Not a builder or contractor. Informational renovation content only — always verify licences, warranties, NCC/state rules, and quotes with qualified trades.

Kitchens & Bathrooms
The tile is a wearing surface

Materials · Tiles

The tile is a wearing surface

Pick tiles that can get to the waste, stay honest when wet, and forgive grout. The membrane underneath is still the bathroom.

Smaller format

Shower floor friend

Porcelain

Everyday AU body

Mid-tone

Grout colour

Specialist setting

Large slabs need

Independent guide — not a contractor. Planning information only. Confirm licences, waterproofing, and quotes with qualified trades and the relevant state authority.

Wet-area tile planning
LocationWhat usually mattersCommon AU choices
Shower floorFall to waste, slip resistance when wet, grout joints that still drainSmaller mosaics or tiles that can form a plane to the waste
Bathroom floor (outside shower)Slip when wet from splash, easy moppingPorcelain with a suitable wet-area rating
Shower wallsMovement joints, waterproofing behind, niche detailingMid-format porcelain or ceramic; large slabs need specialist setting
Kitchen splashbackHeat behind cooktop, cleanability, grout colourCeramic, porcelain, glass, or a slab continuation

Slip ratings, water absorption, and installation systems must match the location. Confirm with the tiler and current NCC / state guidance.

What visitors always ask

Best tiles for wet-area floors?+

Porcelain tiles with a wet-area slip performance your tiler will warranty, in a format that can still create a plane to the waste. Smaller tiles or mosaics are often easier in a shower base; large-format tiles look calm and fight the fall if the room is tiny. Confirm ratings on the box and with the installer. We do not invent P-ratings or NCC clauses on this page.

Keep reading

Australia · kitchens & bathrooms

Make a renovation day of it

Whether you have a weekend cosmetic refresh or a full wet-area rebuild, start with the checklist, then read the cost bands with their assumptions still attached.