Marble & stone restoration course

[Luxlux]

Has any one been on a marble and stone restoration course? If so where and was it any good?

 

[enduro]

I have loooked into it, but havent done the course. The one i looked at was www.marblemaster.com

 

[TilingLogistics]

Hi,

I started looking into these courses and virtually drew a complete blank in this Country. There are a few companies that run them in London but none seem to cover the whole spectrum.

I trained in Italy where I did several courses and then went on further training in Florida. I completed an advanced course earlier this year covering Granite and dark marbles in Philadelphia. There are no qualifications obtainable in this Country(which are recognised). I am currently trying to negotiate with TTA to try and establish some sort of government recognised course or qualification.

There was a certain school who looked at running a three day course but this IMO is a waste of time. I believe such a course should be at least two weeks in duration.

I will post more when i am able to.

Kev

 

[DHTiling]

cheers kev i look forward to hear more on this.................nice one...

 

[wetdec]

There is no course in the UK that doesnt in some way cost you money or have you ending up buying a machine. The simple reason is there isnt enough work, we are not like the USA where polished stone is big we are at the bottom of the pile with honed & unfilled travs etc. The next step for uk is the limestones then maybe the polished stones. The stone market in the uk hasnt really started in my opinion.

Yes there are restoration companies but they are stone restoration specialists predominantly not tiled floor ones. Tiled floor restoration is still considered a diy job because there isnt enough of a market to take it seriously.

Have a look here

 

[TilingLogistics]

There is no course in the UK that doesnt in some way cost you money or have you ending up buying a machine. The simple reason is there isnt enough work, we are not like the USA where polished stone is big we are at the bottom of the pile with honed & unfilled travs etc. The next step for uk is the limestones then maybe the polished stones. The stone market in the uk hasnt really started in my opinion.

Yes there are restoration companies but they are stone restoration specialists predominantly not tiled floor ones. Tiled floor restoration is still considered a diy job because there isnt enough of a market to take it seriously.

Have a look here

I agree with your post in principle. There is no course though in the UK worth its' salt that is free. All good courses cost money and yes it is true the two courses that are run on Grinding, Polishing and Honing expect you to buy a machine off them.

Kev

 

[lux stone]

Worth training if you want to be ahead of the game then eh?

 

[TilingLogistics]

One inherent problem with any course is that you can only be taught how to do something. Experience cannot be taught as most of you who have done a tiling course will understand. Think back to your first jobs and look at yourselves now.

The particular problem with any stone course is that there are so much Natural Stone out there it would be impossible to teach all of them on any course.

Wetdecs post stated that experience is the only route to this and he is absolutely correct. However, the principles can be taught and in my opinion this would take at least two weeks. In addition though it is very important that the potential candidate is "Au Fait" with natural stone formation and the differences between them. Another important factor is to have a very good understanding of sealers and the way they work.

I am off for a pint now so a bit more next time:yes:

Kev

 

[lux stone]

I'll give you a bell on Monday if that's ok with you. Have a good evening.

 

[Branty]

Hi.

Over the years I've seen guys polishing floors. It looks very rewarding. How did you all get into it?

 

[TilingLogistics]

Hi.

Over the years I've seen guys polishing floors. It looks very rewarding. How did you all get into it?

I relised that after a short time at fixing it wasn't for me. I then went into complete bathroom renovation and enjoyed that more.

Then I was asked if i could clean a nightclub floor after repalcing 38 tiles in it. Then I found my vocation and I have never looked back:yes:

Kev

 

[Branty]

I relised that after a short time at fixing it wasn't for me. I then went into complete bathroom renovation and enjoyed that more.

Then I was asked if i could clean a nightclub floor after repalcing 38 tiles in it. Then I found my vocation and I have never looked back:yes:

Kev

Nice one Kev.
What kind of stuff are you doing, wetdec seems to think there's not alot of work out there.

 

[wetdec]

If you concider the number of big spaces you see tiled in stone then it gives you an idea of how nuch work is in a justifiable traveling distance. Kitchens, sun rooms conservatories are home spaces, theses home spaces need to be in a pretty sorry state before Jo will get a pro in. What they do is go buy Liythofin, HG or some other cleaner, **** their nose up at 25 quid but do it themselves.

The pros who may find time to clean stone floors make their money sand blasting churches, replacing key stones or acid washing statues. The word Renovation is a big word and doesnt just mean scrubbing stone floors.

Hope this explains what I was meaning, its how I see it anyway

 

[Branty]

What about huge stone floors in Hotels, leisure centres, shopping centres etc......?

 

[wetdec]

I do a travertine foyer floor 30m in an apartment block in London I get called in around once in every 2 years. It takes 4 days to strip and seal it properly thats why it only gets done when absolutely necessary.

This is how hotels clubs think and the majority of hotels that have stone floors have limestone ones either nicely honed or polished (that are hard) so you can lenghthen the period between cleans to 4yrs no problem. These floors need experience as it can mean re-surfacing.

Shopping centres are done by their maintenance contractors, have you not seen the mess they make 😉

 

[Branty]

So you wouldn't say I could do a comrehensive course, then take on polishing large floors in hotels and the like? Is it that involved?

 

[wetdec]

Dave I am not in any way trying to put you off just trying to show you all the angles.

It is a specialist job that cant be undertaken lightly, you put the wrong cleaner on the wrong stone and you will pay dearly. ( read the thread limestone feeling like sandpaper, forget who is saying what read the points that are made)

Get fixing stone, learn how they are composed, see what you can and cant do with them as you do this you will learn your trade and have a knowledge.

If I can help shout

 

[TilingLogistics]

Nice one Kev.
What kind of stuff are you doing, wetdec seems to think there's not alot of work out there.

There is definately work out there! Furthermore the purchase of Natural Stone is on the increase especially with the advent of shops like Porcellanosa springing up in every town and city in Britain. However laying it completely flat with zero lippage gets difficult especially with large format stuff 600 x 600 and bigger and crap substrates to boot.

The problem is the public go abroad and see a huge beautiful Marble, Granite or similar floors in a hotel and villas and think they can come back here and have the same. What they don't realise is the majority of these floors with a monolithic look are laid with 1mm grout gaps, grouted with flexible floor grout and then ground, honed and polished in situ to achieve the look.

Kev

 

[wetdec]

It would be interesting to know over the last 6 months how many deep cleans, restore jobs have you done Kev and on what stones. Are these big jobs and do they come from advertising or word of mouth.

The increase in stone sales is due to the drops in travertine prices, limestones are now being taken on and the push is beginning this season. The number of actual stones being used in this country can be counted on hands as I said previously we have a way to go yet

 

[TilingLogistics]

It would be interesting to know over the last 6 months how many deep cleans, restore jobs have you done Kev and on what stones. Are these big jobs and do they come from advertising or word of mouth.

The increase in stone sales is due to the drops in travertine prices, limestones are now being taken on and the push is beginning this season. The number of actual stones being used in this country can be counted on hands as I said previously we have a way to go yet

I have only done 3 deep cleans and they were all on riven porcelain 2 commercial and 1 residential.

The majority of my work is Grinding, Honing and Polishing. A rough guide is about 23 jobs since July. I have about 9 booked in this year so far stretching to October and I have quoted for 5 more I am waiting for replies on. Sizes vary between 22M2 smallest up to 500M2 largest. On average domestic jobs are between 40-90M2.

I would say the split on where the jobs come from is fairly equal between Stone Shops and Reccs. I get a few smaller jobs from one source of advertising. However I expect to increase my workload when my website goes live.

Kev

 

[wetdec]

So its going well for you then. Crazy how people forget porcelain derives from the earth and treat it just any old how isnt it. There is still a lot to learn and as long as that is the case you will be ok 🙂

 

[TilingLogistics]

So its going well for you then. Crazy how people forget porcelain derives from the earth and treat it just any old how isnt it. There is still a lot to learn and as long as that is the case you will be ok 🙂

I don't think I will ever stop learning in this trade. I met an Italian Marble Master in the USA with 35 years experience and he still says he learns nearly everytime. There is so much you think you know until you come to the next job. But I have to say I love what I do with a passion. I love the variety as well, sometimes I am on Victorian Encaustics and the next time its Granite. Just completed a job on some 120 year old quarries with 5 coats of ronseal varnish on them. I can't wait to get my Portfolio displayed. I have looked at yours on your website and it looks varied and interesting.

I also noticed you use the Klindex Vertika (At least thats what it looks like) What do you think to it because I personally have never seen anything to match it although one one marble wall I did I wished there was something with a bigger head. Do you use their floor machines as well?

Kev

 

[Branty]

So Kev is honing all you do? is it your own work? if not how has it taken for you to build up such a customer base?

 

[TilingLogistics]

Dave,

I don't sub. All the work is my own through recommendations, referrals advertising and networking.:yes:

Kev

 

[TilingLogistics]

I agree with that post and thank you for clarifying.

I stated from the beginning there are thousands of different natural stone out there. Yes you are correct you will get your fingers burnt through lack of experience as I am sure you have as well as me. However, given that the person has a basic understanding of stone and its formation together with a good knowledge of sealers and their individual uses the basic principles of the subject could be taught.

After such a course whether or not the prospective delegate could go out there and work is another matter. However, this is true of all courses. Experience is what counts.

All this aside even putting aside the finance for a course of this nature. There is still the issue of equipment purchase which as you know yourself is very expensive.

Kev

 

[wetdec]

Think we have worn this out now, anyone considering this line will find more than enough help through this thread to decide for themselves the good and the bad.

Nice to be involved in a useful thread such as this Cheers

 

[Branty]

Any chance of seeing some of your Kev?

 

[Dan]

Hi,

I started looking into these courses and virtually drew a complete blank in this Country. There are a few companies that run them in London but none seem to cover the whole spectrum.

I trained in Italy where I did several courses and then went on further training in Florida. I completed an advanced course earlier this year covering Granite and dark marbles in Philadelphia. There are no qualifications obtainable in this Country(which are recognised). I am currently trying to negotiate with TTA to try and establish some sort of government recognised course or qualification.

There was a certain school who looked at running a three day course but this IMO is a waste of time. I believe such a course should be at least two weeks in duration.

I will post more when i am able to.

Kev

It wouldn't be TTA you need to go to for a recognised qualification would it? Surely it's ConstructionSkills? Or am I wrong?

 

[TilingLogistics]

Dan,

I don't know mate. Trying to get information out of anyone is difficult to say the least because no one is really interested.

I am not particularly bothered about a qualification. I have mine from italy and the USA. But as Wetdec says you just can't let anyone loose on a floor with a machine fitted with Diamonds if they don't know what they are doing. Because the floor will be unforgiving and you don't get a second chance. This will get big in the UK and then it will be too late.

Kev

 

[Branty]

Dan,

I don't know mate. Trying to get information out of anyone is difficult to say the least because no one is really interested.

I am not particularly bothered about a qualification. I have mine from italy and the USA. But as Wetdec says you just can't let anyone loose on a floor with a machine fitted with Diamonds if they don't know what they are doing. Because the floor will be unforgiving and you don't get a second chance. This will get big in the UK and then it will be too late.

Kev

What will get big?
Surely the commercial side, where all the money is, is already catered for. Someone must be honing those floors.

 

[TilingLogistics]

What will get big?
Surely the commercial side, where all the money is, is already catered for. Someone must be honing those floors.

Dave,

The market is no where near catered for. Stone is on the increase! Look at Excel alone this week the "The Stone Show".

But, as I stated before its not like doing a tiling or plumbing course and off you go. There is a lot more to it and as well as paying for the course you have to buy the equipment.

Kev