Big Job Nerves

[JoeB]

Hey Guys,

Only a couple of days now till the start of my biggest job to date, 2 bathrooms and 2 en-suites all travertine on nomoreply walls(but thats another story)!!

What I'm nervous about though is that this will be my first time working with other tilers and I'm already starting to question my techniques and tools, hoping they will match up/ look professional. I've not always been a tiler but I have been brought up in the building trade by the old man and the 'old school' way. When I decided to stick to just tiling about 3 years ago I thought this would allow me to concentrate on just 1 profession, build-up the best tools and make life little easier, which it did to a degree and I've been doing OK so far, but I became lazy and didn't keep up with what is going on in the industry, I never really bought the best tools and always seemed to manage the old fashioned way. Now though I'm not sure how I will actually match up to another pro tiler, Ive been panicking over my tools so much this past week. I've been looking at replacing the water level, spirit level and chalk line with a new laser level, a wash-boy instead of the bucket and sponge, also silly things have been bugging me like should I buy a different type of notched trowel (70% coverage and 100% coverage maybe?).

I dunno if I'm just getting paranoid or whether I really do need to think about acting like a professional and being kitted out that way also. The budget is limited though until this job starts bringing in the cash so I'm stuck really as to what tools I should be investing in.

Help and advise welcome!!

[kilty55]

spirit levels,chalk lines and water levels all sound the norm to me mate and all require skill to use,youve probably got nothing to worry about you may well be surprised and find that your the most skilled out all the tilers there,forget your nerves and go kick its arse

[deanotile]

I say just do as you do and don’t worry about it. If they do things different and it is a good technique then you can assimilate it in to you methods. if they have different tools then see which ones are good and go get them. We all have our own way of working. I have learned things from new tilers and from old masters they may look at the way you work and think I never thought of that.

[Dave]

Just bieng paranoid joe......as long as you can do the job nobody will give 2 hoots what tools you have etc etc.......no two tiles fixers work the same way ...

[JoeB]

Cheers guys.... kick ass.... thats what I shall do!!

[oldgit]

ive been tiling for 30 years and i still feel nervous when starting a big new job.
its no different to a footballer being nervous before a big match.
personally i believe its to do with being conscientious about your work.
sometimes even after the first day i still find myself dreaming about potential problems that may arise with the job.
big jobs play on my mind for days before it starts,you just live with it.
as for the other tilers thats never bothered me i know what im capable of so if they have a problem thats there problem as stated we all work different.
thats the beauty of forums you read a thread and think why didnt i do it like that and so on.
you will be fine just dont get pushed into bad habits do it your way unless you see that there doing something a better way.

[monty]

Good luck mate...You will be fine once you are there..

[CJ]

Chin up and kick ass

[dean39]

IM sure most of us have felt this way especially when working with other tilers.
All about confidence in your own work mate,sure you will be fine.....best of luck

[Highlander]

Dont worry mate just take it easy.

There are old time tilers out there that are real shi te just look at Graces dads post. I had a old time tiler working for me 28 years as a tiler and I had to keep pulling him up for shi te cuts in the end he got the bullet. Just take your time measure twice cut once and at end of day who gives a monkeys what some other tiler thinks.

Highlander

[OnthelevelPhil]

just one recommended quantum leap try the wash boy when grouting & use properly you will never again use sponge & bucket !!!!!Phill bet everyone will be impressed with the water level though

[Alberta Stone]

Really, the whole point of being there is to do a quality piece of work and earn some profit in so doing.
As long as you are doing a good job it doesn't matter what tools you have or don't.
There are many other ways of doing things and lots of new gadgets and you learn as you go.
I've been at it for 20 odd years and I still pick up new tricks.
The basics of what we do though don't change.
Solid, plumb, level, straight,square and aesthetically pleasing.

[whitebeam]

Do know a thirty year tiler who puts 6mm ply down

[oldgit]

Do know a thirty year tiler who puts 6mm ply down

done that myself dozens of times if the chipboard is good and flat and the meterage does not exceed 3 to 4 mts max with 2pt there is no problem with 6mm ply,some customers just wouldnt except a step of any more than this.
IMO........ and strangely enough ive been tiling for 30 years......

[whitebeam]

Do agree with the step though

[LM Ceramics]

as old git says ive been tiling for 4 years and i get nervous on some jobs it probably doesnt matter whether you ve tiling for 3 months or 30 years we are probably all nervous at some point

even after 4 years there is so much improving i need to do im not at the stage i want to be i learn and pick up new tricks all the time the day you think your the best is the day you lose your heart in the job. being nervous and willing to learn even more is only a good thing.

[faithhealer]

You sound like a conscientious sort of bloke so you'll be fine. Most other tradesmen are decent blokes anyway, yes you do get the odd Ahole but odds on you'll do a better job than that type anyway. Start work om my first wet room in a few weeks but it's the first thing that jumps into my head every morning. If we didn't care we would be in rogue traders wouldn't we! Good luck and keep us updated!

[Rutters]

i feel nervous sometimes, but once ive stared the job, it all starts working out, your tools are fine, good luck