New Tilers Support - 2

[Brumforest]

Hello everyone. Can anybody tell me if you can use Bal white star adhesive with Travertine tiles. Tile size 610mmx305mmx13mm. Thanks

 

[DHTiling]

hello .....

sorry but NO......use a white cement based powder adhesive......what you tiling on to.?.

 

[Brumforest]

Thanks Dave tiling onto plasterboard. Customer has supplied Rapidset for walls , trouble is in this heat going off in ten mins. Does cement based adhesive need to be flexible?

 

[DHTiling]

Not really no...unless you anticipate some movement...You can use BAL CTF3 or BAL Single part flexible both are slow setting ( about 16 hrs ) and both have a pot life of about 5hrs...so no probs with going off in the bucket.....

 

[Brumforest]

Thanks a lot for your help Dave really appreciated.

 

[jimshatner]

Interesting topic. I've only been tiling for three years but still worry I'm not quick enough, because customers although comment on swift progress often are surprised when the fiddly cuts eat away at the time.. I try to get on average between 5-7 metres tiled in a day (this would include grouting-although not on the same day), would this be reasonable given my current level of experience? Sometimes less and often more but by the time I've done the finishing it works out roughly this.

Forgive me if this is not the right place for this question. I'm new to the forum and the answer to this is undoubtedly listed in the Tilers Arms - oh how thirsty I am!! Pricing??? Is it unreasonable to charge £150 per day (I am no ninja tiler, i like to get it done right). I have no probs pricing ceramic and porcelain but I tend to lose customers when I price natural stones and slates. I suspect they don't realise the extra work involved and neither do the very cheap tilers they find to do the job. It would be good to get advice so I can continue to price with confidence or lower my prices to pick up the work. What I don't want to do is be a cheap tiler who brings prices down for everyone, if you see what I mean.

Cheers, this website is the answer to my dreams - does that make me a nerd? :ninja:Jim

 

[DHTiling]

No jim it doesn't make you a nerd..lol lol...just keen to keep up to date....but the forums can be addictive.....Some peeps will say they can tile this amount in a day etc etc...but as long as your customers are happy and you are happy then whats to worry about...

 

[jimshatner]

Dave, you rock! :hurray:

I don't suppose you could advise on where I can get pricing info or do I have to wait outside the Tilers Arms with a coke and bag of crisps until my fake id is printed?

Cheers
Jim

ps Think I'm hooked.

 

[DHTiling]

Dave, you rock! :hurray:

I don't suppose you could advise on where I can get pricing info or do I have to wait outside the Tilers Arms with a coke and bag of crisps until my fake id is printed?

Cheers
Jim

ps Think I'm hooked.

If you can provide us with the fake id then you are in-ish...

No loitering now.....:lol:

 

[sstilingservice]

Hi Jim welcome to the forums. You will need to ask Dan to have a word with the bouncers at the tilers arms so you can get access to pricing help. I have found it very helpfull as pricing can be a bit of a guessing game. good luck hope they ley you in soon

 

[sstilingservice]

or Dave

 

[jimshatner]

Yep, they don't like me going in with mucky work clothes!! Sounds extremely useful though. Hope to get in there soon. I've got a ton of questions so hope they do lock ins!

 

[jazzikaz]

Hi there, my first time on the site so here goes. I have a customer who has asked me to tile the ceiling in the shower cubicle area and I wanted some advice as to whether this is advisable, personally i don't think it is a particularly good or safe idea but would like some other opinions....what do you guys think? Due to start September so plenty of time for replies!!

Thanks, Karen.

 

[sstilingservice]

Hi Jazz welcome personaly I would speak to bal tech and see what they think if they ok it then you can blame them if it all goes pete tong

 

[jimshatner]

Re: New Tilers Support - 2 - Payment Etiquette advice required?

Hi all,

I'd appreciate some advice on the subject of payment etiquette if you get a second.

I state clearly on my quotations to domestic customers that payment is due upon completion but I have had problems with customers paying me 3 times recently.

The problem I've had is with customers not living in the area where the job is. They quite understandably say that they want to inspect the job before they pay but rather than be there when the job is finished they say things like 'I can't get down for a few weeks' or 'I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks and will pay when I get back'. Or 'I'll send you a cheque for some of it and will pay the balance when I've seen it'.

Personally I would never have had the nerve to treat a trademan like that. I don't want to get shirty about it as I risk not getting paid at all. I'd like to find out if this is usual, or if there is any way of preventing this kind of thing in the future. I don't like asking for money for materials up front as customers are reluctant to shell out money before the job has been done and I don't want to bang on about being paid before I have started because it doesn't really set the relationship off on the right tone.

Any advice on this gratefully received.

Cheers
Jim:mad2: