Tilers Cape Town: Shower Tiling, Wall and Floor Tiling, Priced per Square Metre
Tilers in Cape Town charge R180 to R320 per m² for floor tiling labour and R220 to R380 per m² for wall tiling in a Cape Town tiler cost guide, after a call-out or minimum charge of R350 to R650. Tiles, adhesive and grout are extra. Shower tiling goes over a waterproofing membrane, never straight onto the wall.
Use the form below for a repair or renovation quote.
The quote measures each wall and floor in m², checks the surface underneath and lists the tile, adhesive, grout and membrane separately.
Tiling Cost per m² in Cape Town
| Item | Guide figure | Guide (scope) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor tiling labour | R180 – R320 per m² | T1, Cape Town tiler guide |
| Wall tiling labour | R220 – R380 per m² | T1, Cape Town |
| Call-out or minimum charge | R350 – R650 | T1, Cape Town |
| Tiles, material only | R150 to R900 per m² spread | B1, Western Cape renovation guide, Jun 2026 |
Guide T1 is a Cape Town tiler guide (undated, read October 2026). Large-format, mosaic and outdoor work are priced higher; tiles, adhesive and grout are separate.
Worked arithmetic on Guide T1
- A 6 m² bathroom floor: 6 × R180 to R320 = R1,080 to R1,920 in labour.
- Shower walls of 9 m²: 9 × R220 to R380 = R1,980 to R3,420 in labour.
- A 30 m² open-plan floor: 30 × R180 to R320 = R5,400 to R9,600 in labour.
These are arithmetic on one guide's rates, not quotes. Removing old tiles, levelling and waterproofing are separate lines.
Shower Tiling
Shower tiling depends on the waterproofing beneath the tiles. The order is fixed:
- The floor is screeded with a fall to the drain.
- A waterproofing membrane covers the shower floor, the walls and every pipe penetration.
- Wall tiles go on first, then the floor tiles, cut to the drain.
- Grout, then a flexible sealant at the wall-floor and wall-wall corners where movement happens.
A new shower in Cape Town also takes a showerhead of no more than 7 litres a minute under Schedule 1, item 12 of the City's Water By-law. The full bathroom sequence, including the plumbing and fittings: bathroom renovations in Cape Town.
Wall Tiling and Floor Tiling
| Attribute | Wall tiling | Floor tiling |
|---|---|---|
| Surface check | Plaster sound, plumb and dry | Screed level, bonded, without cracks |
| Typical tiles | Ceramic, glazed porcelain, mosaics | Porcelain, ceramic, large-format |
| Fixing | Set from a level line upward | Full adhesive cover, no hollow spots |
| Labour, Guide T1 | R220 – R380 per m² | R180 – R320 per m² |
What Tilers in Cape Town Check Before Laying a Tile
- The substrate. Hollow, cracked or dusty screed and loose plaster are fixed before tiling, or the new tiles crack along the old fault.
- Falls. Wet floors fall to a drain; a shower floor that holds water soaks the grout.
- Movement joints. Large floors and junctions with walls get flexible joints so tiles do not lift.
- Moisture. A damp wall is diagnosed before it is tiled over.
Tilers Near Me: Tiling Contractors, Not a Tile Shop
Cape Town Home Repairs lays tiles and does not sell them. The quote lists the tile area per room, the labour rate, adhesive, grout, trims, membrane where needed, and the removal of old tiles. When a shower or floor leak is the reason for re-tiling, the leak is traced first: leak detection in Cape Town.
To have a floor, wall or shower measured: request a quote.
Cape Town Home Repairs: Questions Homeowners Ask
How much do tilers charge per m2 in Cape Town?
Tilers in Cape Town charge R180 to R320 per m² for floor tiling labour and R220 to R380 per m² for walls in a Cape Town tiler cost guide (Guide T1), plus a call-out or minimum charge of R350 to R650. Tiles, adhesive and grout are quoted separately.
Is wall tiling more expensive than floor tiling?
Yes, per m² of labour. Guide T1 puts wall tiling at R220 to R380 per m² against R180 to R320 for floors, because wall tiles are set against gravity and cut around more fittings.
Can new tiles go over old tiles?
Sometimes, on a floor where the old tiles are firmly bonded, flat and not hollow-sounding, and where the extra height clears doors. In a shower, old tiles come off so the waterproofing underneath can be checked and replaced.
Does shower tiling include waterproofing?
It should. Tiles and grout are not a waterproof layer, so a membrane goes on the shower floor and walls before tiling. A shower tiling quote that does not name the membrane is missing the part that stops leaks.
How many tiles should I buy?
Buy the measured area plus an allowance for cuts and breakages, and a larger allowance for diagonal layouts or large-format tiles. Keep a few spare tiles from the same batch for later repairs.
Does Cape Town Home Repairs sell tiles?
No. Cape Town Home Repairs lays tiles; the tiles come from the homeowner's chosen supplier or are bought for the job and itemised on the quote.