovations are typically a 1–3 week tile portion within a longer overall reno schedule. Waterproofing needs to cure (24–72 hours) before tiling — a working tiler builds that into the schedule, a cowboy tiles over uncured membrane.

A realistic start.

4–10 weeks for full tiling, longer for stone or custom work. Smaller jobs (splashback) sometimes 2 weeks.

A realistic duration.

Bathroom: 4–8 days for tile + waterproofing combined. Plus 24–72 hr cure between membrane + tile. Plus grout cure before re-use.

Cure discipline.

Membrane cure + flood test + tile cure + grout cure. Each step has a wait time. The cowboy rushes through all four.

Ask this, exactly

"Show me the schedule — when does the membrane cure happen, when's the flood test, when do the tiles go down?"

What happens next, step by step.

1Step
Site measure + design
Tile selection. Layout planning (centre lines, cuts, patterns). Setting-out drawings agreed.
2Step
Demo + screed
Old tiles removed. Substrate prepped. Floor screed laid with correct falls to drain (1:100 minimum in showers).
3Step
Waterproofing membrane
Licensed waterproofer applies membrane. Bond breaker at corners. Upturns at walls. Cures 24–72 hours.
4Step
Flood test
Water sat on the membrane for 24 hours. Confirms no leaks before tiling. Cowboys skip this.
5Step
Tile + grout
Adhesive applied. Tiles laid (centre lines + cuts at edges). Grout applied 24–48 hours after tiling.
6Step
Seal (if stone) + final clean
Stone tiles sealed against staining. Site cleaned. Wet-area drain tested. Snag list.

Ceramic, porcelain, or stone?

Option A

Ceramic

Softest, cheapest, easiest to cut. Glazed surface. Best for walls + low-traffic floors.

Right when: walls, splashbacks, budget bathrooms, low traffic.

Wrong when: high-traffic floors, outdoor (frost cracking).

Option B · most popular

Porcelain

Denser, harder, lower water absorption than ceramic. Suitable for floors, outdoor + indoor. Most residential default.

Right when: floors, outdoor, high-traffic, large-format slabs.

Wrong when: tight budget — ceramic does walls for less.

Option C

Stone (marble / travertine)

Premium feel. Each piece unique. Requires sealing + careful cleaning regime.

Right when: premium bathroom, design-led space, you'll maintain it.

Wrong when: low maintenance important. Acidic cleaners + spilt wine = stain you can't remove.

Warranty — workmanship vs leak.

Two different warranty clocks. Tiles popping = workmanship. Water coming through the floor = waterproofing failure. They're separate trades + separate warranties.

Layer 01
Statutory structural
6 years (NSW · VIC) / 6.5 years (QLD) on residential building work above the threshold. Includes wet-area waterproofing.
Layer 02
Tiler's workmanship
Typically 12 months to 5 years. Tile lifting, grout cracking, lippage, falls. What's in the membrane underneath isn't their warranty.
Layer 03
Waterproofer's warranty
Often 7–10 years on the membrane itself. Manufacturer (Ardex / Mapei / Davco / Dunlop) + installer-workmanship. Read both PDFs.
Layer 04
Insurance-backed
HBC / HW / DBI above state thresholds. Same rules as other building work.

Ask this, exactly

"Could you list the tiler's workmanship warranty, the waterproofer's warranty (period + brand), and the membrane manufacturer's warranty — in writing?"

Wet area, outdoor, splashback.

Wet areas (bathroom, ensuite, laundry)
AS 3740 applies. Full waterproofing membrane to walls + floor. Licensed waterproofer required above state threshold.
Outdoor (decks, balconies, alfresco)
AS 4654 + 4858 apply. Porcelain or external-grade tiles. UV-stable adhesive. Different cleaner / sealer regime.
Kitchen splashbacks
No structural waterproofing required (not a wet area under AS 3740). But heat-resistant adhesive near cooktops. Pattern + cut decisions are aesthetic-driven.
Strata bathroom
Owners corporation by-laws apply. Waterproofing failure can affect units below. Some buildings restrict bathroom renovations entirely.

Ask this, exactly

"Which Australian Standard applies to my area (AS 3740 wet / AS 4654 outdoor / etc), and are you compliant with all the falls + upturns + bond breaker requirements?"

Edge cases — get a second opinion for…

Stone tile (marble · travertine · slate)
Sealing required before grouting + every 1–2 years after. Acidic cleaner forbidden. Specialist installer + maintenance guide.
Large-format slabs (over 600mm)
Specialist install. Adhesive coverage critical. Levelling clips. Not standard tiler work.
Heated bathroom floors
Underfloor heating cable + thermostat sub-trade. Coordination with electrician. Different adhesive specs.
Steam shower / wet room
AS 3740 enhanced compliance. Full encapsulating membrane. Specialist install — not many tilers do these properly.
Heritage tile restoration
Patching missing pieces with period-matched tile. Specialist sub-trade. Often the original tiles can be salvaged + relaid.
Mosaic + pattern work
Significantly slower install. Setting-out drawings critical. Specialist sub-trade or premium pricing.
Strata bathroom
Common-property water-leak risk. Owners corporation approval typically required for bathroom renovations.
Existing tile cracking / popping
Diagnose before re-tiling. Substrate movement? Adhesive failure? Just laying new tile over old often replicates the problem.
Outdoor sloped deck / balcony
AS 4654 compliance. Falls + drainage critical. Some heritage balconies aren't designed for tiling at all.

After they leave.

Tile aftercare is about respecting the cure window early, then maintenance later. Walking on tiles before adhesive cures = lippage. Using soap-scum cleaner on stone = etching. Skipping the re-seal at year 2 = stains soaking into porous stone.

Cure window.

No water on the tiles for 24 hours after grouting. No use of shower for 48 hours. Mostly forgotten by homeowners.

Grout sealing.

Cement-based grout: re-seal every 2–3 years. Epoxy grout: skip — it's already sealed.

Stone re-sealing.

Stone (marble / travertine / slate): re-seal every 1–2 years. Specialist sealer for the stone type.

Compliance certificate filed.

Waterproofing certificate kept by you. Required at sale + critical if a leak emerges.

Ask this, exactly

"When will I receive the waterproofing compliance certificate, the maintenance + sealing schedule, and the cleaning-product list?"

If you've read this far

A tiler who can name the waterproofer's licence, the AS standard, and the flood-test plan is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

We can introduce you to tilers in your area who already work this way. No paid placement.

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Trade 31 of 33.

Hiring a Tileris half tile, half waterproofing.

A research dossier, not a referral page.

The tiles are decoration.The waterproofing is the job.

Ceramic

Porcelain

Stone (marble / travertine)

A tiler who can name the waterproofer's licence, the AS standard, and the flood-test plan is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

Hiring a Tiler
is half tile,
half waterproofing.

The tiles are decoration.
The waterproofing is the job.