Just finished my tiling course at the elite school of plastering in manchester. The course was ok but could have been better. I left a review in the tile course section if anyone is interested in reading it.

Will do jag, but the course is only the start of your learning.

Here are some pictures of a wall and part of a floor i tiled on the course.

Originally Posted by faithhealer

Will do jag, but the course is only the start of your learning.

yeh i know, to be honest i found it a lot harder than i thought it would be, but i am going to practice on my own kitchen and do some work for a few friends before i look for proper work.

Like Faith says now you'll start to learn,just take your time think about what your doing and you'll be ok.

good luck mate dont worry if you feel your a little out of your depth especially at 1st, I'd like to here from some one who was 100% confident on there 1st job.

My pooper was a flutter to say the least but it gets easier and your confidence grows.

There was a guy on my course who pulled out in week 6 and decided it was not for him purely because he felt he was too slow and would never make a good living at it. He made a big mistake if you ask me. As long as you have a thirst to learn and are persistent you will succeed. I promise.

I will say your training establishment looks a bloody mess and I'm not overly keen on the setting out method around that window I think they should of taught you how to finished quartering a tile on the corners of the recess. but thats just my 2 penny's worth.

As Prem Tiler says, re the window, you will never come across a window like that, they should have made it difficult for you. Did they (he) show you how to 'set out' a room? ie work out where every cut is going to be before you lay a tile?

Originally Posted by faithhealer

As Prem Tiler says, re the window, you will never come across a window like that, they should have made it difficult for you. Did they (he) show you how to 'set out' a room? ie work out where every cut is going to be before you lay a tile?

the told me to find the centre of a wall (if there isnt a window there) and then plan out to see what your 'best cut' would be at the end of the wall and either place your first tile at the edge of the centre line or place your tile in the middle of the centre line.

Originally Posted by Prem Tiler

good luck mate dont worry if you feel your a little out of your depth especially at 1st, I'd like to here from some one who was 100% confident on there 1st job.

My pooper was a flutter to say the least but it gets easier and your confidence grows.

There was a guy on my course who pulled out in week 6 and decided it was not for him purely because he felt he was too slow and would never make a good living at it. He made a big mistake if you ask me. As long as you have a thirst to learn and are persistent you will succeed. I promise.

I will say your training establishment looks a bloody mess and I'm not overly keen on the setting out method around that window I think they should of taught you how to finished quartering a tile on the corners of the recess. but thats just my 2 penny's worth.

yeh the training they gave me wasn't that great in my opinion, but it taught me how to put tiles on the wall, i will just have to figure the rest out over time.

Originally Posted by jag000

the told me to find the centre of a wall (if there isnt a window there) and then plan out to see what your 'best cut' would be at the end of the wall and either place your first tile at the edge of the centre line or place your tile in the middle of the centre line.

Not good if you ask me. How long was the course? They should be showing you what to do not asking you to work it out for your self IMO.

Originally Posted by jag000

the told me to find the centre of a wall (if there isnt a window there) and then plan out to see what your 'best cut' would be at the end of the wall and either place your first tile at the edge of the centre line or place your tile in the middle of the centre line.

What about height wise, compensating for wonky floors and ceilings?

Originally Posted by faithhealer

What about height wise, compensating for wonky floors and ceilings?

i measure downwards to get a good cut at the floor and at the point of the cut i nailed some batons into the wall using a spirit level to make sure it was the same all the way along, then i took the baton as the starting point and worked upwards from there. when i reached the top i took the batons off and did the cuts near the floor.

Have a read of this for starters mate
All the questions I asked when i joined - Answered

This is where I did my tiling course, and afterwards I thought it was brilliant, but that was only because I only really knew what they had told me about tiling on the 4 day course.
Then within a few days I found this forum, and after only an hour reading through random threads that I came to the conclusion that most of what I had been "taught" on the course was near enough plain wrong, though I did enjoy the course as I was doing it.

From the pic's you have posted the course looks very much the same as the first course I do. Could not believe the difference when I went to N.E.T.T. The difference between a diy and a professinal training course.
If I knew any thing about computers I would post the pic's from my first 5 day course. They didn't even know how to fit trims around a window.

agree with all that has been said

should have been shown setting out properly, my course went over this time and time again

all our windows,baths,sinks and toilets were wonky and awkward.

That said the tiling looks great

Enjoy i am (will always be learning)

Andy

Hi guys,

Just reading over this thread, I'm about to change career and become the first female tiler i know (!) but it concerns me that people seem to be taught different 'best' ways to set out or start the job (apologies if my terms are incorrect).

I've only spoke to 2 tilers so far and they both said they were told a different way to the other.

So my question is, is there a specific right or best way to start a job?

Thanks in advance for any advice......

There are different methods of setting out, some basic and some advanced, we teach the advanced one, you will know where every cut in the bathroom will be in under 10 mins before even putting the first tile on the wall, cannot speak for other centre methods but everyone who has been on our course, and there are lots on here will tell you it works perfectly every time, be carefull of the training centres where the tiles are finishing perfectly here there and everywhere, this doesnt happen in the real world, thats why all are units are layed out to test you, everything will be a cut. We have over 4 years of teaching private courses now and and still our feedback is 100% satisfied positive replies, speaks for itself.
Regards
Darren