Tilers in the Clare Valley and Mid North

Local tiling considerations

• Heritage stone in Burra and Mintaro

  Both towns are State Heritage Areas, and many older cottages across the region have uneven floors, soft lime mortar and some rising damp. Substrates are levelled and checked for moisture before tiling, and tile and grout choices are kept in step with the character of the building.

• Clay soils and floor movement

  Much of the Mid North plains sits on heavy clay soils that swell in wet winters and shrink over dry summers. Floor tiling is laid with movement joints in line with AS 3958.1 so slabs can move without cracking the tiles.

• Rainwater tanks and bore water

  Properties outside the towns often run on tank or bore water. Hard bore water leaves mineral scale on tiles and grout, so showers are set up with dense, sealed grout that is easier to keep clean.

• Frost, heat and outdoor tiling

  Clare Valley winters bring frost and summers push well past 35 degrees, so external tiles and adhesives must cope with wide thermal swings. Balconies and alfresco areas are waterproofed to AS 4654 and laid with frost-resistant tiles.