Compare tiling & waterproofing quotes properly
Tiling quotes sit on top of the most expensive defect class in Australian housing — wet-area waterproofing. Compare these scopes harder than any other: the blanks here cost demolition, not touch-ups.
Tick the items each quote explicitly prices. Not sure or can’t find it? Leave it blank — that’s the point.
| Scope item | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproofing as a separate priced line, by a licensed applicator | |||
| Waterproofing compliance certificate per wet area, product system named | |||
| Screeds and falls to wastes included | |||
| Tile supply: allowance stated per m², or owner-supplied? | |||
| Laying pattern priced (herringbone/diagonal surcharges) | |||
| Trims, angles, niches and hobs itemised | |||
| Floor preparation / levelling compound | |||
| Wastage percentage and who orders the tiles | |||
| Silicone, grout brand/colour and movement joints |
General guidance only — the checklist covers the most commonly missed items, not every line your tiling and waterproofing package needs. Your drawings and engineering are always the final scope.
The items tiler quotes most often leave out
A blank in a quote is not "included" — it's "unpriced", and unpriced work comes back mid-build as a variation with no competition on the price. These are the lines to hunt for in every tiling and waterproofing package quote before you sign:
Waterproofing as a separate priced line, by a licensed applicator
Waterproofing "thrown in" unpriced and uncertified is the standard origin of the year-three bathroom failure.
Waterproofing compliance certificate per wet area, product system named
No certificate, no tiler, no exceptions — it is your certification evidence and your six-year defence.
Screeds and falls to wastes included
Water must fall to the drain; screed work missing from the quote surfaces as "the floor was out" money.
Tile supply: allowance stated per m², or owner-supplied?
A $28/m² allowance meets a $65/m² selection at the worst moment — benchmark every allowance.
Laying pattern priced (herringbone/diagonal surcharges)
Pattern laying runs 30–50% slower; the surcharge appears at selection time if not priced now.
Trims, angles, niches and hobs itemised
Mitred edges and niches are hours of labour per bathroom — the fine print where tiling quotes diverge.
Floor preparation / levelling compound
"Subject to floor condition" is an open-ended variation clause — get the prep priced or capped.
Wastage percentage and who orders the tiles
Under-ordered tiles from a dye lot that sold out is a re-tile, not a top-up. 10% wastage is normal.
Silicone, grout brand/colour and movement joints
Movement joints are code in large areas; cracked grout lines are the visible price of skipping them.
How to read your result
The comparison above is the first pass of the levelling method: make every quote answer the same scope list, then compare. When the tool finds blanks, don't cross that quote off — send each tiler their blank lines and ask for prices in writing. An honest contractor fills them in quickly; evasion ("we'll sort it on site") is information too. For the full line-by-line version across every item in your drawings, use the free levelling spreadsheet — and the quote comparison guide walks the whole method.