Pricing

How much does it cost for ceramic tile installation?

Written by Oliver Pennington | Nov 23, 2018 8:00:39 AM

Ceramic tile installation costs from $10 to $100 per square metre. However, it is much better to ask for a quote for the entire job rather than to get the price for the surface area. This price per square metre can go up and down a lot, depending on how complex your project is.

Tiling work can be quite easy if you already have a prepared, flat surface that only needs a layer of waterproofing and some nice, evenly shaped-ceramic tiles to place on it. However, if you want a special kind of ceramic tiles and there is some tile removal involved in the work, you can expect the price to boom up easily.

There are different ways the tilers price their job. Tile work can be priced based on some of these factors:

  • Are the ceramic tiles of good quality or not?
  • Does the surface need additional work?
  • Is tile removal necessary?
  • Is the surface to be tiles easily accessible?
  • Does the tile design have some specifics that make them difficult to work with?
  • Is the project simple, or do the tiles need to be tailored?

Some tilers will have other specific ways to determine the cost of tiling. Therefore, it is best to make a description of your project with all the specifics and then ask for the quote on your tile work even before it begins.

Even better, go to Service Seeking and ask for several quotes for your tiling project. In that way, you will have a choice that can help you plan your budget.

How Much Does Ceramic Tile Cost?

Disclaimer: Prices in this guide are based on data from the year 2018 and are subject to fluctuations in the market.

If you save some money on the cost of tiling, you can splurge a bit for your ceramic tiles. Your simple, white ceramic tile is as cheap as $13 per m2. However, that is really as low as it goes. There are decorative tiles that go to over $150 per m2.

How Much Does Ceramic Tile Cost?
  Minimal price Maximum price
Floor tiles $36 $95
Wall tiles $13 $160
Decorative tiles $45 $160

When looking at the tile prices, make sure that you look for the unit of measurement. While, in most cases, you will get the price in square metres, there are situations when you will be given a price per sheet or even a price per tile.

Don’t start celebrating the low cost of tiles you’ve found online that look amazing and are only $30. Look again. Sometimes, if there is a limited edition of designer tiles, that can be the price for only one tile.

What Are Ceramic Tiles Used For?

The ceramic tiles are used for both floor and walls, but they are used mainly for indoor spaces. They are not suitable for outdoor floors. Their resistance to moisture makes them the perfect choice for bathrooms and kitchens. For decades, ceramic tiles have been used in restaurant kitchens and similar objects due to their durability and ease of cleaning.

They have been used in Australia for almost 100 years, and they are recognisable for their terracotta-coloured side.

Image source: merrimentdesign.com

The front of the ceramic tiles can be created in many colours. They can be matte to some degree or glossy, and they can take all sorts of shapes and sizes, but their surface is almost always glazed.

People usually use ceramic tiles in places where the colour of the tiles is important. It never fades in the sunlight, and that property is essential in some situations. With a nice wash, your ceramic tiles can look like new for years.

When people say ceramic, they sometimes actually mean porcelain. So, let’s see what the difference is and what makes a better tile.

Which Is Better: Ceramic or Porcelain Tile?

The first difference between porcelain and ceramic tile is in the price – the porcelain is more expensive. Also, porcelain seems to be more durable and resistant, but it is also much harder to cut and shape.

Click the image to magnify

You can use your porcelain tiles on all surfaces. It will work equally well outside, inside, as a floor tile and as a wall tile. Ceramics won’t be able to endure the outside use, and their floor use is a bit limited.

We can conclude that the porcelain tiles are sturdier than the ceramic ones. However, that can be seen as a benefit for the ceramic tiles. The tiling can be easier with ceramics. They are easier to cut, drill and shape into the form you need. That is very challenging with the porcelain tiles.

These different features come from the composition of these tiles. The porcelain tiles are made out of white clay, minerals and sand. At the same time, the ceramic tiles are made out of brown, white and red clay. The properties of these materials and the process of creation are different, as well.

Some professionals advise that the floors are made out of porcelain tiles and the walls out of ceramic tiles if the cost of tiling needs to be reduced. Also, the ceramic wall tiles will be easier to drill to install different bathroom accessories and similar items.

There are some good reasons to choose both porcelain and ceramic tiles. Some experts say that the porcelain tiles are better but that not every tiler knows how to install them properly. Therefore, it is best to check that first before choosing your tiler.

You can describe your project for the tiler and ask them for two quotes for their tile work: one for the same project done in ceramic tiles and one for the project done in porcelain tiles. If you are doing bathroom tiling, ask them if the price would be different if you do walls in ceramic tiles and floors in porcelain.

One of the best things about Service Seeking is that you don’t have to worry whether you seem difficult. You can ask for quotes, and nobody will bat an eye about it. So, go on and ask for tiling quotes from our experts.

We get jobs done. Get quotes from over 130,000 local businesses across Australia on ServiceSeeking.com.au.

 

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