Bathroom tiling in Dorset

What does bathroom tiling cost in Dorset?

Our guide range in Dorset is £45–£90 per m² including VAT.

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

Which towns do we cover in Dorset?

• Bournemouth
• Poole
• Weymouth
• Christchurch
• Ferndown
• Dorchester
• Wimborne Minster

Water across much of Dorset is hard. Hard water leaves white marks on dark grout and gloss tiles, so matt finishes and stain-resistant grout are the practical choice. Hardness varies street by street, so check the figure for your postcode with your water supplier. If you want a tiled shower floor in your Bournemouth bathroom, the tanking and drainage are planned before the tile is chosen.

What the job includes

• Floor preparation: overlaying timber floors with ply or backer board, or levelling a screed
• Tanking the shower area and the walls around the bath with a waterproof membrane or liquid system
• Fixing with an adhesive suited to the tile and the surface, with levelling clips for large tiles
• Checking walls for flatness and strength, and boarding with cement-based backer board where needed
• Setting out so cuts are even and joints line up with niches, windows and edges
• Sealing natural stone and cleaning off grout haze before handover

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.

Edges

Metal or PVC trims are quick and protect tile edges. Mitred edges look cleaner on porcelain and take more labour.

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.

Natural stone

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

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.