Hows work during the Credit Crunch

[Little5]

Hi, I've saw similar threads in the past but was wondering how other tilers are finding work during the current economical climate.
I'm being told that it is extremely bad and heard of at least one experienced Tiler, who has given up.
I would be good to hear from across the country how things are.

[Oli]

I know afew from the forum that have given up, but none personally in my area.

Im doing OK at the moment, my mate who is also a tiler is also busy, my cousin is a plumber and gas fitter and is heavily booked and cant fit enough hours into the day.

A plaster i know is booked 6 weeks in advance too and has no worries work wise.

[Daveyboy]

It's all go down in Hampshire...not enough hours in the day but it's got to be done just in case the bubble bursts here as well...

[uptonboy]

Things couldn't be better at the moment, after quieter than usual start to year, things took off in March up to mid August now for anything big. Sure most of this doom and gloom is down to the papers

[CJ CERAMICS]

works not great here sadly...seems to be picking up but customers really keeping hold of cost...basically getting phone calls but finding it harder to convert. finding people dont want to pay more than they have to and not really looking at ability but price.

[david campbell]

works really tight in central scotland too,though heard the north isn't having any problems,still getting work from word of mouth but advertising isn't worth the hassle,too many tilers working for really low prices

[CJ CERAMICS]

works really tight in central scotland too,though heard the north isn't having any problems,still getting work from word of mouth but advertising isn't worth the hassle,too many tilers working for really low prices

finding that here david, some of prices that people have been quoted will only just cover the cost of materials and petrol, example 20sqm kitchen floor yesterday needed overboarding fitted with trav honed and filled 600 x 300 woman had been quoted £300.(sorry about using prices)

[doug boardley]

was a bit worried a week or two ago when I'd finished my site work,(not "house bashing", good stuff), was wondering if I'd put all my eggs in one basket and fallen out of the domestic loop. Anyway did the business card drop and let a few contacts know that I was quiet, and lo and behold, getting pretty busy again!

[djess]

hey every one, ive a course booked at NETT next month, considering tilling full time. Any advive on starting atm wots demand like in N. Ireland?

[Fred]

Just booked up for the next few weeks, and the builder I'm working for at the moment , never worked for him before, has more work for me in the next few weeks, so picking up at last.

[doug boardley]

hey every one, ive a course booked at NETT next month, considering tilling full time. Any advive on starting atm wots demand like in N. Ireland?

to the Tilers Forums djess, we have a few tilers on here from N.Ireland that will be able to tell you the current climate in your neck of the woods

[CDS]

I'm up and down... April was grim but been busy since then and have got a few decent jobs in the diary, doing site work this week on 'basic day rate - plus a bit' and have trimmed prices a tad on couple of jobs to try and secure them.

Bottom line is the bank managers not as happy as he was this time last year but I haven't recieved a summons yet so in my eyes its 'happy days'!!

[djess]

Thanks doug, kendal? That haverrigg, millom direction?

[david campbell]

finding that here david, some of prices that people have been quoted will only just cover the cost of materials and petrol, example 20sqm kitchen floor yesterday needed overboarding fitted with trav honed and filled 600 x 300 woman had been quoted £300.(sorry about using prices)

yeah similar story here would rather sign on the dole than accept about £40 a shift that some of the tilers round my area seem to be working for,think i've managed to set myself up with a maintenance mob though,a fair bit of tiling but also other repair work in to the bargain!

[doug boardley]

Thanks doug, kendal? That haverrigg, millom direction?

Millom and Haverigg are south west coast of cumbria djess, we're about 40 miles round the coast and inland a bit

[bal]

Works tight where i live put plenty quotes in for commercial work for various shop fitters but they now want rediculious meterage rates that i dont warrant travelling and working away from home any more so im going to target domestic clients , but overall its down, cash and work !

[turnip]

as expected, been a quiet start to the financial year, fierce competition for housing/commercial contracts, rates going downwards, even put advert in local paper to pull in domestics (first time in years) good results so far, looking forward to an interesting year haha.

[wacker]

The start of the year was slow, but things have picked up big time. Cos no ones moving every one is doing up there gaff. AT the mo dont have enough hours in the day to fit all the work in. Clients want more for there money, but at the end of the day there is still good money to be made. Hope it picks up for every one else. Like some one else said I think the papers are making it sound worse that what it is.

[ashley600]

booked up to mid august in leicester

[Fred]

booked up to mid august in leicester

Is that domestic or commercial work?

[LM Ceramics]

very slow for me although ive been working for the last month very slow april luckily my plumbing course came into good use currently finishing a bathroom install and tiling (which ive been on for 3 weeks) ive gone abit slow but first install rather get it right than mess up wasnt a straight swap neither. ive got another easier bathroom install and tiling starting tuesday then a couple of small jobs before i go away mid june

but im defintley going to do a few more leaflet drops and ringing round just to get me more busier

[ashley600]

Is that domestic or commercial work?

all domestic, phone calls from the builders went really quiet but are picking up now

[J.R Tiling]

This is only my first year of tiling , started off slow as expected but managed to get in with a kitchen fitter back in march doing all his tiling jobs and now helping him out with the kitchen fitting too as he is flat out with work booked in into the end of aug ! and looks like there is more to come

Also starting to get a steady flow of my own jobs in too now , good times

[mags]

Just starting out here in Newcastle and having great trouble , seems there are a lot of people offering crazy rates . Lost 3 jobs to prices that undercut me by more than £100.00 and im going in at lower than std rate .

Seems people dotn rate correct advice either , shame their floors will need taking up and the walls will sort that out themselves in time

[incetilingltd]

Had 2 large contractors go under on me last month that now brings the total to 8 this year. Had to let go of 3 tilers but trying to keep them in some sort of work, so far this year the company has lost £18,000 due to bankrupt clients and have no work planned untill the end of june, but on the bright side the weather seems quite nice at the moment. I have no doubt housing association work seems the way foward, i just wish everyone luck and if you need any information on what to do when a company goes under on you, unfortunatly i'm quite experianced on what to do now.

[FreeD]

I'm quite now my fault though didnt advertise when i was busy...was leafleting today nice weather and working on my website...have met a few guys who are v.busy though so the work must be there...few sites opening back up down here in Somerset apparently.
I'm thinking of doing a course while its quite though...plumbing maybe...thing is alot of diyers will probably take tiling on themselves...then give us all a call in after the recession to do it properly!

It is tough though i'm desperate to move out of home but just can't get the cash together at mo

[Verona]

booked up to mid august in leicester

No holiday then? What a shame! LOL

[Verona]

i just wish everyone luck and if you need any information on what to do when a company goes under on you, unfortunatly i'm quite experianced on what to do now.

Sorry to hear about the bad experiences you've had this year! Good luck to you too!

[incetilingltd]

How's it going for everyone now so far we have had 12 companies go bankrupt on us and still surviving but not took a wage for 2 months to make sure we can pay our subbies and material costs.

Got lots of work but no cashflow.

I hope this year brings everyone luck!

[whitebeam]

Hear of a few companys around my way that have gone down the pan