How much?

[IvegotsTILE]

I wanted to know if you experience customers who nearly fall over with shock at the prices you charge because 'Its just tiling'.

Most people I quote for are very happy with my prices(usually £28 sqm ordinary ceramics)but a couple have been shocked at my prices.I was asked how I could charge £150 for a 5sqm floor?They was expecting about £70.I made the point that I was a tradesman who'll do a professional job.I said to them that I also did a bit of roofing and asked them what they thought they'd pay to replace 2 broken roof slates,they said about £75 pounds which I said was about bang on.
I asked why would you pay me £75 for replacing 2 slates that would only take me 10 mins but you would only pay me £70 for spending a few hours tiling the floor and then coming back the next day for an hour to grout it.
They said that roofing required more skill and knowledge than tiling.Knowing both there is alot more to tiling a whole floor than replacing 2 slates.

Some people look at us as a second rate trade,It must go like this:

Electrician
Gas engineer
Plumber
Builder
Chippie
Roofer
Plasterer
Tiler

I then explain to them that I have thousands of pounds of tools,a vehicle to run,tax and insure.I have to take out Public Liability Insurance,tool insurance,accountants fees,work wear,advertising.I don't get 28 days paid holiday and sick pay like they do if I don't work I don't get paid,plus I don't have work every day because there's always lean spells.

I don't understand why they think we'll work for less money than other trades.Does anyone else find this?

 

[DHTiling]

alright simon mate....my policy is .. i price the job....and if i dont get it ...then bring on the next one.....there is always some one wanting it done for next to nowt so i thinks they should go and get some other mug...lol lol......dave..

 

[McP77]

See this quite a lot. People think we just turn up with a spatular to put the tiles on.

The problem is that everyone thinks they can tile. Plumbers and kitchen fitters see it as a bit of an add on to their normal work. A lot of people can make a reasonable looking job to be fair but you don't know what is going on underneath. Examples being lack of awareness of tanking, pva on the walls, dot an dab, even floor tiles being put down with ready mixed wall adhesive.

IMHO if the TTA is wanting membership the first thing they need to do is to raise awareness in the general public that tiling is a skilled profession.

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Don't get me wrong Dave,I'm not that interested working for people like that,I do leave them my number and tell them to call me when the guy they use for £70 bodges the job and ruins there tiles,but to be honest I'd rather take a day off as you say something always comes up.
Like 77 said though I'm sure they think were gonna turn up with a spatular to put the tiles on,alot of customers can't believe the amount of tools I carry round with me.
Its time people realised how awkward it is to make a job look professional.Some of the jobs I've seen by customers looks like it would de-value their house its that bad,some work by so called tilers is just as bad.