Quick answer
How do tilers get more tiling work?
Tilers get more tiling work by earning referrals from builders, plumbers and bathroom renovators, showing a portfolio of finished bathrooms and outdoor areas, and sending quotes that spell out the rate per square metre and every inclusion. Homeowners often compare several quotes, so clarity and reviews decide the job. In NSW, wall and floor tiling is a licensed class for residential work over $5,000.
Key takeaways
- Bathroom and kitchen renovations, plus alfresco and pool areas, are the core of residential tiling, and each buyer worries about something different.
- Plumbers, builders and bathroom renovators are a tiler's best referrers, because they see your work before the homeowner does.
- A quote showing the rate per square metre and each inclusion is easier to accept than a single lump sum.
- Google bans review incentives and asking only happy customers, so ask every customer the same way.
- NSW requires a small jobs contract for residential work from $5,000 up to $20,000 and a full contract above that.
What kind of tiling work is out there?
Residential tiling work falls into three main groups: bathroom renovations, kitchens and living areas, and outdoor spaces such as alfresco areas, balconies and pool surrounds. Bathrooms carry the most risk for the homeowner, because a leaking shower is expensive to fix, while kitchens are about looks and outdoor work is about grip, falls and heat.
| Job type | What the customer worries about | What to show |
|---|---|---|
| Full bathroom renovation | Leaks, water pooling in the shower, and weeks of disruption | Floor falls to the waste, a day by day timeline, and who does the waterproofing |
| Kitchen splashback | Wobbly grout lines and rough cuts around power points | Close ups of cuts around outlets and lines along the benchtop |
| Living area floor | Lippage between large tiles, and cracking later | A flat floor shot in side light, and how you prepare the slab |
| Alfresco or balcony | Slipping when wet, drainage and tiles lifting in the heat | The tile's slip rating, falls away from the house, and movement joints |
| Pool surround | Hot tiles underfoot, staining and loose coping | Finished pool areas from several angles |
How do tilers win jobs when homeowners compare quotes?
Tilers win compared quotes by making theirs the easiest to understand, with the area measured, the rate per square metre and every inclusion written out. A 2026 Jobber survey of 1,050 US home service business owners found pros believe customers choose on price (62%), reviews (51%) and response speed (25%), and price is easier to defend when the customer can see what is in it.
For example, a clear bathroom quote might list these lines separately:
- Floor and wall area, in square metres
- Removal and disposal of old tiles
- Screeding and floor falls to the waste
- Waterproofing, and whether you or another licensed trade does it
- Tile supply, or labour only with the customer supplying tiles
- Trims, grout colour, silicone and the final clean
Which trades refer the most tiling work?
Plumbers, builders and bathroom renovators refer the most tiling work, because they are already on site when the homeowner asks who should do the tiles. The cabinet maker fitting a new kitchen gets asked too. Each of them is putting their own name on you, so they need to know you will not make them look bad.
- Leave the bathroom ready for the plumber's fit off, with penetrations cut clean and no grout in the waste.
- Send the renovator a photo at each stage so they can update their client without driving over.
- Recommend the plumbers and sparkies who send you work, and stay in touch between jobs using the referrals guide.
What should a tiler's portfolio show?
A tiler's portfolio should show close up detail because the buyer is judging grout lines, cuts and falls. Every tiler has a photo of a finished bathroom, but few show the mitred corner on a shower niche, a herringbone floor that stays straight at the doorway, or a large format wall with no lippage. I tell tilers to take two or three close ups for every wide shot.
Caption each job with the suburb and the tile used, which helps Google understand where you work and helps a homeowner picture that tile at home. Post photos to your Google Business Profile as each job finishes, not in one batch at the end of the year.
How should tilers ask for Google reviews?
Tilers should ask every customer for a review in the same way at handover, because Google bans offering anything in return and bans asking only the happy ones. Google's Maps content policy lists businesses that "selectively solicit positive reviews" under rating manipulation, and the ACCC says writing fake reviews, or arranging for others to write them, is illegal.
Asking properly pays off. A 2026 survey of 1,002 US consumers by BrightLocal, a local SEO software company, found 83% of people asked for a review went on to leave one. Put a QR code on your handover sheet, and read the guide to Google review rules in Australia before you start.
Do tilers need a licence to quote and advertise?
In NSW, wall and floor tiling is a licensed class, so a tiler needs a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for residential tiling worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials. Contract rules also scale with job size in NSW: a small jobs contract from $5,000 up to $20,000, then a full contract above that, with a maximum deposit of 10%.
Victoria is different: Consumer Affairs Victoria says trades doing only their own trade work, including tiling, are exempt from the builder registration requirement for work over $10,000. Rules change and vary by state, so check with your regulator before quoting outside your usual area.
What can a tiler do this week to get more work?
This week, work on the three things that move tiling leads fastest: referrers, reviews and a clearer quote.
- 1Text the last three plumbers or renovators you worked with and tell them when you are next free.
- 2Rewrite your quote template so the rate per square metre and each inclusion sit on their own line.
- 3Follow up every quote older than a week with a short, friendly message.
- 4Send your review link to every customer you finished in the last month.
- 5Upload six close ups to your Google profile, labelled by suburb and tile.
- 6Take the free 15 second lead score quiz to find the gap costing you the most tiling work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get more tiling work as a new tiler?
Start with the trades around you. Plumbers, builders and bathroom renovators need dependable tilers and will try a new one when a regular lets them down. Photograph every job in detail and ask each customer for a review, so you have proof to show the next one.
Should tilers quote per square metre or a fixed price?
Many tilers work out the price by the square metre, then present a fixed total, giving the homeowner a rate to compare and a number to budget for. Either way, state what the rate includes, such as preparation, waterproofing and trims, so the quote is not misread.
Is pool and outdoor tiling worth offering?
Outdoor and pool work can fill gaps when bathroom work slows. It needs care with slip resistance, falls, movement joints and heat, so show finished outdoor projects before you advertise the service, and only take it on if you have done it before.
Why do homeowners pick a dearer tiler?
Homeowners often pay more for confidence. A quote that lists every inclusion, arrives quickly and comes with recent reviews and photos of similar bathrooms feels safer than a cheaper lump sum, because the fear of leaks and delays outweighs a modest price gap.
Can I offer a discount for a Google review?
No. Google prohibits incentives such as payment, discounts or free work for posting a review. The ACCC also says any incentive must apply whether the review is positive or negative and be clearly disclosed. The safe approach is to ask every customer and offer nothing.
Read next
Lead guides for other trades
Lead guides
Start from the overview: marketing for tradies and service businesses.
Sources
- NSW Government, Categories and classes of building and trade work (2026)
- NSW Government, Guide to providing home building contracts (2026)
- Consumer Affairs Victoria, About builders, tradespeople and other building practitioners (checked 2026)
- Jobber, Blue Collar Strong: 2026 Home Service Trends Report (2026)
- Google, Maps User Generated Content Policy: Prohibited and restricted content (checked 2026)
- ACCC, Online reviews (2026)
- BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (2026)
Sources checked on 6 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so confirm anything legal with the regulator in your state.