How to Choose a Tile Contractor in Brisbane: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Brisbane Tiling Service
- Apr 26, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 28
Choosing the right tile contractor is one of the most important decisions you'll make in any renovation project. Get it right and you'll have a beautiful, long-lasting result that adds real value to your home. Get it wrong and you'll be dealing with cracked tiles, failed waterproofing, water damage, and the cost and stress of having the whole job redone by someone else.
We've been tiling in Brisbane for over 40 years. In that time, we've been called in to fix bad tiling work more times than we can count — and the stories are always the same. A homeowner chose on price, skipped checking the licence, didn't read the quote carefully, or trusted a recommendation without doing their own research. The consequences were expensive and stressful.
This guide is designed to help Brisbane homeowners avoid those mistakes. We'll cover exactly what to look for, what questions to ask, what red flags to watch out for, and how to compare quotes properly — so you can choose a tile contractor with complete confidence.
Step 1: Always Verify QBCC Licensing First
In Queensland, tiling work on projects above a certain value threshold requires a current QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) licence. This is not optional — it's the law.
A QBCC licence means the contractor has demonstrated the minimum technical competency required by Queensland's building regulator, carries mandatory home warranty insurance for eligible residential work, and is accountable to a formal complaints and disciplinary process if something goes wrong.
How to verify a QBCC licence:
Ask the contractor for their QBCC licence number
Go to qbcc.qld.gov.au
Click "Check a Licence" and enter the number
Confirm the licence is current, active, and covers the type of work you need
If a tiler can't provide a QBCC licence number — or asks you not to worry about it — walk away. Unlicensed tiling work is not covered by home warranty insurance, leaves you with no regulatory recourse if things go wrong, and is a strong indicator that the operator is cutting corners in other areas too.
Our QBCC licence number is 15490008 — you're welcome to verify it at any time.
Step 2: Check Their Experience With Your Specific Project Type
Tiling covers an enormous range of applications — bathroom walls, large format porcelain floors, pool interiors, glass mosaic splashbacks, external cladding, commercial fitouts — and each requires different skills, equipment, and product knowledge.
A tiler who is excellent at laying standard ceramic wall tiles in bathrooms may have no experience with large format porcelain on a subfloor that requires screeding, or with the specific adhesive and grout requirements of a pool glass mosaic installation.
Questions to ask about experience:
How many projects similar to mine have you completed in the last two years?
Can you show me photos of comparable work?
Do you have experience with [your specific tile type — large format, glass mosaic, natural stone, pool tiles]?
Have you worked with [your specific application — bathroom renovation, outdoor alfresco, pool surround, commercial fitout]?
A confident, experienced tiler will answer these questions easily and enthusiastically — they'll be proud of their relevant work. Evasiveness or vague answers are a warning sign.
Step 3: Ask for References and Check Google Reviews
Past customers are your best source of information about any contractor. Ask for two or three references from recent comparable projects and actually call them. Ask specifically:
Did the work meet the quoted scope and price?
Was the timeline met?
Did the tiler communicate well throughout the project?
Were there any issues during or after the job — and how were they handled?
Would you use them again?
Also check Google Reviews independently — not just the testimonials on the contractor's own website. Look at the volume of reviews, the recency, and how the contractor responds to any negative feedback. A business with 50+ genuine Google reviews over several years is demonstrating consistent customer satisfaction in a way that can't be faked.
Step 4: Get a Detailed, Itemised Written Quote
Never accept a verbal quote or a single lump-sum number with no breakdown. A professional tiling quote should be a written document that clearly itemises every component of the work.
What a thorough tiling quote should include:
Full description of the scope of work — exactly what areas are being tiled, to what height, with what materials
Tile specification — type, format, finish, and whether supplied by the tiler or the client
Surface preparation — screeding, levelling, priming, waterproofing — itemised separately
Adhesive and grout specification — product names or at minimum type and application
Waterproofing — confirmation that wet areas will be waterproofed to AS 3740, and whether this is included in the price
Waste disposal — confirmation that construction waste removal is included
Timeline — start date, estimated completion, and any dependencies
Payment terms — deposit amount, progress payment schedule, and final payment terms
Warranty on workmanship
If a quote arrives as a single number with none of this detail, it's impossible to know what you're actually getting — or to compare it fairly with other quotes.
Step 5: Compare Quotes Like-for-Like
Getting multiple quotes is smart — but comparing them is only useful if you're comparing equivalent scope. A cheap quote that doesn't include waterproofing, surface preparation, or waste disposal isn't cheaper — it's incomplete.
When comparing quotes, check each one for:
Is waterproofing included? This is often the first thing a cheap tiler omits. Waterproofing in wet areas is a legal requirement under AS 3740 — if it's not in the quote, ask why.
Is surface preparation included? Screeding, levelling, and priming can represent a significant portion of total job cost. A quote that assumes the surface is ready when it isn't will blow out on site.
What adhesive and grout products are specified? Quality products cost more than cheap alternatives. A tiler using inferior adhesive to hit a lower price point is creating a problem that will manifest as tile failure — usually within two to five years.
Is waste disposal included? Removing old tiles and construction waste is a real cost. If it's not in the quote, you may find yourself managing skip bins and disposal separately.
What is the payment structure? Avoid any contractor requesting a very large upfront deposit (more than 10–20% for smaller jobs). Staged payments tied to completion milestones are the professional standard for larger projects.
Step 6: Assess Communication and Professionalism
How a contractor communicates before you hire them is a reliable indicator of how they'll communicate during the job. Pay attention to:
Response time — do they follow up promptly after your initial enquiry? A tiler who takes a week to return a call before you've hired them is unlikely to be more responsive once they have your deposit.
Site visit — does the contractor insist on visiting the site before providing a quote? Any tiler who quotes purely from photos or measurements you've provided cannot accurately assess surface preparation requirements, drainage, or substrate condition. A site visit is non-negotiable for a professional quote.
Clarity — do they explain their approach clearly and answer your questions confidently? Or do they brush off questions about waterproofing, adhesive specification, or preparation?
Written confirmation — do they provide everything in writing? A verbal agreement about what's included means nothing if there's a dispute later.
Attitude toward your questions — a professional tiler welcomes questions. They want you to be informed so there are no misunderstandings. A tiler who seems irritated by detailed questions is not someone you want on your job.
Red Flags: When to Walk Away
These are the warning signs that should make you think twice — or walk away entirely:
🚩 No QBCC licence — non-negotiable. Walk away.
🚩 Quote provided without a site visit — indicates the tiler hasn't properly assessed the job. Expect cost blowouts and surprises on site.
🚩 No mention of waterproofing in wet areas — either they don't know it's required, or they're planning to skip it. Either is disqualifying.
🚩 Very large upfront deposit requested — a request for 50%+ deposit before work begins is a significant red flag for residential tiling projects.
🚩 Significantly cheaper than all other quotes — price outliers are almost always explained by something left out of the scope, inferior materials, or an operator who is underquoting to win the job and will make it up through variations.
🚩 No written quote — verbal agreements have no value in a dispute. Always get everything in writing before any work begins.
🚩 Can't provide references or examples of comparable work — a contractor who is proud of their work always has photos and references to share.
🚩 Pressure to decide immediately — professional contractors don't use high-pressure sales tactics. If you're being pushed to commit before you're ready, something is wrong.
🚩 No public liability insurance — for any project where something going wrong could cause property damage or injury, public liability insurance is essential. Always ask for confirmation of coverage.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire Any Tiler in Brisbane
Print this list and use it:
Can you provide your QBCC licence number for me to verify?
Do you carry public liability insurance?
Have you completed similar projects — can you show me photos and provide references?
Will you visit the site before providing a written quote?
Does your quote include waterproofing in wet areas to AS 3740?
Does your quote include surface preparation — screeding, levelling, and priming?
What adhesive and grout products will you use and why?
Does your quote include waste disposal and site clean-up?
What is your payment structure?
What warranty do you provide on your workmanship?
What is your expected start date and timeline for completion?
Who will be on site doing the work — you personally, or employees or subcontractors?
Why Brisbane Homeowners Choose Brisbane Tiling Service
We understand we're asking you to do your research — and we're completely comfortable with that, because we know what that research will show about us.
Here's what we offer every customer:
✅ QBCC Licensed — Licence No. 15490008, fully current and verifiable ✅ 40+ years of experience across residential and commercial projects throughout South East Queensland ✅ Free on-site quotes — we always visit your site before quoting, no exceptions ✅ Fully itemised written quotes — every component of the work clearly documented ✅ AS 3740 compliant waterproofing included in all wet area projects as standard ✅ Quality materials — we specify and use professional-grade adhesives and grouts, not budget alternatives ✅ Public liability insured ✅ Genuine Google reviews from Brisbane homeowners — check them for yourself ✅ Workmanship warranty — we stand behind our work
📞 Call: 0435 367 655 📧 Email: BS@brisbanetilingservice.com.au 📍 Servicing Brisbane, Zillmere, Chermside, Aspley, Nundah, New Farm, Paddington, Sunnybank, Logan, Ipswich & all of South East Queensland
Free on-site quotes. No obligation. No pressure.
for our services and google reviews, please visit https://g.page/r/CTfhIm-eOplPEAE/review
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every tiler in Brisbane need a QBCC licence? For work above the prescribed value threshold in Queensland, yes — a QBCC licence is legally required. For very minor repair work below the threshold, a licence may not be legally required, but hiring a licensed tiler for any meaningful tiling work is always advisable for consumer protection purposes.
What should a tiling deposit be? For smaller residential jobs, a deposit of 10–20% to cover material procurement is standard. For larger projects, staged payments tied to completion milestones are appropriate. Be cautious of any request for more than 30–40% upfront on a residential job.
How many quotes should I get? We recommend getting at least two to three quotes for any significant tiling project. This gives you a sense of the market rate, allows you to compare scope and specification, and helps you identify any outliers in either direction.
What if something goes wrong after the job is finished? If you've hired a QBCC licensed contractor, you have access to the QBCC's dispute resolution process and home warranty insurance scheme. Unlicensed operators offer you none of these protections. This is why QBCC licensing matters so much.
Should I supply my own tiles or let the tiler supply them? Both approaches work. If you supply tiles, you control the product selection and can shop for the best price — but you're responsible for correct quantities, correct specification for the application, and delivery coordination. If the tiler supplies, they take responsibility for all of this, often at competitive trade pricing. Discuss both options with your tiler.
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