R
Rad2474
I'm a course trained at NETT and tilersforums,i've learnt a lot from this website.
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W
White Room
A large number of years as a plasterer, screeder and dry liner, was at a British Gypsum when a bal rep popped in and offered free courses on tiling, free of charge and all accomodation.
I had done tiling before that so went on it this was about ten years ago, it was ok, then done a course in Dunstable with a guy who must of been one of the first to do them independently and carried on from there.
Have spent a lot of money doing extra courses on tiling, found the forum invaluble about 3 years ago and have just completed an NVQ 2.
I've had nearly 40 years in the building game, wish I'd learnt tiling from the beginning.
I had done tiling before that so went on it this was about ten years ago, it was ok, then done a course in Dunstable with a guy who must of been one of the first to do them independently and carried on from there.
Have spent a lot of money doing extra courses on tiling, found the forum invaluble about 3 years ago and have just completed an NVQ 2.
I've had nearly 40 years in the building game, wish I'd learnt tiling from the beginning.
J
jay
apprenticeship strait out of school solid plasterer tiler :8🙁really wanted to be a mechanic couldn't find a spot back then)
H
huckin
my dads a tiler and he taught me until i decided to go it alone still ask him for some advice now and again
A
Aston
hi here goes...
in 1985 i started to work for my dad who was a terrazzo and mosaic specialist who trained with italians for 7 yrs..for 2 years i laboured on him, grouting, doing his cuts, mixing etc. my uncle (his partner) was a plasterer so because my dad gave me such a hard time i decided to do plastering lol..i learned how to render, floor screed, tank and prepare all work ready for tiling BUT tiling inc tiling in sand and cement but it wasnt really what i wanted at that time. i did things back to front, i learned the hard things 1st, the things that some tilers cant seem to do now..i was preparing sandstone, slate, granite and marble but not actually fixing??
we worked for merseyside improved houses, the rac, restaurants, the town hall, wcd law, the liverpool teaching hospital, infact all over liverpool and merseyside.
in 1994, my mum got cancer and my dad had a heart attack and i was finished up there and then on the friday. on the following monday i set up on my own and paid to do a b-tech in construction at riversdale college for 2 years which really opened my eyes with reagrds to thermal values, structural work, floor plans, building law. it gave me a technical approach aswell as a hands on role. during that time my new business concentrated on plastering, small domestic tiling, bathroom conversions and drive ways..i learned how to do all the ground work, drainage and more importantly laying patios and driveways in paviours, granite, slate etc because 3 of the guys on my college course worked for the council as stone masons and they taught me loads ...i passed my btech and got student of the year which really pleased my mum just before she died..i continued for 2 more years until in 1998 i got offered a job in management. i took it because i think i was mentally worn out. running a business at 24, going to college at night and losing my mum caught up with me a bit...
anyway, in 2004 i left the job with alot of management and marketing skills and set up a business so my dad could take it easy..we were doing what he loved tiling..he then fell ill and he had cancer, then developed alzheimers..i started to work with lots of tilers throught the northwest and i did a couple of courses to catch up on all the new changes and materials. i needed some advanced setting out training and bespoke tiling to finish my trade if you like.( told you i did the hard stuff 1st :20: and i also needed to cover ufh and a bit of plumbing too ....i have covered a hell of a lot of ground in the last 20 odd years and i wouldnt have it any other way..i set up aston tiling 2 years ago when my dad went into a home and its gone from strength to strength..i have enrolled to do my nvq 2 to satisfy the governmet criteria???? but the college put me staright in for level 3 due to my background, so i should have that done in summer/autumn. i am always ready to learn more and more because i love the feeling of progression...i know what level i am at now and thats all that important to me because i set my own standards alot higher than anybody else would expect of me and i mean that in a humble way . i wouldnt let nothing phase me anymore..ive learned the hard way and at times i felt like giving up but something kept me going and i got there....in the words of supertramp...i took the long way home.
tilersforums is an amazing place because you can come home and keep in contact with some of the nicest and most knowledgable people you could care to cyber meet lol....you contantly get to keep up with any new technical changes and although theres not much i couldnt take on now, i always am open and honest to at least learn new angles...
i love this trade and i am proud to be a professional tiler 1st and foremost!
ed - aston tiling
in 1985 i started to work for my dad who was a terrazzo and mosaic specialist who trained with italians for 7 yrs..for 2 years i laboured on him, grouting, doing his cuts, mixing etc. my uncle (his partner) was a plasterer so because my dad gave me such a hard time i decided to do plastering lol..i learned how to render, floor screed, tank and prepare all work ready for tiling BUT tiling inc tiling in sand and cement but it wasnt really what i wanted at that time. i did things back to front, i learned the hard things 1st, the things that some tilers cant seem to do now..i was preparing sandstone, slate, granite and marble but not actually fixing??
we worked for merseyside improved houses, the rac, restaurants, the town hall, wcd law, the liverpool teaching hospital, infact all over liverpool and merseyside.
in 1994, my mum got cancer and my dad had a heart attack and i was finished up there and then on the friday. on the following monday i set up on my own and paid to do a b-tech in construction at riversdale college for 2 years which really opened my eyes with reagrds to thermal values, structural work, floor plans, building law. it gave me a technical approach aswell as a hands on role. during that time my new business concentrated on plastering, small domestic tiling, bathroom conversions and drive ways..i learned how to do all the ground work, drainage and more importantly laying patios and driveways in paviours, granite, slate etc because 3 of the guys on my college course worked for the council as stone masons and they taught me loads ...i passed my btech and got student of the year which really pleased my mum just before she died..i continued for 2 more years until in 1998 i got offered a job in management. i took it because i think i was mentally worn out. running a business at 24, going to college at night and losing my mum caught up with me a bit...
anyway, in 2004 i left the job with alot of management and marketing skills and set up a business so my dad could take it easy..we were doing what he loved tiling..he then fell ill and he had cancer, then developed alzheimers..i started to work with lots of tilers throught the northwest and i did a couple of courses to catch up on all the new changes and materials. i needed some advanced setting out training and bespoke tiling to finish my trade if you like.( told you i did the hard stuff 1st :20: and i also needed to cover ufh and a bit of plumbing too ....i have covered a hell of a lot of ground in the last 20 odd years and i wouldnt have it any other way..i set up aston tiling 2 years ago when my dad went into a home and its gone from strength to strength..i have enrolled to do my nvq 2 to satisfy the governmet criteria???? but the college put me staright in for level 3 due to my background, so i should have that done in summer/autumn. i am always ready to learn more and more because i love the feeling of progression...i know what level i am at now and thats all that important to me because i set my own standards alot higher than anybody else would expect of me and i mean that in a humble way . i wouldnt let nothing phase me anymore..ive learned the hard way and at times i felt like giving up but something kept me going and i got there....in the words of supertramp...i took the long way home.
tilersforums is an amazing place because you can come home and keep in contact with some of the nicest and most knowledgable people you could care to cyber meet lol....you contantly get to keep up with any new technical changes and although theres not much i couldnt take on now, i always am open and honest to at least learn new angles...
i love this trade and i am proud to be a professional tiler 1st and foremost!
ed - aston tiling
T
The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP
Hi, here goes my long road in this noble profession. At the age of 15yrs I became a bound apprentice. I served 5yrs along with day release at Manchester college of building. This was back in 1968. I was taught by some of the best master craftsmen around. My early days were spent learning the old sand and cement method. By the age of 21 I attained C&G and became time served. In those days rendering walls and screeding floors was a must for all tilers.
At 23 I was given my 1st job as a foreman tiler. This was daunting for me as most of the 8 tilers I was supervising were in their 30s and 40s. The experience helped me grow in confidence.
I went self employed at 24, thats when I really started learning. I had 6 fixers working for me by the late 70s, and did all types of contracts. From domestic to new builds, industrial etc.
In the early 90s the new work dried up. So I did some subbing for the big companies. Finished up running a team of lads from up and down the country. We had a lot of success with the power vibration system. We travelled around the UK. and did a bit in Germany. Eventually we were invited to do a three and a half thousand m2 floor in the USA. From this we had two more visits to the states.
I now do mostly domestics, but I love a challenge. Not keen on bog standard stuff, but in todays climate beggars can't be choosers. I am hoping to get involved in heritage work, but it's early days. I have seen a lot of changes in this industry over the years. Also met lots of characters, this game is full of them, met some fantastic fixers and some not so good. I still love my job and love the forums.
Sorry if I bore you with my tale:20:
At 23 I was given my 1st job as a foreman tiler. This was daunting for me as most of the 8 tilers I was supervising were in their 30s and 40s. The experience helped me grow in confidence.
I went self employed at 24, thats when I really started learning. I had 6 fixers working for me by the late 70s, and did all types of contracts. From domestic to new builds, industrial etc.
In the early 90s the new work dried up. So I did some subbing for the big companies. Finished up running a team of lads from up and down the country. We had a lot of success with the power vibration system. We travelled around the UK. and did a bit in Germany. Eventually we were invited to do a three and a half thousand m2 floor in the USA. From this we had two more visits to the states.
I now do mostly domestics, but I love a challenge. Not keen on bog standard stuff, but in todays climate beggars can't be choosers. I am hoping to get involved in heritage work, but it's early days. I have seen a lot of changes in this industry over the years. Also met lots of characters, this game is full of them, met some fantastic fixers and some not so good. I still love my job and love the forums.
Sorry if I bore you with my tale:20:
D
diamondtiling
Good read Phil, nothing boring about it mate.............
F
fergy7197
all very intresting and unique.
hopefully many years down the line I shall be able to say the same!
hopefully many years down the line I shall be able to say the same!
D
diamondtiling
F
fergy7197
very true!
Its hard sometimes - Im just up against it the now - trying to get my van on the road, getting busiess cards sorted - just finished doing my business plan !
on a part time postmans wage!! :lol:
just got to keep focused!
Its hard sometimes - Im just up against it the now - trying to get my van on the road, getting busiess cards sorted - just finished doing my business plan !
on a part time postmans wage!! :lol:
just got to keep focused!
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