Looking To Start Tiling

[Flintstone]

I've been tiling about 15 years, I'm not gonna get any faster. I don't think there any any others on here who claim to tile a 20m bathroom top to bottom in a day!
Anyway, moving on

 

[Wishiwasatoptiler]

Hello all!

I am new to this forum and thought I'd give some insight into who I am.

I currently work for a tile retailer, Topps, and I am looking at two prospects in the semi-near future. Either starting my own tiling business and then leaving Topps ( currently a part timer ) or leaving Topps for a career in the Aviation industry.

My preference is for the first side of things. Now I understand that not all of yourselves may agree with Topps as a company or may of had bad experiences with local stores (Yes, I did stalk this forum first) but I assure you, I'm not here to peddle on their behalf as the HO really do blunder sometimes and leave the front line staff with their hands tied and frankly, I don't want to get into that side of it.

So a bit about what I know from the infamous Topps Tiles. We have to complete various training courses regarding the use of the products we sell as to recommend the adhesive/grout/prep requirements. We also have to interact with traders on a daily basis. Over the past 10 months, I have been fortunate enough to be able to benefit from the knowledge of a few local traders who are very well respected in the local community and learnt a fair bit from them in theory.

Please don't ask me direct questions regarding which Topps Tiles store I work at, the traders in question or about the training we are provided as I'm not sure as to the company standpoint on this and nor do I want to end up in the s*** with my boss.

So that's the basics of what I know. I would now like to know, how I go about becoming a fully self employed tiler.

Many Thanks!

Hi Exploding Pudd.

just out of interest do you work straight days, you say part time, is that on a weekend, if that's your only income I'd try a taster course, see if you like it then make your decisions from there, if you say have three days off in the week in-between you retail job, why not work for buttons with a good tiler as a few have said, I think how quickly you pick it up is depending how handy you are. While doing that you can buy the tools etc and if you keep on side with the shop your in then you may get to do their displays and get work off them from customers who buy there tiles.

Good Luck.

 

[Martino]

Completing a 20 metre bathroom in a day is easily done in 8 hours. Tile walls, cup of tea,grout said walls, tile floor, wait.... grout floor. I do this on a daily basis. 2 tilers on the job. I average 3-6 bathrooms a week ( obviously pending the size and amount of work involved in them)

I can smell something..........

 

[dynamictiling]

I can smell something..........

Funny that.... so can I. The smell of cold hard cash mate. Jealously will get you no where in this game. I always take care of business, maybe you should take a leaf from my book and up your game son! #justsayin #takingcareofbusinesseveryday :-D

 

[mma]

No need!

 

[Martino]

Hahahahahha....I'm speechless.... How professional

 

[Italy]

quiet,
we do not. have doubts ......

 

[Tile Shop]

I can smell something..........

Yeah, jealousy from others maybe?

Some people are slow and accurate. Some people are fast and *****. If he can go that quick and not get any complaints, fair play. Maybe alot of practice has gone into what he does and the way he does it. Hes found techniques that work for him. Maybe takes one look at a job and has plan of what he must do and just gets on with it without umming and ahhing.

At the end of the day that is a unique selling point and if it gets the jobs in and raises the bar too high for others to jump, i don't see how everyone can have a go at him for it.

I'm not one for kissing arse but credit where its due. Maybe everyone should ease off with the public slating and use it as a target to be as quick as he is.

 

[Tile Shop]

Can we get back to the original post now please. This could have been a good thread advising people how they can get into this line of work.

 

[dave l and l]

fair play on speed and whatever , that picture is bad taste by the way,,

 

[JMC tiling]

Unless a customer asks I don't mitre my trim. Always use straight edge trim.

Not mitring the trim says it all really i'm afraid. I would suggest 20m in a day lashed in

 

[Andy Allen]

Loads of money!!!!

 

[Tile Shop]

I did a seach on the forums for any thread title with "starting" in it. Alot of people asking advise on starting up and even more offering input on whats needed. From tools to accounting to getting your name out there. And alot on how to gain experience such as courses, free labouring and eventual site work.

Its answered alot of my questions but can soon ask a few more if what i need isn't already covered.

 

[dynamictiling]

I merely commented on this thread stating that I could tile a 20m2 in bathroom in a day. Which is true. To be fair maybe I shouldn't have put that picture up but it is done now. People on this thread have called me a cow boy, stated that my work must be as rough as ole arses. The best they have came up with is that I rarely mitre trim, hardly cowboy stuff???

I have been a Tiler for 15 years. In that time I have been lucky enough to work on large commercial jobs. I have learned from some of the best in the business (alot of who, are faster tilers than me I will add.)

I am only stating that I can complete a bathroom in a day. I am disappointed in some members on here, seeing that as an opportunity to try and openly slate me and question my professionalism.

 

[Italy]

I merely commented on this thread stating that I could tile a 20m2 in bathroom in a day. Which is true. To be fair maybe I shouldn't have put that picture up but it is done now. People on this thread have called me a cow boy, stated that my work must be as rough as ole arses. The best they have came up with is that I rarely mitre trim, hardly cowboy stuff???

I have been a Tiler for 15 years. In that time I have been lucky enough to work on large commercial jobs. I have learned from some of the best in the business (alot of who, are faster tilers than me I will add.)

I am only stating that I can complete a bathroom in a day. I am disappointed in some members on here, seeing that as an opportunity to try and openly slate me and question my professionalism.

when I was young ...
I did also 2 baths a day. 16x2 = 32sqm. (No grouting)
construction sites from 30/40 apartments.
no problemeverything go smoothly. Max had to put a spin decorations
my average was 1.5 baths a day finalizados.
Now times have changed. each bathroom is different. 2 3 4 colors for bathroom.
steel, aluminum. etc. and the speech how many square meters per day. no longer exists.
miter trim speech: I never allowed to set as you do.
I still today if the customer does not want to trim mitre.
cut at 45 ° (do not laugh at me).
if you accept a suggestion: better not say how many square meters a day. even how much money you earn.
much better flying low. at least if you fall. not kill you.
sorry and enjoy your work .
I hope you understand I have written