Quit or not to Quit Tiling, Thats the question ??

[MTS]

Hi All,

Is anyone else feeling the pinch ?, I've been tiling for a year now and getting on really well, but it just isn't paying enough now, with fuel costs up 1/3 and insurance, and tilers willing to tile for stupid rates £10/m2, I'm just not making enough money, and I'm working hard at moment.
I'm I alone on this or are other people feeling the strain ?

MTS

[brummie tiler]

your not alone mate. Im having a bad day today and am seriously thinking the same as you. This week i stand to earn £75!! thats how bad it has got. Too many tilers not enough work to go around. I know people will say stick with it, put your name about etc etc but from my experiance the money i have spent and the graft i have put in, the sums just dont add up. I honestly would be no worse off if i were to get a run of the mill full time job ( less stress aswell, no running around trying to chase business all the time ). Times are definatley hard at the moment i guess its down to personel circumstance what you choose to do - for me, i have a big mortgage and two kids also a wedding to pay for next year ( not the best timing i know! ) Its not a case of me wanting more money its a case of needing it just to survive

[wetdec]

Hi m8


I have found over many years that tiling can be really frustrating as regards work comming in and money that can be earned.

You have been tiling a year which I would say is the hardest period and you have found your feet. You should find now that confidence in your ability and the experience should be making you a little quicker while having a good finish so you are getting on and to quit now would be a waste.

I am assuming you have contacts willing to refer you, have a word see if they cant push a little harder so you can be more selective about the jobs you are doing. draw as many floors and kitchen walls as you can and keep them small, they are the in out jobs the earners and ones other tilers dont really like.

Dont make the mistake of advertising as this is a very slow return.

Keep at it m8 it will come, there are too many tilers but those that succeed are the stickers


tiler

[MTS]

Like Brummie I too have a large mortage, and the cash just isn't comming in. I agree that floors and kitchens s are the big earners, but I'm working everyday (except today , lady let me down last minute) and still the books don't look healthy enough, I'm gutted as I love tiling and feel that I'm pretty good as well as within 1 year I'm in the top 5 tilers (out of 40 odd) recommened by my local tile shop

[wetdec]

1 year I'm in the top 5 tilers (out of 40 odd) recommened by my local tile shop

Then you need to be the first for small jobs by encouragement of staff and be looking at your outgoings there is a problem somewhere. You cant be working 5 days and not making money it doesn't figure.

If you have your kit, your wheels and your fuel then your outlay should be a constant. If you have made the new tilers mistake of overstretching with sign written vans on the drip then you should take time to reflect sharpish would be my advice.

tiler

[brummie tiler]

MTS It sounds to me as though you have enough work just not at the price you need. In your case you should be demanding more money, charge what you are worth - like you say you are one of the top 5 tilers so make sure you charge for that service. My case is differnet, I have been tiling nearly 6 years although only one and a half years on my own. It started off quite well for me but seems to have tailed off nearly completly this year. I have three guys who regulaly throw work my way, but even that has stopped as they say they are struggling themselves and one of the guys has dropped me for someone cheaper ( and i am by no means expensive! )

same as you mts i would be gutted if i had to drop tiling as i love it and its all i really know- but sometimes needs must.

[wetdec]

You cant demand if you have that many tilers on one desk you need the referal and you need to be able to talk the job when you get there.

Go through what you will do talk to the punters give them confidence it makes a massive difference and can give you the edge over the cheaper bods.

[MTS]

Don't get me wrong, I am making money from tiling, its just our mortgage has increased alot and the amount I need the earn has therefore went up. It used to cost £70 to fill my van with diseal now its £95. I used to be able to charge £20/m2 now I'm lucky to charge £15/m2 (even with strong recomemendation). Im really doing some soul searching as to what I do next. If I do go back to a 9-5 job, I'll diffenately keep tiling in evenings and saturdays

MTS

[wetdec]

Then its the external influences thats bring this on, unfortunately I am not in a position to offer anything on that subject but I would be ballancing very carefully the options available.

On the tiling then you have done the hard bit keep plugging m8


tiler

[MTS]

Cheers Wetdec, I really appreicate the advice and chat

MTS

[Turkish]

Good luck mate with whatever you decide! Know what you mean about the fuel, this robbing government!!!! Used to cost me and my wife £300 per month to travel to our work places, now it`s upped to £500!

Turkish

[enduro]

Unfortunately if you start getting all doom and gloom as soon as someone mentions a recession, you will never make it in business...YOU HAVE TO BE POSITIVE

[IvegotsTILE]

Agree with Enduro,I know it might sound easy to say keep at it but I only got into tiling when my other business failed and the only thought in my mind was I'm obviously meant to be very successful at something else instead.

Acting positive has its rewards believe me,good luck lads in whatever you decide

[whitebeam]

Agree with enduro your've got to keep pushing on, If it was like the recession in the late eighties I would be bothered. I've never bought a house allways rented so hav'nt got that pressure of a mortgage.

[sWe]

It is said that opportunists can smell money. The times have been good for the past few years. Alot of people have been attracted into the tiling business as a result of that, and though many are serious in their endeavor, many are merely in it for a quick buck.

If the times are changing for the worse, remember that it is temporary, and that harder times weed out cowboys and poor performers.

View harder times as a challenge. Hardships forces us to better ourselves.
Become better and more effective at what you do. Broaden and improve your skills, and provide a better service than your competition.
When the cycle turns back up, you'll come out of it sharper than before, ready to expand, IF you are single-minded enough to weather it.

My five cents...

[wetdec]

When the cycle turns back up, you'll come out of it more sharper than before, ready to expand, IF you are single-minded enough to weather it.

[robbo]

It is said that opportunists can smell money. The times have been good for the past few years. Alot of people have been attracted into the tiling business as a result of that, and though many are serious in their endeavor, many are merely in it for a quick buck.

If the times are changing for the worse, remember that it is temporary, and that harder times weed out cowboys and poor performers.

View harder times as a challenge. Hardships forces us to better ourselves.
Become better and more effective at what you do. Broaden your skills, and provide a better service than your competition.
When the cycle turns back up, you'll come out of it more sharper than before, ready to expand, IF you are single-minded enough to weather it.

My five cents...

Words of wisdom as usual swe

[sWe]

Thank you

[enduro]

Agree with enduro your've got to keep pushing on, If it was like the recession in the late eighties I would be bothered. I've never bought a house allways rented so hav'nt got that pressure of a mortgage.

I have a mortgage and i have 3 other houses i rent out, yes im flying by the seat of my pants, and having that hanging over your head makes you hungry for work, i know its my choice but it gets me out to work a 7am everyday...Keeps me a sharp businessman knowing i have to earn xyz every week. You need to have something to aim for in life, I'm 42 and by the time I'm 55 i want to retire and have time to enjoy the rest of my life.

[whitebeam]

I agree with you "again", You do need that push to keep going and expend effort to achieve an aim otherwise you can turn idle

[Steve1903]

If there's no work and too many tilers why do all the training course websites say that there's a shortage and lots of £££ to be had?

I know the obvious "cos they want to sell places on their courses" but its not good if they're lying on page 1 of their sites.

[brian c]

If there's no work and too many tilers why do all the training course websites say that there's a shortage and lots of £££ to be had?

I know the obvious "cos they want to sell places on their courses but its not good if they're lying on page 1 of their sites.

fair comment m8.

As for the rest of the lads ,do what is best for your family and your sanity.

[charlie1]

Deff hard times ahead in terms of how much you can make as a tiler. However its not all about the money or it shouldnt be. This week I layed 16m2 of slate and got £544 for it (3 days) but it was more the challenge. I just give her all the money anyway.

In the next year or 2 the overfilled pool of tilers will reduce because many people have went in to it just for the cash. These tilers will not see it out. Even some of the well etablished tilers will not survive because they are used to a certain income and to achieve this they will move on to something new because £pm2 will have dropped.

Even the training centres have seen this all coming. When I done my course a year ago, The guy who trained me (I wont say who) told me he would only be doing the training for another year or 2 thats all it will last. One training school introduced 2 day advanced courses for former pupils. Need I say more.

On the doom and gloom side:

- Laminate wall board, glass splash backs are replacing traditional tiling in kitchens and bathrooms removing the need for a tiler.

- Allready too many tilers in most areas.

- Tile shops are not as busy (In some areas anyway)

On the up side

- This should only last a few years and if you can see it out, as SWE says you will come out in a much better position.

[theyomper]

Had a few knocks in my time. Back in the late 80's got took for £90 grand on one job.....end result ...lost house, business, car and fairweather friends. Then in the late 90's went off on a 6 week contract and had van and all tools nicked......only two days into job.
My other half asks why I am always happy.......What more could go wrong? Always sing the good old Monty Pythons song to myself most days....' Always look on the bright side of life....etc.....etc...'
You've done the hard work in the last year so why give up now? Start thinking about past customers......were they looking for more tiling work in the future. Try Topps and ask them about being one of their Topps Approved Installer. If you start going down the Doom and Gloom slide it becomes obvious to any potential customer.......no matter how hard things appear there is always someone less fortunate than yourself.

[Dave]

Had a few knocks in my time. Back in the late 80's got took for £90 grand on one job.....end result ...lost house, business, car and fairweather friends. Then in the late 90's went off on a 6 week contract and had van and all tools nicked......only two days into job.
My other half asks why I am always happy.......What more could go wrong? Always sing the good old Monty Pythons song to myself most days....' Always look on the bright side of life....etc.....etc...'
You've done the hard work in the last year so why give up now? Start thinking about past customers......were they looking for more tiling work in the future. Try Topps and ask them about being one of their Topps Approved Installer. If you start going down the Doom and Gloom slide it becomes obvious to any potential customer.......no matter how hard things appear there is always someone less fortunate than yourself.

JUST FOR YOU........

[cococay]

Things are tough but going back to the part of mts's post re fuel, yeh the government are robbing sh*ts, but remember you can claim 40p for every business mile covered, or if you go the other tax way you can claim all your business fuel receipts, car servicing, car insurance, business insurance and other stuff like that written of in your tax returns, it helps a bit also remember keep receipts for pens, paper, tools, mobile phone top ups, stuff like that, anything you use for your business. Better in your pocket than the tax mans. As we say north of the border "mony a mickle maks a muckle" Coco.

[charlie1]

I like your attitude yomper, there are not many people who would come out the other end of that and keep going, as you said there will always be someone worse off than you.

[d noulton]

when I started tiling 10 years ago was told it would take 2 years to get established probably took 3 had a big mortgage 2 young kids but was determined to see it through you have to remain positive what ever you decide to do good luck

[theyomper]

Dave......thanks for that........reminds me of my divorce, which came about after I discovered that she hadn't posted my van insurance renewal, which I found out after the van was pinched. Still smiling though.

[whitebeam]

Agree with charlie, There's not many people would have survived that theyomper