When interior designers quote you for tiles, they’ll usually give you a range to choose from. This will be indicated in your quotation. The most common range is capped at $3.50 per square feet (psf).

The thing is homeowners almost always have to top-up (i.e. pay more), because the tiles they like often exceeds this allowed range.

There are two main questions you need to ask yourself..

Watch our tiktok if you lazy to read.

1) Does $3.50/psf include or exclude GST?

In tile shops, tiles are priced clearly based on psf and with GST.

Take the left example below, the tile is priced $3.50 before GST, and $3.82 after GST. Simple math.

Likewise the right example, the tile is $3.10 before GST, and $3.38 after.

Now, if your quotation writes you can choose tiles “up to $3.50 psf”, do you think you choose both tiles or only 1 of them?

The answer is you don’t know, and that’s why you need to get your ID to specify the full allowance, before or after GST.

Don’t be ambiguous.

And a firm that allows you $3.50 after GST, lets you choose less than one that offers you $3.50 before GST.

2) Are you design-oriented?

If you like pretty tiles, chances are the standard $3.50 psf cap won’t suffice.

Realistically what do these price ranges comprise of? It’s the basics: greys, whites, plain finishes.

The more unique or “pretty” designs often cost more than that.

$4 psf for floral patterned tiles, $6 psf for subway tiles, $8 psf for large 1200×600 tiles.

And this is where many homeowners get caught off guard.

You sign a contract thinking you’ve got a decent range, but when you step into the shop, you realise your options are limited.

Suddenly, your ID asks you top up for nicer tiles, and it feels like you kena scam.

Go Tile Shopping!

That’s why I always encourage homeowners to make a trip to the tile shop before committing.

Walk the aisles, look at the price tags, and get a feel for what’s available in your quoted range.

As an added bonus, it is very therapeutic.

Once you know the range, you can ask for that range in the quotation, and make a more meaningful comparison.

It saves you the frustration later, and it keeps the process transparent.

TLDR

When IDs quote tile options, the "$3.5 psf" allowable range sounds decent on paper.

However, be sure to check if this range includes or excludes GST.

A $3.50psf after GST really means $3.20 before GST.

At that price point, your range is realistically the basics, greys, whites, plain etc.

If you are design-oriented, you sure exceed the standard range.

That’s why always visit tile shops before committing to your ID.

Lastly, if you need reliable IDs/contractors recommendations, enquire here. It’s free with no obligations.

Why Homeowners Always Top Up For Tiles

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