Month: July 2016

What skills are needed to become a good wall and floor tiler?

Have you ever though about starting a new career as a wall and floor tiler? Maybe you”re a keen DIYer and have already done some of your own tiling projects.

Lets see what is entailed in becoming an expert tiler.

Attention to detail

Tiling is all about attention to detail and the slightest mistake can make things go wrong, levels and spacers are a tilers best friend, if you start off level with your first row of tiles and use the appropriate spacer between the joints then it a good chance your work will be at the correct standards.

Fitness

Tiling is a physical trade so some level of fitness is involved, this can vary on the type of tiling work you are doing, kitchen splash backs tend to use small tiles in a small area so this will be one of the easier jobs to do, bathrooms especially upstairs ones will require the most fitness running up and down the stairs with tools, tiles and waste products.

Intelligence

There is an element of tiling knowledge you will have to learn in regards to background preparation, different adhesive products and types of tile. Fitting tiles is one thing, keeping them on the wall is another.

Maths

There is an element of mathematics in tiling, working out square areas of rooms, calculation of correct quantities of materials, working out a price for the job etc.

Business skills

If you are thinking of becoming self employed as a tiler then you must have the correct business skills in order to make a good living, this includes how to advertise your services, sell your services and organise / plan your day to day activities.

Experience

Prior tiling experience is not required for you to become a tiler but some good quality training is very advisable, having good DIY skills is a good starting point and the rest can be learned

Training 

UK Pro Tiling Training is the only dedicated professional tiling training facility in the UK. Here you can enrol on a fast track course where they will teach you all about the knowledge required to become a wall and floor tiler.

Courses can be as little as 1 intensive week up to 3 weeks, here you will complete various practical challenges from application of tile to cutting and shaping around objects, setting out jobs, learning about background preparations.
Every one of our tiling courses comes complete with a full self employed business start up program so you will be taught how to put your new tiling skills into practice on paying customer jobs after you have completed the training.

Contact

To find out more how you can start a new career as a wall and floor tiler, visit UK Pro Tiling Training at www.tiling-courses.co.uk for more info

Change your career path, become self employed.

Learn how to start a new tiling career with all the training and tools included for as little as £900.
No prior tiling experience necessary.

– Are you fed up with your old job?
– Have you been made redundant?
– Stressed out at work?
– Do you want to be your own boss?

Tiling Courses

UK Pro Tiling Training offer fast track intensive tiling courses specially designed to give you a new start and career in wall and floor tiling.

Our successful fast track tiling training program has been delivering career changing courses for over 12 years and produced hundreds of new businesses from all over the UK.

We have hundreds of positive testimonials all over the web from people who have successfully completed our training courses.

How much could I earn?

Earnings in tiling can be great with potentials up to £40K once established and the benefits of being your own boss is something that can definitely be a bonus, imagine not having to answer to anyone, picking your own work loads and time schedules.

One weeks intensive tiling training and a quality tiling tool package can cost as little as £850, here you will get all the training you need to start on your new self employed tiling business journey. A very small price to pay which could drastically change your life for the better.

Business advice.

Full business start up training and information is included in this course so you will know how to measure, price, find work and sell your services to your potential customers.

Being your own boss has worked for many people who would now never go back to being employed.
Be master of your own destiny and income.

Contact

Anyone interested in a new career change check out UK Pro Tiling Training courses, website www.tiling-courses.co.uk for more info or call Tracey on 0333 335 0604

Top wall and floor Tiling Tips.

Have you got a tiling project to do?
Read these few tips below and have a go, you might surprise yourself how much you enjoy doing it.

There are lots of different kinds of tiles on offer and visiting the tile shop gives you a multitude of different types and colours of tiles to choose from.

Types of Tiles
The main types of tile are ceramic, porcelain and natural stone, ceramic will be the cheapest option to go for, porcelain being the middle price of the range and the natural stone (slate, travertine, marble, limestone, quartz, etc.) coming in as the most expensive.

Measuring the Job
It is essential to calculate the correct number of tiles needed, tiles are generally sold in metres squared (m2), all you have to do is measure the length and the height of each wall and multiply the lengths together for example 2.4 metres x 3.2 metres, this will give you the square metre of that wall, do this on every wall you are tiling then add the number together giving you a total area of the room, once this is achieved you will then need to do the same with the areas you are not tiling such as doors, windows etc, once you have the combined area of these off takes simply minus it from the original area.
Make sure you add 10% onto the final total, this will allow for cuts

Adhesives

There are many different types of adhesive to also choose from and it is very important to choose the right one for the right tile.
A quick guide would be to choose a flexible cement adhesive with porcelain and the natural stones installation, where as a ceramic could be fitted with a ready mixed adhesive or standard cement. This can vary though depending on the surface you are tiling onto so it is advisable to ask the tile shop for
guidance when selecting your tiles.

Trowels
When applying the adhesive make sure you buy the right trowel for the size of
tile size you are using, trowels start in a 6mm notch which is good for roughly a 6-8 inch tile, an 8 mm notch will be roughly for a 8-10 inch tile, a 10mm notch will be for a 10 -12 inch tile etc, for floor installations always use at least a 10mm trowel for all tile size tiles.

Spacers
The usual size for spacer selection is 2mm for walls and 3 mm for floors however these sizes in can be increase if preferred but not reduced.

Setting out the job
This is one of the most important factors in a tiling job, try not to leave yourself with thin pieces of tile which will be difficult to cut.
Try and mark out with a pencil from your first tile where the others will fall, from here you can adjust your first tile to get the best results.
Try not to start in a corner or against the floor with your first tile as these areas are likely to be out of level and plumb.

Grouting
Grout comes in many different colours, but white for the walls and grey for the floors are the most popular choice.
If you’re using a flexible adhesive, make sure the grout is also flexible, if you are using large spacers above 3mm, make sure you select a wide joint grout also to prevent cracking.

Tiling Courses

Why not learn how to tile like a pro, UK Pro Tiling Training runs fast track professional tiling courses teaching you everything you need to know about tiling walls and floors correctly, not only will you learn how to set out the job, apply tiles and shape around objects, you will also learn how to prepare all your surfaces.

Running a Business

Thinking of starting a new career? Then UK Pro Tiling Training takes you through a full business program on their tiling courses of how to get started as a wall and floor tiler.

For more info visit their website www.tiling-courses.co.uk for more info.

Fixing travertine tiles

Travertine and limestone tiles are made of natural stone and can be very porous, therefore care has to be taken when fitting this type of tile.

It is advisable to use a white flexible cement and trowel the wall or floor with a 12mm notched trowel. Do not use spot method of fixing with this type of tile as this may result in the adhesive showing as a shadow through the tile.

Travertine tiles will not be able to be cut using a dry bed rail cutter, therefore all your cuts will be have to be done using a wet wheel electric tile cutter or an angle grinder fitted with a diamond tile blade. A 3mm spacer is recommended.

When grouting, to prevent picture framing effect, it is advisable to use a good quality tile stone sealer, this sealer will fill in all the pockets and pours in the surface of tiles and stops the grout leaving marks.

UK Pro Tiling training runs short fast track tiling courses and covers the installation of ceramic, porcelain and all the natural stone tiles. Courses run weekly, more information on course durations and content can be found by visiting UK Pro Tiling Training