what do you actually learn on the 1 and 2 week courses at pts (harlow especially).
looked on their web site it mention learning setting out & adhesives etc.
so if anyone could can they tell me what was learnt in each week.
thanks james

They teach pretty much everything you would need to know with regard to ceramic tiling, though there is a lot to take on board, along with a "basic" business start up session. The second 2 weeks flesh's out what you learned on the first two weeks with the addition of natural stone, UFH and the like. Much more time available in the 2nd 2 weeks for practice. (Did my course at Warrington!) I thought it was worth the dosh!

Grumpy

At Harlow ( nodoubt the same as Warrington) we had 22 different exercises (plus lectures) to do over the 4 weeks. With the one week course you do the first 12 and the two week course you do the first 14. Most people seem to do either the 2 or 4 weeks courses.
The first week was alot to take in. For me it all came together in the third week.

1 measuring up
2 nipping board
3 single diamond
4 straight set herringbone (framed)
5 setting out
6 Diamond set heringbone (framed)
7 three diamond pattern
8 Own design
9 splash back around bath
10 framing a window
11 setting out floor
12 dry laying floor
13 hand written estimate
14 brick bond
15 diagonal set around window
16 diagonal set floor
17 box section ( mind fcuk!)
18 four tile around tiolet or basin with 8-10mm grout gaps plus grouting
19 misc. tiles from stock plus raised borders when available
20 floor exercise tiling bay floor using adhesives straight set with diamond mat (we could do our own design for mat)
21 estimate for a half tiled bay with a border (we had two) plus floor with pattern
22 half tile bay complete with tiles requested.


Theres also various lectures plus talks from outside companys such as Ardex etc.
If you can, go visit them and someone will show you around.
When youve done a course you can use their helpline for any advice.

cheers

missy t

Originally Posted by MissTiler

At Harlow ( nodoubt the same as Warrington) we had 22 different exercises (plus lectures) to do over the 4 weeks. With the one week course you do the first 12 and the two week course you do the first 14. Most people seem to do either the 2 or 4 weeks courses.
The first week was alot to take in. For me it all came together in the third week.

1 measuring up
2 nipping board
3 single diamond
4 straight set herringbone (framed)
5 setting out
6 Diamond set heringbone (framed)
7 three diamond pattern
8 Own design
9 splash back around bath
10 framing a window
11 setting out floor
12 dry laying floor
13 hand written estimate
14 brick bond
15 diagonal set around window
16 diagonal set floor
17 box section ( mind fcuk!)
18 four tile around tiolet or basin with 8-10mm grout gaps plus grouting
19 misc. tiles from stock plus raised borders when available
20 floor exercise tiling bay floor using adhesives straight set with diamond mat (we could do our own design for mat)
21 estimate for a half tiled bay with a border (we had two) plus floor with pattern
22 half tile bay complete with tiles requested.


Theres also various lectures plus talks from outside companys such as Ardex etc.
If you can, go visit them and someone will show you around.
When youve done a course you can use their helpline for any advice.

cheers

missy t

Very accurate and concise summary of PTS course. Good memory, well done.

Grumpy

I agree that its the 3rd - 4th week it all comes good. Prepare for the boring sales talks and the marketing plans ...doh!

cheers grouter and miss tiler just the info i wanted thanks james.

Things came together for me at the end of week 3. The start of week 3 was hell. At the end of the second week I thought I was getting to grips with it and then, bang!! week 3 was horrible. Diamond set around the window and then diamond set on the floor around the toilet pan. They let us stew for ages, making mistakes. It was soul destroying. Towards the end of the week it started to come together though. I did the course in June and I have done diamond set around a window and loads of diamond set floors with no problems. Good course and good value for money

Originally Posted by james

what do you actually learn on the 1 and 2 week courses at pts (harlow especially).
looked on their web site it mention learning setting out & adhesives etc.
so if anyone could can they tell me what was learnt in each week.
thanks james

Any questions you have about getting your NVQ after your training, then please ask away....

You will find me in the NVQ forum

Good luck mate

I sometimes go over to PTS and do some demos on Diamond Drilling for them.

I have an outsiders view point and can say that they have a good training set up and basically "do what it says on the tin...."

I am not a tiler but what I see from the course they do a good job. To be honest I often just drop in for the free coffee and biscuits they have on the go....

as miss tiler says...i thought it was well worth the money and certainly have no regrets in spending the money....i was at warrington...Mark.