G
Gazzer
Now here is an idea.
For £1500 -£2000 the newbie gives me the money and for the next 5 weeks I take him/her with me to work...He/she learns.
How to get up in the morning by waiting at the roadside at the required time....usually 7am -7.30am. If he/she isnt there then tough, I go with out him/her...No refund.
He/she learns every job is a different job.
He/she learns Clients, Other trades, site agents can be a PITA
He/she learns when you get to the job , other trades may already be there and you have to jostle for space.
He/she learns that the tiles and other materials that are on the van need to be brought into the area and stacked neatly and that the customers home is to be respected by laying dust sheets in the areas of work.
He/she learns to find power sockets and water supply.
He/she learns that every job is set out individually and to use their eyes for focal points.
He/she learns that preparation is the key to a good job.
He/she learns how to measure areas and allow for tile wastage.
He/she learns about substrates and weight limits for tiling.
He/she learns that standing around with hands in pockets will not teach them anything.
He/she learns how to use a level and laser level.
He/she learns that setting out before fixing the first tile is the way forward. Setting out using a staff with tile and spacer markings will be taught. Until He/she knows where every cut in the room will be and its size no tile fixing will take place.
He/she learns to keep the work area clean.
He/she learns how to mix and apply primer without making a mess.
He/she learns when to wet cut and when to dry cut.
He/she learns which adhesive to use and how to mix it.
He/she learns about trowel sizes.
He/she learns about spacers, wedges and how to install.
He/she learns how to watch and always ask questions if in doubt.
He/she learns about tanking, insulation and ufh.
He/she learns about self levelling and how to read instructions ...And follow them !
He/she learns how to clean the tiling as they work.
He/she learns how to read my mind for what I may need next as so far they are only labouring.
He/she learns that speed is not the point.
He/she learns how to mark tiles and what pencil/wax pencil or felt tip is best and what is not !
He/she learns how to use the Sigma cutters ( as there will be no going back once mastered !)
He/she learns how to mark holes and drill holes with core drills.
He/she learns how to cut out for sockets.
He/she learns about expansion joints and why we have them.
He/she learns my tools are my tools and they will replace them and keep them as clean as they were.
He/she learns that there is not a set knocking off time, you work either to completion or to a good stopping point.
He/she learns that after the 1st day tiling isnt as easy as the books/tv tell you
He/she learns that tomorrow is a whole new ball game.
He/she learns while sitting at home after the first week that Tiles are heavy, Adhesive is dusty as is grout...then its messy on your hands. Adhesive becomes part of your hands and seems impossible to move ( dont worry it will move when you are grouting the next day). They learn about pin hole wear throughs on the ends of their fingers and how rough their hands are. They now know why I said wear gloves ! They will find themselves occasionally rubbing their knees and that's why I said wear kneepads.
He/she learns that just when they think they know it all , we start all over on a new job.
He/she learns that this is the real world of tiling and not a mock set up. At least then they can be prepared!
For £1500 -£2000 the newbie gives me the money and for the next 5 weeks I take him/her with me to work...He/she learns.
How to get up in the morning by waiting at the roadside at the required time....usually 7am -7.30am. If he/she isnt there then tough, I go with out him/her...No refund.
He/she learns every job is a different job.
He/she learns Clients, Other trades, site agents can be a PITA
He/she learns when you get to the job , other trades may already be there and you have to jostle for space.
He/she learns that the tiles and other materials that are on the van need to be brought into the area and stacked neatly and that the customers home is to be respected by laying dust sheets in the areas of work.
He/she learns to find power sockets and water supply.
He/she learns that every job is set out individually and to use their eyes for focal points.
He/she learns that preparation is the key to a good job.
He/she learns how to measure areas and allow for tile wastage.
He/she learns about substrates and weight limits for tiling.
He/she learns that standing around with hands in pockets will not teach them anything.
He/she learns how to use a level and laser level.
He/she learns that setting out before fixing the first tile is the way forward. Setting out using a staff with tile and spacer markings will be taught. Until He/she knows where every cut in the room will be and its size no tile fixing will take place.
He/she learns to keep the work area clean.
He/she learns how to mix and apply primer without making a mess.
He/she learns when to wet cut and when to dry cut.
He/she learns which adhesive to use and how to mix it.
He/she learns about trowel sizes.
He/she learns about spacers, wedges and how to install.
He/she learns how to watch and always ask questions if in doubt.
He/she learns about tanking, insulation and ufh.
He/she learns about self levelling and how to read instructions ...And follow them !
He/she learns how to clean the tiling as they work.
He/she learns how to read my mind for what I may need next as so far they are only labouring.
He/she learns that speed is not the point.
He/she learns how to mark tiles and what pencil/wax pencil or felt tip is best and what is not !
He/she learns how to use the Sigma cutters ( as there will be no going back once mastered !)
He/she learns how to mark holes and drill holes with core drills.
He/she learns how to cut out for sockets.
He/she learns about expansion joints and why we have them.
He/she learns my tools are my tools and they will replace them and keep them as clean as they were.
He/she learns that there is not a set knocking off time, you work either to completion or to a good stopping point.
He/she learns that after the 1st day tiling isnt as easy as the books/tv tell you
He/she learns that tomorrow is a whole new ball game.
He/she learns while sitting at home after the first week that Tiles are heavy, Adhesive is dusty as is grout...then its messy on your hands. Adhesive becomes part of your hands and seems impossible to move ( dont worry it will move when you are grouting the next day). They learn about pin hole wear throughs on the ends of their fingers and how rough their hands are. They now know why I said wear gloves ! They will find themselves occasionally rubbing their knees and that's why I said wear kneepads.
He/she learns that just when they think they know it all , we start all over on a new job.
He/she learns that this is the real world of tiling and not a mock set up. At least then they can be prepared!
