Too Much Too Soon - Advice Please - Tile Advice

[Rookery]

If I were you I'd go and hang around in a tile shop and get chatting to traders. Ask if they want a day or two labour free of charge. You'll learn more that way and at less cost than a course. Be reliable. You can always check back here on things you have 'learned' because as you will find out, not everyone does it right. Also you should not be too ambitious at first. I'd concentrate first on kitchen splashbacks then floors. Neither are generally extremely difficult and will help you to focus on 2 important elements of tiling - 1. Background prep and 2. Setting out. Just my opinion of course.
Good luck.

 

[Italy]

I was thinking of @Andy Allen ...
at 51 and continues to do kitchen splashbacks...
but it is ot from the above discussion.

 

[Weebisto]

.......cut two slots in the tile with a diamond blade,snap out the 'waste' piece(leaving a 'u' shape in the tile) Fit the tile,refitting the 'waste' piece in behind the rad pipe(keeping the pattern running on the tile)

Love it - simple is best

 

[Weebisto]

If I were you I'd go and hang around in a tile shop and get chatting to traders. Ask if they want a day or two labour free of charge. You'll learn more that way and at less cost than a course. Be reliable. You can always check back here on things you have 'learned' because as you will find out, not everyone does it right. Also you should not be too ambitious at first. I'd concentrate first on kitchen splashbacks then floors. Neither are generally extremely difficult and will help you to focus on 2 important elements of tiling - 1. Background prep and 2. Setting out. Just my opinion of course.
Good luck.

Thank you for that - good advice

 

[Weebisto]

Hi and welcome to the Forum David.
Fair play for coming on and putting your hands up to a less than perfect outcome.
Why did the split tile become so noticeable? Did you get adhesive between the two halves?
They should of went back together almost seamlessly.
To accuse you of cracking tiles is a bit strong, hope you explained, whilst you share your Christian name with David Blaine, you aren’t actually him, and if the radiator is fitted, you can’t circumnavigate it without some sort of compromise.

I tend to agree with others above, don’t spend more money on courses unless you have to, far better to keep your money to live on and try do a few days a week with another tiler, free of charge.
He’ll appreciate your free labour far more than any organisation will appreciate your fees.

Good luck.

Thanks a lot

 

[Weebisto]

Guys thanks for all your comments. Yesterday was a rough day but your support encouragement and ideas have really helped

 

[Andy Allen]

I was thinking of @Andy Allen ...
at 51 and continues to do kitchen splashbacks...
but it is ot from the above discussion.

View attachment 95286

I'm not a tile snob..

 

[Sean Kelly]

I feel for you, but you do have the right attitude. I did a tiling course many years ago (see the link at the bottom of this post). I did not feel it was the right thing to go into peoples houses and 'practice' on their expensive tiles. So I spent a year on the building sites practicing on their tiles! I was earning £40 a day, but I had just got paid redundancy so was able to still live.
The main thing about working on site is that you have space to work (it's a building site!). Tiling a family bathroom with the family still living there and it's the only bathroom is a nightmare in itself.

By the sounds of it you also got a 'bad' customer.
We all get nightmare jobs from time to time and you will learn from them.

Good luck with the business.

 

[Italy]

I'm not a tile snob..

me neither.
look what I did 15 days ago.
2 elderly gentlemen in wheelchairs.
there was a step between the kitchen and the room,
every time they had to go outside to go to the kitchen.
her nephew has demolished everything in the evening
and I the next morning put mortar on the wall
and I laid the tiles with sand and cement.
so, everyone happy.
I'm more than happy to give you life
to two elderly,
making a floor of 40sqm.
with this job I could win jotm.
but some members would not understand.

 

[Albert]

me neither.
look what I did 15 days ago.
2 elderly gentlemen in wheelchairs.
there was a step between the kitchen and the room,
every time they had to go outside to go to the kitchen.
her nephew has demolished everything in the evening
and I the next morning put mortar on the wall
and I laid the tiles with sand and cement.
so, everyone happy.
I'm more than happy to give you life
to two elderly,
making a floor of 40sqm.
with this job I could win jotm.
but some members would not understand.

View attachment 95295 View attachment 95297 View attachment 95298 View attachment 95299

I think i understand you took out the step and made a ramp?

 

[Italy]

Ithink i understand you took out the step and made a ramp?

see the ladder to the left?
now missing a step
there was a 20 cm high floor.
as big as the floor I did.
do you need a drawing?

 

[Albert]

see the ladder to the left?
now missing a step
there was a 20 cm high floor.
as big as the floor I did.
do you need a drawing?

No, you took out a landing and made all level

 

[Italy]

No, you took out a landing and made all level

yes , landing in italy pianerottolo.
google translate,did not translate landing.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Seamless Antonio!

You have made those wheelchair users more independant and saved the back of their carer.

Definitely HOTM (Hero Of The Month).

 

[GoneGuy]

Well done @antonio, you have helped someone be more independent and happier.