a few questions for the tilers?

[whufc]

hi, i have been interested in tiling for a good few months now, and i have been calling tilers left right and centre, for them to take on a trainee...(as you may of seen fro my other post)..I was told by one tiler to obtain my cscs card etc, and that he would be able to take me on etc....passed the health and safety test....rang him. rang him, and rang him, and he didnt even have the balls to say he couldnt take me on for various reasons...?! so i am now considering my next step for taking a course and go on my own (part time then on to full time once client base has built up) - currently full time city job....so i am doing all my research and found this site to ask questions (great site)....so here goes

1) how much money did you invest for start up costs?tools, adverts etc
2) how do you build up you customer base?
3) is there any fundin available?
4) how did you start off (tiling)
5) what course would you recommend? a) 2 week b) 4 week c) 6-8 week
6) on average how much would i be able to earn as a tiler?

any help, i wpuld much appreciate it, as i really am commited to become a tiler.
thanks for your help guys?

WHUFC!

ps. i am 24 years old, from east london/essex area

[Oli]

Best of luck mate if you decide to go for it.

I invested around £1500 in tools, set up etc, although that doesnt include a Van which is the next on my list of things to buy. And i already had things like power tools.

[graham31]

i'm jus back from the Nett course 4days excellent course read the feed back on it.

So far i've spend £1500 on tools,course(including accommodation and eating out down their)and a van.I got ma van cheap tho as it was a total loss and repairer it myself so that helped. I still have to spend on stationary and clothing and advertising.

[whufc]

i'm jus back from the Nett course 4days excellent course read the feed back on it.

So far i've spend £1500 on tools,course(including accommodation and eating out down their)and a van.I got ma van cheap tho as it was a total loss and repairer it myself so that helped. I still have to spend on stationary and clothing and advertising.

do you fell that 4 days is enough? have you had any experience before hand?

[bigandy]

the set up amount really does depend on what area of tiling specific you are wanting to go in too.i started out with a few hundred quids worth(i learned to do it all by and no power tools alowed but would nt be without them now) of tools and upgraded as needs arose, to the point of prob thousands!!

as for which course i cant help there as i learnt hands on so too speak.

re jobs best i find is always word of mouth and have never advertised however when i move area(next week) i will be posting several thousand flyers and trying to get fit at the same time!!also shops not only tiles but plumbing diy kitchen fitters and plumbing suppliers(all diy and pro supliers)

[Daz]

Welcome to the forum.

First point, I can't see you earning the kind of wage that goes with a city job. Now for some (useful, I hope) answers......

1. Including van, I invested approx £7.5k. That was tools, marketing van etc.
2. I've got a sales background so it was easy for me to wander round the local tile shops introducing myself. I, also, had no difficulty in networking with local builders, developers, plumbers, plasterers etc.. I give the customers the right sort of chat when I price jobs and do a good job when I get the job. Customers recommend me so the list keeps growing!
3. No idea, ther certainly wasn't for me - too old!
4. Knew I wanted to be a tiler, so did a course and set my plan into action.
5. You should check out the section in the forum on courses and make your own decisions.
6. It vary's from area to area. Work hard, do a good job and you'll earn a nice wage .

Good luck and if you have any questions, there will always be someone on here to help you.

[graham31]

do you fell that 4 days is enough? have you had any experience before hand?

Done a bit before not a great deal.I read a comment on the forum that a guy was on a 4week course and hadn't been taught how to cut round a plug socket on the NETT you are taught that on the 1st day.

You are given hand outs as well as practical work in the workshop and it all gets tied in brilliantly by Darren(guy who runs the course).

Putting tiles on walls and floors all use the same action(if i'm wrong some1 will correct me)so a 4week course just repeatedly putting tiles on a wall/floor is money wasted once shown you can practice at home or a paying customers house if you feel confident enough.

So the answer to your question(at last) is yes 4day course at the NETT is long enough just need practice after that.

Good luck

[Grace'sDad]

1) how much money did you invest for start up costs?tools, adverts etc
2) how do you build up you customer base?
3) is there any fundin available?
4) how did you start off (tiling)
5) what course would you recommend? a) 2 week b) 4 week c) 6-8 week
6) on average how much would i be able to earn as a tiler?

1) approx £2k plus a cheap van £1k, but beware of all the hidden costs like insurances. Also, I found that I was sticking materials on my cc - bad idea!!!

2) I used Yell.com and a local trade type magazine - distributed to the "wealthier" areas around here. Both worked well for me.

3) I looked into this, and as I am an able-bodied, literate, heterosexual, tax-paying, married and mortgaged father of two (both genetically mine) with no criminal record - I was unable to get a bean! Basically (sarcasm aside) it depends on your circumstances.

4) I had NO formal training. I had tiled maybe 20 times over 10 years - different houses I had, friends and family etc. I'm just a cocky, self-confident SOB who is always determined to excel at everything I do! I had intended to do a course, but I got really busy straight away and never got round to it. In all seriousness though - this forum was (and still is) an absolute lifeline in the early days. I would have made some serious mistakes without the hand-holding on here!

5) Can't comment!

6) In Lancashire, I guess it's possible to earn 25-30k nett each year. Although don't expect that in your 1st year - start up costs soon mount up! Again it all depends on you. Your motivations, your work ethic, what you want, what you need and, as I have learnt in my first year: Where you place yourself in the market with your image and advertising. i.e. cheap n cheerful, or right upto "ultra prestigious". (watch me get flamed for this comment!)

Remember too - if you can get up and running now while times are getting tough, you'll be flying once the market improves! (however long that will take?!)

[devonmark]

1) how much money did you invest for start up costs?tools, adverts etc
2) how do you build up you customer base?
3) is there any fundin available?
4) how did you start off (tiling)
5) what course would you recommend? a) 2 week b) 4 week c) 6-8 week
6) on average how much would i be able to earn as a tiler?

1, approx £1,200
2, with a lot of hard work, introducing myself to kitchen fitters, plumbing shops, card drops and giving everyone I met a card
3, depends on where you live, i managed to get a buisness start up grant of 2k, had to attend a buisness start up course and live in the correct post code to qualify
4, progression from plastering
5, depends on the course and how quick you pick things up
6, I guess that depends on you, you only get out what you put in, it's not easy and there will be a lot of frustration, you can earn a decent wage but it may take a bit of time

...Mark

[Dave Ramsden]

Scrw all that, I bought the basic hand tools, a grinder and a TR600 and started from there. Ive now got a whole bunch of tools ( most of whcich I dont need everyday) and a van! Still not enough though, Theres always a more demanding job somewhere that requires that little bit more.

I suggest getting the basics then building from there!

[365drills]

We do a lot of work with the tile training schools and your questions are logical.

Their main advice is to spend wisely on basic kit and then as your portfolio and customer grows to purchase selective pieces of capital equipment.

For the first year you will be testing the career and may find it doesnt suit you. I still use my car and for three years have avoided a van. I might end up getting one but while the car can carry most of my gear I haven't gone that route.


Also be aware of the amount of theft of tools there are out there. Dont underestimate how many vans get broken into.

[top tiler]

i would suggest getting a basic tool kit and when you need somthing else buy it approx 300-400pounds on basic tools. i carnt speek for the tilers that only do private work as to how huch they earn our tilers earn approx 35to40k a year but rember no paid holidays ect, as for how long it depends on what sort of tiler you want to be if you want to do family and frends then i would do l least a month if you want to be a commershal tiler then go on at least 8weeks its very hard for m to say as i done years ,and i would not take a tiler on that had just done a tiling course until they had more experiance

[whufc]

cheers, thanks for all the advice etc, keep them coming!

[garythetiler]

i would suggest getting a basic tool kit and when you need somthing else buy it approx 300-400pounds on basic tools. i carnt speek for the tilers that only do private work as to how huch they earn our tilers earn approx 35to40k a year but rember no paid holidays ect, as for how long it depends on what sort of tiler you want to be if you want to do family and frends then i would do l least a month if you want to be a commershal tiler then go on at least 8weeks its very hard for m to say as i done years ,and i would not take a tiler on that had just done a tiling course until they had more experiance

that would be experienced blokes earning 35-40k a year you wont earn that sort of money for a few years after doing a course

[whufc]

that would be experienced blokes earning 35-40k a year you wont earn that sort of money for a few years after doing a course

is the credit crunch effecting you guys? and do you feel the "foreign" people are undercutting you as a tiler? (this probably should be another thread)

[top tiler]

depends who you work for some firms are spending some are cutting back we do alot for tesco and they are spending but the car showrooms are cutting back

[garythetiler]

depends who you work for some firms are spending some are cutting back we do alot for tesco and they are spending but the car showrooms are cutting back

are you arvin and sons top tiler ?i thought they did all the tesco work around here

[whufc]

depends who you work for some firms are spending some are cutting back we do alot for tesco and they are spending but the car showrooms are cutting back

i know this sounds stupid, (but thats all part of the stepping stone), but how do you land big contracts for various sites, large comopanies etc? -that must sound so thick

[top tiler]

tesco express, tesco metro, we do all the prep work and the altro contracted for 25 a year arvins get the big ones

[top tiler]

whufc it takes years of but kissing and freebies to contract managers it does not happen overnight we have been going 12 years

[whufc]

whufc it takes years of but kissing and freebies to contract managers it does not happen overnight we have been going 12 years

it was just a general question mate? curious thats all

[whitebeam]

It's not what you know, It's who you know. Sometimes

[Alberta Stone]

To get the jobs you have to network.
We just moved back to the city (1500km move) and so we have been building our network all over again from scratch.
It is always a gauntlet.
For the past 12 years we never advertised as all our work was referrals, but we lived in a small community.
Now we have been working for various stores (who gouge on the labor)
and have been slowly getting known just through people we meet who are building or renovating.
Best advice would be to persist in finding a tile guy who needs an eager, conscientious helper and work for them till you are confident enough to take on your own work.
When I started out I would buy a new tool with every pay cheque, even if it was just a trowel.
I started with a big tool box and slowly filled it.

A small 1/4 ton pickup with a topper would work cheaper than a van.
I used to run a 1.5 ton cube van, but she was such a hog for fuel I had to park her and now is just a storage wagon.
I run a 1/2 ton crewcab pickup with a topper now and bring my gear in every night as we live in the city and stuff can grow legs if you leave it out overnight.