how long to be a decent tiler

[tiler burden]

hi,

i am going on a tiling course soon up in newcastle and i was wondering how long it generally takes to get to a decent standard. i know it all depends on the individual but just a guideline would do me.

1. i know its a 5 day course but i am a plasterer by trade with 21 years buliding experience. i pick up quick and i have a good eye for levels , finishes etc so its not as though i have no experience. my dad was a tiler, mosaic specialist in the 60's and 70's working with italians but hes no longer around to get advice from. i used to grout and do his ceramic cuts, its just setting out, and techniques i am hoping to get from the course and natural stone tiling.

any help would be very much appreciated..ps i wont be doing site work so speed is not the criteria. my type of work would be bathrooms, kitchens, floors, maybe soem shop work...cheers

tiler

 

[S.Hunt]

Hi, sorry like you i am inexperienced with tiling but iam booked on the tiling course in newcastle just wondered when your doing the course?

 

[tiler burden]

hi s. hunt

dec 18th

 

[Concept PHT]

Lots of practice and good recommendations will make you a good tiler and you will feel more confident as time goes on.

As you know with plastering, you either have the nack or you don't to be good.

Unfortunately, speed is essential if you want to earn the big bucks, whether you are on a development or in somebody's house. Mr Smith wont want to pay anybody to do a bathroom that will take one person a week where somebody else can do it in 2 days for half the price. Thats the competition you will face i'm afraid.

 

[trevortine]

In my opinion if you have the eye you are more than half way there! It does have a lot do do with the look and if it dont look right it aint! I have seen work from tilers that have been doin it for more than thirty years that is simply dispicable. Speed comes naturally and you are recognised more for quality than quantity. Seems to me that you have a pretty good background to get into the tiling world, best of luck mate!

 

[Concept PHT]

Your dead right - quality is very important, but if your quick with it, then the big bucks come your way.

Just to reinforce what I previously said, as it may have seemed that I was implying that quantity was more important than quality!! lol

 

[tiler burden]

thanks to all who have replied. i totally understand what you are both saying regarding tiling. there is no room for error so quailty 1st, then speed will come.

i do have a good eye and detail and quality are the most important things to me. speed is useful and to be fair if you are good you possess both, thats what a good tradesman is, fast and good. iam really looking forward to learning about tiling because it will go hand in hand with what i do. it will be a nice change from flattening walls all day..... i have got a funny feeling that there will be a change in home design soon and textured wall papers are going to make a big comeback. with the influx of people entering plastering then it pasy to be diverse??

cheers boys, much appreciated

 

[S.Hunt]

Im on the course starting dec 18th aswell mate.

 

[sparky]

Just Wondering How Your Course Was As I Go To The Same Course In March And I M Hoping To Start For Myself Some Time In The Future