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Hi,

Please help! I need to have 2 bathrooms tiled. One is being tiled ceiling to floor including the floor, all in the same tiles sized (L)360 x (W)275mm. The ceiling is 2.3 metres and the room is 1.8 by 2.4. We are having the bath panel in same tiles also. The second bathroom is half tiled - 8 square metres of tiles that are 120 by 120, and 4 square metres in the shower of tiles that are 200 by 250. I will buy the tiles, adhesive, grout etc. We're in the Stoke on Trent area. What would be a fair price for this work?

Will the tiles be suitable for both floor and wall. I would expect a heavy duty tile to go on the floor but these are heavy and you only have a certain limit of weight on the walls before it starts pulling the plaster off.

As for buying all the mats. yourself, with the exception of the tiles (the right type), then I'd let the tiler buy them. That way you should get the correct mats and also at a cheaper price - trade get 30-50% discounts on normal punters prices

We've already bought the tiles - they're suitable for floor and ceiling. In terms of materials, that would be negotiable. We're just after a price for labour initially.

wicky123 wrote:We've already bought the tiles - they're suitable for floor and ceiling. In terms of materials, that would be negotiable. We're just after a price for labour initially.

Ceiling tiling is not to be taken lighty if one comes down your gonna be HURT

Hmmm, meant floor and walls. Any idea of a price?

Not in your area. However as said, let the tiler buy the adhesive. Just started a job today and the main contractor has let the client buy the adhesives and grouts. All the wrong type lol.

I'm a bit nervous about the prospect of leaving the tiler to get all materials because I've been stung in the past with workmen charging seemingly extortionate amounts for 'materials' and then not producing receipts etc. I figured that if the materials cost me 50 quid instead of 30, it's not that big a deal in comparison with an unspecified bill for 130!!

I realise you're not in this area, but chances are that it would be cheaper here than in Essex. Very roughly, what would be the going rate in your part of the world?

In my opinion, you would be best to get 3 quotes and ask them to give you the price showing materials and labour separately. Word of mouth is the best recommendation for finding a good, reliable tiler.

Sorry if you've already read this elsewhere! I'm reluctant to waste people's time by getting them to come out, measure up etc, when the odds are 2 to 1 against my giving them work. In principal three quotes is fine. In practice to get three quotes is time consuming, both for me and the people doing the quoting, and because people are busy and can't always get out to have a look, potentially holds up work that needs doing (and we have alot of work that needs doing!) It'll be Christmas before the job's finished if we get three quotes for everything!

What I've found so far is that having a ball park figure (or rough idea of how many hours / days a job is likely to take) makes it much easier to assess whether a quote is reasonable, or the proverbial is being taken! So please, if you could give me a (very approx) indication of what would be a reasonable price for the job described and / or how long it would be likely to take, I'd really really appreciate it; it would help me out no end.

I think you are off the mark with your rationale

The pro's on here can't give you a quote that would be anywhere near accurate as they can't see the job and understand the potential problems that they will have to work around. Also, you will get a varied response when getting the customary three quotes. You may get the A1 of tiling who will produce the best ever results but you will pay a premium for that or you will get the local Pole/bodgit and scarper bloke who will charge a fraction but over time you will regret the service/quality.

Also, by meeting the tradesman, you will be able to talk things over and understand the job to be done and get a feeling for what they are like i.e do a good job or just run off after getting some money

I appreciate that without seeing the job, it's not possible to give an accurate quotation. Rather, I'm after a ball-park figure to give me a rough idea and I'm fully aware that there would potentially be a great deal of variation on that figure dependent on area, reputation, workmanship etc. I'm after a very approximate idea only. The job is straightforward, as described, tiling onto new plaster. And of course, I wouldn't employ a workman without having first met them and having gained an impression of their comptetence / diligence!

20 sq mters in the first bathroom asuming you have the right substrate for the weight of tiles and theres NO prep work to do, youd look at bout 20-25 permtr including addy and grouts but again without looking at it, who knows?

Wicky
I wouldn't worry about thinking you are wasting people's time knowing that 2 out of 3 people won't get the work. That's how it is mate. I reckon on winning 1 in 3 of the jobs I quote for, that's how life is. Also it keeps pricing fair and you'll know if someone's taking the p*ss. If you want someone good, they'll likely be booked up for a few weeks in front anyway so you'll inevitably have a bit of hanging around to do.

£40 per square metre

There are too many variables to consider:
Type of backgrounds? Are they stable and flat? Type of tile? Any fixtures & fittings in the way? Windows and boxings-in to go around? Windows to square up? Trims? Holes to drill? Tanking for the wet areas? Patterns, borders, sealing? Ease of access? Skirtings? Door heights to alter/thresholds?
Thats why a visit is required. I cant think of any tradesman who wouldnt be happy to come and survey and give you a price, once he's seen the job.