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Interior renovation

Tiling in Western Switzerland

Tiler in Western Switzerland: common jobs, CFC training, itemised quotes, Art. 371 CO warranties and cantonal rules. Describe your project and get quotes.

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Tiling touches almost every room of a home: hallway, kitchen, bathroom, balcony or terrace. A good result depends as much on preparing the substrate as on choosing the tiles. This page presents the trade, its particularities in Western Switzerland and how to prepare a quote request.

What a tiler does in Western Switzerland

A tiler lays tiles and glazed wall tiles on floors and walls alike. Their scope also covers screed, mosaic and natural stone, as well as waterproofing beneath tiles in wet rooms. Depending on the firm, some of this work is carried out together, while other parts are handed to another trade: make this clear in your request.

The most frequent jobs are:

  • replacing a kitchen or hallway floor;
  • a complete bathroom renovation, with a walk-in shower or bathtub;
  • laying wall tiles around a sink or shower screen;
  • tiling a balcony or terrace;
  • decorative mosaic, for example on a wall or in a shower niche;
  • replacing cracked tiles or damaged joints.

When to call a tiler rather than do it yourself

A single tile coming loose can be handled simply. As soon as a larger surface is involved, the question changes. Poorly laid tiling sounds hollow, cracks or lets water seep through, and the damage often appears several months later, in the ceiling of the neighbour below or behind a partition.

It is better to turn to a professional in these situations:

  • wet rooms (shower, bathtub, laundry room) where waterproofing is at stake;
  • uneven floors, typical of older buildings, which need levelling or a new screed;
  • underfloor heating, whose expansion constraints influence the choice of adhesive and joints;
  • large formats or natural stone, which are more demanding to lay;
  • terraces or balconies exposed to frost, where water must drain away properly.

Particularities of the trade by type of home

Bathrooms and kitchens. This is the most common ground. The waterproofing beneath the tiles, the slope of the drain and the treatment of corners and pipe penetrations matter more than the final appearance.

Underfloor heating. Tiling conducts heat well, but laying over a heating system follows its own rules. Ask the firm how it manages bringing the substrate up to temperature and the expansion joints.

Older buildings. In an older building, floors are almost never level or perfectly straight. The tiler must make up the levels before laying, which is reflected in the quote.

Terraces and balconies. Outdoor tiling is subject to freezing and thawing. The choice of tile, adhesive and joints counts, as does the drainage of water.

Training and framework in Switzerland

The trade is learned through vocational training: the CFC (federal certificate of proficiency) for tilers. This qualification is a useful benchmark when comparing firms, but it does not replace reading a precise quote or discussing your job. Ask what is planned for your room, and not just the price per square metre laid.

On the contract side, two references come up often: the Code of Obligations (CO) and, if the contract refers to it, the SIA 118 standard (general conditions for construction work, issued by the Swiss society of engineers and architects). Read the documents carefully before signing.

Permits, energy and heritage by canton

Replacing tiling indoors does not usually go through a permit procedure. Things get more complicated once the job goes beyond the covering: a change to the facade, a terrace, heavy renovation or a listed building. In every case, check with your municipality or the competent cantonal office before ordering.

  • Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton (Office des autorisations de construire). For energy, the cantonal law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) frame the subsidies of the Buildings Programme. Many rental buildings are managed by agencies, whose consent must be obtained; the old town and some districts are protected. See the page on the canton of Geneva.
  • Vaud: the building permit is issued by the municipality, with the file going through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) if cantonal services must give an opinion. Energy falls under Vaud law and the cantonal energy directorate. Old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, call for particular care. See canton of Vaud.
  • Valais: the building permit is issued by the municipality in the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside the building zone. Chalets and second homes (federal law on second homes in the municipalities concerned) have their own rules. See canton of Valais.
  • Fribourg: applications go through the cantonal platform FRIAC, with the permit issued by the prefecture or the municipality depending on the type of work. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected. See canton of Fribourg.
  • Neuchâtel: the cantonal office SATAC receives applications, and the decision is made by the municipality. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, a UNESCO site, may influence a project. See canton of Neuchâtel.
  • Jura: the permit is issued by the municipality or the canton depending on the size of the project. Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne have old towns to consider. See canton of Jura.
  • Bern (Biel/Bienne): the permit is issued by the municipality or the prefecture depending on the project. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German. See canton of Bern.

If your tiling project is part of a wider energy renovation, the cantonal energy offices can tell you about the subsidy programmes in force. Find out before starting the work.

Preparing your tiling request

The clearer the request, the easier it is to compare quotes. Remember to state:

  • the room or surfaces concerned, on floors and walls;
  • the current condition: old tiling to be removed or not, damaged substrate, visible damp;
  • the type of building (older, recent, co-ownership) and the floor;
  • the presence of underfloor heating;
  • the material you want (porcelain stoneware, glazed tiles, mosaic, natural stone) or, failing that, the use of the room;
  • your status: owner, tenant with the landlord’s consent, co-ownership or company;
  • your access and timing constraints.

Photos help to frame the job. You can request a quote by describing your project: your request is passed on to craftspeople and firms in the region, who contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

What a reliable tiling quote itemises

A clear quote separates the items instead of announcing a lump sum. Check that it includes:

  • removal of the old covering and disposal of rubble;
  • preparation of the substrate: levelling, screed, primer;
  • waterproofing beneath tiles in wet rooms, with the system planned;
  • supply of the tiles or, if you buy them yourself, what the firm expects from you;
  • laying, adhesives, joints and finishing profiles;
  • skirting boards, thresholds and junctions with other floors;
  • payment terms and the expected duration of the job.

If an item is missing, ask why. A difference between two quotes often comes from a step included by one and forgotten by the other.

What makes the cost of a tiling job vary

Cost depends first on the surface area and the condition of the substrate: a floor to be levelled or a screed to be redone weighs more than laying on a sound substrate. The format and material also count: a mosaic or natural stone takes more time than a standard large tile. Added to this are the complexity of the room (many corners, niches, slopes), site access, the floor, removal of the existing covering and the waterproofing to be provided. Only a quote based on your situation gives a reliable figure.

For work on immovable property, meaning what is fixed to the building such as tiling, the Code of Obligations provides a five-year period for defects (Art. 371 CO). For work on movable property, it is two years. If your contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its rules apply in addition; read what is signed. In the event of a defect, report it in writing as soon as you notice it, keeping photos and your exchanges with the firm.

Tiling near you

Practices and contacts vary from one municipality to another. Consult the page for your town:

Your municipality is not listed? Describe your project via the request a quote page, stating where the work will take place.

Updated 29 October 2026

Tiling: pages by town

Tiling – BienneTiling – BulleTiling – CarougeTiling – DelémontTiling – FribourgTiling – GenevaTiling – La Chaux-de-FondsTiling – LancyTiling – LausanneTiling – MartignyTiling – MontheyTiling – MontreuxTiling – MorgesTiling – NeuchâtelTiling – NyonTiling – SierreTiling – SionTiling – VernierTiling – VeveyTiling – Yverdon-les-Bains

Free, no-obligation quote request

Describe your project: your request is passed on to tradespeople in your area.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a tiler to redo a bathroom floor?
A bathroom floor is more than sticking tiles down: the substrate, the slope towards the drain and the waterproofing beneath the tiles determine how long the work lasts. A trained tiler knows these steps and their order. For a small repair, DIY is possible, but a wet room deserves professional advice.
Can a tenant have tiles laid at their own expense?
Replacing a floor or wall covering is a modification of the rented property. As a rule, you need the written consent of the landlord or the managing agency before starting work. Mention this in your request, so that firms know who approves the quote.
Is a permit needed to change tiling?
A simple replacement of an interior covering does not usually require one, but it all depends on the scale of the job and the status of the building (listed, co-owned). If the work affects the facade, a terrace or the structure, check with your municipality or the competent cantonal office.
How long does outdoor tiling withstand frost?
It depends on the choice of tile, the laying, the joints and the drainage of water. A terrace exposed to frost needs a suitable material and a properly prepared substrate. The tiler can advise you according to the altitude and exposure of your terrace.
What does the warranty cover after tiling is laid?
The Code of Obligations (CO) provides five years for defects in work on immovable property (Art. 371 CO), which in principle covers tiling fixed to the building. For work on movable property, the period is two years. If your contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its rules apply in addition.