Note for DIYers in my sig, and 'Established Tilers' required!

[Prem Tiler]

Now I've no hope but now i have something to aspire to. I'd like to say chris.tiling is very well know in Bournemouth and Poole and recommended by pretty much all the tile shops and round here there are loads, and a few builders merchants. I think the whole idea of this tag is a great one and as some one mentioned it will separate pro tilers and the builders/plumbers/chippy's/electricians/butchers/candle stick makers and chicken breeders but I personally dont think you need to have been tiling for 100 years to be at the top of your game. just established as a professional full time working tiler

 

[mikethetile]

Now I've no hope but now i have something to aspire to. I'd like to say chris.tiling is very well know in Bournemouth and Poole and recommended by pretty much all the tile shops and round here there are loads, and a few builders merchants. I think the whole idea of this tag is a great one and as some one mentioned it will separate pro tilers and the builders/plumbers/chippy's/electricians/butchers/candle stick makers and chicken breeders but I personally dont think you need to have been tiling for 100 years to be at the top of your game. just established as a professional full time working tiler

you need to be carefull making these statements, when someone masters their trade and then adds further trades they strive to bring the following trades to the same standard as their original trade

they reckon its about four years to learn a trade and then about ten years to master it

learning additional trades extends these times as you are learning a broader range of skills but at the same time a lot of skills transfer between the trades

its a life time of learning and most of us learn daily

those of us that have learnt want to pass our knowledge and skills on as those who taught us have done

despite being a window cleaner you have been encouraged by all on this forum to tile and to continue to tile

to the best of my knowledge no one has ever suggested that a window cleaner shouldnt be tiling, in fact i believe it to be the opposite

im sorry to have a go mate

keep your head down and concentrate on honing your tiling skills

i got into tiling as a kitchen fitter who couldnt find a tiler that could tile to my standards.............so i learnt to tile

mike

 

[Prem Tiler]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend any one and a good trades man that is a master in the trades he offers is a good thing but there are many who are at some would say a jack of all trades. you mike are clearly passionate about what you do and without personally witnessing the standard of your work am sure you excel in what ever your chosen field maybe. I was silly to word it like I did, what I should of said is maybe there should be more than one type of tag up for offer. maybe an Established Tiler and an Established fitter tag. that way a guest wishing to get info can see those who are tilers and those who offer other services with recognised exsperiance in the field.

you gave a time scale as to how long an individual should be working in there chosen field before they are a master in there trade but I've seen guys who have been tiling for well over the 10 years you say using out dated methods that many tilers frown upon like p.v.a priming. It is no way is it my place to pic holes in some one else's practices but there are many old timers who dont fit the 'master trades man' criteria and have merely plodded along in there job. I know because I see them every day as I'm sure you have.

Your right mate every one have been very helpful and as you said encouraged me to tile knowing that my reasons for doing so are very diffrent to every on elses.

oh and please dont tell me to keep my head down.

 

[DHTiling]

Just to add..this is a tilers forum...so tilers tags are handed out....if you multi trade , so be it, but no other trade tags will be used or we will be over run with loads of tags and then it gets confusing.....

 

[mikethetile]

ok mate i wont tell you to keep your head down but i will tell you to concentrate on honing your skills and learning the trade inside out

anyone who can go out and build a successfull window cleaning round can do the same with tiling, the difference being that you have to win every job in tiling

im not picking on you , i give the same advice to anyone who i believe has got what is needed to get on in this game. if i didnt believe you had the makings of a first rate tiler and tradesman i wouldnt waste my time

mike

 

[Rob Z]

PT

After looking at your website, I can see you are on top of your game business-wise. You'll achieve the same success with your tile business, I'm sure.

As for multi-trades, I first was a carpenter, and got into the tile trade in 1990 as a fluke (thanks to the US Secret Service-but that is a story for another day :smilewinkgrin: ). Many of the skills used in wordworking and carpentry carry over into tile setting and vice-versa.

I think that many good tradesman have the inate skills to work in another trade, if they put their mind to it.

I'd rather teach a good tile setter to build bookcases than a medicocre carpenter that has a so-so attitude.

 

[DHTiling]

How that is so true Rob.... i came from the carpentry side into tiling as well...:smilewinkgrin:, and errrrrrrr the same year as you as well i got into tiling..ffs this is uncanny...and we are about the same age...:yikes:

 

[Prem Tiler]

cheers mike.

I'm learning how hard it is to tile for a full time living. yes ive picked up a few jobs but if I had to feed a family on it we would all look like posh spice!

I'm really lucky because as you could say after nearly 9 years window cleaning I really am a master window cleaner and have the luxury to turn down work and wont work further than 5 miles from my house.

when I was in the army there were lots of guys who banged on about time served. most of which were crap solders that hadn't been promoted but still throw there weight around like they had a god given right to purely because they had been born earlier.

I've not seen any of this on here and just hope it stays this way. Its such a friendly site I'm glad I found it!!

 

[mikethetile]

Just to add..this is a tilers forum...so tilers tags are handed out....if you multi trade , so be it, but no other trade tags will be used...

hi dave

im not looking for a non tiling tag

i come on here to keep up with tiling practices

im getting a bit tired of the side swipes at carpenters who also tile

ive been given a digital camera so i can get my work onto the internet.

so thats the answer, picking up a cardreader tomorrow and then i need to get around some recent jobs and take some pics

i shall post some pics of my work in due course

 

[DHTiling]

im getting a bit tired of the side swipes at carpenters who also tile

If you see a post that is offensive to you then please let us know...After all we want members to feel at ease on here...

 

[Prem Tiler]

mike I hope the side swipe comment wasn't aimed at mine. surely you can see it was meant as a joke.

I dont do bitchy. i've got goolies:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Rob Z]

How that is so true Rob.... i came from the carpentry side into tiling as well...:smilewinkgrin:, and errrrrrrr the same year as you as well i got into tiling..ffs this is uncanny...and we are about the same age...:yikes:

FFS is right!

 

[mikethetile]

i apoligise for last night

im getting a bit grumpy and over sensitive

ive priced stacks of work recently and got very little of it

i have cut my costs to the bone and taken a pay cut and im still too expensive for some people

one guy said .............i will pay you half that.........my reply was which half are you going to pay the materials or the labour............needless to say i wont be doing that one

so im going to chill this weekend and start looking again monday

mike

 

[Prem Tiler]

mike, It's a huge boat mate and almost every one is aboard. some will sail the storm taking what good from it they can waiting for the calm to come again and some will jump overboard hoping to find safe land else where. but the only good thing is I dont think it is the titanic. I dont think our boat will sink. try getting your self a new work shirt made up with your phone number printed on the back ind get your self round at your local DIY stores. some one is bound to see you and take your number down. when I started out in my other trade it did wonders. I wore them everywhere. just be careful coz you will get a few women calling so make sure the Mrs ain't the jealous type

 

[Rad2474]

I only tile part-time does that qualify me for a tag?