Licensed and Insured Tilers in Adelaide
A tiler with the right licence, waterproofing qualification and insurance protects your home. Here is how to check all 3 before you book.
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The tiling itself is only half the job. What sits under and behind those tiles, the waterproofing, the substrate prep, the falls to the drain, is where a cowboy operator causes the real damage, and you will not see it until the water is already through the wall.
That is why it pays to check 3 things before anyone starts: the right South Australian licence for the work, the separate waterproofing qualification a wet area needs, and current public liability insurance. A legitimate tradesperson can show you all 3.
We are a free matching service, not a tiling contractor. We do not tile anything ourselves. Our job is to pass your enquiry to a local tiler and show you how to check them.
Building work licence
In South Australia, tiling as part of building work is licensed by Consumer and Business Services. Ask for the licence number and check it covers the job.
Waterproofing qualification
Wet area waterproofing is a separate, high-risk trade. Ask whether the tiler is qualified to waterproof, or who will do it, so your bathroom is sealed properly.
Public liability insurance
A tiler without cover leaves you exposed if something is damaged on your property. Ask for a current certificate of currency so you are not the one wearing the risk.
Easy to verify yourself
We show you exactly how to check a licence number on the public CBS register, so you can confirm any tiler independently before you sign anything.
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What the law actually requires in South Australia
Tiling does not sit on its own as a single trade licence in South Australia. It falls under building work, which is regulated by Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Any building work valued over $12,000 must be carried out by a licensed builder or tradesperson, and the contractor must give you a written contract for work over that threshold.
The part most homeowners miss is waterproofing. Waterproofing a wet area is treated as high-risk building work, and the person doing it needs the right competency to sign off that the membrane has been installed to the Australian Standard. A tiler who lays beautiful tiles over a poorly waterproofed shower has still handed you a failure waiting to happen, because a leaking wet area is one of the most expensive faults to fix once the tiles are down.
This is where cutting corners costs the most. If the waterproofing fails, you are not just re-tiling. You are pulling up tiles, drying out the structure, replacing damaged sheeting and starting again, often for far more than the original bathroom cost. Getting a properly licensed and qualified tiler the first time is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
- Building work over $12,000 must be done by a licensed contractor with a written contract
- Waterproofing a wet area is separate high-risk work needing the right competency
- Ask specifically who is doing the waterproofing and how it is being certified
- A signed contract protects both sides and is your reference if a dispute arises
How to verify a tiler before you commit
You never have to take a licence on trust. Consumer and Business Services keeps a free public register you can search by name or licence number, and it will tell you whether a licence is current, what class it covers and whether any conditions apply. It takes 2 minutes and it is the single best habit before handing over a deposit.
Insurance is just as important and just as easy to confirm. Ask any tiler for a current certificate of currency for their public liability cover, and check the dates line up with when your job will actually happen. A legitimate tradesperson will not blink at the request, because they are asked for it all the time.
Run these checks on every tiler you compare. A good tiler will happily hand over the details.
- Search the free CBS licensing register online by name or licence number
- Confirm the licence is current and covers the class of work you need
- Ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance
- Check the insurance dates cover the period your job will be done
- Get the quote and scope in writing before you pay any deposit
Frequently asked questions
Do tilers need a licence in South Australia?
Why is waterproofing treated separately from tiling?
How do I check if a tiler is really licensed and insured?
What can go wrong if I hire an unlicensed tiler?
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