When first starting out

[Steve1903]

can somebody run up a list of tools which are essential when starting out and a rough estimate of overall cost? Cheers

also, dont want to start a barney BUT........I've spent hours looking over all the comments and problems and situations that you guys have come across and...well I just cant see how a 4 day course cuts the mustard as a training experience. How much tiling is a new guy doing a course able to fit in in the space of four days?

[GatesheadCol]

Hi Steve, your right ther 4 day course will not cover everything. But as Im sure you can imagine, no course no matter how long can do that.

What it will give you is the foundations to build your tiling business on. It will teach you how to do difficult cuts, teach you what prep may be required, but all houses and all walls/floors are different.

After all, laying tiles is essentially the easier (not easy b4 someone says summat) part of the job, the hard part is identifying when you go for a quote what will be required for the job by means of prep etc and then planning that into the quote.

if your starting out, dont worry too much. you cant know everything.

The things you get on here are hopefully things that other people have done and you can learn from, thats the reason for this forum. To pass on expertise, advice etc.

You will come across many things that werent covered on the course, the course will give you the foundation to tile, but as in life knowledge comes with experience. Hopefully someone will have learned the hard way and passed the informatin on so you can learn from it.

We all learn every day, evened seasoned old timers learn something new.

The key is to be willing to learn, and be open, and above all. If you need help ask for it. Think sensibly when you in the job, if your stuck on something, maybe do another wall or part of the floor, then post a question on here.

you will still find things in 10 yers that you need advice on. dont worry about it, just think logically and ask ask ask, thats what were al here for.

were here to help each other

[Dave]

Hi Steve, your right ther 4 day course will not cover everything. But as Im sure you can imagine, no course no matter how long can do that.

What it will give you is the foundations to build your tiling business on. It will teach you how to do difficult cuts, teach you what prep may be required, but all houses and all walls/floors are different.

After all, laying tiles is essentially the easier (not easy b4 someone says summat) part of the job, the hard part is identifying when you go for a quote what will be required for the job by means of prep etc and then planning that into the quote.

if your starting out, dont worry too much. you cant know everything.

The things you get on here are hopefully things that other people have done and you can learn from, thats the reason for this forum. To pass on expertise, advice etc.

You will come across many things that werent covered on the course, the course will give you the foundation to tile, but as in life knowledge comes with experience. Hopefully someone will have learned the hard way and passed the informatin on so you can learn from it.

We all learn every day, evened seasoned old timers learn something new.

The key is to be willing to learn, and be open, and above all. If you need help ask for it. Think sensibly when you in the job, if your stuck on something, maybe do another wall or part of the floor, then post a question on here.

you will still find things in 10 yers that you need advice on. dont worry about it, just think logically and ask ask ask, thats what were al here for.

were here to help each other

Well said that man............. nice one col........

[Yorkie]

Good luck on your quest my friend.

(is it I before E in freind or friend, I can never remember )

Good luck anyhow.................Kenny

[a1tiler]

agree with gateshead col, everything he is saying is sooooo true, take your time with estimating and imagine yourself going through the job, then take your time to do the job properly.

[whitebeam]

Great post Gateshead well spoken that man.

[Steve1903]

Yeah very good reply gateshead thanks for that.
Does anyone EVER get a straight forward job?

No replies on the tools part of the post yet though.

[Dave]

Check these tiling kits out from buybrandtools.........

http://www.buybrandtools.com/acatalo...ools_Kits.html

[Turkish]

Hi mate, here`s an idea of the things to start with:

Tile cutter (manual)
Tile cutter (wet)
6mm square notch trowel
10mm round notch trowel
grout float
wash boy
sponges
buckets
spacers
tile pencil
square
spirit levels (various)
small mitre block
small hack saw
long tape measure
dust sheets
liability insurance
silicone gun



Probably missed some bits mate but as a rough cost i spent around £1500 setting up with what i consider were the basics. There`s still more i want, including a van, but those things will just have to wait!

Good luck

Turkish

[lendini]

hi ya i done a 3 week tiling course at uktilingcourses and still not long enough.

[Oli]

Good luck on your quest my friend.

(is it I before E in freind or friend, I can never remember )

Good luck anyhow.................Kenny

I before E except after C ....

[andy-p]

can somebody run up a list of tools which are essential when starting out and a rough estimate of overall cost? Cheers

also, dont want to start a barney BUT........I've spent hours looking over all the comments and problems and situations that you guys have come across and...well I just cant see how a 4 day course cuts the mustard as a training experience. How much tiling is a new guy doing a course able to fit in in the space of four days?

after doing your course if you could work with experienced tilers that would be by far your best bet, not always possible i know...

[LM Ceramics]

i defintley do longer course if possible with alot of tilers now struggling for work alot of tilers are competing for work its the fittest that survive. i would say its a very difficult time for a novice tiler to set up there own business

my advice get some experience after you finish your course

[bigneil]

I have been tiling for 6 years now, and it's still not enough time to learn everything! every job throws a new challenge at me.
I have a box full of powertools, a box full of trowels, 4 tile cutters, 3 wet saw's, 2 toolboxes (full), and a load of other random things litterning the back nof my van. and i still find myself in situations where i need something i haven't got.

[james]

angle grinder + disc
trowels (3mm, 8mm, thick bed trowel)
gaugin trowel
brush for cleaning buckets
buckets
grout float
sponge
tile cutter to cope with 600mm tiles
wet cutter
nippers
mini mitre box

i think the above will do you, cost about £400

business stuff & a radio also handy

[kilty55]

hi,i completed a 2 week course and although i learned a lot theres so much more to learn,,networking on this site for starters has been extremely helpful its packed with good lads willing to share advice,,tools cost me 1000 to start and have been adding slowly to this,,estate car proffesionaly signed up has saved me a few quid for now on a van but a van i would sayt is a must in the future,,been trading for 2 months now and have made ends meet just on both months so i expect it will take a good 2 years to establish a good business,,but if its what you want go for it mate you only get one crack at it eh!!

[crazysteve123]

Me to kilty guuna stick it out matey

[sstilingservice]

Think you will be ok steve I only did a 4 week course and thought at the end the only difference was the amount of practise time. and most of the guys on here are lways willing to point you in the right direction. and I am slowly starting to learn that tiling is 40% knowing how to setup 30% common sence and 30% exerience and not panicing when it all goes wrong.good luck with your venture