Year: 2016

New career in the construction industry

Are you thinking of making a start in the construction industry and not sure which way to go, why not think about a career as a wall and floor tiler.

The construction industry is back on its feet again after the downturn in 2007 & 2012, things are going from strength to strength with most trades in demand due to short supply of tradesman.

There is no better time than the present to start a lucrative career as a wall and floor tiler.

Tiling Work

Tiling plays a big part in construction, think about all the kitchens that need tiling, all the floors in hallways and conservatories, all the bathrooms that are getting re modelled, you could be completing all these jobs.

Earnings

As a tiler you would charge by the metre therefore the more tiles you lay the more money you make, a good tiler can lay up to 20 metres a day and with fitting charges at £15 & 20 per metre you can see that tiling can be a well paid job.

Training

The easiest way to start a new career in tiling is to find a good quality training centre, one that covers all the backgrounds and preparation as well as the practical side of the training.

Tiling Centres

UK Pro Tiling Training is one of the best and the only dedicated professional career changing tiling course in the UK.

Here you can train in a realistic environment and learn what it takes to be a self employed wall and floor tiler.

We have had thousand of students from all over the UK attend out tiling course over the last 12 years many of them now running their own successful tiling business, you could be one of them.

Change your career now and visit www.tiling-courses.co.uk to find out more about the exciting tiling programs we run.

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

Tiling over a bath

When undertaking tiling work in a bathroom it is at some point where you will be tiling over the bath or shower tray.

This can lead to problems if not done correctly as water can leak where the tile meets the bath if the job is not done correctly and siliconed well even more so if the bath has a shower above it.

Fill the Bath

The first thing you should do is fill the bath with water, about a quarter of a tonne of water is produced when the bath is filled, this causes the bath to sink about 2 mm, if your tiles have been placed directly on top of the bath and then siliconed, the 2mm drop will cause the silicone to split resulting in water being able to get down behind the bath causing damage to the walls and floorboards.

Method

Filling the bath and leave a 2mm joint between the bath and tile then using your silicone gun, apply the silicone to this joint filling the void and leave the bath water in for a minimum of 12 hours to let the silicone cure, once this is done let the water out of the bath and you will have a much better seal than the last method.

Shower Trays

A shower tray cannot be filled with water so just leave the 2mm gap and silicone, this way the silicone will fill the void between the tile and tray, therefore, making the seal.
Finish the silicone off with a profile tool to create a neat finish.

UK Pro Tiling Training, fast track professional tiling courses, change your career with our help.

Visit www.tiling-courses.co.uk for more info.

Can you Tile on top of existing tiles?

Many bathrooms are already tiled and the big question is do I need to take off the existing tiles or can I tile straight on top of the old ones.

Well the answer is yes and no

There are adhesives on the market that will certainly stick to the existing tiles but that is not the only thing you have to consider.

Surface

The original tiles will be stuck to the background substrate but what is it, the problem with tiling on top of tiles is you don’t know what the original surface is.

Weights

If the original surface is made of plasterboard then this will have a weight ratio of 32kg/ mt2 which is ideal for holding two sets of tiles, however if the plasterboard has been skimmed with plaster, this will reduce the weight ratio down to 20kg/ mt2 which is not enough for two sets of tiles and therefore failure can happen.

Who has fixed them before?

Another problem with tiling on tile your tiles are only as strong as the last persons fixing.
If the last person who has fixed the tiles has used incorrect methods and the tiles are not fully bonded, the weight of your new tiles can pull the last tiles off the wall resulting in failure.

What is the condition of the surface?

With tile already being on the wall you have no idea what the condition of the surface is like, is there damp or cracks in the wall, both of these can lead to tile failure.

Depth problems

Around your doors you will have an architrave, when using one set of tiles this still looks good as the architrave will still sit proud of the set of tiles, once you load up with another set of tiles, the new set becomes flush with this architrave and looks terrible.

For safety and a good looking finish, it is best to remove all existing tiles from the wall, do a survey of what the state of the wall is and prepare it correctly, by doing this you are dramatically reducing the risk of failure.

Tiling Training
By having the correct training by attending a tiling course you can do all your DIY projects with confidence.

UK Pro Tiling Training run fast track professional tiling courses which teach you all the correct methods of how to do the job correctly.
To get in touch visit our website www.tiling-courses.co.uk

Can you tile onto a timber floor

Timber floors are one of the most common surfaces found in the home and a lot of people wish to have this kind of floor tiled.

Can you do it?

Timber tongue and grooved floor boards weyrock and chipboard are all types of timber floor. All of these wood surfaces will have some kind of movement due to them not being fixed properly or due to expansion and contraction which comes from atmospheric temperature changes.

This will certainly cause problems when tile is placed on the top, usually resulting in tile failure.

First thing to do is to reinforce the floor, this can be done by overlaying sheets of plywood, British standards recommend 15mm ply to be used but 12mm is more commonly used. The plywood overlay needs to be screwed down at least every 300mm centres, what this will do is stop any bounce making the floor more stable, however you will still have the lateral movement due to expansion.

When applying more than one sheet of ply to the floor, make sure that you leave a 2mm gap between the boards.

Cement Adhesives

It is strongly advised to use a cement based adhesive, one that has a flexible property to it by adding a latex additive or buying a SPF (Single Part Flexible)

A better way of securing a wood floor would be to use cement board instead of a plywood sheet.

Hardibackker, Wedi or No More Ply are better options as 6mm cement board can be applied to strengthen the floor and the cement board does not have the same expansion problems the ply would have.

Once the cement board has been secured to the floor the floor can then be tiled with less possible problems arising.

UK Pro Tiling Training offer fast track hands on professional tiling courses and cover all the background preparation procedures in detail.

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

Tiling with large format tiles

Tiles are getting bigger and bigger and can range up to 2 metres square however this is a bit too large for the average customers house.

A very common size now is 600mm x 600mm or 600mm x 300mm

A big mistake many people make when tiling with this size tile is in the adhesive selection, popping down to your local DIY store and getting some ready mixed tub adhesive is not the answer when fitting this size of tile.

Ready mixed tub adhesive cures through water loss and this water escapes through the joints of the tile or through the background, the size of large format tiles can stop this from happening.

Tub adhesives can take up to 5 days for the water to escape, again this length of drying time can cause problems and failure in large format tiles.

Porcelain tiles are even worse; they have extremely low porosity, which stops the adhesive loosing water.

The correct answer for fitting large format tiles is by using powdered cements adhesives which are poly modified, they cure much faster than ready mixed dispersion adhesives , cement adhesive dry with a chemical reaction and is therefore a stronger more safer adhesive to use than ready mixed tub adhesive.

When using cement adhesive always make sure the substrate surface is primed with a good acrylic or SBR primer, this can stop any chemical reactions going on between the adhesive and background which can cause tile failure.

Always make sure the substrate surface can hold the weight of the tile you are using, a plaster skim surface will hold 20kg / m2 where as a plaster board surface will hold 32kg / m2.

Correct training on a good tiling course will ensure that all the above methods are used. UK Pro Tiling Training offer fast track professional tiling courses which cover all aspects of correct tiling methods

Visit www.tiling-courses.co.uk to find out more.

Cracking grout problems in your tiling work

After you have done a great job tiling your projects, you may find out that the grout has cracked the next day, this is quite a common problem and there can be many reasons why this is happening

Here are a few reasons why grout cracks

1. The grout joint is too wide, as the grout dries it shrinks as the water is displaced. If you are using a big spacer between your tiles make sure you buy a wide joint grout

2. You may have filled the gap between the tiles but it is important to make sure the grout has filled the whole joint down to the background otherwise the grout is not supported, pockets of air below the grout can cause this cracking

3. Deflection or movement is the substrate surface, like wood which may be expanding or contracting with changing of temperatures, make sure the grout is flexible or has a polymer latex additive to stop this happening.

4. Tiles that have not been bonded correctly, failure in the adhesive will result in the grout moving, therefore, leaving the crack

5. Grouting before the adhesive has had time to fully cure. Some tub adhesives can take up to 4 days to fully cure, rapid set cement can be dry in as little as 3 hours.

6. The substrate the tiles are sticking to is not strengthened, any movement in the substrate will be transferred into the tile and grout lines.

By making sure all the above points are covered you will find there will be no more problems with grout cracking between your tiles.

Correct training on a good tiling course will ensure that all the above methods are used. UK Pro Tiling Training offer fast track professional tiling courses which cover all aspects of correct tiling methods
Visit www.tiling-courses.co.uk to find out more