first job

[Fine Tiling]

Help Guys,

I have just finished my first job tiling a kitchen approx 7m2 and laying underfloor heating the customer had purchased 475 x 315 ceramic floor tiles.

also i had to cut 5 kick boards and 3 doors also tile inderneath the kitchen units and provide thresholds for 2 doors.

I estimated this would take me 2 days but it actually took me 3 1/2 days working 9 to 7 everyday.

I was totally shattered after and it had really put me off tiling again,

can anyone advise me should i have cut doors/kickboards/thresholds
and tile underneath units.

many thanks,

[GazTech]

If you agree the terms with the customer, then yes...otherwise, well " a man who works for nothing is never out of work", "he does however, starve to death". Try and get a commitment from the customer as to what you are doing for them and how much, if you don't do it someone else will, then he has the work....may as well be you.....Gaz

[MICK the Tiler]

Give yourself some credit. It's your first job so what if it took twice as long you earnt some coin and gained more experience for your next one.

If you done a good job take some pics put them up here and boast a bit on a job well done no one will care how long it took as long as the client is happy and your wallet a little heavier and you learnt something along the way.

Hang in there Tiling is a very demanding trade and takes years if not a lifetime to master I've been at it for 25 years and would certainly not call myself a master because I'm learning everyday and everyday is a new day and every new day will challenge the mind and the muscle of all tilers.

[Fine Tiling]

Thanks Mick i feel that i worked for every bit of my money i charged and i feel i under charge as being new to tiling. The trouble is that when i finished i wasn't pleased but relieved. I have just layed a travertine floor in my hallway which is 10m2 and felt far more happier, maybe it could be mental pressure to get the job done.

many thanks

[GazTech]

Thanks Mick i feel that i worked for every bit of my money i charged and i feel i under charge as being new to tiling. The trouble is that when i finished i wasn't pleased but relieved. I have just layed a travertine floor in my hallway which is 10m2 and felt far more happier, maybe it could be mental pressure to get the job done.

many thanks

These pressure can conspire against you FT, just keep your eye on the snake, and you will be fine. Tiling is a marathon not a race, the end result is the thing which is most paramount...whatever it takes.....Gaz

[brian c]

I agree with the lads ,dont be too hard on yourself as its the quality of the work that should be the main concern at the moment with the money being secondary.Having said that maybe next time get someone else to do the kickboards and doors and concentrate on the tiling m8.

[smokie899]

when the pain eases and the tiredness lifts you will then appericate the good job you have done. i belive it is a re job to trim kickboards and doors etc and in time you will feel its is a lot easier to trim a bit of wood hear and there rather than shape a tile. and before you know it you will be a joiner too, just like myself, the more you can do the less likely you will not have any work. good luck

[redeye1979]

i agree, i'm new to the game also and my first job was a 7m2 kitchen floor also and although i had no kickboards or doors to cut there was plenty to cut and the room was so out of square it was unreal (100 odd year old council house) And i too came away thinking i'm not cut out for it, but the day after i grouted it i went back up to have a look and it looked spot on, the customer was delighted and although i knew there were things i could've done betetr i was still pleased i'd give it my best!!

Oh and it took me 7-9 sat 7-8 sun 7-8 mon and 8-2 tues!! so i wouldn't worry about that, i done a 18m2 kitchen split into two joining rooms last weekend and done it in three 9 hour days so the speed was a bit quicker than the first one. just make sure you never compromise quality to get it finished quick.

and as for the pressure to get the job done last week the woman of the house was hovvering over me like bird flu and the sweat was running out of me with nerves!! In a sick way i love it though, coz with great pressure comes great pleasure when done right.

i was gonna put some pics up but i'm having a stupid day coz i can't manage to get them on!!

[devonmark]

Don't get hung up on how long it's taken you, especially as it's your first job..always go for quality...so what, it's taken a day and a half longer, as long as the quality is there nothing else matters really, you will speed up but don't try and speed up as it will come naturally..Mark

[robbo]

I estimated this would take me 2 days but it actually took me 3 1/2 days working 9 to 7 everyday.

I was totally shattered after and it had really put me off tiling again,

Hi bud, like most people have said don't be to hard on yourself, i think everyones first paid job is the one they will always remember and will be one of your biggest learning curves.

Estimating how long a job will take takes time and practice to perfect and i bet not many people judge the time the first job will take accurately..saying that, after the first 3-4 jobs you will start estimating your timing better and knowing what takes time to do I.E fiddly cuts etc will help you estimate your job time accurately.

I've lost count the number of times that I've come home from a job really cream crackered and thinking to myself why do i tile...simple answer to that question is because i love it and for all the bad days you have ,and everyone has em, you will have great days and think to yourself your glad you've chosen to tile. I still think the best part of tiling is standing back after a long job and seeing what YOU have created, and for the customer to be really happy....

[graham31]

I still think the best part of tiling is standing back after a long job and seeing what YOU have created, and for the customer to be really happy....

I thought the best part would be getting the folding stuff in the palm of your hand

[macten]

I was really hung up on the whole speed issue. I've got quite a few jobs under my belt now and I still consider myself far too slow. I have sped up a little bit but I won't compromise the quality. I always explain to customers I'm not the fastest tiler but I promise them top quality - I never charge day rate (I will in a few years when my speed is up and I'm hopefully in more demand).
I'm treating my first 2 years as education and earning a little as I go.
I have times when I think tiling is not for me and a sense of relief when a job is over - professional tiling is not easy, I hate it when I hear people say anyone can tile. Keep at it and hopefully you will start enjoying it.

[pjtiler]

nice for a hobby
dont try and make a living out of it though