1st proper(ish) job

[gman82]

Hi all I'm Gman,I've got my 1st proper job working with a pal doing a floor and walls of a kitchen, i'll be doing the floor and they'll do the walls. any basic tips would be a massive help, dont want to make any obvious mistakes, i'll prob post up the pictures next monday to show how we got on.

 

[Concept PHT]

Spend some time measuring and setting out to make sure your floor is going to be centered.

Make sure that the floor is level - don't be one of these tilers that promise Mrs Smith that the adhesive will hide any lumps and bumps, and then balls the job up. Spend an afternoon mixing and floating some levelling compound across the floor to do the job right.

Take your time and learn from your mistakes (of course putting them right too!!) and enjoy the payment at the end when she is happy and reffering you to her mates - for a bit more laying!! Lol

 

[tjsmiler]

Anthony, hi mate

Do you find it's worth while self leveling on all floors you do just so you have a new surface to work on? or do you only use it when a floor is particulally bad? (sorry but i have know idea how to spell partic....)

Toby

 

[tjsmiler]

Hi Gman

Just get involved and try not to feel to self concious, just concentrate on what your doing and don't be bothered by what others may or may not be thinking.

Oh yeah and learn loads

Good luck mate

Toby

 

[Concept PHT]

As a rule, I like to put a compound on all floors, but there are some that you can get away with. I always give the customer the option in any case.

Once to often I hear the stories of 4 day tilers telling Mrs Smith that the adhesive will hide the imperfections of the floor.

Truth is, they don't know how to mix and lay the compound.

 

[Concept PHT]

I like to give the customer the option of the compound. But uf the floor is particularly bad, then I point out the imperfections and insist that the compound be put down.

Once to often I hear the stories of the 4 day tilers quoting that the compound is unecessary and that they can get away with just the adhesive.

Truth is, they don't know how to mix and lay the stuff to do the job properly.

 

[tjsmiler]

Thanks mate

Toby

 

[h0ndatyp3r]

Hi there,

This is to APM Ceramic Tiling,

Regarding your last post in which you said:

'Once to often I hear the stories of 4 day tilers telling Mrs Smith that the adhesive will hide the imperfections of the floor.

Truth is, they don't know how to mix and lay the compound.'

Were you refering to any particular course, as i am looking for a suitable tiling course and want to be advised on which course not to choose!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Colin

 

[tjsmiler]

Hi Colin

I think APM is saying that 4 days is just not enough in this game and he would be right. If you are coming into this game cold you need to do a 4 week course minimum, if you already know a thing or 2 i would still recomend a 4 weeker but if you know a fair bit already then you might get away with a 2 weeker.

The one weekers are designed for the DIY game, the centres won't tell you this mate but please take my advice ONE WEEK IS NOT ENOUGH!!! you have to remember this is a skilled trade and many of the tilers on here done aprentiships and years of college to learn this game.... i think it's almost an insult to them that these centres claim to turn you into a pro in a week!!!

I done the 4 weeker at PTS and i still have miles to go before i'm anywhere near as good as some of the pro's. But please don't let what i say put you off, it's a great game and there is plenty of job satistfaction and money to be and it can offer a great career change, but if you want a proper head start into it you must do the 4 weeker or at least 2 weeks with the intention to go back and do a further 2 weeks.

If you are in the midlands type area i hear that Chase tiling acadamy are supposed to be good (if i'm right i think that is where APM started) he'll probably fill you in on that. If your up north there is a new centre opened up in yorkshire which is supposed to be really good (can't think of the name but will try to find it for you) if your down south you would do ok with PTS.

I hope some of this helps mate, keep us posted

Toby

 

[Concept PHT]

Hi Colin...

You tend to find that the training centres offering all building courses are perfectly fine in their own right, but don't really focus on the nuts and bolts of what you want. The point I am making is that you should only choose a tiling training provider that does nothing but tiling.

This way, you are getting proper training from a tutor that has done nothing but tiling, instead of a bricklayer 'that has done a bit before in the past', and now tutors it at these multi skill centres.

I did my training at Chase Tiling Academy. And they train you to do the lot. Compound 'n' all!!

I haven't looked back since mate.
Anthony

 

[h0ndatyp3r]

Thanks Toby & Anthony for your comments.

The reason i asked the question, was i'm considering the 4 day wall tiling and the 1 day floor tiling course held at North East Tiling Training, the company advertised on this forum.

They are a tile training only company, which is one of the good points highlighted by Anthony.

The length of the course is the downside. The reason i can't go to a longer course is financial and the fact i am in full time employment and won't be able to get the time off.

My intentions were to do tiling on a part time basis (maybe for about a year) to gain experience, then go full time. In the meantime once funds are available, subscribe to other training courses for more knowledge.

Do you think this is a viable plan?

My apologies to gman82 for hijacking his thread!!

Colin

 

[Concept PHT]

I know chase tiling used to do the 4 week course spread over weekends for people that can't get the time off work....?

 

[cartersmiff]

4 day course? multi skilled centre? at the end of it you'll have a 1001 questions left unanswered, take their advice dont bother. Buy some cheap tiles and tile your own bathroom it'll be a lot cheaper and you'll learn a lot more.

 

[cartersmiff]

TJ
Just looked at your website. roughly how many hits do you get on it? Are you not a little worried about proving the 10 year experience thing if someone ask's? Or do you mean you've been involved in building in general for 10 years?

 

[tjsmiler]

Hi Carter,


You got it in one mate i have been in the building game for nearly 10 years. And the guy i have just partnered up with is a proper master tiler with 25 years behind him so i suppose i feel ok to put it in...... it was not on my last website when i was working on my own, i only changed it when he came on board. (well he diddn't come on board...i forced him )

Hits wise, i opened it about 3 weeks ago and have been visited about 250 times. Not bad considering i aint in the search engines yet.

TJ

 

[trevortine]

Carter you talk my language m8, i have never done any courses and am confident enough to challenge any tiler to criticise my work. I do a 20 m2 bathroom walls and floors in 2 days to a perfect finish, use all the correct methods and adhesives for different situations, i have tiled car showrooms, hotels etc and have a very good reputation, i never have to advertise and am constantly busy, the only reason i see for courses is for people who have never been hands on, i was a mechanic for 16 years before i started tiling and have defo made the right move, I also fit under floor heating and all types of wooden flooring, i do a bit of plumbing all self taught through gathering information and experience. If you've got the eye your half way there.

 

[tjsmiler]

Hi Trevortine

I think you are dead right mate, the courses are a good way for people to get a slight head start into the game, as long as they do a long enough course though!! i think if like yourself you have an eye for it or have been in a game where paying attention to detail is a major part that it would be possible to self teach...but i think you would have to practice on many a friends house first before you could expect to tackle some of things you have (hotels etc)

Personally i don't have a natural eye for these things but my strength in the building game has proved a good advantage and my eye is certainly starting to come along nicely...especially now i am with someone who is s**t hot at the job.

Cheers mate

Toby