Should Your Tiler Be Insured? What NZ Homeowners Need to Know

Why insurance matters when hiring a tiler

Tiling can look straightforward, but it involves tools, adhesives, wet-area waterproofing, heavy materials, and often work around fixtures, cabinetry, plumbing, and electrical fittings. If something goes wrong, the cost can add up quickly.

For NZ homeowners, a tiler’s insurance is not just a nice-to-have. It can be the difference between a simple repair being covered and you wearing the bill for damage to your home, a neighbour’s property, or an injury on site.

A good tiler should be able to explain their cover clearly and provide evidence if asked. If they can’t, that’s a red flag.

The main types of insurance a tiler should carry

Not every tradesperson carries the same cover, but these are the key policies worth asking about.

Public liability insurance: the most important one for homeowners

If you only ask about one policy, make it public liability insurance.

This is the cover most likely to help if the tiler accidentally:

• cracks a benchtop or vanity
• damages a toilet, shower screen, or tapware
• causes water damage to adjoining rooms
• chips or breaks tiles supplied by you or the builder
• damages a neighbour’s property, for example through debris or a leak
• causes an injury to someone on site, such as a visitor or another contractor

For homeowners, public liability is a practical safeguard because it addresses the real-world risks that arise during renovation work.

Contract works insurance: useful on bigger or wetter jobs

Contract works insurance is worth asking about on bathroom renovations, kitchen splashbacks, laundries, outdoor areas, or any job involving waterproofing and substrate preparation.

This type of cover can help if the work in progress is damaged by:

• fire
• storm or water ingress
• vandalism or theft
• accidental damage during the project

It does not replace proper workmanship, but it can reduce the financial pain if an unfinished job is damaged before completion.

Tools and equipment cover: not your problem, but still important

This insurance protects the tradesperson’s own tools, grinders, saws, lasers, and other equipment.

While this policy is mainly for the tiler, it still matters to you because:

• a tradesperson with no tools cover may be slower to replace stolen gear
• delays can push out your programme, especially in busy renovation periods
• a well-insured business is often better organised overall

What insurance does for the homeowner

Insurance does not guarantee a perfect job, but it does help protect you from the financial fallout of mistakes and accidents.

Here is how it can help in practice:

• Damage to your property: If the tiler accidentally breaks something or causes water damage, their public liability cover may respond.
• Damage to neighbouring property: In a townhouse, unit title, or multi-storey situation, accidental damage can affect someone else’s home. Liability cover is especially useful here.
• Project interruption: If tools are stolen or the site is damaged, contract works and tools cover can reduce delays.
• Reduced dispute risk: Knowing the tiler has proper cover can make it easier to resolve issues without a long argument over who pays.

That said, insurance is not a substitute for quality workmanship, good communication, or a detailed written quote.

Important: insurance is different from licensing and compliance

Insurance and licensing are often confused, but they are not the same thing.

A tiler is generally not a licensed trade under the same rules as electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, or drainlayers. However, tiling work often interacts with regulated trades and consented building work.

In New Zealand, be aware of the following:

• Plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying are restricted work and must be done by authorised people under the PGDB framework.
• Electrical work must be carried out by appropriately licensed electrical workers under the EWRB.
• Building work may require a building consent from your local council, especially for bathroom renovations, waterproofing-related changes, or structural alterations.
• Wet-area waterproofing can be part of wider building work and needs to be done properly to meet NZ Building Code expectations.

If a tiler is touching waterproofing, substrates, or anything that affects the building envelope, ask how they coordinate with other trades and whether consent or inspection requirements apply.

How to confirm a tiler’s insurance cover

Never assume a tradie is covered just because they say they are insured. Ask to see evidence.

What to ask for

Request a copy of the following:

• a current certificate of currency or insurance schedule
• the insurer’s name
• the policy number
• the type of cover
• the expiry date
• the amount of cover, including any per-claim limit

A credible tradesperson should not mind providing this.

Check the details, not just the headline

Look for:

• Policy dates: Make sure the cover is current for the whole job, not just the quote date.
• Correct business name: The policy should match the entity actually doing the work.
• Type of work covered: Confirm tiling, waterproofing, renovations, or wet-area work is included if relevant.
• Exclusions: Some policies exclude certain work, subcontracting, or specific claims.
• Cover limit: A $1 million policy may be fine for a small splashback, but larger renovations may warrant more.

Consider asking for written confirmation

If you are hiring for a bathroom renovation, townhouse, or higher-value project, ask the tiler to include in the quote or contract that they:

• hold public liability insurance
• will maintain cover for the duration of the job
• will tell you if the policy changes or lapses

This is a sensible paper trail if anything goes wrong later.

How much cover is enough?

There is no single “correct” amount, but many NZ tradespeople carry public liability cover of at least $1 million, and larger businesses may hold $2 million, $5 million, or more.

For homeowners, the right question is not “What’s the cheapest policy?” but “Is the cover appropriate for the job?”

Factors that may justify higher cover include:

• full bathroom renovations
• apartments, townhouses, or multi-unit properties
• high-end finishes such as large-format tiles, stone, or custom cabinetry nearby
• jobs involving many subcontractors
• work in occupied homes where accidental damage or injury risk is higher

If the quote is for a small kitchen splashback, the risk profile is different from a full ensuite re-tile with waterproofing and plumbing coordination.

What if the tiler says they’re a sole trader and “don’t need” insurance?

That is not a good enough answer.

Many sole traders in NZ are excellent, experienced professionals, but business structure does not remove risk. In fact, sole traders may have more personal exposure if something goes wrong.

If a tiler says they are uninsured, think carefully before proceeding. At minimum, you should consider:

• the value of the work
• the likelihood of accidental damage
• whether the work is in a wet area or near expensive fixtures
• whether there are other contractors on site
• whether the property is owner-occupied or tenanted

If they cannot show insurance, you are taking on more risk yourself.

Other credentials worth checking alongside insurance

Insurance is only one part of hiring well. You should also check:

• references or recent local reviews
• photos of completed jobs, especially wet areas
• experience with the tile type you want
• whether they use written quotes and job specs
• who supplies materials, and who is responsible for delays or defects
• whether they are clear about prep work, waterproofing, grouting, and curing times

For tiling jobs, good prep is often as important as the finish. Ask about substrate condition, levelling, expansion joints, and whether the space will be ready for use in wet weather or cooler winter conditions.

Practical checklist before you hire

Before you accept a quote, make sure you have:

• at least two or three written quotes
• a clear scope of work
• start and finish dates or a realistic timeframe
• confirmation of who supplies tiles, adhesive, grout, and waterproofing products
• evidence of insurance, especially public liability
• confirmation of any council consent or other trade coordination if relevant
• a payment schedule that is sensible and documented

If a tiler pressures you to pay a large deposit upfront without showing credentials, be cautious.

Red flags that should make you pause

Walk away or ask more questions if the tiler:

• refuses to show insurance evidence
• gives vague answers about what their policy covers
• says “it’s never been a problem before”
• won’t provide a written quote
• wants cash only and no paperwork
• cannot explain how they coordinate with plumbers, electricians, or waterproofers
• dismisses consent or compliance questions on a renovation that clearly needs them

Good tradespeople understand that homeowners want certainty. They will usually welcome reasonable questions.

The bottom line

Yes — your tiler should ideally be insured, and public liability cover is the most important policy to ask about. On bigger or wetter jobs, contract works cover is also worth checking. Insurance protects both you and the tradesperson if something goes wrong, but it does not replace proper workmanship, licensing where required, or building consent compliance.

The safest approach is simple: get multiple written quotes, check the tiler’s experience and references, and ask for proof of current insurance before work begins. A few careful questions now can save you a major headache later.