Wall and floor tiling might sound like a straightforward job, but it can be quite complex with a huge amount of variety.
Jobs range from renovations to new houses, with tiling needed in kitchens, bathrooms, balconies and facades. Wall and floor tilers can work on both residential and commercial jobs.
On the commercial side, you might tile anything from commercial kitchens to recreation centres, such as swimming pools, hotels, shopping malls, factories and offices.
What is a wall and floor tiler?
Wall and floor tiling is a skilled trade that involves laying different types and styles of tiles both inside and outside. As the name implies, wall and floor tilers lay tiles on both walls and floors for protective and decorative purposes.
Do I need any qualifications to work in the industry?
To become a qualified wall and floor tiler, you need a Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling.
This course will give you both the practical hands-on knowledge that the job requires and the theoretical knowledge behind it.
You’ll learn how to use tile cutting tools and equipment, apply waterproofing and prep surfaces and lay wall and floor tiles for a variety of different buildings.
You will also learn how to repair and maintain tiles, and discover techniques for creating patterns, borders and feature walls.
Which sectors can I work in as a wall and floor tiler?
Wall and floor tilers can work across lots of different sectors within the construction and renovation industries.
Tilers are needed for residential and commercial developments, as well as being sought after for restoration and heritage work.
Residential construction
Within the residential sector, a wall and floor tiler might be needed to tile bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, living areas, hallway or outdoor patios and balconies.
Both renovations and new builds will offer tiling opportunities, particularly as trends and tastes change. The residential sector is a huge market for wall and floor tilers.
Commercial construction
Commercial constructions also have plenty of opportunities for wall and floor tilers. Office developments or hospitality projects like hotels, restaurants, cafes or bars are all likely to have multiple tiled areas, while healthcare developments like clinics or hospitals will require highly hygienic and durable tiling.
These types of commercial projects often involve large-scale installations due to the size of the buildings involved.
Restoration and Heritage work
There is a burgeoning market for restoration and heritage work in Perth. These sites need skilled craftspeople, including wall and floor tilers with exceptional attention to detail and additional qualifications in traditional techniques and conservation principles.
Wall and floor tiler job description
On a day-to-day basis, wall and floor tiler duties include tasks like:
- Maintenance work, such as removing and replacing cracked or damaged tiles.
- Laying ceramic, rectified porcelain, clay or natural stone tiles on external and internal walls and floors and curved surfaces to provide protective and decorative finishes.
- Preparing surfaces by levelling, smoothing and filling any holes and cracks in the surface to be tiled.
- Cutting individual tiles to shape and to fit around obstacles and openings.
- Grouting tile joints, leaving them smooth, clean and even.
- Mixing, applying and spreading various adhesive types such as cement-based, flexible adhesives, mastics and even 2-part epoxy on certain projects.
- Mitring tiles on corners and angles.
- Maintenance work, such as removing and replacing cracked or damaged tiles.
Typical working hours
Your typical working hours as a wall and floor tiler are full-time. Often, tradespeople start their days earlier than other professions, allowing them to finish earlier and use the afternoons to recover from the physicality of the job.
As you gain more experience and qualifications, you may consider starting your own business and working for yourself. This allows you to decide how many hours a week you want to work, which gives you the chance to create the work/life balance that suits you.
Daily working conditions
Wall and floor tilers work both inside and outside. They are not usually affected by poor weather conditions.
Some jobs will involve working at heights, so you will need to learn how to use scaffolding or ladders. Your working environment might include spaces that can get noisy, wet and dirty. If you are keen to specialise in these sorts of roles, you might need extra qualifications in this area.
How to become a floor and wall tiler
While there are several different pathways to becoming a wall and floor tiler, we’ve laid out the most typical journey. CTF has several support payments to support your apprenticeship and training, including financial support for your apprenticeship and assistance for buying your tools.
Complete Year 10 at school
You will need a White Card to work in the construction industry. You have to be at least 14 to gain a White Card. While requirements vary, most employers generally look to take on people who have completed Year 10 at a minimum.
Consider a pre-apprenticeship
While a pre-apprenticeship isn’t mandatory for becoming a wall and floor tiler, it can help you gain a competitive edge.
A pre-apprenticeship, such as a Certificate II in Building and Construction (Pathway – Trades) (Wall and Floor Tiling Pre-apprenticeship), is a great way to explore the industry and gain some foundation skills that will make you an even more attractive candidate for an apprenticeship.
Construction Training Fund wants to support people coming into the industry, which is why we offer a $500 award for completing your pre-apprenticeship.
Secure an apprenticeship
The most crucial step towards becoming a floor and wall tiler is securing an apprenticeship.
There are different ways to start an apprenticeship, and funding is available to help you earn while you learn.
An apprenticeship offers a mix of practical learning and industry exposure while helping you develop valuable skills and connections while you’re learning.
Typically, you get an apprenticeship in WA either by approaching an employer directly or going through an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider, which will help you with the process and match you with a potential employer in your field.
A wall and floor tiling apprenticeship takes 3-4 years to complete, combining practical on-the-job training with formal study to earn your Certificate III qualification. This means you’ll earn while you learn and gain real industry experience.
Complete training and qualifications
As part of your wall and floor tiling apprenticeship, you complete a Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling.
Gain experience and secure employment
Once you’ve completed your training, the next step is to gain full-time employment. One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is the industry connections it provides. Often, apprentices can be retained by the company with which they have completed their training.
Future Pathways and Opportunities
Once you, your employer and your RTO have agreed that you’ve completed all elements of training and units of competency, you are ready to become qualified.
You need to finalise all your documents, including having your training plan signed off. Then, your RTO will issue you with a qualification certificate, which is a nationally recognised qualification.
Future careers
Becoming a wall and floor tiler offers a variety of career opportunities, either working for yourself or for somebody else.
- Business owner
- Sub-contractor
- Trainer and Assessor
- Supervisor
- Builder
There are also options to specialise in wall and floor tiling. You could choose to work on commercial or residential projects or specialise in industrial tiling, decorative work, or heritage restoration.