Help!: looking for help

[neil terry]

hi all wanting to start my own tiling business have done about 10 jobs for myself and friends to good standard but want to learn more about things in general was going to go on one of the tilling courses but think i will learn more watching helping one of you if anyone needs any help i do work at the moment but am off different days in week some weeks off all week i live in rochdale in manchester do drive also have cscs card if needed to get on site is this i good way to go about it or do you think a course would be good let me no what you think every reply helps good or bad

[mikethetile]

[neil terry]

thanks

[david campbell]

to the forum

sounds like the way i started out,i bought my first flat at 21 and to save money decided to tile it myself,from that i ended up tiling mates and families houses. i soon realised i would rather do that than labour to a bricky squad,already knowing the basics i went on a course and learned to use tile cutters properly and more efficently(less use of the messy grinder) you will also learn other methods that will speed up the process and understand why you are doing them.
i would go for the course then maybe see if you can follow someone for a few weeks to get more out of it

[neil terry]

thanks for that any one been on one round my area that was good

[david campbell]

Tiling Courses - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums | Tiling Forum

where you from mate?
try the above link

[neil terry]

rochdale thats in mancheaster

[Yorkshire Tiling Services]

hi all wanting to start my own tiling business have done about 10 jobs for myself and friends to good standard but want to learn more about things in general was going to go on one of the tilling courses but think i will learn more watching helping one of you if anyone needs any help i do work at the moment but am off different days in week some weeks off all week i live in rochdale in manchester do drive also have cscs card if needed to get on site is this i good way to go about it or do you think a course would be good let me no what you think every reply helps good or bad

I have a mate over your way who might let you go along to learn.
Do not expect to get paid,but the experience will be invaluable.
PM me if interested.
Regards
Nick

[neil terry]

thanks for that mate i have pm you

[DJS]

David - very similar to me also.....my first bathroom project was for my landlord, to pay a months rent and it took me nearly 3 weeks to get the job done Those were the days!!

Niel - I am from Wythenshawe, Manchester and just gone self employed in April and went on a tiling course in May (hope it's tax deductable!!).

Get yourself on a course, and we could work together in the future if either of us need the help. There is much to learn in this game and if you want to start up on your own, it gives you a big advantage over the cowboys out there, and trust me there are plenty in this city. I just lost a job to one Said he could do 8m2 on 3 walls including a window reveal, trims and cutting in around a sink and toilet, in 1 day, grouted, sealed and siliconed. I just don't beleive that is possible - someone please correct me if I'm wrong!! I had it as a 2 day job, with 400x300 ceramic tiles. Finishing the silcone on day 3 when I started the floor, to give the grout overnight at least to dry.

I attended the PITT training centre in Stoke (details should be in the link already posted above). I did the 4 week course for plumbing, wall, floor and advanced tiling. The journey each day for me was about 50 mins each way and £10 a day in petrol, but there are holiday-inns etc just around the corner for about £30 a night. I never looked if there is one closer to you, but this course was very good, and you get to do plenty of practical stuff as well as learning the theory behind it.

Not won any jobs big enough to ask for help yet, but there is something in the pipeline which maybe to big for me to do on my own. I'll give a shout out here if anything come's of it. It should be spec'd with Epoxy Grout too, as it's a resteraunt kitchen floor. Will have to find out the size of job first - it may not be that big, or it could be huge!!!

[neil terry]

thanks for that i was a bit iffy on going on one of the courses at 1st as i want shore you would learn that much i have heard a few people saying the rooms you tile are all perfect so when you go into the real world your back at square one but after being on this site i will real think about going on one

[DJS]

Hi Neil,

My ex-boss said the same thing when I left his employment to go on the course (missing me already!). What would I learn - I can tile already!!! How wrong was he. That is why he is and always will be an amateur/cowboy tiler - no formal training at all. I'll crack on, while he's still spraying walls with PVA to prep'em

The guys at PITT do use bays that are plasterboard, and this is the same for the floor tiling course. However, they also teach you about levelling floors and substrate preparation. And on the wall course they put the windows etc in deliberatley crooked, then teach you how to set-out properly and square them up, so they do test you in that way, even though your tiling onto plasterboard.

Also, on the advanced tiling course we went to a 'real' job and tiled a kitchen splashback. The walls were extremly ****ed, and all the tiles needed back buttering to different levels. But we finished grouting and polishing up, and it looked amazing.

At first I didn't think I would learn much from the final week advanced course, as I already had experience. But the quality of the finish, and how flat we managed to get all the tiles fixed onto the walls, was a credit to the training centre. It was very challenging for a first job, but it gave us the confidence to do it after we finished the course.

I've been told by someone that some training centre's do not give you the same amount of practical experience, so if your gonna look at other training centre's nearer to home - make sure you ask them plenty of questions about the practical course content before you sign up. Or just call the guys @ PITT, I would recommend them.

[massai26]

Hey DJS is right, unfortunatley there are people out there who will quote ridiculous time scales for work and thats in every trade never mind tillling. I am also starting out in the essex/S east area, and have recently completed a course with specialist trade courses in harlow, there is one in Warrington near you, Ive done a 2week course as I currrently work and I will do this part time to gain experience, and complete my NVQ. I am going back to do further training in either mosaic or victorian, as I intend to go full time before the year is out. There are other courses with other outfits, so research and take it from there. Good luck

[neil terry]

Hey DJS is right, unfortunatley there are people out there who will quote ridiculous time scales for work and thats in every trade never mind tillling. I am also starting out in the essex/S east area, and have recently completed a course with specialist trade courses in harlow, there is one in Warrington near you, Ive done a 2week course as I currrently work and I will do this part time to gain experience, and complete my NVQ. I am going back to do further training in either mosaic or victorian, as I intend to go full time before the year is out. There are other courses with other outfits, so research and take it from there. Good luck

thanks for that mate

[mz30]

I have never been a fan of tiling courses,think they are too short and turn out a lot of tilers who think they are the best thing since sliced bread,however if you go into it thinking that you will not know everything by time you have finished and you will be slow and hesitant on jobs for the foreseeable future,then you will definetly have a good chance of making a living out of it.

I have had a few apprentice's over the years,and the best advice i gave to them was to pay attention,watch what am doing and why i do it,and if your not sure ask.

Years down the line,i still ask questions if someone does something diffrent than me, for the reason it might make my job easier.

No matter how long you do something you can always learn more,hence my favourite saying "everydays a schoolday".

Good luck in whatever you decide,and all the best for the future

[neil terry]

I have never been a fan of tiling courses,think they are too short and turn out a lot of tilers who think they are the best thing since sliced bread,however if you go into it thinking that you will not know everything by time you have finished and you will be slow and hesitant on jobs for the foreseeable future,then you will definetly have a good chance of making a living out of it.

I have had a few apprentice's over the years,and the best advice i gave to them was to pay attention,watch what am doing and why i do it,and if your not sure ask.

Years down the line,i still ask questions if someone does something different than me, for the reason it might make my job easier.

No matter how long you do something you can always learn more,hence my favourite saying "everydays a schoolday".

Good luck in whatever you decide,and all the best for the future

thanks for that mate that's why am not to shore about the courses how much can you learn in the time your there that's why i would like to watch help someone am shore to pick up more skills and tips that way then in any course but on the other hand a course is better then nowt

[DJS]

Not sure if your havin a pop at me there MZ. Niel said he wanted to start his own business, not be an apprentice. That's why I thought training would be the best option....do the course, start a business, hang around here for tips and advice. Trust a scouser to find a way of doin it on the cheap anyway.

I definately know I'm not the best tiler since sliced bread, we were taught that, and my logic is good enough to know that anyway. And I know I don't know everything, and I still need to learn because they taught us that on the course too. And I knew that about life anyway. Forgive me for being new to this and enthusiastic. Neil, good luck in whatever you choose.

& Massai thanks for listening to my rant. I've seen jobs done by supposed time served tilers, and they cut tiles like an amatuer - whats that all about. MZ is right though, you do need the right attitude, and willingness to learn, either way.

[Dave]

DJS.. just shows you have passion for the trade..

[DJS]

I read the post this morning, so I've had all day to prepare my response

[neil terry]

DJS.. just shows you have passion for the trade..

your not far from me

which

course did you do

[neil terry]

DJS.. just shows you have passion for the trade..

your not far from me which course did you do

[DJS]

Did you post a link? Not sure it's working.

I did the 4 week course at PITT in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Plumbing, Wall, Floor and Advanced Tiling.

As the other guys said, this kind of course is fast and doesn't give you experience of everything. If you already got CSCS, and your looking to keep working in that area of construction, then maybe an NVQ and apprentiship maybe better for you. Most important thing is - do your research and choose what is best for you based on your personal circumstances and ambition.

I never really looked into NVQs, as I just wanted to get out of the job I was in, and start my own business asap.

[neil terry]

yes did post one will have a look at it did you find the course you did good would you recommend it

[DJS]

Yes, I did find the course good and I would recommend PITT, if that's the kind of course you decided to do.

As your in Rochdale, I wouldn't recommend commuting everyday. Get a hotel round the corner, so you have time to read & write-up your notes at night. I got tired of bombing it up and down the motorway everyday, and wished I could have got a hotel.

As you will see from the thread I started yesterday, I've got a really fancy natural stone job to do, with possiblity of undefloor heating. And I still need the experience of others to help me get the quote right.

[neil terry]

thanks for that mate will have a look at that course now just been looking at a few and they all say they the best one out there i can see myself looking around for some time b4 i book

[DJS]

No Probs, glad to help. Just remember to check the practical course content, say compared to what you do in the advanced week at PITT.

That's was what made me choose them. But others, maybe closer to you might do something similar, so it's worth looking around. You can always make a few calls, and some might even offer you a visit to the facilities before you book.

[Phil Hobson]

thanks for that mate will have a look at that course now just been looking at a few and they all say they the best one out there i can see myself looking around for some time b4 i book

What is your background Neil? I am a nieghbour in Oldham

[neil terry]

........

[neil terry]

What is your background Neil? I am a nieghbour in Oldham

hi mate after starting up as a tiler done about 10 jobs for friends and family but not got the confidence to just start up yet don't think i no enough yet so was looking at ever a course or going out with a tiler to watch help to get more confident did get a number of a guy in burnley to help me of nick but he only got big jobs on at moment so he going to ring me when he got something suitable for me to come along on so at moment just looking at the courses out there did you do a course if so witch one or do you need some free help

[Dave]

thanks for that mate will have a look at that course now just been looking at a few and they all say they the best one out there i can see myself looking around for some time b4 i book

Neil.. check out >> Tiling Courses Feedback
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