Bathroom tiling in County Durham

What does bathroom tiling cost in County Durham?

Our guide range in County Durham is £40–£80 per m² including VAT. Prices in County Durham run at about 10% below the UK guide, based on North East England labour rates.

Guide prices for County Durham including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.

Which towns do we cover in County Durham?

• Darlington
• Hartlepool
• Stockton-on-Tees
• Durham
• Chester-le-Street
• Billingham
• Stanley
• Consett
• Newton Aycliffe
• Bishop Auckland
• Seaham
• Thornaby-on-Tees
• Peterlee
• Yarm
• Spennymoor

Supplies across most of County Durham are moderately hard. Mid-tone grout and matt tiles hide the odd water mark better than dark grout and high gloss. Hardness varies street by street, so check the figure for your postcode with your water supplier. Tiling quotes in Darlington list the tile, the area and the preparation separately, so you can compare like for like.

What the job includes

• Grouting, trims or mitred edges, and silicone at internal corners, the bath and the tray
• Floor preparation: overlaying timber floors with ply or backer board, or levelling a screed
• Fixing with an adhesive suited to the tile and the surface, with levelling clips for large tiles
• Sealing natural stone and cleaning off grout haze before handover
• Tanking the shower area and the walls around the bath with a waterproof membrane or liquid system
• Setting out so cuts are even and joints line up with niches, windows and edges

Decisions to make first

Tile size

Large-format tiles mean fewer grout lines but need flat walls and more preparation. Small tiles and mosaics follow uneven surfaces and grip better underfoot.

Natural stone

Marble, limestone and travertine need sealing and gentle cleaners, and can mark. Stone-effect porcelain gives a similar look without the upkeep.

Floor grip

For a bathroom floor, choose a matt or textured tile with a slip rating of R10 or above. Smaller tiles with more grout lines grip better in a shower.

Ceramic or porcelain

Ceramic is lighter, easier to cut and cheaper, and is fine on walls. Porcelain is denser and absorbs less water, so it suits floors and showers.

Rules that apply in England

Re-tiling a bathroom does not need planning permission or building regulations approval. In a flat, check the lease before changing to hard floor tiles, because sound insulation and the risk of leaks to the flat below matter, and wet rooms often need freeholder consent. In a listed building, removing original tiles that contribute to its character can need listed building consent.

In England, tiling itself is not building regulations work. If it is part of forming a level shower floor with new drainage, that drainage can be Part H work, and any new electrics are covered by Part P.