Gggrrrrrr !!!!!

[judge]

Ive now lost three jobs in the last 6 weeks because plumbers are doing the tiling as part of the job..does everyone else have this problem ????

 

[White Room]

I do work for a plumber on the understanding if he's busy or it's beyond his means I will do the tiling but always get his plastering....I live with it but yes it gripes at times.

 

[Brian the Tile]

yes a lot of that goes on round here makes me sick why can they not just stick to there own job

 

[DHTiling]

Most think tiling is easy , oh I can do that And just do it and spot fix etc.

 

[dave l and l]

i have been noticing more bathroom fitters that do everything as apposed to plumbers ,getting common now since the push fit plumbing stuff and plastic pipe. its getting harder out there to make a living with all these other dudes trying everything

 

[AliGage]

Plumbing or Bathroom fitting is the easy part.

I'm the other way round with what i do, i'm a tiler that installs bathrooms and kitchens. I've learnt plumbing as an add on rather than the other way round and i solder my pipes. There's a lot of "plumbers" round here that use push fit.
Bottom line i'm too tight, it's far far cheaper to solder.

I understand the problem though, i noticed it a while back so i take along hardie leaflets, ardex, leaflets and all the info i can on the products i will be using and explain in detail why. It's baring on the lines of scare tactics. But, i know that because i'm a tiler first and foremost when i walk out of there no "plumber" is going to cover the same detail with the same knowledge.

Ending with the line "a new bathroom is not cheap to anyone, you don't want to do the job twice" usually leaves them enough food for thought that anyone who wanders in after me and doesn't cover the same topics etc doesn't stand a chance.

I guess what i'm saying it's not all down to price, people don't want to spend a lot, but they do however want a proper job done.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

As someone that does not come across this problem myself, i would say tilers need to become more multi trade then to compete back at them, in the areas of the country this is prevalent in ,lots of punters believe that tiling is something you can do after looking it -up in a readers digest DIY manual ,its just the thought of getting adhesive on there hands and clothes that puts them off doing -it,so if peeps have a bit of spare cash then they get someone -in, but in times like these they DIY to save money ............ same for Plumbers if they think they can GET-AWAY with it then they will bodge-it ,if its a fancy job and they dont think they can blagg-it then they will try and knock a tiler down in price to do it ,then expect a top-of the range job lol............

 

[EverDon Tiling]

as Aligage I'm a tiler been doing it for years i only ever did tiling but over the years i've gone on to do full bathrooms and kitchens. At least i know its all done the right way and the pipes are in the right place theres just not enough money in tiling alone round here.

 

[Dan]

I find plumbing easier than tiling and have never had training in it, tilers should get the jobs and do the lot and turn this situation around.

 

[AliGage]

I suppose in a way i force my tiling knowledge on my customer, and potentially, frighten them of the consequences if it's not done properly. If i don't get the work so be it, it's then on their conscience not mine. But, nothing will change unless will apply a little under-handed tactics i suppose. But, things won't change unless we provide the customer with the reasoning and part base knowledge of why there is a set way of doing things. It's then on their head (potentially their families actual head) if the tiles start falling off the wall's, lifting from the floors or the finish is not that of the "professional" finish they expect for their couple of quid.
I'd sooner turn work down than not do the job correctly and professionally.

 

[CDS]

I'm a Tiler by trade that qualified as a Plumber whilst learning the Tiling side. It's safe to say that i would trust most Tilers to do Plumbing on one of my jobs, but I wouldn't let a Plumber anywhere near the tiling!

How often am i called out to 'rectify the mess' left by a plumber / builder....got a call this morning, the builder finished an extention several months back and did the whole job from start to finish- Tiles now coming off walls and apparently you can play tiddly winks with the floor tiles!

There are too many 'trademen' out there that think tiling is easy, but have no idea what is actually required... and there are too many customers that want the quality without paying the professionals pricetag. Maybe customers will get wise eventually....

 

[dave l and l]

i will do plumbing in my own house but usually work with plumbers on domestic jobs, they dont attempt the tiling and i dont attempt the plumbing. fitted a few bathrooms but i find it takes me a bit longer than i would want and i also prefer to pass the plumbing onto the plumbers as they pass there tiling onto me. never fitted a kitchen on a job,

 

[AliGage]

See when i started out i worked alongside my Dad (a plumber), his business partner (a tiler) and his two son's that are joiners. So i learn't many aspects of what i do by assisting professionals for a good few years.

In my earlier post when i say "frighten" i don't actually mean scare them. But, you have say a customer who wants a heavy stone on the wall and questions why you want to tear the knackered plasterboard down. When you start talking weight constraints.....i've had one or two customers turn very pale infront of me.

 

[macten]

Same as AliGage and Everdon.
Tiler first and foremost but do full bathroom refits. I've followed many a plumber on a job where I am tiling only and can safely say I put them to shame.
Good plumbers need to know what the tiler needs if he's got half a chance of turning out a good job.
Oh and fitting a bath/tray solid and level, use jointing compound on compression fittings, leave space for a tile behind the taps, get pipe centres right, check their first fix is leak proof etc..., the list is endless

 

[steveb]

Most think tiling is easy , oh I can do that And just do it and spot fix etc.

i am a plumber and when i tile i do it correctly. proper coverage, correct adhesives, never use pva as sealant, silicone in the corners etc.

 

[AMtek]

I think the only people who make a living doing a single trade are people who have been doing it a long time and have a good reputation and a lot of happy customers feeding them reccomendation work. I started out tiling only but expanded into full bathroom and kitchen fits, i have a joiner, a bricky/ plasterer and a painter & decorator working for me and we have even taken on a landscaper to do everything garden related including fences so we can pretty much cover anything we get asked for, the diary is full untill the end of september and i am doing quotes daily. I am not someone who markets themselves as someone who can do everything and will give anything a go, i have employed people who know what they are doing withing their own trade and we have a growing list of happy customers by taking on the work we know we can do to a high standard.