02. The Complete Workflow

A typical Hero Tiling project home follows a structured workflow from preparation through installation and finishing.

Each stage has its own purpose, tools, materials, techniques, and quality checks.

As a new team member, you should first understand the complete workflow and how each stage connects to the next. The detailed methods and standards for each task will be covered separately throughout this training guide.

Screeding

Preparing the floor and creating the correct levels and falls before waterproofing and tiling.

You will learn about:
Cleaning and surface preparation · Mixing sand and cement · Slurry bonding using cement or adhesive · Filling and forming the screed · Creating correct falls · Checking levels and falls

Waterproofing — First Coat

Preparing and applying the first waterproofing system.

You will learn about:
Cleaning · Bandage installation · Primer · Bond breaker · Membrane application · Brush and roller techniques

Waterproofing — Second Coat

Completing the waterproofing system and preparing the area for tiling.

You will learn about:
Second membrane coat · Water stops · Coverage and condition checks · Final inspection before tiling

Floor Tiling — Main Bathroom

Setting out and installing the main bathroom floor, including the shower base and floor wastes.

You will learn about:
Checking delivered tiles · Checking tile quantities · Organising and positioning tiles for efficient work · Understanding different tile types · Setting out · Dry laying and dry cutting · Mixing adhesive · Correct adhesive consistency · Selecting the correct adhesive · Applying adhesive · Levelling clips and different clip types · Shower base tiling · Cutting around floor wastes · Setting the correct floor waste and tile heights · Creating falls · Splitting tiles to create correct falls · Different tile-splitting methods · Finishing and sanding cut edges · Tile trims · Water stops and their purpose · Different types of tile cutters · Different types of grinders

Tools and equipment include:
Tile cutter, Grinder, Sanding blocks · Diamond sanding blades · Wet saw · Grinder · Diamond and metal cutting blades · Drop saw for trims · Trim cutters/snips

Floor Tiling — Ensuite

Applying the same floor tiling principles to the ensuite while following the specific layout, falls, floor waste positions and details shown on the plan.

Floor Tiling — Laundry

Floor preparation, setting out, cutting and installation for laundry areas, including relevant wastes, doorways and adjoining floor finishes.

Floor Tiling — Toilet

Setting out and installing toilet floors, including cuts, edges, penetrations and transitions.

Floor Grouting

Preparing the tiled floor, applying grout and producing clean, consistent grout joints.

This includes the Main Bathroom, Ensuite, Laundry and Toilet.

You will learn about:
Removing clips · Removing excess adhesive from joints with a knife/scraper · Vacuuming · Cleaning with a wet sponge · Mixing grout · Wet and dry grout consistency · Applying grout · Making grout lines smooth and straight · First and second cleaning · Normal cement grout vs epoxy grout · Silicone at appropriate joints · Selecting grout colours · Cutting grout sponges · Correct sponge size · Using a grout float/Grout Boy · Squeegee · Scraper · Buckets and water management

Wall Tiling — Main Bathroom

Setting out and installing wall tiles while maintaining correct levels, lines, joints, trims and finishes.

You will learn about:
Moving and organising tile boxes · Setting up the work area · Laser setup · Establishing layout lines · Starting the first bottom row · Cutting holes and penetrations · Cutting and installing trims · Niches · Window recesses · Nib walls · Bath hob tiling · Feature walls · Mitre cutting and finishing mitred edges · Working with walls that are not straight or plumb · Small-format tiles · Large-format tiles · Different laying patterns · Different tiles meeting on the same wall · Grout joint widths · Hole saws and specialist cutting tools

Wall Tiling — Ensuite

Shower walls · Niches · Trims · Penetrations · Layout · Finishing details

Wall Tiling — Laundry

Wall tiling and splashback areas, including layouts, penetrations, trims and finishes.

Wall Tiling — Kitchen Splashback

Setting out and installing kitchen splashbacks around cabinetry, benchtops, power points, windows and other finishes.

Skirting

Installing tile skirting with clean, straight and consistent finishes.

You will learn about:
Skirting tile sizes · Cutting skirting · Trimmed edges · Paint-finished edges · Internal and external corner finishes · Straightness and alignment · Consistent heights and joints

Wall Grouting

Grouting wall tiles and creating clean, consistent finished joints.

You will learn about:
General wall grouting · Grouting along edges · Internal and external corners · Grouting against trims · Cleaning and finishing grout joints

Silicone Sealing

Completing movement joints, corners, junctions and other areas requiring flexible sealant.

You will learn about:
Silicone joint thickness · Selecting silicone colours · Soap-water solution · Spray application · Ice-cream sticks/finishing tools · Gloves · Working with wet or damp tile surfaces · Different silicone colours meeting at corners · Selecting silicone colour where different coloured tiles meet · Ceiling-to-tile junctions: silicone or grout · Channel grate-to-tile junctions: silicone or grout · Creating clean and consistent silicone lines

Final Finishing, Cleaning & Inspection

Before a job is considered complete, the finished work must be carefully inspected.

You will learn to check for:
Chipped tiles · Cracked tiles · Missing grout · Uneven or inconsistent grout · Poor silicone finishes · Tile alignment and finish · Remaining adhesive or grout residue · Cleanliness · Protection of completed work · Any unfinished details requiring correction

The job is not finished simply because the tiles have been installed.

It is finished when the work has been checked, completed, cleaned and protected, and we are confident in the result.

The Three Stages of Our Work

Although a tiling project involves many individual tasks, the overall workflow can be understood in three main stages:

1. Preparation

Screeding → Waterproofing

Everything required to create the correct base and prepare the area for tile installation.

2. Installation

Floor Tiling → Wall Tiling → Skirting

This is where the finished tiled surfaces are created.

3. Finishing

Grouting → Silicone Sealing → Final Finishing → Cleaning → Inspection → Protection

This is where the installation is completed, checked, cleaned, protected, and prepared for handover.

Daily Site Routine

In addition to the main stages of the job, there are tasks we complete every day before, during, and after our work.

Before Work
Set up power, water, tools, materials, and the work area.

During Work
Keep the site clean and organised, work safely, and take care not to damage completed work or the work of other trades.

After Work
Clean and pack up tools, dispose of rubbish in the appropriate bins, check the work area, and protect completed work before leaving the site.

Setup, clean-up, and protection are part of the job.