Vetted tilers in Soweto. Book now.

Tilers in Soweto generally charge R180 – R320 per m² labour for floors and R220 – R380 per m² for walls, with a minimum of about R350 – R650 for a small job. New screed for a backyard room or extension is R120 – R250 per m² on top. Tiles, from R150 – R900+ per m² for ceramic and porcelain, are bought and quoted separately from the labour.

Yes — a fresh concrete slab needs a sand-cement screed to give the tiles a level, keyed surface, and it must cure for at least a week before tiling or the adhesive will not bond. Skipping it is the usual reason tiles in extensions go hollow within a year. A tiler will check the level with a straightedge and quote for screed as a separate line.

Go for a full-body porcelain or a hard-wearing vitrified tile with a slip rating of R10 or better, since a yard gets rain, washing water and a lot of foot traffic. Avoid polished tiles outdoors, which are dangerous when wet. A mid-tone colour hides dust between washes, and a proper fall to a drain stops water pooling against the walls.

Measure the floor and walls in square metres, decide on tile size, and take clear photos of the slab, corners and doorways. Say whether you are supplying tiles and adhesive or want the tiler to. Get two or three written quotes that separate labour, screed and materials so you can compare properly rather than just the bottom line.