New guy from Plumbing forum needs info

[armyash]

Hello everyone

I have been a member on the Plumbing forum for just over a year now. I am currently still in the army but I have signed off so will be out in approximately 12 months, possibly a couple of months earlier.

I have some plumbing/gas qualifications and ideally want to become a plumber with a company or working alongside an experienced plumber. I lack experience to go on my own as I have been trained through the army but have not used the trade a great deal.

Although I know nothing about tiling, I think it would be a good idea to do a tiling course as part of my resettlement, it would come in handy when doing my plumbing work to be able to do any tiling my customers might need doing too. Also if the plumbing goes quiet I may get small tiling jobs come in to keep putting food on the table.

sorry for the life story so far. I have some questions I'd like answered if anyone can help.

What tiling course/qualifications would I be best off doing?

How much should I be looking at spending on tools to get me started?

What tools are a necessity to get me started?

Thanks for reading.

 

[Rich]

Hello and welcome to the forum. To be honest I think there might be a bit more to tiling to a professional standard than you realise. Not being rude (or at least not trying to be) but I think you would be better off concentrating on either tiling or plumbing as the learning curve is steep to say the least. Best not to bite off more than you can chew.

 

[armyash]

Hello and welcome to the forum. To be honest I think there might be a bit more to tiling to a professional standard than you realise. Not being rude (or at least not trying to be) but I think you would be better off concentrating on either tiling or plumbing as the learning curve is steep to say the least. Best not to bite off more than you can chew.

That's an understandable reply cheers. In an ideal world I would love to put al my efforts in to plumbing but don't think it would hurt to have other qualifications and skills that I can improve over time. I'm not looking to bodge work to make some money quick I just think even if took 10 years I could be competent at both and make a respectable career from it.

 

[Rich]

Fair enough, where abouts in the country are you? Im sure somebody can recommend a good course near by

 

[armyash]

I'm in Kent at the moment and will be staying down south after I leave the army so anywhere in that area would be great.

 

[Andy Allen]

hi and welcome to the forum, i hope your resetlement from the army gose to plan, to answer some of your questions,

basic tools you will need,.... dry cutter, wet cutter, levels, trowells,grout squeege, other bits and bobs like tape measure, hack saw, tile trim snips,mitre block etc.........and not fogetting the most important things a kettle and a radio..:lol:

arround £500 should get you a decent wet / dry cutter and the bit and bobs to get you started.

as for courses, ive never been on one so can't comment on that, but im sure someone can...

 

[armyash]

hi and welcome to the forum, i hope your resetlement from the army gose to plan, to answer some of your questions,

basic tools you will need,.... dry cutter, wet cutter, levels, trowells,grout squeege, other bits and bobs like tape measure, hack saw, tile trim snips,mitre block etc.........and not fogetting the most important things a kettle and a radio..:lol:

arround £500 should get you a decent wet / dry cutter and the bit and bobs to get you started.

as for courses, ive never been on one so can't comment on that, but im sure someone can...

Thanks for the info! I have plenty of time on my side so any snippets of info I can get will be a bonus.

 

[DHTiling]

Hello and welcome....

 

[Ian]

Welcome along to TF. Have a read of this, Tiling Courses Feedback and see what others have thought about the courses they have been on. My one piece of advice would be, don't just do a course because it's local to you, spend that extra time travelling/staying away, to get a course that will give you the best possible introduction into the tiling profession.

 

[armyash]

Thanks for the heads up, plenty to be reading in there i'm bound to find what i need.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi and:welcome: to TF as above with the coarses, but it has been said before, if you could spend some time with a pro tiler, you would benefit no end.

And your plumbing skills could help the tiler, maybe team up, and do a full bathroom service. Good luck, whatever you decide

 

[armyash]

Hi and:welcome: to TF as above with the coarses, but it has been said before, if you could spend some time with a pro tiler, you would benefit no end.

And your plumbing skills could help the tiler, maybe team up, and do a full bathroom service. Good luck, whatever you decide

Many thanks. Yeah hopefully i can get some experience with a pro. Good idea teaming up and doing full bathrooms it has crossed my mind.

 

[Rich]

Where abouts down south will you be when you have left the army?

 

[armyash]

Where abouts down south will you be when you have left the army?

It's not set in stone yet but more than likely Kent or Wiltshire

 

[Rich]

It's not set in stone yet but more than likely Kent or Wiltshire

Thats not down south! Thats way up north for me! :lol:

Bit far from where I am.