Tiling in Rathmines, Dublin
Compare tiling professionals in Rathmines. Free quotes, no obligation.
Rathmines is defined by its Victorian red-brick terraces and larger Victorian houses, many divided into flats during the 20th century and now being converted back to family homes. The streets around Rathmines Road, Leinster Road, Palmerston Road, and Cowper Road have some of Dublin's finest period properties with high ceilings, original fireplaces, timber floors, and decorative plasterwork. Smaller Victorian artisan cottages on streets like Blackberry Lane offer more affordable period character. Some modern apartment infill development exists.
Managed by Dublin City Council. An inner-city suburb with property values of €500k to €1.5m+ for family homes. The predominantly Victorian housing stock creates strong demand for period property restoration (sash window repair, cornicing, original floor restoration), alongside modern upgrades (extensions, kitchen renovations, energy retrofits with internal dry-lining to preserve the external appearance). Significant conservation area coverage affects external alterations.
Tiling in Rathmines: Local Insights
Rathmines is defined by its Victorian red-brick terraces and larger Victorian houses, many divided into flats during the 20th century and now being converted back to family homes. The streets around Rathmines Road, Leinster Road, Palmerston Road, and Cowper Road have some of Dublin's finest period properties with high ceilings, original fireplaces, timber floors, and decorative plasterwork. Smaller Victorian artisan cottages on streets like Blackberry Lane offer more affordable period character. Some modern apartment infill development exists.
Managed by Dublin City Council. An inner-city suburb with property values of €500k to €1.5m+ for family homes. The predominantly Victorian housing stock creates strong demand for period property restoration (sash window repair, cornicing, original floor restoration), alongside modern upgrades (extensions, kitchen renovations, energy retrofits with internal dry-lining to preserve the external appearance). Significant conservation area coverage affects external alterations.
Tiling Costs in Rathmines
Typical costs for tiling in the Rathmines area (Dublin pricing applies):
| Service | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom tiling (floor + walls) | €1,200 | €3,000 | Area, tile type |
| Kitchen splashback | €450 | €1,200 | Area, tile type |
| Floor tiling (per sq m) | €45 | €90 | Tile size, pattern |
Dublin area estimates, 2026. Request quotes for accurate pricing.
Tiling FAQs
Tiling labour costs €25 to €50 per square metre depending on tile size, complexity, and location. A standard bathroom (walls and floor, approximately 15 to 25 sq m) costs €800 to €2,000 for labour plus adhesive and grout. A kitchen splashback costs €200 to €500. Hallway floor tiling costs €500 to €1,500. These prices exclude the tiles themselves, which range from €15 to €80+ per square metre. Dublin tilers are at the upper end.
A standard bathroom (walls and floor) takes 3 to 5 working days including substrate preparation, waterproofing, tiling, grouting, and silicone sealing. A kitchen splashback takes half a day to a full day. Large floor areas (hallway, kitchen) take 2 to 4 days. Allow 24 hours after grouting before the area can be walked on or used normally. Larger tiles and more complex patterns take longer than small, simple layouts.
Porcelain tiles are the most popular choice for bathrooms in Ireland: they are waterproof, extremely durable, easy to clean, and available in an enormous range of styles including realistic stone, wood, and marble effects. For shower floors specifically, choose tiles with an anti-slip rating (R10 or R11) to prevent slipping on wet surfaces. Natural stone is beautiful but requires sealing and more regular maintenance.
Both are clay-based, but porcelain is fired at a significantly higher temperature, making it denser, harder, and less porous than ceramic. Porcelain is suitable for both floors and walls and performs well in wet areas. Ceramic is lighter, easier to cut, and cheaper, making it a good choice for walls. If you want a single tile type for both walls and floors in a bathroom, porcelain is the better and more versatile choice.
Yes, absolutely. This is the most critical quality step in bathroom tiling. Tiles and grout alone are not waterproof. A waterproof membrane (tanking system) must be applied to the walls and floor in the shower area before any tiles are laid. This prevents water penetrating behind the tiles and causing damage to the structure below. This is the step most commonly done incorrectly by inexperienced tilers, and the one that causes the most expensive problems.
Standard practice is to tile the walls first, then install the bathroom suite (toilet, basin, bath, shower tray). The suite sits on top of the floor tiles. This approach allows clean tile edges behind and around each fitting and makes future suite replacement much easier, as you simply remove the old suite without disturbing the tiles. Silicone sealant is used where the suite meets the tiles to accommodate movement.