I recently completed a 2 week tiling course and I was wondering what amount of info / practice you should get on a two week course? I am thinking in terms of Substrate prep , what type of adhesives to use on what surfaces, tiling walls, floors, around windows and how to finish, quoting a job and deciding how many tiles / addy and grout are required and what tools etc. Am I expecting too much for a 2 week course?

My course consisted of tiling a 8ft x 6ft wall, bottom half of the wall was straight tile pattern top half was diamond tile pattern, then went on to tiling the gents toilet floor with another student.

Can't say for sure, what course was it that you went on? but I would have said all of the theory for the above, at least the basics of them all, how would they expect you to go into a tiling 'career' if you didn't know

I did a two week course designed to develop the basic skills necessary to become a professional tiler. I have complained to the company and I was wondering what should be the minimum I should of learnt. The reason I am asking is that the course seemed to be unstructured and did not cover anything on adhesives or substrate preparation which surprised me being that the centre is a BAL accredited centre.
I was looking at becoming a professional tiler and as a result of this course I had to turn down two jobs as I am not confident in doing the work, because I do not know how to prep the surfaces.

this is the rub mate

what can you learn in two weeks compared to a four year apprenticeship

I think if you have learnt to set out , trowel, cut and fix tile in two patterns

straight and diamond then you have done well and have the basics

what you need to do know is spend time on here reading and absorbing information on different addys and grouts and start tiling basic splashbacks etc

you cant learn it all in two weeks but its the first step in a lifelong journey of learning and practice

Any questions you have just ask away, we will help you with any problems you come across

Mike thanks I appreciate you cannot learn everything in two weeks, my back ground is engineering and done the 4 yrs apprenticeship then 3 yr degree and have spent the last two yrs training engineers. I have been made redundant and was looking at a career change and start working for myself.
I have done some tiling mainly for myself and family, kitchen splash backs and floors but never had any training. The least I would expect is how to plan and quote a job, basic info on addies i.e. what you can and cannot use on which substrate and the finish to expect. What I did not expect was here is ready mixed training addy here is a wall stick tiles here.

you will learn a lot more with hands on experience,solving problems and akward situations as they arrive and learning from them and the mistakes you will make along the way,what you do know is probably just enough to get you started,i would look at smaller jobs first like kitchen splashbacks and simple straightforward floors gradually building up confidence and ability as you go before attempting anything like stone floors in diamond patterns.

and if you do ever get stuck you are in good hand with the forum as there are people here who have many years of experience and are always willing to help out

Hello mate I used to do break cars before a change off career.

I did a week off a 2 week course (couldnt afford the sceond week)

The first week we tiled a splashback, A bathroom wall (around the bath etc) and a bathroom Floor.We were also taught about adhesives and what to use and where. About mixing grout and adhesive spacing planning out etc etc.

We were also taught about pricing per Sq meter and Day rate this was all in 5 days and id done it all in 4 days. It all soaked in (and im not brightest off bulbs lol) last day i went in to listen about under floor heating i didnt really listen about it though and a accountant came in too speak to us (id left by then)

Second week they were taught about Diamonds and Mosiacs and more.

Hope thats any help

I understand what your saying

I did two years nvq course that didnt go into that, theres a lot more to tiling than meets the eye

you will learn from here, we will advise you, the only thing we cant do is stand beside you and show you how to stick a tile but as you have done that we dont need to

so ask away but there is a ruling on here that we cant discuss pricing in the open forum , you need to be a member of the arms

you get that membership by posting

so as Dom has arready said ask away

Thanks mikebidd that helps, did not do as much as you in 2 weeks. To be honest I feel a bit cheated by the centre and as I do not know how to start a job, what addy to use and what finish to expect and the proper use of trim etc, I am in no position to work for anyone and not sure if what I have done in the past is correct, but then it has not fallen of the wall yet.
I am now looking a paying again, which I cannot really afford, to do another course and am seeing them tomorrow.
I am a bit proud and do not like asking what I think are essentially basic simple questions. I like to figure things out for myself and have been reading this website for a few weeks.

dont worry about asking questions, we all learnt sometime

speak to danny @ diamond training before paying for another course as you may well end up doing the same

he can advise on what you should have had and whats the right course for you

I am seeing Diamond training tomorrow, I was going to go there first of all but found what seemed to be a good course nearer home, choose that one to save money.
As they say you live and learn.

Hi
My course was a short one (5 days) when I first set up, and covered all types of subfloor, and I reckon yours should have covered things like differing substrates, it's essential that you know what you are laying tiles on, as some surfaces look like concrete e.g. gypsum, and things like composite floors are still existing in older houses, which cannot be tiled onto under any circumstances. If you get anything an unusual colour or texture, we have probably all come across all kinds of stuff, you will always be learning in this game, so don't worry about asking, there is a lot of available info for all scenarios almost immediately, and we love to help. Ask away.

this thread reminds me of my first day at college

they gave us all a breeze block to tile

Originally Posted by mikethetile

this thread reminds me of my first day at college

they gave us all a breeze block to tile

The worrying thing is, it seems like only yesterday!!!

I did a 4 week course at Diamond last year and was amazed at how much we covered throughout the duration of the course. Your expectations of what you should have learnt in the 2 weeks would definately have been covered (with more!) at Diamond.

Good luck.

Paul

wish me luck
This is what i achieved in 2 weeks with diamond,& tbo we were not supposed to be starting floors till week 3,but as we all progressed that bit quicker they started us earlier.They are doing some deals at the moment so take a look at there site.

Wild card not sure if I met you yesterday at diamond tiling.
I had a good visit and learnt a lot, especially about what is covered in two weeks. Sad to say what I did does not come anywhere near what you guys have done.
I have booked a 4 week course at Diamond Training and start in 2 weeks time or there about.
The team at Diamond have been great to say the least and look forward to the 4 weeks I will spend there.

Well look on the bright side, although you didn't take much away from the last course, it will be a head start for the Diamond course, good luck for the future.

I was"nt there this week,but im back next week for 2 weeks.If your in accommadation, which you probably are,this is excellent also.Look forward to meeting you.

Hi Wildcard I start on the 26 and in accommodation what is it like and is the food / beer any good?

Food & beer is all good,if your staying there they do all meals for a fiver.I"ll be starting my fourth week on the 26,so ill see you then.My names Vince.