Impossible Finding a Tiler at a Reasonable Price

Ltunafish007 on 24/09/2024 - 14:20
Last edited 24/09/2024 - 14:29 by 1 other user

I have a small floor tiling project - 10sqm.

I'm struggling to find a tiler (at a reasonable price) for the work in Sydney.

Are tilers really making $1000+/day?

I understand there's some complexities to my job but most people are saying they can do the work in 2 days, so when you back out the daily labour rate it comes to $1000-1500/day. Most of the tilers are one-man outfits. Some say they'll use a labourer, others will do the job solo. What gives?

tldr; Does $2500-$3500 for a 2 day 10sqm tiling job seem nuts or did tilers start minting money at some point and everyone else just missed the boat?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Cluster on 26/09/2024 - 12:10
    +2

    When I built my house I did all ~100m2 tiling myself. It still looks great over a decade later and I've had no problems. I had no prior experience to laying my first tile. Try DIY.

  • aboogee on 26/09/2024 - 12:50
    +1

    Sorry but we're in Australia where blue collar jobs get paid the same (if not more) than typical white collar jobs.
    And complaining about this makes everyone hate you
    To be honest, if you feel its too expensive, do yourself a favour and learn how to do it yourself.
    Few months ago, I fixed up our clothes lines, gutter, and sagging door myself.
    With youtube these days, you probably wont be able to perfect it but you stand a better chance getting it right.

  • joelmuzz on 26/09/2024 - 13:53
    -2

    They have their insurance and warranty in that so it isnt so amazing, they have a pretty high defect rate and that can cost them a lot.

    But every trade is expensive in Sydney, its costing them $2M for an ex housing commision fibro house there like everyone else so they are going to charge what the market will pay.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 27/09/2024 - 09:49

      Good luck getting a cent back after they do a crap job

  • livealittle7 on 26/09/2024 - 15:22

    I recently got a handyman to do my patio tiles for $55/sqm (excluding the tiles) and I thought that was ridiculous.

    Edit: in Brisbane.

  • GregRust on 26/09/2024 - 15:42

    DIY it. You’ll learn a new skill, it’ll be more personal too.

  • May4th on 26/09/2024 - 20:43

    always get 3 quotes and that will tell you what the market rate is. people may quote high for a variety of reasons. often if it's a small job or when they are already too busy they will give you a "go away" quote

  • Sammyboy on 26/09/2024 - 22:20

    Pretty much any trades in the main cities are charging at a rate of $1000 a day profit after expenses. Ironically even the non-apprentice type trades are charging as much as the 4 year appretice trades, so those guys are probably laughing now at the tradies who did 4 years of slave labour/appreticeship.

  • RatBargain on 27/09/2024 - 08:55
    +3

    Yo wasuup noble tradesman

    I have a jolly request for tile application estimation
    10m sq

    The job is EASY. I could do it myselves if I really wantsed to!

    You’ll realize, I am VERY WELL educated, so don’t even think about ripping me off. I know ALL about tile glue, leveler and grout.

    Infact, i probably know more than anybody. Nobody knows more about tiling that me!

    ANYWAYz Ya’ll been giving Me quotes Like criminalz

    And DON’T be Cheaping ouT on floor LevELER.

    I KNOW HOW MUCH EACH BAG COSTS 😡😡😡
    HERE ARE PHOTO of super Easy Job. Prob take you Half a day to finish. You will laugh joke.

    AnywayS GET back to me wiTh a Quote within 4HRS or you Dont Get the JOB!

    Thank Buddy

    Regard PhD. Dr. Fish

  • b2tf on 27/09/2024 - 09:38

    The problem is that you are calling in tradies to quote for such a small job. Post on airtasker with photos of the area and ask for their sqm rate. Pick the one with good reviews and price you are comfortable with.

  • kev98 on 27/09/2024 - 17:44

    OP sounds like you have a few options:
    * pay the expensive tiler who you should have references for to know they will do a proper and tidy job
    * pay a cheap tiler and get a cheap job
    * learn to tile yourself as you seem to think trades are easy

    God bless

  • buckethat on 27/09/2024 - 22:03
    +1

    Christ, OP sounds insufferable, if I was a tiler, I'd quote whatever I think will get him/her to f$#@ off.

  • petepumpkin on 27/09/2024 - 22:20
    +1

    Try and do it yourself, you can get all the bits from bunnings..

  • johnno07 on 27/09/2024 - 22:52
    +1

    Trust me - I've seen hours of [YouTube videos].
    Heck, I know more about tiling glues, levelling compounds, screeds, etc than most of the guys quoting on the job

    I think you'll find you're currently quite far at the left side of the Dunning-Kruger graph.

  • Cave Fire on 28/09/2024 - 01:30

    Yeah had this happen. Went through four or five rejections. Guess our job was too small for them (splashback, small floor and bathroom). About 20 m2. Guessing it's the same amount of setup etc, so they prefer going to one bigger job. Eventually we found an old tiler, who gave the job to his mate. Guy was old school "German" and did the job cheap and well. Found the first tiler through asking our carpenter. Persistence I guess.

  • payless69 on 28/09/2024 - 09:45

    Work and develop orders pays a minimum $100 for showing up to first nations people.

    Good tilers know this and their skill is worth something.

  • snappy1234 on 05/10/2024 - 05:40
    +1

    Wrong time of year to find tradies
    As a rule always hectic from September to Xmas.
    Then they take most of January off for a break.

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