Re: Chase Tiling Academy - Cannock, Staffordshire

hi,
i'm soon to be starting a 2 week course at Chase, a complete novice hoping to eventually go self-employed. Was impressed by the staff down there, so decided to book with them. I'm both excited and nervous at the same time, i.e. will i be able to take everything in, am i wasting my money, will i be able to tile at all. All these things tend to creep into one's mind, however i'm going with an open mind and a positive attitude. I know nothing of grouts, adhesives or various types of tile, (although i expect ceramic is the most commonly used). Also worried whether i can work out, my maths was never brilliant.
Been reading these forums a lot and the input has been invaluable, one guy worried me a little though. He says he's a pro. tiler of 18 years standing and he thinks these short courses are p*** poor, he reckons his apprentices have tiled faster and done better jobs than guys AND instructors off of these courses. Now i respect what he says, but surely these tiling centres have got to 'deliver', because wouldn't people be sueing the centres if they couldn't tile, after shelling out all that money for training.
I am a mature student, i can't afford to give up my job to do a 2/3 year full time course, so will i learn as much, in such a short space of time? And if i can, why the need to make full time study stretch to 2/3 years?
Just my observations, any comments folks?

Steve

I moved this post to here as it's not feedback. I'll look forward to it's replies and the feedback post from yourself once you've done the course Steve. I'm sure you'll be impressed.

Speed comes with experience and practice, a short course won't give you this. What it will give you, and I speak from experience here, is a thorough inital background to how the job is done. That guys apprentices may have done a "faster/better" job, in his opinion, but not i dare say after only 2 or 4 weeks in the job.

These courses give you enough knowledge to go out and tile most things straight away. What they can't give you is experience of poor substrates, poor tiles awkward customers and other day to day things that you will come across. They are not there to do that.

You should be able to have enough confidence to go out and do a bathroom, kitchen or floor as maybe. You just need the confidence to get in there and do it.

Hi Steve

I am in a similar position to yourself and have about the same knowledge level but find this forum fantastic for the help and information given by everyone and I am in the process of considering where to complete a course as a mature student.
I have the choice of three training providers within a six mile radius, Prof-ITT, Construction Skills, BAL, Chase Tiling approx 35 miles away or NETT 180 miles away which everyone raves about. I am still struggling to decide where to go and spend my money though as I cannot find any reviews on this forum for the first three. Let us know how your course goes.