hi. 1st post on the forum so excuse a similar question posed by many before. Has anybody been on an 8 week 'Master Tiling Course' and if so please comment on it. Are 8 week courses in anybody's opinion too long/too expensive or a good introduction and basis for a new career in tiling albeit in Australia early next year when i finally get there!! Currently a shopfitter/joiner but looking to tiling as a new trade downunder.

hello stevo mate ....good luck with your chosen new career....................dave..

Steveo ive been on this course, if its the same one.

Maybe take this off line given Chase and NETT advertise on here as it may be againt the rules to discuss.

Can anyone from the forum advise?

you can discuss courses no probs....without putting links in tho......dave..

ok thanks dave. so Holohana, when did u do the course over in Hainault. i had a look over there today and was impressed. any faults with it or not?

trying to post response but wont accept it!
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Hi Steveo, I did the course beginning of last year and started up on my own 1st April 06.

I found the course was more expensive and longer than others however I believe that the more tiles you physically practice putting on walls and floors is they key to all of this, after all practice makes perfect and im sure everyone on these forums agrees.

Im sure the skills, methods and advice that the likes of Chase and North East Tiling Schools are as good as the Master Tiling School but how many actual installations i.e. Bathroom/Kitchens do you do and how many m2 so you actually fix and grout?

I did well over 125m2 which included two kitchens with mock cupboards to go round and plugs etc. Floors were done including borders, geometric, 45 degree and brick bond. 2 bathrooms and a shop front as well as pier ends or double trimming if you like. Tiling round obstacles and windows plus reveals. Toilets were also covered and urinals as well oh and Underfloor heating was laid on Ditra matting (flexible matting to allow for expansion). Oh yeah did a shower cubicle and tray including the falls!

Demos from key suppliers including BAl and Karl Dahm as well as hands on plastering sessions.
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Basically im sure all courses are much of a muchness and will provide you with the basics to get going, set out a room in the right way that the room will allow i.e. how to take in all obstacles and the business side of things i.e. registering as self employed to marketing yourself.

As I said practice makes perfect and in reality how many tiles can you lay in a week long course or even 4 week course? Id say not enough to be confident to go to a customers house and charge them for a professional job whereas after 8 weeks you would be more confident and feel happier in yourself doing that, im my opinion.

The course also included a tool kit which bar a tile cutter and wet saw was enough to allow you to really work!
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Be interesting to hear any comments from Chase or NETT?

Let us know what you decide Steveo, where abouts in the country are you?

That course does sound very good and covers everything,I did a weeks course at NETT and am now doing very well and my customer feedback is excellent.
Its very true the more you do the more confident,better and quicker you'll be but why spend a fortune practising in a teaching enviroment when you could be tiling your own house top to toe,thats what I did then I did nearly all my mums aswell and I bet it cost alot less than doing an 8 week course.I personally could not afford to pay out all that while not earning anything for 2 months.
I suppose its each to there own the course you mentioned does sound very good,but I think it just depends on your confidence levels.

The Tiling Courses Feedback forum has been online for over a year now and has some really decent comments on the good training centres.

http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/tiling-courses-feedback/

If a training centre isn't listed here there's a good chance it's not worth booking on or is too new to dare and trust your future with. In my opinion.

I'd only book with a tiling course with good feedback here: http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/tiling-courses-feedback/ or one that's bigged up here: Tiling Courses | Wall Tiling Courses | Floor Tiling Courses UK

Ive been tiling for about 12 years now and im stil learning on every job, 8 weeks is probably good, but i dont think you learn as much unless your out there doin it. You can learn probably all the knowledge you need on this site, the rest is just 'time-served' go for it, feel the fear and do it anyway...

Nice words matey.

i'm over in Egham, Surrey and so the nearest dedicated tiling courses/centres i've found are either PTS, Harlow or MTS, Hainault. Had a look at both centres on Friday and was impressed by both. Your right in saying practice makes perfect and also gives you a tad more confidence, so a longer course can help in that i guess. As i'm moving to Oz early next year, i just want a really good grounding and understanding of the trade and therefore the confidence to hit Sydney running...... after i'm over the jetlag and settled in I won't have the time to practice at home or out on paying customers after i've completed a course so that's why i'm feeling towards a longer course at the end of this year. Just need to save the pennies!!!

I get asked all the time if i do longer courses, i choose not to because i think the skills can be taught in a short time, everything after that is repertition, All training centres are faulse enviroments and can only teach you so much, as said above the real learning doesnt start until you get out in the real world, weather you spend a week, 4 weeks, 10 weeks or 2 years a college you will still be craping yourself when you go to do the first few jobs on your own. As long as you learn how to cut shapes correctly , fix tiles correctly and learn all about adhesives and preperation methods, take your time and learn out in the field getting paid. Dont just ask the training centre about tiling ask about the business advice they offer, the tiling skills are no good if you cannot get the jobs in the first place, too many people act like a tradesmen rather than a businessman. The TILER that acts like a businessman as well will make twice the money than the tiler who does'nt. Go back to the centres arround you and ask what advice they give on the business side as well,, make your mind up from there.

Some good points there Darren. Have you thought about doing a 'six months later' sort of course where delegates could come back for a refresher, check everything they do is up to scratch and then maybe learn some more advanced subjects too?

hi mate welcome to the forums , as darren says get paid for learning out in the real world i run as a business 1st a tiler second last week a job came up a conservatorie made £200 befor i put a tile down ,

Originally Posted by steveo

hi. 1st post on the forum so excuse a similar question posed by many before. Has anybody been on an 8 week 'Master Tiling Course' and if so please comment on it. Are 8 week courses in anybody's opinion too long/too expensive or a good introduction and basis for a new career in tiling albeit in Australia early next year when i finally get there!! Currently a shopfitter/joiner but looking to tiling as a new trade downunder.

Best of luck Stevo

You listened well Steve, was it your commission on the tile and adhesive sales, Like i said running a business is about making money, you price for the tiling job to fix and all the extras you can get out of it.
Glad your doing OK.

yep just as you told us on the course ,

thanks for all the advice guys. will get in contact with the centres again and ask a few more questions. both centres' literature states they teach/advise on business start-up etc... and that is sooo important...as long as it's good!! it's never easy choosing the right course/centre but i'm sure which ever i do, i'll have no complaints!!!!!