Planning and design
How to choose a tiler and a company for bathroom renovation: questions and offers
You can recognise a good tiler or company by how they ask questions: they want to see and measure the bathroom, they are interested in the substrate, waterproofing, and layout of the wall tiles, and they will itemise the costs. Ask about completed and ongoing projects and their experience with your tile format. Make sure to include the scope, price, timeline, payments, and warranty in a written contract.
Ilustračný obrázok: obkladač kontroluje vodováhou rovinnosť veľkoformátového obkladu v kúpeľni
You see the wall tiles in the bathroom every day. However, mistakes beneath them – missing waterproofing, voids under the tiles, or poor fall in the shower – are often only discovered years later when water leaks to the neighbour or a tile cracks. Choosing a tiler or company is therefore one of the most important decisions in a renovation. Below you will find whom to contact, what questions to ask, what a price offer must include, and how to recognise when it's better to keep looking.
Tiler, team of craftsmen or turnkey company
First, clarify whether you need just a tiler or someone to do the entire bathroom. Each option has its advantages:
| Option | Advantages | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| independent tiler | does what he does best, labour costs are usually lower | you source and coordinate the bricklayer, plumber, and electrician yourself |
| team of craftsmen who work together | trades follow on from each other, less waiting | agree on who is responsible for the overall project if something goes wrong |
| turnkey company | one responsible contractor, one contract, coordination, often also materials | compare the scope of offers, not just the final amount |
In a bathroom where everything is changing – plumbing, partitions, waterproofing, and wall tiles – it is advantageous to have one responsible contractor. When replacing wall tiles without interfering with plumbing, an experienced tiler is often sufficient. Plumbing and electrical work must be done by professionals, and the electrician will issue a compliance report after the work is completed.
Where to search and how to verify experience
- Recommendations from acquaintances – the most valuable are from people whose bathroom has served them well for several years without issues.
- Photos of ongoing work – a finished bathroom shows the wall tiles, while an ongoing project shows waterproofing, falls, and adhesion. Ask for them.
- Experience with your format – tiles 120 × 120 cm, 120 × 240 cm, or large slabs require experience, tools, and more people for handling. The manufacturer Florim recommends transporting tiles 160 × 320 cm with four people at once.
- Business and trade register – you can verify a company or tradesman for free at www.orsr.sk and www.zrsr.sk.
- Inspection – a price from a photo without measurement is only indicative. Only someone who has seen the walls, floor, and plumbing can provide an accurate price.
Questions to ask before agreeing
You don't need to know the answers to the questions. What matters is whether the tiler responds specifically and calmly. These are worth asking everyone:
| Question | Why is it important |
|---|---|
| What waterproofing will you use and where will it be applied? | in the shower, it should be on the floor and walls, in corners and at drains with sealing tapes; the number of layers and thickness is determined by the waterproofing manufacturer |
| How will you check and prepare the substrate? | crooked walls and floors need to be levelled before tiling, not with a thick layer of adhesive |
| Will you draw the layout of the wall tiles? | the layout will show where the cut pieces will be, how the joints will run, and where the taps and sockets will be |
| How will you solve the fall in the shower? | water must drain towards the drain or channel, with a level-access shower, the fall is usually 1 to 2 % |
| What adhesive will you use and how will you tile large formats? | large tiles require flexible tile adhesive and full-surface bonding without voids – adhesive is applied to both the substrate and the tile |
| What grout and silicone do you recommend? | For showers and behind kitchen units, a more durable grout is suitable, while sanitary silicone is used in corners. |
| How will the edges and corners be finished? | Profiles or cutting at 45° – this will affect the appearance and price. |
| Who will purchase the materials and who will receive them? | In case of a delivery error, it’s important to know who will resolve it; missing profiles can halt work. |
| When will you start, how long will it take, and what if a problem arises after demolition? | The deadline and procedure for additional work should be included in the contract. |
| Who will remove the debris and clean up? | Debris removal and waste disposal is usually a separate item. |
How should the waterproofing look? We describe it in the chapter Waterproofing, why the flatness of the substrate is important for rectified tiles in the article Rectified tiles, and what to purchase for wall tiles in the article Adhesive, grout and profiles.
What should the price quote include
Compare quotes based on scope, not final price. A cheaper quote may sometimes exclude part of the work, which will then be charged as additional work. A good quote includes these items:
| Item | What should it contain |
|---|---|
| Demolition and removal | Old wall tiles, floor tiles, sanitary ware, possibly a prefabricated bathroom core; removal and disposal fee. |
| Preparation of the substrate | Leveling of walls and floors, primer, possibly new screed. |
| waterproofing | Area in m², sealing tapes in corners, sleeves at drains and pipes. |
| wall tiles and floor tiles | m² separately for walls and floors, price depending on format – large formats and mosaics tend to be more expensive. |
| Cuts, profiles and corners | Standard metres of profiles or cuts at 45°, cutouts for taps and sockets, niche in the wall. |
| grouting and silicone | Type of grout – cement or epoxy, silicone in corners. |
| installation of fixtures | WC, washbasin, taps, shower screen, furniture and accessories, if included. |
| material | Who will supply the adhesive, waterproofing and grout, and whether they are included in the price. |
| Deadline and payments | Start and duration of work, deposits and payments in stages, price with or without VAT. |
If you are getting multiple quotes, send the same documents to all – a floor plan with dimensions, a list of wall tiles and fixtures, and heights of outlets. Only then can the quotes be compared. The documents can be prepared with the help of a design from the 3D bathroom planner, which will also show m² of wall tiles. You can find indicative prices for renovation and what they consist of in the article How much does a bathroom renovation cost.
Contract, payments and handover
Always put the agreement in writing in a contract for work. It should include the scope of work and who purchases the materials, the price and procedure for additional work, the start and completion dates, payments in stages, warranty on the work, and a handover protocol with a list of unfinished work. An overview of documents for renovation is in the chapter Documents and permits.
- Payments in stages – agree on a deposit at the start, another part after the wall tiles are done, and the remainder upon handover. Do not pay the entire amount in advance.
- Photos during work – take pictures of the installations before covering and the waterproofing before tiling. Years later, you will know where the pipes and cables are.
- Handover – check the flatness, joints, silicone, fall in the shower (pour a bucket of water), and the functionality of taps and WC. For new electrical installations, request an inspection report.
Warning signs
If you hear any of these phrases, be cautious:
- the price is given without inspection and breakdown,
- wants to be paid everything in advance,
- "no need for waterproofing, the wall tiles let water through only a little" – wall tiles and cement grout are not waterproofing,
- does not want anything in writing, neither the quote nor the contract,
- is not interested in the substrate, flatness of walls and heights of outlets,
- pressures for an immediate decision, "because otherwise there is no deadline",
- cannot specify what adhesive, waterproofing and grout will be used.
What to check during work
You don’t have to stand behind the tiler’s back. Just come at the right moment – when everything is still visible:
| When | What to Check |
|---|---|
| after installations | leak test, heights of outlets according to the design, photos before covering |
| after waterproofing | continuous layer without interruptions, tapes in corners and at drains, drying time according to the technical sheet |
| during tiling | flatness, uniform joints, full adhesion for large formats, fall in the shower |
| before grouting | the adhesive must be cured – for floor tiles, according to technical data sheets, usually after at least 24 hours |
| at the end | silicone in the corners, functionality of taps and WC, water drainage in the shower |
Turnkey renovation with TGB Kúpeľne
If you don't want to search for and coordinate craftsmen yourself, we will do your bathroom turnkey – from measuring and design to selecting wall tiles and sanitary ware in our studio in Senec, all the way to installation. The design with visualisation is free with the purchase of goods. You can find more at kupelnesenec.sk, and you can arrange a measurement appointment here.
Related: Bathroom renovation step by step · When to renovate a bathroom · How much does a bathroom renovation cost · Waterproofing · Cutting wall and floor tiles
Sources: Florim – guide to laying large formats (handling, adhesive C2TE S1), Hornbach – guide to laying large-format tiles (adhesive for substrate and tile), technical data sheet Ceresit CM 11 PLUS (grouting after approx. 24 h); Commercial Register SR (orsr.sk), Trade Register SR (zrsr.sk).
Terms in the dictionary: Waterproofing · Fall · Sealing tape · Floor drain (point drain) · Linear shower drain · Shower tray
Frequently Asked Questions
How to choose a good tiler?
Based on experiences that you can verify: photos of completed and ongoing work, recommendations, and experience with your tile format. A good tiler wants to see the bathroom, asks about the substrate and waterproofing, and breaks down the price item by item.
What should a price offer for bathroom renovation include?
Demolition and disposal, substrate preparation, waterproofing, tiling in m², cuts and trims, grouting and silicone, installation of fixtures, materials, deadlines, and payments. Compare offers based on scope, not just by amount.
Is it better to hire a self-employed tiler or a turnkey company?
When changing tiles without altering plumbing, a tiler is often sufficient. For a complete renovation with plumbing and partitions, one responsible contractor who coordinates all trades is more advantageous.
How much to pay the tiler in advance?
Do not pay the entire amount in advance. Agree on payments in stages – for example, a deposit at the start, another part after tiling, and the remainder upon handover and completion of any outstanding work – and write them into the contract.
How to verify a company for bathroom renovation?
In the commercial register (orsr.sk) or trade register (zrsr.sk), based on references and photos of ongoing work. Ask about bathrooms that have been in use for several years.
Should you write a contract with the tiler?
Yes. The contract should include the scope of work, price, deadlines, payments, warranty, and procedure for additional work. With a verbal agreement, these matters are only addressed when there is a problem.
What to check after completing the bathroom?
Flatness and joints, silicone in corners, fall and drainage in the shower, and functionality of taps and WC. Request photos of plumbing and a report for new electrical installations.
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