Adding trades to your belt - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

**Dan** · 10-06-2008

Many of you are not seeing the revenue you'd like to see and I'm trying to think of ways to help you sort that out.

One of the ways I can think of is to add some more trades to your belt. If you've read the thread in the tilers forums arms about the guy getting plastering work on you'll see what can be done even without doing the work yourself. And it doesn't stop there.

I have only a few months experience actually tiling for a living and I was learning (though I had a year or so's experience teaching it) and I had a few more months experience fitting bathooms.

I can say in a week my employee was charging 2k a week for us both (two-man band) and paying my pence (perhaps jelous there? lol) fitting bathrooms. We're talking a step above a tiler who can take off a radiator here when all things are considered. That's £100,000 a year for those that can't work it out (with a couple of weeks off here and there) and we were tiling walls and floors and replacing a suite. If you currently unscrew the screw to the basin and loo and take the rad off or loosen it and drop it to the floor you're about a day behind the bathroom fitter doing the whole jop. Though a bathoom may take you 2/3 days when you're upto speed a bathroom fitter would charge for the week perhaps. The different in earnings is massive. A tiler would perhaps profit a couple of hundred quid but a fitter perhaps 6-700, even with the employee. And he's not a plumber, he's just done a plumbing course.

I know you LOVE tiling and tile

BUT if you can earn the extra cash and still do SOME tiling would you not FEEL better?

**brian c** · 10-06-2008

Another Good Piece Of Advice,just Remember To Make Sure You Have Public Liability Cover For Other Trades If You Are Doing Plumbing And Tiling,just Incase There Are Any Misshaps.

**Fekin** · 10-06-2008

That's pretty much my aim, to be able to do full bathroom re-fits, maybe kitchens too.

**Dan** · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian c

Another Good Piece Of Advice,just Remember To Make Sure You Have Public Liability Cover For Other Trades If You Are Doing Plumbing And Tiling,just Incase There Are Any Misshaps.

Brilliant advice. Checkout the tilersforums insurance scheme.

**Dan** · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fekin

That's pretty much my aim, to be able to do full bathroom re-fits, maybe kitchens too.

If you're then buying all the gear and fitting it all you'd be able to get accounts with kitchen firms and bathroom firms (howdens timber - a sister firm to MFI) can sell you (and give you loads of sample) kitchens cheap.

We used to fit kitchens and say something along the lines of 'we can fit and install you a top spec MFI style kitchen for half the price it costs you just to buy a basic version from MFI'. And we'd have better profit margins than with the bathroom fitting most of the time too.

Mark B · 10-06-2008

Dan,

I'm in a similar position but have added tiling to my existing plumbing skill. It's no surprise that customers only want to deal with one tradesman and have all of the work done in one. It really helps with sequencing the job too - not having to wait for plumbers when tiling and visa versa.

I'm thinking of adding plastering and part P electrics to my skill set.

Mark

**Dan** · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark B

Dan,

I'm in a similar position but have added tiling to my existing plumbing skill. It's no surprise that customers only want to deal with one tradesman and have all of the work done in one. It really helps with sequencing the job too - not having to wait for plumbers when tiling and visa versa.

I'm thinking of adding plastering and part P electrics to my skill set.

Mark

Perfect combination. Consider calling sponsors such as Diamond Plastering (http://www.dtg-plastering-courses.co.uk/) and one of the electrical sponsors of www.electriciansforums.co.uk and tell them you're a member of tilersforums.co.uk and that Dan said you MAY be able to offer a discount / incentive to come.

Diamond say they'll do a nice % off for tilersforums.co.uk members!

bal · 10-06-2008

Dan sent an email from the section headed "contact us" but not had a reply yet ,sent 2 emails actually just wondered if you recieved ? bal.

**Dan** · 10-06-2008

Sent you a PM mate.

Yorkie · 10-06-2008

Yep thats right dan, we are offering a 10% discount to all forum members undertaking ANY TILING COURSE

We also have a special offer on our 6 Week course where we are including A 5 Day intensive plastering course for FREE when undertaking our 6 Week tiling course! So for example the saving on a 6 Week course would currently be £250 + 5 day plastering course worth £375 included in the offer. A total saving of £620.

Check out our site for more details.

This is obviously a limited time offer only

Kenny......

theyomper · 10-06-2008

If you have one trade then it's true in this competetive market that some will be struggling. I personally will fit kitchens, bathroom suites, wood and laminate flooring and if pushed painting and decorating apart from all the tiling. I have learnt that over the years that when you are talking to a customer you must use yours ears. By that I mean gleem the information out of them and if they say that they are thinking of doing this ......there's your opening. If you can't do it then do you know someone that can? That way you build a rapport with other trades and hopefully they will pass you work. I have several contacts that do this and although I don't rely on this,it does come in handy and more so if they know that you will do your best and get the job done PDQ.
As mentioned Public Liabilty is essential, yet for all I do it's only £225 per year.
In a nutshell the more that you can offer the better off you will be and of course the customer will not have to shop around for other tradesmen.