1st Job: Bathroom walls

[Paul]

Hi lads

After doing my course at Nett 4 weeks ago like most i was looking to pick up some small jobs here and there to build up my skills and gain some confidence ie splashbacks , wc,s etc i wasnt banking on jumping in too much too early as i know some have struggled a bit

However ive been offered a bathroom to tile

1 side being the shower base side all tiled
2 being the ajoining wall he wants this tiling about half way along and down to bath
3 being the window side tiled along and down from the window

Ive not agreed to take on the job yet ive had a very brief look at it

I Just wanted your opinion on taking on a job this size and believe that when i get tiling i,ll do ok or am i doing too much too early ?

Also he,s removed all the old tiles and has been taking showers daft i know but the plaster is soaking wet to the touch will this be ok to tile on as long as its dried out for 4 weeks ?

[wetdec]

Imo there are better starts to be had

[Paul]

Thanks for being honest Wetdec

[macten]

If it's a family member or friend I would say go for it as you'll learn soo much.
If not then it all depends how confident you are. My first job was a full bath refit and full tiling and there was so many problems - see my thread 'my first job' and it took me ages to finish - I wouldn't have liked the pressure back then if it was a paying punter who'd responded to an Ad

[atec]

It would probably take you longer than you think to complete, give your self plenty of time and hopefully the client will agree, less pressure and you will enjoy it more

[Daz]

It's all about your own confidence.
The simple fact is that you ain't gonna make good money if you take on the job, because it will take you longer than you think.

Bottom line, as Macten says, you will learn an absolute shed load which can only be a good thing and you've got to take a job like this on at some point, so why not now???

Make sure that you take your time and double check everything before you commit a tile or cut, and you will be fine.

Sounds like you need to advise the customer to stop using the shower so that the plaster can dry, then convince him to pay you to tank the shower area, too - extra bunce!!

Good luck.

[Dave]

Easy way is to bring another fixer in with you who is a lot more experianced..and do it together and you will learn a lot from it.....

Plenty fixers on here will help you no probs.....

[Paul]

Thanks to Atec, Captain, Macten, & Dave

Im not at all worried about the money, im more concerned about doing a good job the guy knows its my first job (well second im doing a splashback for a mate on saturday)

The guy is a paying customer of my missus (childminder) but is doing up his house to sell it in time , he,s aware ive not long done my course so it will take time

Good for him as he,s getting it done for next to nothing and great for me for the Experience - cant put a price on that !! - feel a bit better now

Thanks again everyone

[AllurePTS]

Thanks to Atec, Captain, Macten, & Dave

Im not at all worried about the money, im more concerned about doing a good job the guy knows its my first job (well second im doing a splashback for a mate on saturday)

The guy is a paying customer of my missus (childminder) but is doing up his house to sell it in time , he,s aware ive not long done my course so it will take time

Good for him as he,s getting it done for next to nothing and great for me for the Experience - cant put a price on that !! - feel a bit better now

Thanks again everyone

As long as the guy understands your circumstances, then it's a good opportunity .....I'm in a similar situation myself and doing a lot of "firsts" ....it's a real baptism of fire but the experience is invaluable, and you'll get all the good advice you want from the guys on here too ....best of luck mate

[doug boardley]

Hiya Paul, you say the walls are plastered, is it plasterboard or sand/cement and skim, if plasterboard it will probably be bu*****d and need replacing

[Terry-La-Tiler]

Easy way is to bring another fixer in with you who is a lot more experianced..and do it together and you will learn a lot from it.....

Plenty fixers on here will help you no probs.....

How does this work then Dave? If an experienced tiler were to help, and "do it together", would he not want all the dosh, would he still want to help if the profits had to be split? Or do you mean the experienced guy takes the money and the other guy gains the experience?

It's an interesting concept and one that might be useful to me under my current circumstances.

[Dave]

How does this work then Dave? If an experienced tiler were to help, and "do it together", would he not want all the dosh, would he still want to help if the profits had to be split? Or do you mean the experienced guy takes the money and the other guy gains the experience?

It's an interesting concept and one that might be useful to me under my current circumstances.

It works by he invites another fixer to help HIM...50/50...there are fixers who will do this....don't see why not...it's not as if he can't tile at all is it...

And it gives them both work...

[johnnybhoy]

I've just recently finished a course also at NETT and I'm currently doing some work around my own home before going out for my first 'real' job so I can appreciate your concern, however, as the guys have said, take your time and you'll be fine. best of luck.

[whitebeam]

Hiya Paul, you say the walls are plastered, is it plasterboard or sand/cement and skim, if plasterboard it will probably be bu*****d and need replacing

Got to agree with doug, Why in his right mind would he be taking a shower with just plaster on the walls

[Paul]

Yes doug and white, its plasterboard thats been plastered (hollow walls)

its much drier when i saw it yesterday and ive explained that it will need to dry out for approx 4 weeks before i touch it but from what your saying it looks like it may need to be replaced

Thanks again

[kaharrison9]

I have a similar dilema as to Paul.Very inexperienced and fresh fron NETT and have the chance of a bathroom floor/wall that i'm viewing tomorrow.
It's all half tiled apart from the shower area and they now want it all retiling but still keeping the origional suite.They are not flushed with cash and if it proves to exspensive they are not going to bother.It would be a
great experience to take on which at the moment is more important to me than making much but am concerned of the possible rising cost if other work needs doing.i.e.condition of walls when the tiles come off,happy to take out the toilet,radiator,etc but a bit nervous if the shower needs removing and then escalatin and i find myself out of my depth.
Would it be best to explain plaster/plumber may be required for me to do a correct job and i'm sure they'll pull the job.Or do you guys think i'm looking into this to much and should go for it?
Also how does it work with plumbers,is there any happy to do smallish jobs without wanting a crazy fee that would just wipe out any profit.
Any advice or thoughts appreciated.
Kev

[doug boardley]

I have a similar dilema as to Paul.Very inexperienced and fresh fron NETT and have the chance of a bathroom floor/wall that i'm viewing tomorrow.
It's all half tiled apart from the shower area and they now want it all retiling but still keeping the origional suite.They are not flushed with cash and if it proves to exspensive they are not going to bother.It would be a
great experience to take on which at the moment is more important to me than making much but am concerned of the possible rising cost if other work needs doing.i.e.condition of walls when the tiles come off,happy to take out the toilet,radiator,etc but a bit nervous if the shower needs removing and then escalatin and i find myself out of my depth.
Would it be best to explain plaster/plumber may be required for me to do a correct job and i'm sure they'll pull the job.Or do you guys think i'm looking into this to much and should go for it?
Also how does it work with plumbers,is there any happy to do smallish jobs without wanting a crazy fee that would just wipe out any profit.
Any advice or thoughts appreciated.
Kev

unfortunately Kev, we don't have the benefit of hindsight in this game, explain to customer that additional works may be needed, if they're reasonable peeps they'll undersstand this. Don't overreach yourself and try and sort out other trades work yourself, you'll just end up getting frustrated and maybe flood the place out!!