Thinking about starting tiling

[chris_h]

HI all

Well I shall introuce myself first, I am Chris, aged 20 and from the Manchester area.
As the title says, I am thinking about becoming a tiler! I did my work experience as a tilers assitant (mixing, cutting, grouting and making the brew) for a relative and did it on and off for 2 years, say, once a month. That was before I moved on at looking at a different career path before the height of the credit crunch hit.

Now we are in the present, I have realised that tiling is actually enjoyable, in fact, the most rewarding job I have done to date, which is why I wish to become the tiler, rather than his assitant.

The only problem is, where to start. I am aware I need some dosh sat around to provide myself with a decent training course, equipment, marketing and some new wheels. All I have stashed away is 4 grand, which is not impossible to do, but leaves me little left for a rainy day.

To those experienced tilers and those in the know;
Is there a good training centre in the North West? or should I go further, to say, NETT?
How much is a good amount to get started with?

I am aware that the tiling is easy, selling yourself is the key. I have many useful contacts who could sell my case, and I would even do some work for free to start with!

Cheers all

Chris

 

[Del W]

Welcome to TF. Cant help you with training in your part of the world.
Get plenty of hands on work with a local tiler if possible before you go all in as self employed. Its tough out there at the moment.

"I am aware that the tiling is easy " Err, no its not.

Good luck.

 

[suave]

welcome! easy? :yikes::yikes::yikes:

 

[Rich]

HI all

Well I shall introuce myself first, I am Chris, aged 20 and from the Manchester area.
As the title says, I am thinking about becoming a tiler! I did my work experience as a tilers assitant (mixing, cutting, grouting and making the brew) for a relative and did it on and off for 2 years, say, once a month. That was before I moved on at looking at a different career path before the height of the credit crunch hit.

Now we are in the present, I have realised that tiling is actually enjoyable, in fact, the most rewarding job I have done to date, which is why I wish to become the tiler, rather than his assitant.

The only problem is, where to start. I am aware I need some dosh sat around to provide myself with a decent training course, equipment, marketing and some new wheels. All I have stashed away is 4 grand, which is not impossible to do, but leaves me little left for a rainy day.

To those experienced tilers and those in the know;
Is there a good training centre in the North West? or should I go further, to say, NETT?
How much is a good amount to get started with?

I am aware that the tiling is easy, selling yourself is the key. I have many useful contacts who could sell my case, and I would even do some work for free to start with!

Cheers all

Chris

:lol: Got a fair bit to learn Im guessing. Tiling is a piece of cake to do badly, incredibly hard to do well (there is more to tiling than miking it look pretty). I cant be much help regarding a course but might be worth looking at our sponsors.

Do your course and your first job and then re read the easy comment.

If you do a search on here, there are loads of threads about people starting up, spend a few hours on here swatting up.

Oh and welcome to the forum.

 

[chris_h]

Pardon me🙂 what I meant was compared to finding JOBS in todays climate, tiling is the easy part. Of course if you want to do a good job and dont rush it can be tough. Just to clear that up...

I will be looking into this more depth over the coming weeks, looking a training providers and people I could work with.

 

[suave]

as nick knowles said any old fool can tile :lol::lol::lol:

 

[DHTiling]

Hello Chris and welcome..

You will not go wrong by using NETT..

 

[Ian]

Welcome along

 

[yogi19]

hello,

i think 4grand is enough to get you started, i did a course which set me baack about 700 this was a two week course. at the end they say they help you train towards an nvq2 at the end of it not heard much on that front but a good course not sure if they do training up your end though. once youve got all your tools and van sorted like you said its about getting your name out there its hard to build a good reputation but easy to get a bad one ! ! ! just go round the big sites round your way and ask for the tiling contractors numbers and give em a ring see if they can help you get some straight forward work to start off with.

All the best though

 

[carlito]

Welcome. Just finishing NVQ and setting up as well. 4 G Should be good to set you up. Ur in the right place for advice anyhow. Gud luck buddy!

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi and:welcome: Nick Knowles is a dirty name on this forum, tiling is soooo easy, if you want to appear on TF hall of shame.

In this very tricky climate, there are some very highly skilled people finding things hard. I would not want to be starting out now.

It is so easy to listen to the sales pitch of the people who promise the earth with a new career in tiling. I would advise anyone thinking of going down this route to read this months issue of Tile & Stone Journal, a guy called Alan Reynolds. This guy is a pro, (old school) like me. He makes a lot of sense imo

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome..