Thinking about a new start in tiling

[Colour Republic]

Well done for passing the first hurdle! Don't believe everything you hear you'll learn that from customers too like the 'ohhh do this one for me cheap and I've got loads more work for you'

In my opinion you'll never finish a course and walk straight in to work. What's more you'll only learn the basics in a sterile environment (as you've already hinted). Then to go it alone you've effectively ended your formal training which means learning on the job. which will cost both you and your customers.

Not trying to put you off as you seem to have the right attitude which is a major plus in any industry. Just in reality I think the course then straight in to partnership is flawed

 

[Peter]

Fair play to you for wanting to give it a go but you won't be making any money any time fast. Most busy tilers will have a several builders or tile shops giving them work, and most of the time the only way to get your foot in the door is by their original tiler letting them down and you getting a lucky break. The building trade has a lot of mutual back scratching and friends helping friends so if you're just coming in fresh from a four week course, unless you've got someone who's going to give you work, it'll be difficult to get on your feet through doing the odd domestic job.

To be honest, if I was starting out on a new career at this moment in time I probably wouldn't choose tiling. I love it but it's hard to make much over and above a wage these days and you're either very busy or wondering how you're paying the mortgage.

The other thing worth considering about the partnership is that if you and your mate only get a set of £100 kitchen walls one week, you'll have to give him £50 and then pay another £10 to the taxman.

 

[SussexTiler]

Thank you Dorfer and the best of luck to you too.

Thank you Colour Republic. Some constructive ADVICE, rather than simply pooh-poohing the idea with negative statements.

I actually have another close friend who has been a tiler for years, (now moved into plastering and building jobs). I would hope we could get him to come and give us a hand and advice if we needed on our first few jobs. I think my biggest fear is getting the first few jobs under my belt without problems. I know it is almost inevitable that there will be balls ups somewhere along the way but I can't afford to get a bad reputation from an early blunder due to lack of knowledge. The first few proper jobs will be vital for confidence, reputation and to start a portfolio. A job done badly in the early days would be a nightmare, I figure it will be far harder to repair a bad reputation than to build a non-existing reputation.

A bit of a long shot but anybody has any jobs in the Sussex, Surrey or Kent areas and want a bit of free of labour then please let me know. It would be much appreciated and remembered come the day I ever get overrun with work!

 

[Dorfer]

Whereabouts in Sussex are you?

 

[Brian the Tile]

my opinion on it is this ,if you have a job stick with it you say times are hard in your job ,well im afraid it is also very tough in the tiling trade at the moment and jobs are thin on the ground ,i have now been tiling for just under 40 years and a lot of that self employed and never known it this bad ther is a lot of tilers chasing jobs that have a lot of experience so i would not say a course will do you any good dont want to spoil things for you but i think you should stay with your job save your money and maybe try again if things ever pick up and dont ever believe that kind of money in theese times i was earning more money twenty years ago than now its bad out there

 

[Andy Allen]

you may find after finishing your tiling course you will be very limited on the kind of tiling you will be able to take on, this in turn will have inpact on your earning potential, tiling has move on enormously from when i started, from dealing with just 6x6 basic tiles to dealing with porcelain, natural stone, mosaic, polished porcelain ect, then you have to learn how to prep jobs correctly, flat walls and floors are what we dream of, but rarely see.

if you can get get some experience with another tiler that would be a big step in the right direction and the way i would suggest you go, learning on the job is not a good idea, especially when doing domestic tiling, you will be dealing with customers that have saved hard for there projects and will expect and deserve perfection.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

I must say, I feel sad reading these type of posts. as already been said, so many people think tiling is easy. Believe me it is not, tiling is a highly skilled trade. If anyone thinks they can succeed in this industry after a four week course or four day course., or whatever kind of bloody course, you are deluding yourselves. I am sure the providers of these courses will disagree with me. Sorry I don't give a rats behind. Let us try to get back to reality, Tiling is a trade, a very hard trade, I know this post may get me banned from TF (I hope it doesn't) but I can't help from telling it the way I feel.

Tiling is, always was, and always will be a very highly skilled trade. Sorry if this upsets anyone.

 

[Gazzer]

:hurray::hurray::hurray::hurray::hurray:

I must say, I feel sad reading these type of posts. as already been said, so many people think tiling is easy. Believe me it is not, tiling is a highly skilled trade. If anyone thinks they can succeed in this industry after a four week course or four day course., or whatever kind of bloody course, you are deluding yourselves. I am sure the providers of these courses will disagree with me. Sorry I don't give a rats behind. Let us try to get back to reality, Tiling is a trade, a very hard trade, I know this post may get me banned from TF (I hope it doesn't) but I can't help from telling it the way I feel.

Tiling is, always was, and always will be a very highly skilled trade. Sorry if this upsets anyone.

 

[Andy Allen]

well said phil..

 

[chille]

I must say, I feel sad reading these type of posts. as already been said, so many people think tiling is easy. Believe me it is not, tiling is a highly skilled trade. If anyone thinks they can succeed in this industry after a four week course or four day course., or whatever kind of bloody course, you are deluding yourselves. I am sure the providers of these courses will disagree with me. Sorry I don't give a rats behind. Let us try to get back to reality, Tiling is a trade, a very hard trade, I know this post may get me banned from TF (I hope it doesn't) but I can't help from telling it the way I feel.

Tiling is, always was, and always will be a very highly skilled trade. Sorry if this upsets anyone.

Bang on mate, but I feel sorry for people who sign up for a few weeks course and honestly believe they will suddenly become tilers, perhaps the people offering the courses need to be a bit more honest in their sales pitch