Concerned would be tiler!

[Fekin]

Hi all, I'm in a dead end job and in desperate need of a career change not just for myself but for my wife. Someone mentioned tiling...

Personally, I think that point could be your down fall im affraid, as you really need the desire to want to be a tiler and not just decide to plump for it after someone mentioned it.

Tiling is a lonely trade really, normally working on your own in someones bathroom ar what have you.
If the desire isn't there to start with your only going to find it even harder to get going than other new tilers that really want to break into this trade for the love of tiling and creating something with your own hands, as many are finding it very difficult anyway.

Just to try and take up tiling just for a job change isn't really the best way to go in my honest opinion.

As for the amount of people actually becomming a tiler after training... it all depends on the desire of the people doing them, and how long do they stick at it too.

Good luck, but the best advise I could say is to really think about it before committing to it

 

[gordonu2]

Someone did mention it to me but I had never considered it before. Now that I am doing the course I am 100% focused on it . I want this to work out for myself and my wife. It is a job that really appeals to me and one in which I think I would be good at. I know it will be very difficult but I am willing to give it my all and hopefully everything will work out ok. I think anybody thinking of a career change has worries, I just want to be sure these courses will give me enough knowledge to start up on my own. Cheers

 

[Fekin]

Some courses will teach you enough, many will not, but you've done the next most important part by joining up here, as we have dozens and dozens and dozens of pro tilers on here everyday willing to share their hard earned knowledge for free and will never hesitate to answer even the most in depth questions you may have.

All the best with the course.

 

[kilty55]

go for it mate,i was in a similar situation in a job i absolutely hated,,i done a course in edinburgh and honestly its been the best thing ive done in years,,have now quit my job,,got a basic setup to do domestic work just now,,although im not earning as much as i would like to be im getting by and im aware it will take time,,

 

[gordonu2]

Cheers bud, it's messages like that that gives you confidence to go out on your own.

 

[videoman]

Everyone on this forum says what a great course NETT do. I think it is a matter of taking it all in and then focusing on making a go of things. It will probably take some time after your course and a number of quotes before you get any takers but keep trying and don't loose heart.

I used to work for a large blue chip company and when I first started in sales and project management I found it very difficult to win a quote. After a period of time and gaining some further experience I was gaining business from quotes up to the value £150,000 and managing the project as well.

 

[sWe]

Varley, ChaseTiling and Fekin all offer good tips and point of view.

If you are to succeed in a market which seems to be becoming saturated, you need to separate yourself from the pack. Learning the basics might not be enough.

Creating a good business plan is very important, as well as learning to plan properly. The latter comes with experience, but a little research and foresight is very useful. You need to get on top of the game as soon as possible.

If you take the plunge, you need to foster that spark of interest you have, into a raging bonfire.

My suggestions are as follows:

• Read EVERYTHING related to tiling you come across. That means standards, guides, product specs, articles, forums, etc
• Buy a stack of the cheapest tiles you can find, and dry lay them, and try to do it better and faster every time you redo.
• Cut little pieces of paper and lay them on sheets of paper with different shapes, representing surfaces, just ot se how you could best solve problems.
• Inspect every single tiled surface you come across, and consider wether or not you could do it better or different in someway.
• Ask when you are uncertain, but try to put any advice you get into context yourself, in order to get a better understanding
• Practise, practise, practise...

While learning to tile decently isn't THAT hard, doing it really well takes dedication, and alot of time.

Now, I might be a bit self-centered when I say this, but take a look at the links I have in my signature. They might give you some additional perspective, and some practical tips and hints.

Good luck.

 

[MrSpoon]

register on here Link removed and order the tiling solutions book, its free and it will explain different problems and situations you'll come across and what needs to be done and what preperation and adhesives/grout/primers and ply etc to use, even if you dont use their products its goot to have in your tool box so you can refer to if your not sure on a problem :yes:

 

[robbo]

Spot on sWe!

 

[charlie1]

Hi Gordonu2 ,

I think it was myself who posted the 20-30% stats for becoming a tiler. If you listen to the good advice you get on this forum and have a lot of drive and determination to succeed you will have a very good chance. One thing though that will also help though is tiling can be a very physical job so get yourself in good shape and this will also increase your chance.

Good luck mate