New Tilers Support - 2

[jazzikaz]

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

Thanks for the reply. I decided to get in touch with my course tutor, who said it was a bit of a weird request, he's never been asked to do that before. After his advice I spoke to the customer and we have decided not to go ahead with tiling the ceiling much to my relief! At least there is no issue with safety helmets needing to be worn when they shower:lol:.
Thanks again. Jazz.

 

[kev@dts]

Thinking of starting up

hi all .im new to the forum.
i have been tiling with my dad since i left school now and i am 20 years old .
i have done one or two jobs on my own for friends but other than that the work for my dad has been steady
i now want to move out and start up on my own
any advice on going self employed is welcome and will be really appreciated !!:yes:
also do i need to know plastering in order to start tiling as thats always been my dads field ?
..thanx alot ..kev

 

[GazTech]

Welcome to the forum kev...all your questions can be answered by using the search button......Gaz

 

[White Room]

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:

That would wind me up as well, You could ask for a deposit before the job starts to cover materials, As you stated you don't like asking but it's business. I would check with the customer before you start if there going on holiday and explain your payment details. Some are just jelly heads and don't even consider that you need a cash flow

 

[saintdom]

hey guys , a little help if i may.

went to look at a job where the window reveals are curved. Obviously im going to have to ply or board the edge to get a square corner. only prob is if i do bord over then i will need to do the whole wall or have a very unsightly step when the tile finishes half way up the wall. any ideas , really dont think customer was keen on re boearding whole wall.

also they are using 250s by 200 landscape with a small mosaic border, the diff in thickness is about 4.5 mm :mad2: what would you guys reccomend packing out the mosaic with to bring it in flush.

thanks in advance, a great service provided.

 

[krsone_07]

im a high quality tiler looking for work within or beside another perfectionist. any offers? ive been filling in my spaces with average run of the mill work basically to keep money flowing but im getting bored. living in lincolnshire.

 

[krsone_07]

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

what i usually do is when i go to price up a job i make sure they are aware of how much material they will need and ask them if they are going to get it before hand or if they would like me to get it and usually ask them to give me money for materials as they are going to need it to get the job done, no quarms. then i run by them that i dont mind payment after the job is done but i make sure we come to some agreement on meeting up on the day it is done. if that isnt possible i will say that i wont start the job until they can be at hand to give the job a thumbs up and money paid on completion. firm but fair business etiquette thats never failed me so far.

 

[brett-the-tiler]

Hi everyone
This is my first post on here, and just looking for some advice really.
I am starting my tiling career soon and was just wondering which is the best way to get my first jobs?
As i have heard most people say once u start then u get more work by way of referals by customers so just looking for my first few jobs to get going.
Any advice will be of great help.
Cheers
Brett

 

[jimshatner]

Hi everyone
This is my first post on here, and just looking for some advice really.
I am starting my tiling career soon and was just wondering which is the best way to get my first jobs?
As i have heard most people say once u start then u get more work by way of referals by customers so just looking for my first few jobs to get going.
Any advice will be of great help.
Cheers
Brett

Hi Brett,

What I did was find the best place to place an ad. without costing an arm and a leg - a local free magazine that gets put through every door in the areas you work is good. A listing in Yell.com is good and Yellow Pages advert if you can afford it. Cheaper alternatives are business cards and flyers through doors on days when you are 'resting' and placing cards in your preferred tile shops. If you can't afford any of that then when I started I found the cheapest and most effective way was to walk around tile shops and DIY stores with tile sections dressed in my work clothes and speak to customers looking at tiles, offer advice and give them your card in case they needed a tiler. I never went home without at least a couple of jobs booked in.

Best of luck. Hard work getting going but once you've got a good reputation then people will call you again.

James

 

[david campbell]

this sounds way too cheap mate,i would charge about 450 for 30m2 and i would regard that as a bargain compared 2 most tilers in my area

 

[jasontiling]

hi every1,ive completed the course,done a couple of "private jobs"(kitchen splash back and a floor)sent the cards out thick and fast.anyway ive had a call today to rake out and regrout a bathroom floor.i obviously said yes,but everything ive learnt and done up to now has been a "new" job.ive been sent pics,the grout is solid but stained .any tips please(not DONT DO IT!)as i think this is a "tester" job and i want it to be the bolx.id like to do it by hand or do you recommend a dremel type tool.im also worried about damaging the tiles.the area is about 3m x 4.5m.i havnt even got a clue what to charge.do i seal the new grout? i cant believe this is happening,but its got to be done..ive spent all my dosh on tools with out anticipating for this type of job so things are tight.any advice would be ace..

 

[sstilingservice]

Hi Jasontiling

Just be very carefull that you dont end up with the tiles dropping off the wall . give them a little tap to see if they sound hollow first because you could end up in a nightmare !! I normally just use a grout rake by hand but you can get osolating tools with carbide discs to do it but I preffer to do it by hand, it can be hard work so charge a decent day rate for it and for the blisters you get . and in relation to whether or not to seal aks the customer what they want and add it to the bill . just don't undersell yourself because not may tilers out there will do this most will try and convince there customers to re-tile good luck and by yourself some savlon for the sore bits after.

 

[jimshatner]

hi every1,ive completed the course,done a couple of "private jobs"(kitchen splash back and a floor)sent the cards out thick and fast.anyway ive had a call today to rake out and regrout a bathroom floor.i obviously said yes,but everything ive learnt and done up to now has been a "new" job.ive been sent pics,the grout is solid but stained .any tips please(not DONT DO IT!)as i think this is a "tester" job and i want it to be the bolx.id like to do it by hand or do you recommend a dremel type tool.im also worried about damaging the tiles.the area is about 3m x 4.5m.i havnt even got a clue what to charge.do i seal the new grout? i cant believe this is happening,but its got to be done..ive spent all my dosh on tools with out anticipating for this type of job so things are tight.any advice would be ace..

Yep, I know what you mean. Alas if you're a new domestic tiler then the reality is you'll have to deal with a lot of customers wanting patch up jobs, repairing DIY disasters and jobs that offend your moral beliefs (unscrupulous landlords who just want to cover up the rotten walls), tiling with different coloured/sized tiles meaning you have no chance of matching up the grout lines etc, etc. How I long for a box of nice tiles and a virgin wall!! As a relatively new tiler of 3 years experience, I am still having to take this kind of work from time to time, and it doesn't do much for the concept of job satisfaction. My advice would be to buy time saving tools and don't be frightened to charge a decent rate. If they object then advise them how unpleasant and time consuming it is to do and you'll be happy to offer them free advice if they wish to do it themselves. If you price it according to what would provide you with incentive to do it then if they aren't prepared to pay it, you are saved from a miserable day or so, if they accept then you are quids in. If they get a cheaper tiler in then he's gonna have a miserable time of it for little reward.

To that end, I use a one of the Oscillating tools mentioned by a previous tiler and it does the job and saves a lot of grief (wear a dust mask though and cover everything in sheets and open windows!). Check out the cost of a Fein Multimaster, with a tilers kit (attachments for removing old Silicon, adhesive and grout, taking off bottoms of architraves etc). They are sold on www.tradetiler.com If you haven't used this site before, it is a wonder. Your mouth will drool at the possibilities of time saving devices. I have found the Fein Multimaster has paid for itself numerous times over. Factor in the cost of the appropriate attachment into your quote and perhaps use it in conjunction with a grout rake. Go steady though and it might be worth warning the customer that the glaze of the tiles are likely to sustain a little damage around the joints and that perhaps they ought to consider re-tiling. If they still want you to give it a go then at least they have been warned.

Other time saving devices that I wouldn't be without now:

A chisel attachment on my sds chuck drill. I have spent days chiseling off tiles that now come off in seconds.

A washboy has also saved me lots of numb hands from squeezing out sponges.

Good luck. Let me know how it goes and if you find a better/cheaper/quicker way of doing it.

Jim

 

[cripo]

hi can anyone show me some pics on how to get my cuts inside a window diamond and sraight set.thanks cripo :huh2:

 

[rickieismad15]

Hi there everybody. Thought joining the forum would be a brilliant way to get information and start to get a bit of a knowledge and network of people. Im 20 years old, currently going on some tiling courses and starting my own business. Well i hope to anyway. I| know i sound young but i know i have the drive to succeed. So to me thats all that matters. Look forward to talking to you all in the forums!!!