Quality tilers-guaranteed

[medlar]

:rant:I can understand where Redfearn tiling is coming from to a certain extent, although the manner in which it was said wasn't the best.
I am a time served tiler, never been on a course for tiling in my life.
I did a 3 month C&G course for painting & decorating in 1998, and through the years have gained more experience, more confidence, discovered better ways to do certain things and generally got better at what I do.
In life you cannot beat experience, experience is worth soo much.
A course, no matter what it is, will never teach you everything that you need to know no matter how long the course is. However a course is designed to teach you the basics, and an introduction to the core elements of the subject matter. Sometimes a course is only as good, or as bad as its teacher.
I, like most tradespeople have seen a lot of bad work, also I have seen a lot of good work too.
Many "so called" tilers, are either plumbers, builders, carpenters or just odd job men having a go, so therefore you can't criticise guys fresh from a course as being a cowboy. They are in a quandary after leaving a course.
How do you get better at tiling - experience, how do you get the experience - by doing tiling.
If you look in anywhere people are advertising their tiling services. Say for an example there are 10 adverts for tiling, garanteed half, if not most of those guys are not proper tilers, ie they do other things like plumbing etc. their day job is not tiling.
Tilers tile, plumbers plumb, painters paint etc.

you are correct mate,over the last 6-7 months in our local rag there has been an influx of tilers,advertising plastering,plumbing,electrics (part p,self certification) these guys are probably guys who can do a bit of everything BUT with NO training or qualifications behind them,"oh yes i can put adhesive on a wall and push the tile into it" therefore i can tile not
Anyway nobody knows everything about tiling,time served,done a course or whatever,simply because they are bringing out new addys,grouts etc all the time,so things change constantly,also someone will know an easier way of doing a certain aspect than someone else.
ALL i can say to the lads who complete these courses and are serious about making a decent living and decent reputation,is take your time,be careful,double check your setting out,cuts etc and if in doubt,ask someone for advice or help, thats what we are all members here for,to give help and advice when we can

 

[davy583]

Hi all
When I came out of school you could not get an apprentiship at anything never mind tiling and yes it is true that the reason tiling came to my attention is because I tiled my own kitchen. That is when I realised that I enjoyed tiling and wanted to make it a fulltime job for myself. All in all I believe the course and the gear has cost me about 2 grand so believe me when I say that I am very serous about the job I do in the customers house. But it dose **** me off a bit when people say the word tradesman as if it means something special. Everybody I know has had a tradesman that has done what they consider to be a bad job. My Moto if you like is IF ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY HOME ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THERE’S. I all do the job to the best of my abilities and up till now have never had any complaints.
Sorry if it’s ruffled some feathers but I have had my say.

 

[Dave Ramsden]

It would seem that alot of people who do the courses and invest in a business of there own do put the time and effort in to make it work. I personally know of one local guy who, after two years of constant graft, has a very decent client list working in some high class areas.
The thing is, I also know there are tilers out there who have the newest vans and the best tools and they talk the talk, but when left on there own turn out worthless results which costs the customer.
Some people are used to working in there own time, the quality slacks under pressure. In my opinion a true tiler can land on any job and work with any material with ease and speed, regardless of whether he has come from a training course or a college.
Its all about turning out a quality job for the customer and in some cases, working under extreme pressure to get this result.
If you can do this, then your a tiler in my book! :santa_cheesy:

 

[medlar]

It would seem that alot of people who do the courses and invest in a business of there own do put the time and effort in to make it work. I personally know of one local guy who, after two years of constant graft, has a very decent client list working in some high class areas.
The thing is, I also know there are tilers out there who have the newest vans and the best tools and they talk the talk, but when left on there own turn out worthless results which costs the customer.
Some people are used to working in there own time, the quality slacks under pressure. In my opinion a true tiler can land on any job and work with any material with ease and speed, regardless of whether he has come from a training course or a college.
Its all about turning out a quality job for the customer and in some cases, working under extreme pressure to get this result.
If you can do this, then your a tiler in my book! :santa_cheesy:

They are good examples Dave,I know a youngish guy who lives opposite my mother,he done a 4 week tiling course,then went on to do an electrical course (now he is part P reg with elecsa) then he done a plumbing course,he is now in the middle of a gas fitting course,went out and spent £10,000 on a new van and the lad has not even done a paying job yet,but his family are money people

Jimmy

 

[cornish_crofter]

Resourcefullness, and knowing your limitations is the name of the game.

Experience helps but at the end of the day it's all about what you can deliver on the day.

Some jobs go well and others not so well. You learn from your mistakes and take comfort from your successes.

As far as jobs are concerned I've succeeded in accomplashing everything I've set out to do. I've never had to tell the customer that I can't do the job, after I've taken it on.

On the other hand I'm not taking on very complex work.

I've never been on a tiling course, in fact I've not been on any course, apart from the electrical C and G 2381 and 2391 courses. Yet my work passes muster.

If I want to move onto the next stage in tiling then a course is probably my next move, just haven't got around to it yet.

 

[Alberta Stone]

Conscientious is a good word which fits any quality tile fixer.
If you have that quality you will do good even if you get in over your head.
I concur with what has been said thus far.
I have seen some really bad work from old hands and some very impressive results from raw recruits.
Tiling is not rocket science, but it is an art and requires discipline and dedication if you wish to do it well for the long haul with consistently good results.

 

[chris.tiling]

I really dont see the purpose of this thread other than a company trying to pick up work from customers who may come across this excellent site and read it and then think about using a large company. I am a "course tiler" and therefore feel aggrieved at some of the comments from the originator, but I am so pleased to hear some very experienced tilers comments about the fact that it is all down to an individuals desire and ability to do a great job for their customer irrespective of where they learned their trade
:rant:...and breathe!!!!

 

[medlar]

well said Chris, you can please some of the people some of the time,but you cant please all the people all the time.Its what you take from your course,and what you learn afterwards that helps you become a good fixer,that and some practical work,but as everything in life,the more you do,the better you get.

Jimmy

 

[doug boardley]

I've never been on a tiling course, but i would imagine they prepare you to start learning, an analogy would be something like passing your driving test and realising that you're not gonna be chauffering the queen straight away!!

 

[Grace'sDad]

I think I better stay off this thread, other than to say that Redfearn got a cheap ad in at the start!