One For The Newbies - How Do They Get Around Taking On Work Above Their Skill Level?

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Dan

Dan

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They can be completely honest and say they are learning and that's out of their depth.

Or they can blag it and risk screwing a job up with somebody else's money.

They need to be careful though whatever they do. Ideally they need to perhaps pass the work on to an experienced tiler and then labour for them for free or get a small wage or something considering they've passed the work on. Maybe.
 
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O

Old Mod

philrab66 said:
I do occasional tiling when I am asked by customers, I can do it to a reasonable standard but but never tackled anything complicated. I have read loads of posts on here where newbies are going out and quoting for fairly complicated jobs. I was just wondering how these people explain to the customer it is beyond there skill level or what do they say?
Phil.
Click to expand...

Have u a job in mind Phil? :D

I think even experienced fixers find themselves in that predicament!
 
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O

Old Mod

philrab66 said:
No 3 fall nothing lined up just curious. Keep thinking about getting into tiling I do enjoy it but do not have enough experience to make the step. Things like setting out for complicated patterns with borders.
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If you're talking about Geo fixing, then don't even worry about it.
There's only a small percentage of fixers that will take that work on, well if they're experienced! Cos they know it takes a particular skill.
Tbh that kind of work will be a rare request ordinarily.
If u do get one, well what are we here for! :)
Look back through the threads, the forums helped loads of guys tackle Geo!
 
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Wishiwasatoptiler

Wishiwasatoptiler

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I'm a newbie Phil and when I go to quote for work I'm always honest to the customer, id rather explain where I'm at in terms of experience and let them decide, as I got in to the trade to a good job and be in it long term, I don't think lying and blaging through the jobs will keep me in work and in the trade for long, yes I may not get all the work I go for but I won't be a newbie forever. Just like the plastering, two years on I'm very confident I can tackle most situations I come across, but as 3 fall said, this forum will help a lot.
 
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S

Spare Tool

9 years in n I'm still winging it :) learning on every job..
For example done one straight herringbone in that time, was crapping mysel but turned out fine.
The next two floors after this one are both herrings, and one on the eeeek 45, you just gotta use what you do know n crack on, n if you don't know ask someone you trust to give you the heads up and right advice ;) or if all else fails post it on here..haha
 
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M

mattle40

I think the term "fake it till you make it" fits here. I think we've all done it to a point but you've got to be realistic about things. Know where your talent lies.
I'm competent at joinery, but I wouldn't go build somebody a spiral staircase claiming to be one, although I'd happily hang a door or fit a kitchen.
If you find yourself in the middle of quoting a job and feel you're in too deep, just take a minute to think, then be honest about the options. If that means you lose the job, it's still better than having to rip your work back out.
 
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P

philrab66

3_fall said:
If you're talking about Geo fixing, then don't even worry about it.
There's only a small percentage of fixers that will take that work on, well if they're experienced! Cos they know it takes a particular skill.
Tbh that kind of work will be a rare request ordinarily.
If u do get one, well what are we here for! :)
Look back through the threads, the forums helped loads of guys tackle Geo!
Click to expand...

No nothing that complicated, say a herringbone with a border maybe.
 
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P

philrab66

Wishiwasatoptiler said:
I'm a newbie Phil and when I go to quote for work I'm always honest to the customer, id rather explain where I'm at in terms of experience and let them decide, as I got in to the trade to a good job and be in it long term, I don't think lying and blaging through the jobs will keep me in work and in the trade for long, yes I may not get all the work I go for but I won't be a newbie forever. Just like the plastering, two years on I'm very confident I can tackle most situations I come across, but as 3 fall said, this forum will help a lot.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. What would you say you have found hard being a newbie can you share a few things you have come up against even the smallest of things for example not looking at job closely enough when quoting. Do you have a hard time convincing customers for example they need tanking and so on.
Cheers Phil.
 
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S

Spare Tool

p4ulo said:
Most of the time when I do jobs (a rarity nowadays TBH), they are for friends, so I make sure they are aware of my abilities. Having said that, I've done loads of work for people and a few have seen previous jobs so I get enquiries through that...
Herringbone, GEO etc.....now they would freak me right out, but Youtube normally comes good!
Click to expand...
Yeah like that geezer sharing his 'secrets' ;) about tiling on chipboard n pva..haha
 
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O

Old Mod

p4ulo said:
Most of the time when I do jobs (a rarity nowadays TBH), they are for friends, so I make sure they are aware of my abilities. Having said that, I've done loads of work for people and a few have seen previous jobs so I get enquiries through that...
Herringbone, GEO etc.....now they would freak me right out, but Youtube normally comes good!
Click to expand...
YouTube!
Get of this forum this instant! Hahaha ;)
 
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Dan

Dan

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philrab66 said:
Thanks for your reply. What would you say you have found hard being a newbie can you share a few things you have come up against even the smallest of things for example not looking at job closely enough when quoting. Do you have a hard time convincing customers for example they need tanking and so on.
Cheers Phil.
Click to expand...
You read this? A year in the life of a new Tiler.
 
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M

Mr Tiler

Dan said:
You read this? A year in the life of a new Tiler.
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He means the little issues on jobs dan not overall setting up and running of the busines i think??? When your quoting make sure you go through each step of the job and price it all accordingly mate, when you do miss something and it crops up you can either put up and shut up or you can try to fit it in on a revised bill at the end of the job as something you didnt know was going to be needed. I still make mistakes i havnt been doing it long either. Get stuck in a dont rip people off just be honest with customers if you think the jobs too much and they may even ask for a price reduction for you testing your skills ive had it happen myself and i havnt had one person slam the door in my face, once quoted for a builder when i first started out it was metrics in a bathroom but also wanted stone in the porch not even a metre, but i wasnt confident so i called the builder afterwards and told him i wasnt confident with the stone so couldnt take the job. He did the stone and i did the bathroom happy days it always works well as long as your honest.
 
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