are you affiliated to ---

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

any tiling trade organization's or groups that promote you as a descent tiler for instance I'm a member of ISPE institute,of swimming pool engineer's

[doug boardley]

nope, just recommendations

[hillhead]

I'm a member of the tilersforums,

[Oli]

Only that as im a Carlsberg drinker im Probably the best tiler in the world

[brian c]

nope...but good luck if you have any.

[Colour Republic]

any tiling trade organization's or groups that promote you as a descent tiler for instance I'm a member of ISPE institute,of swimming pool engineer's

I'm recommended by Dulux but that's about it, the only other one that holds any credibility and i will get round to being a member is 'The Federation Of Master Builders' as they stand behind their members and check every member out. I have been contacted by all sorts of organiaztions but all of them aren't worth the paper they are written on, sadly the consumer doesn't know this.

I'm a bit worried about ikbbi at the moment, if you don't know who they are you soon will, they are a new organization (less than 18 months old) that have kitchen/bedroom/bathroom installers on their books. The company is founded by ex directors of MFI who left a lot of installers in the red when they went down but dispite this they have managed to get quite a few members to sign up and they have recently won the contract with Tesco's to fit all of their kitchens, this is a big endorsement, one which I didn't want to happen even if that is not my primary target. The trobule is that I know a lot of these installers are very rough (some are very good it has to be said) and if they get the funding through this scheme I can see them setting up some sort of trade body that is not run for the benefit of consumers but for the benefit of their pockets You can't compete with national advertising

[diamondtiling]

I'm recommended by Dulux but that's about it, the only other one that holds any credibility and i will get round to being a member is 'The Federation Of Master Builders' as they stand behind their members and check every member out. I have been contacted by all sorts of organiaztions but all of them aren't worth the paper they are written on, sadly the consumer doesn't know this.

I'm a bit worried about ikbbi at the moment, if you don't know who they are you soon will, they are a new organization (less than 18 months old) that have kitchen/bedroom/bathroom installers on their books. The company is founded by ex directors of MFI who left a lot of installers in the red when they went down but dispite this they have managed to get quite a few members to sign up and they have recently won the contract with Tesco's to fit all of their kitchens, this is a big endorsement, one which I didn't want to happen even if that is not my primary target. The trobule is that I know a lot of these installers are very rough (some are very good it has to be said) and if they get the funding through this scheme I can see them setting up some sort of trade body that is not run for the benefit of consumers but for the benefit of their pockets You can't compete with national advertising

Federation of master builders used to carry some credence, now it means Jack.
Same as the guild of master craftsmen and dulux, they will take anyone so long as you pay your dues. They look at one or two jobs and thats it, your in. Complete waste of money IMO.

[Ajax123]

I was an associate member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and have just been asked to be vice chairman of the CFA manufacturers committee and I am a member of the Scene Shifters guild if that counts.....

[diamondtiling]

I am captain of the Guinness drinkers for our local rugby team, Crewe and nantwich Vagrants, does that count?

[Ajax123]

I am captain of the Guinness drinkers for our local rugby team, Crewe and nantwich Vagrants, does that count?

Oh that one deffo counts...

[Colour Republic]

Federation of master builders used to carry some credence, now it means Jack.
Same as the guild of master craftsmen and dulux, they will take anyone so long as you pay your dues. They look at one or two jobs and thats it, your in. Complete waste of money IMO.

I'm not so sure, the federation of master builders took some slack a couple of years ago because of a few of their members and they turned round and said 'it's hard to keep tabs on so many members' which was a cop out but since then they have tightened thier books. Dulux isn't that easy to get into as I can count one one hand how many members are in a 15 mile radius to me and in addition they guarentee my work for 2 years against any failures as part of the scheme. The gulid of master craftsmen has IMO always been about subscripion not the consumer

[Colour Republic]

I was an associate member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and have just been asked to be vice chairman of the CFA manufacturers committee and I am a member of the Scene Shifters guild if that counts.....

Vice chairman! sounds grand, Good luck with that. I should put you in touch with my best mate from school who could talk about this all day!, I never forget doing up his house in leeds, he was working for the uni up there and I needed some materials delivered, he turned up with some plasterboard in the back of the van but when i looked into it, it was full of computers! apparently this van was worth over £120k, it was used to track climate change but on this day it proved to know it's roots

[diamondtiling]

I'm not so sure, the federation of master builders took some slack a couple of years ago because of a few of their members and they turned round and said 'it's hard to keep tabs on so many members' which was a cop out but since then they have tightened thier books. Dulux isn't that easy to get into as I can count one one hand how many members are in a 15 mile radius to me and in addition they guarentee my work for 2 years against any failures as part of the scheme. The gulid of master craftsmen has IMO always been about subscripion not the consumer

Cr I guarantee you that I could get into the Dulux scheme within 3 months, I would call myself JDC decorators and submit my application, the area rep would call and look at 2 jobs, once satisfied he/she would take my cheque. The reason that you can count on one hand how many members you know of within 15 miles is because no-one wants to pay the subs any longer.
They have let their standards fall so much that they are in freefall. There are many superb tradesman that are affiliated, but at the end of the day these groups have their running costs to meet.
These organisations have dinosaur committee members that just want the money from the members. Its a shame but thats how they work. It used to be called DDS, the dulux decorator scheme, they changed it in about 1996.

[Colour Republic]

Cr I guarantee you that I could get into the Dulux scheme within 3 months, I would call myself JDC decorators and submit my application, the area rep would call and look at 2 jobs, once satisfied he/she would take my cheque. The reason that you can count on one hand how many members you know of within 15 miles is because no-one wants to pay the subs any longer.
They have let their standards fall so much that they are in freefall. There are many superb tradesman that are affiliated, but at the end of the day these groups have their running costs to meet.
These organisations have dinosaur committee members that just want the money from the members. Its a shame but thats how they work. It used to be called DDS, the dulux decorator scheme, they changed it in about 1996.

I know what you are saying Diamond and i completely agree with what you are saying re trade organizations, god knows I could have joined about a thousand of them by now! all of which were interested in my money not the consumer. but i've been around the block long enough to recognise a good scheme when I see it. I have been in the trade many years and this is the first one i have joined because I looked at it for over 3 years before making my mind up that it could deliver. The same could be said about FMB although i've been looking at that for far far longer

[Stan001]

So what about The Tile Association then guys? That’s supposed to be ours. They have been calling me and asking me to join, I don’t know if I should join or not. For me its just money. It costs £200 a year (+ references etc.) so if being a member won me over £200 of extra business then why not. But right now I’m thinking that’s like £200 off the price off a real decent bridge cutter or £200 worth of advertising! … TTA? Yes or no? … any members / ex members here?

[Dave]

So what about The Tile Association then guys? That’s supposed to be ours. They have been calling me and asking me to join, I don’t know if I should join or not. For me its just money. It costs £200 a year (+ references etc.) so if being a member won me over £200 of extra business then why not. But right now I’m thinking that’s like £200 off the price off a real decent bridge cutter or £200 worth of advertising! … TTA? Yes or no? … any members / ex members here?

This was from a while back Stan..but might help..

Are You a Member of The Tile Association?

[Phil Hobson]

I used to be FMB member years ago, not anymore. I am a member of the TTA, and sit on the fixer training committee.

[Stan001]

thx for the link Dave, very polarised opinions there. I’ve had their pack on my desk since before xmas and I still really dont know. Would appreciate some more up to date opinions ref TTA on this thread.

[Dave]

thx for the link Dave, very polarised opinions there. I’ve had their pack on my desk since before xmas and I still really dont know. Would appreciate some more up to date opinions ref TTA on this thread.

Do you think it is worth starting a seperate thread on the subject Stan..?..maybe even another upto date poll..

[diamondtiling]

In support of the TTA, I was in touch with them some 5 months ago and in fairness to them they did not want to have my credit card details immediately, I was told about the criteria they required and I felt sure that I either met it or passed it. The chap I spoke to asked if he could call me in six months, so I expect a call next month. Watch this space...........

[Stan001]

Do you think it is worth starting a seperate thread on the subject Stan..?..maybe even another upto date poll..

i will do it in a min Dave

[diamondtiling]

Do you think it is worth starting a seperate thread on the subject Stan..?..maybe even another upto date poll..

Very good idea idea Dave. I would also like to hear more of what they do regarding fixer training, by that, I mean, do they check out training schools that want to join their organisation, do they make sure that there is an expected level of workmanship? Phil seems to be well placed to advise.
I am all for raising the bar with regards to expected work standards, the sooner the better.

[Phil Hobson]

As a member of the TTA, I would recomend it to any pro tiler. Included in subscription is £1,000,000 public liabilty insurance. They publish documents on all tile related issues ie.fixing large format tiles, ufh, calcium sulfate screeds, timber sheets/boards, movement joints etc. Free subscription to Tile & Stone journal mag. A monthly news letter, keeps you up to speed with all latest technical data.


They also vet potential members to keep up a standard. Any colleges or training centres wishing to join, are subject to a visit from a fixer training committee member. All in all I would recomend it to anyone who makes thier living in this industry. I find being a member can sometimes sway a potential customer in my favour. Hope this helps.

[Dave]

What i will say phil...1,000,000 is insufficent cover nowadays for public liability...all cover is worth it but 2,000,000 should be the minimum..

My liability company has even said they are going to phase out 1,000,000 cover for tradesmen..

[Dan]

I wouldn't pay £200 + VAT for £1 mil liability and "free" subscription to the TSJ to be honest.