A year in the life of a new Tiler.

[Colour Republic]

only another 3 years then maybe u can use the term tiler.

ohhh, bit bitchy!

Good luck Sean

[mart08]

Well done Sean for hanging in there through those hard times. I myself have not quite finished my first year but think I've been lucky with the amount of work I've had, don't get me wrong there has been times when my booked in work has been coming to an end and the phones not been ringing for a week or so. Then all of a sudden the thing just keeps ringing. The satisfaction you get when a job is finished and you see the customers face is priceless. Keep up the good work mate and good luck for 2009.

[mikethetile]

hi sean

thank you for that honest appraisal of your first year

we know it well

it is hard mate ,its very hard to get started but it does get easier as you go on.

i dont think the situation changes much but you change and grow as a person

i think you have done very well to achieve so much in a short time

we look forward to the sequel "the second year as a not so new tiler"

you have my respect and im sure you will make it as a first class tradesman and businessman

mike

[Hawkofeagles]

A Fantastic post Sean, Thanks

[craigg]

Top class post mate.

Hope your hard work and dedication pays off this year.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

what can i say!! very well done mate ,you hang in there, great but sobering read good luck for now on mate

[dc tiling]

congratulations sean on hanging on in there, i myself am just about to start out and it was nice to read someones take on their first year.
best of luck for the future

[jay]

stick at it sean you have what it takes to become a true tiler

[spatech]

Hi sean well done for sticking with it , it is hard to get going but you well get there sounds like you have a lot of pride in your work hang in there mate .
martin
www.spatech-pools.com

[P'boro tiler]

thanks for the honest story! keep at it! just dont tile over stuff your not happy with again, your knocking yourself down etc

i started out as a tiler and decorator. i was trained by BAl and my first job took far too long but it was a good job and i got paid. i then did a few normal old kitchens etc etc and things were going well. i made about 7 grand in then last 5 months of 2007 (my first 5 months of tiling/decorating).
I then broke my leg really badly in Jan 08 and couldnt work for 6 months. I lost my good reliable sources or work and it went down hill from there. ok i did a few great jobs but people seemed to want to pay me less at the end of the job etc. the credit crunch then came and i really struggled, i nearly ended up getting divorced because my wife couldnt handle the stress.
i also had some bad luck like on one job, a plumber accused me of destroying a bath, a £170 tap snapped off when i tocuhed it with my hand and the plumbers mate left plaster all over the bath and i got the blame! he even threatend to take me to court but fortunately i had moved house .... so i had had ENOUGH and packed it in and fortunately got a job as a decorator and am on **** pay but oh well.

Since packing it in i have had a heck of a lot of calls from companies asking me to do more work for them! one of them is from a builder who i laid 53m2 of travertine for.

my main error of my ways was that i packed in the decorating business to focus on tiling just when tiling work dried up. if i had kept doing both i could of chosen to only do good tilign jobs and i wouldnt be where i am now

i know i made more money than sean but thats not what matters at the start, what matters is that he's improving and getting there! id rather be in his shoes

so the moral of the storey: dont brake a limb when things are going right

[psychowitch]

Im the same been up and running for about 18 months now..decided to change career right at the start of the recession..so im looking at it as the only way is UP! Its fecking tough hard work..and you never get the costs right ... if I had any hair I spent most of the time pulling it out..but that said..Im really enjoying working for myself and love it when the customers are pleased with my work...I worked in LOndon (city) for 20 years! wouldnt change back (well unless I was offered mega bucks to sit on my arse all day )...

[Aqua Tiling]

thank you so much allowing people like me who are just starting out, to get a insight of a year as a tiler. it aint as easy it seems, but work at it and it will work for you. any more stories or tips you have, ill be happy to read.

[Towers62]

Hi Sean

Great post.

I am just starting out myself so found this most helpful.

Look forward to more posts on how you get on.

Cheers


Mick

[albyshellshear]

this post has convinced me to take a plumbing course lol great informative read keep up the good work mate

[Dan]

this post has convinced me to take a plumbing course lol great informative read keep up the good work mate

In that case, checkout the Plumbing Forum.

[Gregs99]

Great post mate, look forward to hearing more.

Mark

[LJH Tiling]

All the best for the future. It does get better & the rewards will soon come to you.

Unfortunately it does get tough, but it beats working 9-5 for somebody who is making money out of you.

It will all be worth it when youve finally cracked it.

[leeroberts636]

Cheers Sean, an excellent eye opening read! I start my 6 week nvq 2 course on August 16th. Luckily I have known for somethime that I was being made redundant so already have some work lined up after the course (good old family and friends!!). Martin Johnson always said " do the hard hards and the tries will come" sounds like the tries are just round the corner for you!

cheers Lee

[massai26]

Sean
Very interesting read, and hat off to you for perservering. I am just starting out myself part time as I have a day job, but would like to build the tiling up in the background and re visit in a yaers time. I did a 2 week course with PTS in Harlow, and really enjoyed it. I have done 2 estimates one couple didnt even know what tiles they wanted when I got there so it was a bit of a task estimating, the second was a guy who wanted his bathroom done, got there and he had purchased tiles, adhesive etc, and as I entered the bathroom tiles had been put up (bathroom backsplash) very badly done with chip board agains wall then tiles. He said a friend had started it then he decided to get a tiler. I think he had done it myself. I have learnt so far that there are time wasters out there, and every job is potentialy different. Its quiet so far, but I am getting the cards out and have a few jobs through friends coming up. I am going to do my CSCS card but reading your story just proves what friends have told me about site work

[nybor62]

great post sean, chin up and stay in there, it will get better,

[PJ Tiling]

Great read......Any ideas how this chap is doing these days?

[Sean Kelly]

I'm still here PJ !! Not too busy these days. In fact my order book is empty at the moment. I used to get a lot of work from Topps, but that avenue has completely dried up. Will write a ‘part 2’ within the next few weeks. Cheers Sean

[Colour Republic]

Coming up to 3 years now Sean, how we doing mate? Has each year got better for you?