David - very similar to me also.....my first bathroom project was for my landlord, to pay a months rent and it took me nearly 3 weeks to get the job done :lol: Those were the days!!
Niel - I am from Wythenshawe, Manchester and just gone self employed in April and went on a tiling course in May (hope it's tax deductable!!).
Get yourself on a course, and we could work together in the future if either of us need the help. There is much to learn in this game and if you want to start up on your own, it gives you a big advantage over the cowboys out there, and trust me there are plenty in this city. I just lost a job to one :incazzato: Said he could do 8m2 on 3 walls including a window reveal, trims and cutting in around a sink and toilet, in 1 day, grouted, sealed and siliconed. I just don't beleive that is possible - someone please correct me if I'm wrong!! I had it as a 2 day job, with 400x300 ceramic tiles. Finishing the silcone on day 3 when I started the floor, to give the grout overnight at least to dry.
I attended the PITT training centre in Stoke (details should be in the link already posted above). I did the 4 week course for plumbing, wall, floor and advanced tiling. The journey each day for me was about 50 mins each way and £10 a day in petrol, but there are holiday-inns etc just around the corner for about £30 a night. I never looked if there is one closer to you, but this course was very good, and you get to do plenty of practical stuff as well as learning the theory behind it.
Not won any jobs big enough to ask for help yet, but there is something in the pipeline which maybe to big for me to do on my own. I'll give a shout out here if anything come's of it. It should be spec'd with Epoxy Grout too, as it's a resteraunt kitchen floor. Will have to find out the size of job first - it may not be that big, or it could be huge!!!
