How long to tile a bathroom please - TilersForums.com

[rufus the tiler]

Hi all, I am trying to find out if I am up to the right speed levels with tiling bathrooms....how long would take you guys to tile your average size bathroom....example...2m x 1.7m x 2.4 high with an average size window and door to go round...in 400x250 tiles(brickbond)...bag adhesive and white grout...standard no feature/border etc but to a high standard...walls are new board already done...just curious.
I take 3 days...too long?

 

[Qwerty]

A very subjective question. Are walls completely flat and level, are tiles bowed or sizey? I would say 3 days is fine. Some would say they do it in a day, some 2, some more! If you can make 3 days wage out of 3 days tiling then happy days. If you can only make 2 days wages from 3 days work then yes you're too slow

 

[rufus the tiler]

I have talked to other tilers before and some have said a day......I just can never imagine doing full room in a day without letting standards drop...I sometimes can take 30 mins on one tile if it needs it......I do full bathroom renovations mostly and generally estimate 7-9 days with plastering ,spotlights,fans etc but I do aim for a top job everytime ....I charge labour at a day rate based on time estimate.......as for bowed tiles I wont buy them....make the job a nightmare.

 

[Qwerty]

In that case carry on as you are. That is my approach and many others on here.

 

[Dumbo]

If you're getting work. Getting paid for it and customer is happy you must be doing something right . I have tiled rooms in a day before but that is site work. Working in somebodies house setting up tools , packing tools away , tidying up end of day and sometimes during the day . Setting out a new room all takes time so how long does that actually leave you in one day to tile .

 

[rufus the tiler]

Good stuff....I am getting older now lol so will only get slower or may have to take someone on to do fetching and carrying.

 

[Andy Allen]

Your example would take me 2 days.
First day I would tile most of the walls just leaving the window reveals and maybe the bottom cuts.
2nd day finish the tiling and grout.

But at the end of the day as long as you do a good job it's all that matters..

 

[demi34]

2.5 days -3days

 

[StephenR]

This might be controversial but I take ages and get paid for it. At least 4 days for me but then I am not a full time tiler and do whole room refurbs from start to finish. I used to use a tiler and he wasn't bad but not up to the standard I expect hence why I'm doing it again. I don't use rapids as I'm not fast enough so laying and grouting on same day is not possible however I know some tilers will grout "when the tiles stop moving enough" rather than waiting the recommended times.

To put this into perspective, a window reveal that needs a bit of squaring up (they all do right?) with properly mitred trims and consistent gaps all round will take me most of a morning. Just getting the trims right will take me about an hour.

So the question is really, like others have said, if you get paid for how long it takes you, then fine. Others that are "fast" might be getting paid for longer and are knocking it out fast to make more per day than day rate.

Also one man's good job is another man's adequate and without close inspection, it's hard to know where the speed/quality line is. Personally I can't see how a job good enough for me could be done in 2 days and I don't mean that to be insulting; it's just more about me not being able to do it regardless in that time.

 

[MarshallTile]

Well said. Quality work and a spot on tiling job will gain you maybe 3 more jobs. A bad job will lose you 10. Nuff said!