Trade Skills 4U - West Sussex - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

mjmcmil · 22-11-2007

Hello All

It is only after getting to look around the tilers forum that i have been able to see previous details on Tradeskills4U.

Having not so long ago completed a couple of weeks training i feel that i am in a pretty good position to give my own (personal) opinion on what did or did not happen.

At the end of the course i left a feedback sheet that i had completed stating that i thought the training was good and it is only a little while after that i believe you really get to analyse an experience.

Now, although the primary instructor for the tiling is a great guy and clearly knows his stuff there are some areas of concern that have been left on me now that my training has finished.
I saw a comment from someone that described the training as being basic. I would have to agree with this comment and go further to describe it as repetitive and limited in scope.
Despite spending 2 weeks at the centre i was only shown how to deal with ceramic tiles, except a brief (no more than 5mins) practice at cutting off-cuts of natural stone.

The basic layout's expected with ceramic tiles were completed within a bay and then the same on a window, a splashback and finally a shower unit.
This included some element of diagonal pattern.

I have since seen on other sites with other training providers that despite their courses being shorter there is an element of border work, pattern settin etc. I feel cheated on this account and thoroughly dissapointed. By the end of week 2 i was having to find the trainer and ask what i could do now, and i was in turn asked 'what would you like to do?'

I came in to th etraining centre daily armed with questions about things that i felt had been missed after looking through the forum. None of this was baffling stuff and i am certainly not a 'smart-ass' or anything. An example of this being after me completing a shower unit, i discovered myself on here about waterproofing etc. I then raised it with the trainer and it was then explained to me.
There was no pro-activeness of any sort.

By the end of the course there were people on week 1, people on week 2 and people on week 3 all together being shown the same thing. There may well have been but i got the impression that there was no solid structure to the teaching.

That said, the staff were approachable and helped whenever requested.

I do feel dissapointed and cheated and i shall be spending more money to attend another centre that i have seen clearly by posts can provide this in a shorter time..... I will be heading to the land of 'South Shields' i think......

I know that some may say that i should have looked about some more, and i would like to say that i did indeed look about and i even heard good reviews about the place.

Ah well, live and learn!!

billy123 · 25-11-2007

hi there,
i also done basic course at tradeskills,i can agree with most things said about the course.i thought the instructor was excellent but like others i found it a bit unsettling hat there was a lack of hand outs,however its well worth remembering that it isnt till your out there in the big bad world that you start learning.fortunately for me i already had a range of skills[plastering/ames taping/artexing/cornice fixing]which gave me some understanding of tiling with adhesives and fixing.i would have to say that your never finished learning and forums like these are doing an excellent job in helping others.so you dig in there and keep trying

Dicko1973 · 25-11-2007

You won't go far wrong going to south sheilds finished my course two weeks ago.
The confidence you will come away with is great.

Well worth the money.

**Dan** · 29-01-2008

Trade Skills 4U - West Sussex

Sean Kelly · 06-04-2008

TRADESKILLS4U Crawley.
There is a choice of a 1 week, 2 week or 4 week tiling course. See their website for details.
Booking the course was hassle free and it only took a phone call. I opted for the 4 week professionals course as I had chosen tiling as my new career. A confirmation letter arrived in the post a few days after booking. It was nothing special, it just said I was booked on the course. It gave directions and told me to bring a notebook, pens, work clothing and boots. Doors open at 08:30. That was it. For £1500 I expected a little more!
Doors open at 08:30 not a minute before. If you are driving, then you need to get there before 08:00 to get a chance of getting a parking space. Induction takes place every Monday for the new trainees. The course then starts at 09:00 and finishes at 16:00. There is a lunch break and 2 tea breaks during the day. The Tiling course instructor (Shaun) explains briefly what we are going to do over the next 1,2 or 4 weeks. Then it's straight into marking, scoring and cutting tiles using Rubi TS-40's Then we learn how to measure & mark up walls & floors. Mix adhesive & grout, lay wall & floor tiles using normal pattern, diamond & brick patterns. We learn how to use many tools inc wet cutters. We learn how to tile around a window and around a toilet. We tile & grout showers and kitchens, and we learned how to cut around electric sockets. We received a very worthwhile and informative demonstration from BAL. This included the difference between White, Blue & Green star adhesives. There was also a demo on Epoxy grouting and Tanking. We learned how to cut trim using trim cutters. However, I now use a Homelux mitre box (£4.99 from Homebase. Then I saw the same box for £2.99 in Topps !!! The first week of the course is demanding on the body. I would recommend buying 'tool trousers' (with built in knee pads). Or you could just buy knee pads. There is a lot of physical work because the tiles you put on the wall/floor have to come off the wall/floor so you can put them up again! My course took place in Jan'08. It was pretty cold in the warehouse, which is shared with plasters, brick layers and electricians. However, you soon warm up when you are scraping tiles off the wall and lugging them out to the skip. We used 'training' adhesive which stays wet for months. However, it still has enough adhesion to stick a tile to the wall. We learn about different types of tile, natural stone etc. We learn how to measure and cut holes for pipes etc. We learned about grouting and using a Karl Dham Washboy. Shaun is constantly keeping an eye on everyone and believe me he has eyes on the back of his head. He does not miss a trick. Be warned, do not throw away spacers. Do not loose the lid of your felt pen. Do not throw away good tiles. The 4 weekers get a lesson (half a day) on plastering which was great. We also used self levelling compound and a bit of screeding and underfloor heating. We learned so much in the first week that you do tend to forget a little on the 2nd and 3rd week. However, Shaun was always on hand to ask questions and to put you back in the right direction. Everyone on the course has paid good money to be there, the 4 weekers gel together and we all help each other out. Every day before home we have to clear our work areas and tools. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to start early and leave late and have no lunch. Unfortunately this was not allowed. For the money I paid I believe it was well worth it. I wish I could have stayed on the course longer, but now I am good enough to tile the world! My Parents recently had a couple of rooms tiled. I found fault with the work and got my Mum to get the guy back and put it right. My background was IT, but I have enough skills to do DIY around the house. I believe I am now a trained tiler, the only thing I lack is speed. I have also used this Tilers Forum to gain further valuable knowledge and tips. If you want further info on the course I attended then please feel free and ask. So, 2 months on and what am I doing? Tiling for Friends and Family at the mo. I also tiled my own kitchen which has given it a new lease of life. Friends & family were very pleased with the work i've done. I've given my cards to a builder and a painter/decorator & an electrician who were all impressed with my work. I've been to all the tile/bathroom/kitchen showrooms in the area, but I have not received a single call. I got a call from a guy that picked up a card at Topps Tiles, but he wanted a quote over the phone. Against my principles (and advice on this forum) I gave him a quote. I rang him up a few days later to find out what he thought, and he said I was too expensive! I asked him what he paid and he told me. However, he had to pay for the materials. I worked out that he would have ended up paying more than I quoted. Oh well......his loss. I am very critical about my work, but can honestly say that the tiling I have done so far is first class. It just takes me twice as long to do! I price per job, not how long it takes me. My last job (for a friend) worked out at £25 a day!!! but the experience gained is worth an awful lot more. I hope you fond this review interesting. Cheers Sean

mickpjack · 27-06-2008

I attended the one week tiling course in July '07. I had done quite a bit of tiling for myself in the past, and been complemented on my work, but before i offered my services to others i wanted to be sure that i was doing it correctly. I soon realised that i had plenty to learn!

The course is basic but then there were some people on the course who had never attempted tiling before. This was not a problem for me as i wanted to learn from scratch too. I was surprised how little iknew about setting-out for example.

Shaun the tutor is a great bloke, even for a Chelski supporter, and is very knowledgeable on the subject & always ready to answer questions. As i was quicker than most on the course, i could spend time talking about more advanced subjects with him which i found a big help.

The one week course covers everything that you need to know if you want to carry out simple tiling in bathrooms, kitchens, floors etc. on your own property of if you has a business developing/converting flats & houses. If you want to use porcelain etc. then more training & advice would be needed.

The course does not turn you into a professional tiler ready to go out into the big scary world of porcelain, mosaics etc. but i have done a few jobs now & all of my customers have been happy,

P.S. I also did the one week plastering course at Trade Skills 4U and that was excellent although the tutor, Colin, has since left.

CarlBennett · 12-07-2008

Thanks form your feedback guys. It's the only way we can improve our service.

Carl Bennett
Director TS4U

uktiling · 29-07-2008

I have just completed a two week tiling course with Tradeskills4U and have to say I was more than happy.

Starting as someone who has never layed a tile I felt the course was informative and the instructors, Shaun and Bert, were very good in their approach to training.

I feel confident to undertake my own kitchen and bathroom now and have some jobs for friends an family. After I heve completed them I will feel confident to look for more tiling jobs and advertise my services - as with all things time and practice make you better and I never expected to be laying tiles ten to the dozen after two weeks and to be 100% confident in my ability the same way that someone with 10yrs experience would be.

All in all a good course and thanks to Bert and Shaun.

Gary