- Floor tiling in Cape Town for living areas, bedrooms, passages and open-plan rooms.
- For homeowners renovating, builders finishing new houses and landlords between tenants.
- Most floor problems start underneath, so preparation and levels matter as much as the tile.
Send your floor size and tile choice and compare floor tiling quotes in Cape Town.
Compare QuotesFloor Tiling Jobs Covered
- New floors in new builds and extensions.
- Retiling over or after removing old tiles. See tile removal.
- Large-format and rectified porcelain floors.
- Herringbone, diagonal and other patterns.
- Skirting tiles and thresholds.
Choosing a Floor Tile
| Tile | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | High-traffic floors, open-plan areas, large formats | Needs a flat base and the right adhesive |
| Ceramic | Bedrooms and light-traffic rooms on a budget | Check it is floor-rated |
| Natural stone | Marble, travertine, slate for a premium finish | Sealing and gentle cleaning |
For wet or outdoor areas, choose a tile with a suitable slip rating. For large tiles (600 x 1200 mm and up), the floor must be flatter than for small tiles.
Preparation and Levels
- Base. Concrete slab or screed, sound, clean and dry. Suspended timber floors need a suitable board system first.
- Flatness. Dips and humps cause lippage and hollow tiles. Uneven floors may need floor screeding or a self-levelling compound.
- Height. New tiles raise the floor. Check doors, built-in cupboards and the step into the next room.
- Movement joints. Around the perimeter, over structural joints and across large areas.
Layout and Transitions
- Set out from the centre of the room or the main sightline so cuts are even and not thin slivers at doorways.
- Run long tiles along the longest wall or the main view.
- Use a threshold strip where tiles meet wood, laminate or carpet.
- Match grout lines through doorways where rooms connect.
How a Floor Is Tiled
- Remove old finishes and check the base.
- Level or screed where needed and prime.
- Set out the layout and cut lines.
- Lay tiles in a full adhesive bed, back-buttering large tiles.
- Grout after the adhesive has cured, then clean and fit skirtings and trims.
Floor Tiling Prices
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Labour only, standard floor, per m² | R180 - R320 |
| Labour only, large-format tiles, per m² | R300 - R500 |
| Ceramic, supply and install, per m² | R450 - R650 |
| Porcelain, supply and install, per m² | R550 - R900 |
| Tile removal, per m² | R50 - R150 |
| Self-levelling screed, per m² | R120 - R350 |
| Whole-house floors, about 100 m² | R55,000 - R90,000 |
Ballpark figures, not quotations. Indicative 2026 ranges, rounded, from published South African tiling cost guides, checked October 2026. Most sources are national or Gauteng-based, so Cape Town quotes can differ. Sources do not always say whether VAT is included, so confirm VAT on every quote. Sources and what each range includes are listed on Tiling Prices Cape Town.
Get prices for your actual job rather than a range. Free, with no obligation to appoint anyone.
Compare QuotesWhat Affects Your Quote
- Floor area and how many rooms.
- Removal of existing tiles or flooring.
- How flat the base is.
- Tile size and pattern. Herringbone and diagonal layouts take longer.
- Skirtings, thresholds and trims.
- Who supplies tiles, adhesive and grout.
Compare floor quotes through Tiling Cape Town. Include photos of the existing floor and the tile size you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can new tiles go over old tiles?
Sometimes, if the old tiles are firmly bonded, flat and the extra height works with doors. Loose or hollow tiles must come up first.
How long before I can walk on a new tiled floor?
Usually after the adhesive has set, often the next day. Heavy furniture and full use wait until grout and adhesive have fully cured, so ask the tiler.
Why are some tiles sounding hollow?
Usually incomplete adhesive coverage or a base that is not flat. Hollow tiles crack more easily. See tile repairs.
How much extra tile should I buy?
About 10% for straight layouts and 15% for diagonal or herringbone. Keep spares from the same batch for future repairs.
Do I need a screed before tiling?
Only if the base is uneven, too low or needs a fall to a drain. A small dip can often be corrected with a levelling compound.
Related Services
Tiling Cape Town is a free quote-comparison service. Tiling work is assessed, quoted and carried out by independent tiling contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Ask each one for a written, itemised quote, what is and is not included, any guarantee and the payment terms before paying anything.
Floor Tiling Cape Town. Describe your floor once and compare installation quotes.
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