How did you learn your trade?

[Peter]

Started when I was 16 as a day release scheme through tech with a 3 year apprenticeship. In tech for a half day every Tuesday then working the rest of the week. Started off mixing, lifting and carrying but always had a bit of an obsessive compulsive side in that a bucket had to be mixed perfectly to my liking or the tiler didn't get it, and if that took a few extra minutes it ended up getting me into a bit of trouble. Done both private and commercial, but the domestic was always the bit that appealled to me. I was usually put in with the best tiler in the squad who taught me about how to tile neatly and correctly, "unlike the others". Most of the other boys in the squad were less neat so what I'd learned from Gary rubbed off and ended up being too fussy and awkward for them so after a while they never wanted me. In a way, the rough work I seen them do at times made me more determined to do a better job. :lol:

Worked with that squad for 4 years then I got an offer of easier work and shorter days for an extra 50 quid a week. Took that, which was mainly pre constructed bathroom pod units which were made offsite then transported and placed into hotels, nursing homes etc. Ended up doing the majority of that crowd's (two tilers, an apprentice and a grouter) domestic work when had it, which was the bit I always liked. Got bored of doing the same bathroom pods day in day out, and always liked a nice challenging bathroom. Worked with that outfit for about 3 years but the saying don't put all your eggs in the one basket rang true. Their main contractor's work dried up and they didn't really have the work, which forced me to fend for myself. Started off me having a day or two free in the week then their work dried up completely. Been out solo full time for about 6 months and learned more than ever in that time. Makes a lot of difference when you've to call your own shots rather than asking another tiler. Suits me better as I'm not told "You've to finish this bathroom in 2 days", I can spend the extra half a day and provide the extra finishing touch that I wouldn't usually be able to give with tight time restrictions. Thankfully getting plenty of work on my own and hoping that this year will be a good year for getting myself well established. Don't think I'd ever go back to working with a squad now but learnt a lot of things from working in squads that I would never have learned otherwise, from how not to do some things to useful knowledge of how to set out and manage a large commercial floor.

 

[ScottG13]

Thanks for the responses guys, who'd have thought my curiosity would prompt such interesting reading

 

[the chippy]

22 years as a joiner, last year trained at NETT in Tiling, Plastering and Level 1 Plumbing, i am now in the process of setting up going self employed.

 

[Musivarius]

I was working as an ITU nurse and one day (2002) watched a programme on the Roman mosaics found at Zeugma, Turkey. Looking at those I knew that was what I wanted to do.
Went to the Scuola Arte del Mosaico in Ravenna for one of their short courses and have been making copies ever since. Initially it was museum work, I had 4 to do for a Biblical museum in Spain but now it's more teaching which I'm really enjoying.
I don't know of anyone else who works exclusively on ancient mosaics in the UK which is handy in some respects but every so often I begin to think I know what I'm doing so I go back to the Italian school so they can tell me otherwise!
The one area I lack is my technical knowledge on the adhesives etc used now, hence me being on this forum. It's been a real help to get this advice from people who have not only the knowledge but also the experience to go with it, (really could have done with that for the Baptismal Font I did, but that's another story :smilewinkgrin🙂

 

[mikethetile]

I was working as an ITU nurse and one day (2002) watched a programme on the Roman mosaics found at Zeugma, Turkey. Looking at those I knew that was what I wanted to do.
Went to the Scuola Arte del Mosaico in Ravenna for one of their short courses and have been making copies ever since. Initially it was museum work, I had 4 to do for a Biblical museum in Spain but now it's more teaching which I'm really enjoying.
I don't know of anyone else who works exclusively on ancient mosaics in the UK which is handy in some respects but every so often I begin to think I know what I'm doing so I go back to the Italian school so they can tell me otherwise!
The one area I lack is my technical knowledge on the adhesives etc used now, hence me being on this forum. It's been a real help to get this advice from people who have not only the knowledge but also the experience to go with it, (really could have done with that for the Baptismal Font I did, but that's another story :smilewinkgrin🙂

its a story we would love to hear lawrence
and we will go easy with you:smilewinkgrin:

thats an interesting line of work to be in, a niche market
is it hard to keep a continuation of work
mike

ps we love pics on here

 

[Scott]

I learned some if it from my father who taught me the basics over a week summer holidays! Some people get to go to the coast, i got to go to a new housing estate in Luton

I learned how to set out, box in and how to tile on boxing.

Since then everything else has been self taught, not just in tiling but plastering, carpentry, plumbing (electrics...not anymore)

I have to admit i have learned the most in the last four years with the likes of natural stones, trav and porcelain becoming ever popular

 

[LM Ceramics]

left school in 2004 i was offered a plumbing apprenticeship which i turned down started working for a local well known tiler in my area and i was trained up and sent to liverpool college on day release my boss had 4 sub contract tilers and me the apprentice spent a year mixing grouting general labouring etc i wasnt allowed to stick a tile til my grouting was near perfect mainly our work was all domestic and high class work and a few commerical jobs my first bit of tiling was kitchen splashbacks then bathrooms then onto floors then unfortunatley my boss had a messy divorce with his missus and lost the will to carry on unfortunatley

then i went sub contract hoping to a few tiling firms house bashing for barratt homes persimmon etc and met a few decent tilers and some not so good tilers even though i hated house bashing you could see the differences in quality tilers and rough tilers which was a learning experience in its own

at 19 i started on my own (bit young i know) but with the lack of site work as we were approaching a recession i had no choice started of really well even at my age then i made contacts with building contractors and bathroom and kitchen companies and even completed 2 care homes with over 500 m2 of wall tiling at 19 not bad eh

but as the work was slowing down i couldnt compete much on the domestic market i was losing out on so many quotes maybe due to my age and the disadvantage of looking 18 when im 21 now

so decided to go back sub contracting with a tiler in manchester still with him now it also gives me the freedom of working with him and a regular wage and finding me own work when hes quite and slowly building up a reputation that despite im young i can still do a quality job

im still mega slow at tiling and ive earned a nickname of "slug lee" but id still rather be slow and do a quality job than be fast and rough and i hope i can continue that even when im 30 odd (but hopefully i might pick up abit of speed by then

 

[dptiling]

third genaration of tilers in my famliy. guess its catching.