Recommendation: New Tilers Support - 2

[Paul72]

wow i really do admire your balls to just quit your jobs and go! reducing hours is a good call. Something has to give as the wife also works one day of the weekend at moment too but as soon as i do a couple of jobs she can quit.
Thanks for advice I'll just get out there and find the work and if theres plenty on offer then i can sort shorter hours or leave my job.
Just want to do it right as i've a morgage,wife and two young boys to keep.
Please keep advice comming as its helping so much so thanks all!

[stretch]

Interesting to read your comments here. I'm planning to do 4 week course at PTS Harlow in the coming months. A big change coming out of the stressed City and doing something different. I have the same concern from good salary to jumping ship and nothing but I'm planning to build a financial cushion sufficient enough to be able to live for say 5 months. Hopefully that will be time to start and build up work/reputation. Any thoughts appreciated.

Also, can someone advise, do you generally find you have to take up exiting tiles and do prep work? I've recently done a short plastering course but as I get older wouldn't necessarily wish to do so much of lugging old tiles to the tip. Any comments appreciated.

I know this is a spacy question with too many variables, but how much might you expect to earn in year 1?

[sstilingservice]

Hi Stretch you are not allowed to carry customers waste, unless you have the right papers. I always remove old tiles that way you can see what the condition of the wall underneath is in.I think you have the right idea 5 mounth custion should serve you well. I must admit I had a little help with the old pennys. thinking of selling one of the kids now should get £10
that should last another hour or so.

[Mac]

Hi Stretch, I never remove tiles always get customer to do it prier to starting the job I can always call back in to check walls and floor and see if they need any repair.
5 months sounds good will give you a great start no pressure.
Also you will pick up a lot in a year, you will find you will pick up pace, setting out the rooms will become second nature etc etc.
Enjoy and good luck

[stretch]

SStiling/Mac, thanks for your comments. Just need to get started on the course and see how I get on/and if I like it and think it offers me an alternative career.

[cheekygeordie]

hi guys
im about to start my first tiling job on my own kitchen floor.
i have already lifted the old tiles and revealed a concrete floor which has a slight run on it down towards the doorway
of my conservatory.will i need to level the floor with a compound or get away with it if i start in the doorway and gradually use less adhesive at the other end?
cheers

[Brumforest]

Hello everyone. Can anybody tell me if you can use Bal white star adhesive with Travertine tiles. Tile size 610mmx305mmx13mm. Thanks

[Dave]

hello .....

sorry but NO......use a white cement based powder adhesive......what you tiling on to.?.

[Brumforest]

Thanks Dave tiling onto plasterboard. Customer has supplied Rapidset for walls , trouble is in this heat going off in ten mins. Does cement based adhesive need to be flexible?

[Dave]

Not really no...unless you anticipate some movement...You can use BAL CTF3 or BAL Single part flexible both are slow setting ( about 16 hrs ) and both have a pot life of about 5hrs...so no probs with going off in the bucket.....

[Brumforest]

Thanks a lot for your help Dave really appreciated.

[jimshatner]

Interesting topic. I've only been tiling for three years but still worry I'm not quick enough, because customers although comment on swift progress often are surprised when the fiddly cuts eat away at the time.. I try to get on average between 5-7 metres tiled in a day (this would include grouting-although not on the same day), would this be reasonable given my current level of experience? Sometimes less and often more but by the time I've done the finishing it works out roughly this.

Forgive me if this is not the right place for this question. I'm new to the forum and the answer to this is undoubtedly listed in the Tilers Arms - oh how thirsty I am!! Pricing??? Is it unreasonable to charge £150 per day (I am no ninja tiler, i like to get it done right). I have no probs pricing ceramic and porcelain but I tend to lose customers when I price natural stones and slates. I suspect they don't realise the extra work involved and neither do the very cheap tilers they find to do the job. It would be good to get advice so I can continue to price with confidence or lower my prices to pick up the work. What I don't want to do is be a cheap tiler who brings prices down for everyone, if you see what I mean.

Cheers, this website is the answer to my dreams - does that make me a nerd? Jim