Dan

Thanks for your input, you clearly feel strongly about it and have a view that you believe is good for the industry, which can only be a good thing and it's what we're all aiming for really.

I just think there has to be a bit of everything. I know some centres say you earn big bucks, and I know some centre's are short but I think its been proven time and time again that some of the tilers from short courses are really good ones, and not just the sort of person that is good at everything either.

I used to say, do a short course, do your own home, the your family, then a few friends, then you'll have found a few personal problems, as you would want to in a controlled environment. Then if you feel you need more training then give your centre a bell and even if you do the same course again at least this time you'll have lots of questions and a better understanding.

And at this point, if it wasn't for you, you'd know to back out of it, you can't charge for jobs that will fail, and you can't get much work if you have very little reputation or none at all. Even worse a bad one.

This is a fair valid entry point for a good tiler, and doing it this way he has a chance. Sometimes people can be hammered with too much information on a long course, others can and want to take that much in as they understand it a little better perhaps.

Others may want to go to college, and others with their old man or his mate.

The problem isn't any one of the above. It is the said 'trainee' tiler committing himself/herself into saying they are ready, and charging for poor work or feeling confident when you know there are actually some things you still don't know.

Short courses can only be knocked until you've seen the good guys work. The person going on the course are usually the type of person who doesn't want to mess around with getting the skills under their belt, they'll want a quick learning process, one that they can take on board one week (or more) and then practise over the next few, knowing they have support afterwards and extra help from such sites like these.

Again I say it is the type of person that just gets sucked in the the babble that will fail, and they can come from colleges and time served tiler teaching a guy type scenarios too, and that's a fair comment to I believe.

Trying to cut down on the amount of failed tiling jobs is the reason I feel so strongly about allowing and ensuring such discussions take place and the aim behind the forum really. And that would help a time served tiler, a college student, a short course tiler, a DIY'r.... they can all do bad and good work and the only way to improve it all is to research, train, practise, train, practise, commit and never stop learning really.

Dan

Brio

Cheers for that Reaper. Your post just helps to underline my original point, without trying to denigrate any other tilers, regardless of how they aquired their skills. my view is, if their earning a regular wage from the job, they must be doing something right. and therefore are well worthy of the title, PROFESSIONAL TILER.

woodie

i started with a short 3 day course with norcros and got myself in with taylor tiles where i worked with an experienced tiler who taught me all i neede to know(nice guy Pete) the course only cost 80 quid but it was worth it just to get the job with taylors....

Dan

Nice one woodie, well done mate. I too did a BAL wall course (never found time to do the floor one). Although at the time is was free to do, as it pushed their brand whilst providing the training.

Dan

Varley

No probs at all Brio m8 and believe me, I was not suggesting that I could supply that knowledge, there is no one on this forum soaking up more information than me as each day goes by, be it through experience on the job or by coming on this forum and there is still so much that I haven't experienced yet.

I was happy with what I got out of my five day course, it was exactly what I was looking for, however, in my opinion, the best form of training is still the apprenticeship, if only I knew at the time that tiling was what I wanted to do then that would have been the route I would have took. However at the age of 27 with a wife, mortgage and a kid, apprenticeship is not an option.

Varley

GazTech

[quote=Dan;36267]So I think we all agree a book couldn't teach it you all, nor a tiling course. But I think you've got a much better chance getting into the trade if you do a course rather than read a book, i'd buy the book too if you enjoy reading or at least loan a couple from your local library.[/quote]I remember a bloke on Grand designs ,who read a book for each project...he built a magnificent staircase..some people are just clever both academicaly,and practically...I fall into both catagories....I know...it's a burden........Gaz

[B]"[I][COLOR=darkgreen]The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten[/COLOR][/I]"[/B]

Dan

You charmer you.

Dan

Shuntstick

Did you mean Academically?