Looking To Start Tiling

[dynamictiling]

The adhesive I use sets within an hour, even with 600mm porcelain on the walls. Typically I can take the pins out after 20mins. Obviously temperature plays a massive role in the setting of any adhesive. Most manufacturers often recommend 24-48 hours prior to grouting, but again said manufacturers will have you believe you can get 20m2 of tiling grouted with a 5kg bag...

 

[White Room]

The adhesive I use sets within an hour, even with 600mm porcelain on the walls. Typically I can take the pins out after 20mins. Obviously temperature plays a massive role in the setting of any adhesive. Most manufacturers often recommend 24-48 hours prior to grouting, but again said manufacturers will have you believe you can get 20m2 of tiling grouted with a 5kg bag...

If your talking rapid they still recommend 2-3 hours before grouting....

 

[dynamictiling]

I think this has been taken out of context, the only point I am making is it is more than possible to be in and out of a bathroom tiled and grouted in day. I don't tile anything then immediately grout it. Once said tiles have taken a set I grout them. A bathroom renewal takes me anywhere from 4 to 6 days to complete. That is taken to a bare shell and rebuilt.

Ultimately what I am trying to say is with experience comes speed. Faster at tiling, faster at cutting, faster at grouting. I remember the days a kitchen splashback would take me a whole day to complete. It boils down to time is money. The more you can tile In a week, the more you will make.

 

[GAZ5518]

My best advice would be to try and get some time spent with a reputable tiler.. Who has the patience to show you the real basics..far better than way of learning although will take years...
I don't believe you can learn enough in a 3 week course alone..
As for getting to a stage where you can fix and grout a 20m2 domestic bathroom in day... In ceramic would be an achievement ... In porcelain ... A miracle 😱!!
... Well... For me!.. ( that would amount to a lot of spondooleys)
Good luck

 

[richie b]

i would avoid site work if you are are just starting out, some people think its an easy way to get started but its not, site work has supervisors who know how long a job should roughly take and they know what to look for, all the work you do will be inspected befor the house is signed off and if they think its not right you will have to snag, it can knock your confidence if you have someone breathing down ya neck and telling you its not right, with private work you can work at your own pace and get everything just right.

 

[Just Rizzle]

just grouted 150 mtrs of tiling ive been doing this week with my son been doing this job 35 yrs now and with it I have the speed but I also have confidence to do any job look at my averter to the right there isn't a straight tile on that project . floors are my speciality and a the best way to get the job right is practice on the preparation ie screeding and levelling on floors and skimming and boarding on walls the plumber and flatter you get your preperation them the easier it is to tile them and the faster you will be

 

[White Room]

just grouted 150 mtrs of tiling ive been doing this week with my son been doing this job 35 yrs now and with it I have the speed but I also have confidence to do any job look at my averter to the right there isn't a straight tile on that project . floors are my speciality and a the best way to get the job right is practice on the preparation ie screeding and levelling on floors and skimming and boarding on walls the plumber and flatter you get your preperation them the easier it is to tile them and the faster you will be

You need to get pictures in an album Ray....

 

[ExplodingPudding]

Thank you all for your replies. If/When I go down the tiling route, it will most likely start with kitchen splashbacks and a very cheap price for the customer. I've been speaking to a few friends in the trade and some have said the best way to go forward is to tag along on a small job and watch, learn and ask questions (whilst making tea and buying lunch being the deal for me slowing him down). After a few weeks of this, there's a possibility of being able to help out on a project or two. All depends on getting my driving licence however as the jobs aren't local but hey ho, it's a start.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Didn't fix a tile for 6 months when I started!
Noah got me to mix up the screed , grout the tiling and make the tea - anything to help get the animals in quicker.
Seems as though there was always something to do other than fix tiles.

 

[Italy]

I eight years, before making the first job.
from 8 to 16 years. wet sand concrete. and soak tiles.
other times. now all more comfortable.
c'est la vie ahahah