Tiling in Neuchâtel

Are you looking for a tiler in Neuchâtel for a bathroom, a kitchen, an entrance hall or a terrace? Tiling in Neuchâtel is carried out in a very varied setting: yellow-stone façades in the old town, sloping buildings above the lake, villas at the foot of Chaumont, and, since the 2021 merger, the former villages of Corcelles-Cormondrèche, Peseux and Valangin. Each type of building raises its own questions for the tiler.

On this site, you describe your work online; the request is passed on to craftspeople in the region, who contact you with a free, non-binding quote.

Common tiling work in homes in Neuchâtel

The tiler (trained through the CFC, the Swiss federal vocational certificate, as a tiler) lays tiles and glazed wall tiles on floors and walls, prepares the substrate, lays the screed where necessary and waterproofs beneath the tiling in wet rooms. They also work with mosaic and natural stone.

In Neuchâtel, requests most often revolve around a few situations:

• the bathroom of an older flat, where a bathtub is replaced by a walk-in shower;
• the kitchen, with a hard-wearing floor and a glazed tile splashback, often part of a wider renovation;
• the entrances and corridors of apartment buildings or houses, subject to wear and to the damp brought in on shoes;
• terraces and balconies, very common in a town that looks out over the lake;
• floors to be redone after water damage or when changing the floor covering.

For a complete kitchen, the page on kitchen renovation in Neuchâtel covers the whole project, of which tiling is only one part.

Old town, collegiate church and yellow stone: laying tiles in an older building

Around the castle and the collegiate church, the buildings with yellow-stone façades often hide interiors that have lived a long life: floors that have shifted, walls that are no longer square, floor thicknesses that differ from one room to the next. Tiling requires a flat, stable substrate. In this type of home, the tiler therefore begins by examining the floor: levelling, partial repair, sometimes a light screed to make up the differences.

Large tiles, much in demand, are unforgiving on an uneven substrate. A small format, a mosaic or natural stone follow the irregularities better, at the cost of more meticulous laying. This is a point to discuss during the visit, rather than to discover mid-project.

If your building is old or protected, check with the municipality or the relevant cantonal service what is permitted, including for interior work. Tell the craftsperson too: they may adapt their method, for example by avoiding unnecessary load on an old floor.

Bathrooms and wet rooms in Neuchâtel: waterproofing before the tile

Beneath the tiling of a shower or bathtub, waterproofing matters more than the visible finish. Tiling is not waterproof in itself: water gets through the joints. That is why a wet room needs a waterproofing treatment beneath the tiling, applied before laying, with particular attention to corners, thresholds and pipe penetrations.

In a rented building of several storeys, a leak is paid for by the neighbours below. A serious quote therefore states how the waterproofing will be done, and not only the price of the tiles. If you change the position of drains or water supplies, a plumber works first: see the page on plumbers in Neuchâtel.

Sloping districts and villas at the foot of Chaumont: underfloor heating and access

Neuchâtel stretches from the lakeside to the foot of Chaumont. In houses on the heights as in more recent buildings, underfloor heating is common, and tiling suits it well. The tiler simply needs to know which system is installed: the screed, adhesive and expansion joints are chosen accordingly, and heating up follows rules to be observed before and after laying.

Access also affects the work. Narrow streets, stairs without a lift in older buildings, limited parking: carrying heavy bags of adhesive, screed and boxes of tiles is never trivial. Describe the floor, whether there is a lift and the parking distance: this avoids surprises and sharpens the quote.

If your project is part of an energy improvement, the page on thermal insulation in Neuchâtel will help you see how the different trades follow one another. For grants, the cantonal energy and environment service runs a subsidy programme: contact it before committing to the work.

Terraces and balconies in Neuchâtel: coping with frost

The Neuchâtel lakeside is rather mild, but freezing and thawing do occur, and the region also includes the cold, snowy Neuchâtel Mountains. A tiled terrace is exposed to rain, standing water and temperature swings. Outdoor tiles must be chosen for this use: frost-resistant material, non-slip surface, enough slope to drain water, flexible joints in the right places.

Tiles laid without regard to these points lift or crack after a few winters. Ask the tiler how they handle the slope, the waterproofing beneath the covering and the junctions with the building. On an apartment building balcony, the co-ownership may have a say on appearance and structure.

Procedures in Neuchâtel: permit, landlord and co-ownership

Laying or replacing tiling indoors does not generally require a building permit. If the work changes the structure or the exterior appearance, or concerns a protected building, authorisation may be necessary. In the canton, permit applications go through the cantonal SATAC office, with the decision resting with the municipality. Check your case with the municipality of Neuchâtel or the relevant cantonal service before signing.

As for private consents:

• tenant: obtain the landlord’s written consent before any change of floor or bathroom;
• owner of a flat in a co-owned building: consult the co-ownership rules, particularly for floor coverings (impact noise) and balconies;
• owner of a house: no third-party consent to seek, but find out about any rules tied to the neighbourhood or the building.

Comparing tiling quotes in Neuchâtel

To receive comparable quotes, describe your request precisely:

• the rooms concerned and their current state (old tiling to remove, parquet, bare screed);
• the type of building, the floor, the access;
• the presence of underfloor heating;
• your preferred material: stoneware, glazed tile, mosaic, natural stone;
• photos, if you have any.

A useful quote details the removal of the old covering, the preparation of the substrate, the waterproofing in wet rooms, whether the tiles are supplied, the laying, the joints, the finishing and the removal of rubble. What makes the cost vary: the size and material of the tiles, the condition of the substrate, the complexity of the cuts, the access. Compare these items, not just the total.

Ready? You can request a quote: it is free and non-binding.

Further reading: useful pages around tiling in Neuchâtel

• the trade in general: tiling;
• the town: work in Neuchâtel;
• the canton: canton of Neuchâtel;
• in the same municipality: kitchen renovation in Neuchâtel, thermal insulation in Neuchâtel, plumbers in Neuchâtel.