What does bathroom tiling cost in the Scottish Borders?
Our guide range in the Scottish Borders is £45–£85 per m² including VAT. Prices in the Scottish Borders run at about 4% below the UK guide, based on Scotland labour rates.
Ceramic
- Standard ceramic wall tiles
Porcelain
- Full height in wet zones
Large-format or stone
- Sealing where needed
Guide prices for Scottish Borders including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in the Scottish Borders?
Supplies across most of the Scottish Borders are soft. Soft water is kind to grout, so mid-tone and darker grouts stay looking fresh. 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 Hawick bathroom, the tanking and drainage are planned before the tile is chosen.
What the job includes
- Fixing with an adhesive suited to the tile and the surface, with levelling clips for large tiles
- 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
- Measuring wall and floor areas and working out quantities with an allowance for cuts
- Checking walls for flatness and strength, and boarding with cement-based backer board where needed
- Sealing natural stone and cleaning off grout haze before handover
Decisions to make first
Natural stone
Marble, limestone and travertine need sealing and gentle cleaners, and can mark. Stone-effect porcelain gives a similar look without the upkeep.
Edges
Metal or PVC trims are quick and protect tile edges. Mitred edges look cleaner on porcelain and take more labour.
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.
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 Scotland
Re-tiling a bathroom does not need planning permission or building regulations approval. In a flat, check your title deeds and any deed of conditions before changing to hard floor tiles, because sound insulation and the risk of leaks to the flat below matter, and wet rooms often need agreement from the other owners or the factor. In a listed building, removing original tiles that contribute to its character can need listed building consent.
In Scotland, re-tiling does not need a building warrant. Forming a new bathroom or altering drainage for a tiled shower floor may, so check before the floor is opened.