how did you guys and gals start up?

[obseen16]

hi all. im currently working as a plumber but am getting abit fed up of messing with pipe everyday and tiling would be something i could add to my skills portfolio aswell as being an additional income (as customers constantly ask if i can tile). i have been looking into tiling courses and the nett one really caught my eye. but has anyone on here actually done a short course (4-8days ish) and then set up business and kept it going???? is it worth doing a course or should i go about it another way?

alot of people on here say really good things about these courses but i cant get hold of anyone to see how they are getting on. so everyone and anyone please let me know how you started up and how long you have been doing it for.

cheers all;P

[Dave]

Hello and welcome to tilers forums......

[whitebeam]

I did'nt start up as such just bought the tiling in with the plastering, Bal were doing free courses about 10 years ago (Had done tiling before nothing serious) and carried on from there with a few other courses in between

[GazTech]

Hi obseen, I was a joiner from school and fell into tiling at 19....20yrs career now work for Bal. Welcome from me....Gaz

[CCTiling]

Hi obseen. I did a course and I found it very useful to learn the skills. I've bee tiling now for 3 years and still learning something new all the time and probably will for a few more years yet. Experience means everything in this trade and any other pro trade but I think it will be worth while to you to do a course. Anyway plumbers aren't supposed to like tiling (well the plumbers I know don't!) Good luck mate

[enduro]

I was working in forestry, i got fed up with the winter weather, and health and safety, and thought there would be money in tiling...well i got the first two right, but the third one wrong...

[Grace'sDad]

Enduro - I would love to work in forestry.
I know diddly squat about it, but I love the idea!

Main point: (sorry!) I just wanted to tile. Had no formal training at all but learnt a lot off this forum which backed up the basic knowledge and experience I had as a decent diy'er.
12 months on now and still happy enough.

[whitebeam]

[quote=Grace'sDad;124755]Enduro - I would love to work in forestry.
I know diddly squat about it, but I love the idea!

My Dad was an engineer and loved his wood and made furniture, Not sofas just small cabinets and allways said he would have loved to work for the forestry commision]

[faithhealer]

Hi Obseen, if you are the same obseen from the plumbing forum you've had some of my story there! (John t) I did the Nett course, but with due respect to Darren and his team they can only point you in the right direction it is then down to you to keep learning, from this forum obviously. Good luck.

[pjtiler]

i learn to tile whilst serving 30 years for ******* and ********** in harrods window
the staff in HMP strangeways have a lot to answer too

[deanotile]

i learn to tile whilst serving 30 years for ******* and *********** in harrods window
the staff in HMP strangeways have a lot to answer too

[whitebeam]

i learn to tile whilst serving 30 years for ******* and *********** in harrods window
the staff in HMP strangeways have a lot to answer too

This is the open forum mate

[pjtiler]

This is the open forum mate

ive not been well you know

[deanotile]

ive not been well you know

Stop it I’ve got stitch

[pjtiler]

Stop it I’ve got stitch

take no notice that dean my old cell mate from brum
he was in animal molesting

[deanotile]

PJ You are a sick puppy

[pjtiler]

PJ You are a sick puppy

i know

for those new to the trade
its called ...........................................
a................................................. ...................
sense of humor

[pjtiler]

gotta go guys
the nurse is here to give me my pills
caught me drinking antifreeze again
thats me in the padded room again i guess

[MICK the Tiler]

G'Day and welcome to the forums I'm a time served guy so I can't comment on tiling courses, but if you would like to give tiling a go as a career then there's no better place to start than doing a course. Best of luck.

[obseen16]

cheers everyone. think ill definatley do the 8 day course and see how i get on. i had best start saving my pennies hehe. maybe ill try and get the family members to chip in and do it as an early xmas pressie hehe.

i must admit that this forum is alot more friendly than the plumbing one those guys get nasty when you mention the words course and work in the same sentence lol.

nice one guys and gals.

[uug197h]

i must admit that this forum is alot more friendly than the plumbing one those guys get nasty when you mention the words course and work in the same sentence lol.

nice one guys and gals.

your right with that one

[cornish_crofter]

I started tiling as a DIYer. Own bathrooms and kitchens etc.

I'm not a dedicated tiler but I have 1 complete bare walls restoration under my belt (except the roof) with the help of a really good time served builder. We have also reworked two other properties and are currently developing our own house.

When I had nearly finished my first renovation (the big one) I was made redundant from my job as an engineer.

I immediately set about finishing that renovation so that wo could get a tenant in to earn us some much needed funds.

Although it would have been more cost effective for me to hire builders for this job I did it myself because I wanted to learn.

After around a year of looking for something that I wanted to do I decided to work for myself. This was partly due to tradesmen who saw my renovation and suggested that it would be a good idea.

I have since done the C&G 2381 (16th Edition) and the C&G2391 (Inspection and Test) so I can lend a virtual hand with any domestic electrics should anyone require.

In addition I can turn my hand to plumbing, building, plastering, bathroom and kitchen fitting, basic joinery, rendering etc. I'm a bit of a jack of all trades, but I strive to achieve best practice in what I do. Sometimes it means that I have to take a bit more time on fixed price jobs but that's fine with me.

As far as tiling is concerned, most of the regulars on this forum could probably wipe the floor with me. That doesn't mean to say that I can't tile. I have just secured around £5000 worth of work fitting bathrooms and tiling on the basis of two bathrooms I did for a client a few years ago. One of those was a complete floor to ceiling tile on all 4 walls.

Having said that we never stop learning, and I am going to research courses in my area.

[LM Ceramics]

i must admit that this forum is alot more friendly than the plumbing one those guys get nasty when you mention the words course and work in the same sentence lol.

i bet we know who that is (ajs heating)