Category: Tiling News and Blog

Whether you are completing a DIY tiling job or are working as a professional tiler, there are certain tiling tools that no project can be completed without.

More importantly, professional tilers should ensure they have the right equipment on hand to ensure a first-class finish. After all, a mediocre, DIY-like job is not going to cut it in the tiling profession.

Once you are trained in tiling and have the skills for tiling, you’ll need to make sure your equipped with the right tools before embarking on any paid project.

As well as a pencil, a tape measure and other obvious DIY essentials like a spirit level and PPE, such as safety goggles and safety shoes, you will need a handful of tools established purely for the tiling field.

As tiling experts and passionate about the industry, UK Pro Tiling Training share 10 tiling tools that no tiler should be without. We explain what they are and why they”re used.

Most of the tools can be bought from various stores online, including ScrewFix, Toolstation and Wickes.

Here’s our checklist of 10 tiling tools no tiler should be without:

1. Grout Float

A grout float is used once the tiles have been applied to press the grout between the gaps in the tiles. It looks similar to a trowel and feature rubber “squeegee-like” parts that manipulate the grout.

Grout floats do not last for long due to the malleability of the rubber but are not hugely expensive to buy.

2. Grout Sponge

A grout sponge is a dual-purpose sponge that is made specifically to remove any leftover grout from the tiles.

Use the grout sponge as you go to keep the tiling job looking professional. After all, when the customer is popping in and out of the room, they won’t want to see a whole wall of grout-marked tiles. Using the sponge can keep the room looking fairly polished and the customer feeling happy. At the end of the project, using a grout sponge will give the project a clean and professional finish.

3. Notched Trowel

A notched trowel is essentially the only way to spread adhesive on your tiles. Made from steel, you’ll need to choose the right type of notched trowel for the tiling job in hand. A curved notched trowel is best for walls, while square notched trowels are usually used for floors. All notched trowels feature a notched edge and a smooth edge.

4. Tile Nipper

Perfect for awkward edges and irregular areas of tiling applications, tile nippers are hand held, plier-like tools that allow you to cut the tiles into chunks in a controlled fashion.

5. Rubber Mallet

A rubber mallet can be useful when gently knocking the tiles into place.

6. Tile Cutters

One of the best type of tile cutters is the rail tile cutter that can be bought in various sizes to suit various types of tile. It is unlikely you’ll get any tiling job which does not involve cutting tiles, There are also electric tile cutters which are used for cutting sections out of tiles.

7. Tile Spacers

Tile spacers are small pieces of plastic that are used to help you evenly space the tiles on application. Most spacers are cross-shaped and come in 1mm-6mm sizes. Use between tiles to ensure correct spacing.

8. Mixing Paddle

Mixing paddles are designed to fit to most paddle drills and are used for mixing adhesive and grout. Any alternatives will not give a professional touch to your job, therefore always turn up to a tiling project with a mixing paddle, even if you think you could get away with using another stirring device.

9. Bucket

Turning up with an old ice cream tub or washing up bowl is far too DIY when you”re a professional in the tiling industry. A bucket is essential for mixing and will save you a lot of time when it comes to clearing up any mess made. For everyday projects a 10L bucket will suffice, for bigger jobs, you’ll undoubtedly need a 25L bucket.

10. Tile Drill

A tile drill is the only type of drill that will allow you to drill a hole into the tiles without breaking them.

More information on tiling tools from UK Pro Tiling Training

We offer extensive information on tiling tools at our courses at UK Pro Tiling Training. We are also on hand following the course if you have any questions about tiling tools, such as where to buy and which tools can be useful for particular projects.

Here at UK Pro Tiling Training, we are experts in tiling and take pride in educating those new to tiling, about the tiling industry and how exactly how to become a tiler.

For us, a tiler is more than somebody applying tiles to a wall. In fact, a tiler is a craftsman, a construction worker, a business man, an artist and more.

At UK Pro Tiling Training, we teach our students every aspect of what it takes to be a tiler, from running the basics of your business, to the actual tile applications.

Dictionary definition of a tiler

The Oxford English Dictionary of a tiler is: “A person who lays tiles”.

At UK Pro Tiling training, we use all our knowledge and expertise to educate the next generation of tilers to be as professional as they can possibly be. There is a clear difference between our professional tilers and those completing a DIY tiling job at home.

What entry requirements are there to become a tiler?

There are no official set requirements to become a tiler unless you want to work on a building site where an NVQ and a CSCS card would be required. In terms of Domestic tiling there are no qualifications required to work in people’s houses.

Younger people setting out in a career in tiling, could find an apprenticeship which would provide on-the-job training.

If you want to work on a construction site? What are the entry requirements for this?

You will need to enquire at the site you wish to work on if you are looking to become a tiler on a construction or building site. Some sites require tilers to carry a CSCS card (this stands for Construction Skills Certification Scheme card). This CSCS card proves that a person looking to work on a construction site, has the relevant health and safety skills to do so. The NVQ qualification is an assessment of your tiling skills, of which a card will be issued to prove this.

What skills do you need as a tiler?

As well as a tiling qualification, you’ll need an array of skills in order to become a tiler. These include:

• Being able to follow a design
• Patience to tile patterns
• Practical skills
• The ability to complete a job accurately
• Pay a good level of attention to detail
• Maths knowledge- calculating materials and costs, as well as for measuring up a job and cutting tiles
• Creativity
• Customer service skills
• Self-employment knowledge/basic business knowledge

How much can you earn as a tiler?

Self-employed tilers can earn anything between £25,000 to £60,000.

Those new to the tiling industry should expect to earn £25,000 in their first self-employed year. Highly experienced tilers could earn between up to £60,000. Essentially, the more experienced you are as a tiler, the more potential you have to earn more. You may grow your business to recruit other tilers, for example, so that there are more hands-on deck to complete customer projects.

What should be expected from the working patterns of a tiler?

Tilers often work between 37-45 hours a week, Monday to Friday. If you own your own business, your hours may be more flexible than if you work for another company.

Weekend work may occasionally be required by some customers, but this is not always the case. If you are working on a project out of your local area, you may need to stay away from home.

Some tilers may indeed work part-time to fit in with their lifestyle, although would still need to meet customer deadlines.

Types of tiler

A tiler will probably lay different types of tiles during their career, including wall tiles, floor tiles, ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, mosaic tiles, tiles for kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor tiles, and more.

Instead of progressing and specializing in one type of tiling technique, material or project, career progression usually involves becoming a trainer or assessor in tiling.

Find out more about out tiling courses here at UK Pro Tiling Training

We have a variety of tiling courses available to suit your particular situation, whether you are looking to study full-time or begin your tiling career alongside a current part-time role. Whatever course you choose, you’ll be trained in all aspects of tiling, from business basics to applying various different tiling materials.

Does a tile need to be sealed?

Most people overlook this treatment when applying wall and floor tiles.

It is really important to understand whether the tile you have bought needs to be treated with a sealer to block the small particles in the surface of the tile.

Failure to treat a porous tile will result in the grout penetrating the tile surface leaving nasty stains that cannot be removed

There are various types of tile that are on the market available for you to tile your projects.

Ceramic Tiles

These types of tiles have a glass glaze on the top of the clay back which provides a non porous surface as the glass will not let anything penetrate it, unless it is un glazed.

There is no need to seal this tile.

Porcelain tiles

A porcelain tile has been fired at a higher temperature than ceramics and this is called the vitrified process, this means these tiles are non absorbent on the front back or sides of the tile.

This is fine on most porcelain tiles but some porcelains have been mechanically polished to give a deep high shine, this leaves the surface of the porcelain tile to have tiny pours which the grout will penetrate. A sealer would need to be applied if it has a glossy look

Natural Stone Tiles

Most natural stone tiles are porous and are made from natural rock. When grout is applied to the surface of the tile to fill the joints it also penetrates the surface like polished porcelain above, this will also leave nasty marks on the stone that cannot be removed.

How to tell if a tile needs a sealant

The best way to check whether a tile is porous and will stain is to use a dry wipe whiteboard marker to test them.

In a small area of one tile apply the ink marker to a corner and leave for a few minutes, once done wipe off the ink, if there is a stain where the ink has penetrated the tile then the tiles will need sealing, if all the ink wipes off with no marks left then there is no need to seal.

The tile shops sell a range of sealers applicable to the type of tile you have bought, simply follow the instructions on the can, leave to dry and grout as usual.

Training

UK Pro Tiling training offers advice on their fast track tiling courses on all aspects of tile installation. For more info please visit www.tiling-courses.co.uk for more info

Feature walls come in many variations and essentially consist of a room with one wall that particularly stands out, or better known as the focal point of a room.

Some people opt to have wallpaper on their feature wall, either patterned or plain, or a bright, boldly painted wall, others opt for an interesting collage of pictures or perhaps a stencil pattern. Here at UK Pro Tiling Training, we are familiar with a variety of homeowners wanting a feature wall made with tiles.

More and more often nowadays we are approached by customers and professional tilers looking to find out more about creating a feature wall with tiles.

Therefore, we’re created a blog on how to create a feature wall with tiles! Read on to find out more.

Why choose a feature wall?

Feature walls are incredibly fashionable and are associated with contemporary homes. What’s more, when chosen well, feature walls can work to make a room look bigger.

When it comes to tiled feature walls, these can be popular in kitchens, bathrooms and garden rooms.

Why tile your feature wall?

There are a few reasons why choosing tile as the material for your feature wall is advantageous.

Firstly, tiling is a very popular option in kitchen and bathrooms because it is easy to clean and is generally more resilient to damp air and steam that may come from your shower, bath or sink taps.

What’s more, there are many different patterns you can create with tiles. Whether you opt for detailed patterns with mosaic tiling or larger tile displays, the options are endless and can suit a variety of customers.

What variations of feature walls can you create with tiles?

As we have just mentioned above, there are a number of different variations you can offer for feature wall tiles.

Mosaic tiles are among the smallest types of tile available and can be arranged to create a detailed pattern to suit your customer’s ideals for a feature wall.

What’s more, you may be asked to lay a checker board pattern and wall tiled in one block colour, as well as fish tail patterns, large tiles and more.

Your feature wall may be a tiling pattern on one wall that contrasts with the tiles on the other walls of a room.

How to tile a feature wall?

Tiling a feature wall is fairly similar to tiling a wall normally, however, you will of course want to consider the pattern your customer would like and make sure that your tiles will fit the wall area.

You will also want to consider how other obstacles like shelves, baths, sinks and other obstacles may affect your feature wall.

The following article may be useful to read before planning your tiled feature wall: A brief guide to 6 common tiling patterns. After all, it is important to abide by the basic standards of patterned tiling in order to create a high-quality and successful feature wall.

More advice from UK Pro Tiling Training

If you would like more information from UK Pro Tiling Training about tiling a feature wall, then please contact us at UK Pro Tiling Training.

Here at UK Pro Tiling Training, we hear a complete variety of questions about tiling and grout. Although we work with professional tilers, we also work with those completely new to tiling and are familiar with being posed basic questions, all the way to more complex ones.

One of the questions we are often asked by customers and those tilers new to the industry, who are perhaps attending one of our tiling courses, is: Is tile and grout waterproof?

The answer to the question is, surprisingly, no. Tile and grout is not totally waterproof and neither is cement board, backer board, sealers and cement adhesives, they absorb water but do not block penetration.

Even if you don’t work in the tiling industry, you may be familiar with the sight of mould and mildew growing on the edges of tiles and baths in bathrooms where there is insufficient ventilation or in bathrooms where users have many showers, although the bathroom has been built for mainly having baths.

So why is tile and grout used in kitchens and bathrooms?

Most tile and grout products are moisture proof which is, of course, not the same as being a waterproof product but does mean the materials can be used in kitchens and bathrooms.

There are other methods that can be adopted to make shower rooms and other wet tiled areas, waterproof such as latex tanking systems.

This is where tilers, builders and plumbers can work together to ensure a shower area is completely waterproof.

How can tile and grout be made waterproof?

Grout sealer is a fundamental part of the tiling installation process and helps prevent water getting into the grout and under the tiles.

Essentially, most grout is made of sand and once dried and in place between the tiles, is ready and set to absorb water.

Grout sealer can be applied to grout in order to deter it from absorbing the water.

Ultimately, grout sealer is a highly important part of the tiling installation process and should be applied in the majority of projects.

Remember: Grout and grout sealer can be a laborious task. The smaller the tiles, the longer the project will take to grout. Mosaic tiles, for example, are best applied by professional tilers who can carry out a professional application.

Also, you should only apply grout sealer to grout that is 100% dry.

Is grout sealer always needed in a tiling project?

The only case whereby you will not need to use grout sealer is when you are using epoxy grout.

Epoxy grout does not need any further additives in order to prevent the grout absorbing water as it also features water repellent properties, this would be used in swimming pools or any place that could a high level of cross bacteria contamination such as a professional catering kitchen or hospital.

Methods of apply a grout sealer

There are three main methods to apply grout sealer. These are:

1. Using a brush for the application.

Brushes tend to be the first method you think of when applying grout sealer. Although they are easy to come by, many tilers find that brushes are hard to use when applying grout sealer, due to issues of the solution running of the tip etc.

2. Rolling on the grout sealer.

Rolling is a convenient way of applying the grout sealer, it is best to roll in a downwards motion and make sure you stick to the seam. Many tilers prefer rollers to brushes.

3. Spraying on the grout sealer.

While spraying seems to be the quickest way of applying grout sealer (the spray, in theory, shouldn’t soak into the tiles, only the grout), you will need to clean the tiles down later on to make sure there is none leftover on your tiles.

More information from UK Pro Tiling Training

If you have a tiling project coming up and would like to investigate the best grout sealant for your job, then please do not hesitate to contact us at UK Pro Tiling Training.

Grout is an essential element of any tiling project and how the grouting part of a project is completed makes an overall difference to the end result.

After all, you can purchase the best tiles and apply them evenly, and then ruin the overall look with a poor grout application.

Follow these steps on how to mix grout for a superior tiling project:

Choose your grout wisely

There are four different types of grout available for ceramic tiles and you should choose the one most suited to your particular project.

The main types of grout are:

• Fine sanded grout
• Unsanded grout
• Epoxy grout
• Quarry type grout

Fine sanded grout tends to be suitable for applying to wider spaces between tiles (between 1/8 and 3/8 inch wide), while unsanded grout is better for narrower gaps between tiles. Unsanded grout is suitable for gaps that are less than 1/8 inch wide and smaller.

Quarry type grout contains a courser type of sand and is best for tile joints between 3/8 to ½ inch wide.

For larger spaces between tiles, particularly when working with polished stone, an epoxy grout is probably the best grout type. Epoxy grout is highly resilient to stains and chemicals, and is ideal for surfaces like kitchen counters.

Epoxy grout features an epoxy resin and hardener, and can be more difficult to work with than other grout types.

Mixing the grout

If the grout you have bought doesn’t feature a polymer grout additive, then you may want to consider adding one before the mix is applied. Adding such an additive can help with the grout’s durability.

Read the instructions

Below is a general guideline for cement grout, however, it is always highly necessary to read the product information carefully before working with the grout.

Epoxy grout is slightly different so please do read the information on your grout packaging as carefully as possible.

Materials you will need

Make sure you collect the following items and have them accessible and handy for the whole of the project.

• Gloves
• Empty bucket
• Sponge
• Container of water
• Pointer trowel
• Margin trowel
• Mixer paddle drill (if you have one)

Here are the steps on how to mix the grout:

1. Place the amount of grout powder you require in the bucket. The amount of powder you need for the space you are covering should be clear on the packaging.
2. Add ¾ of the total amount of water needed for the area you”re working on.
3. Use a trowel or the mixing drill to stir the grout.
4. Stir the grout mixture into a thick paste that contains no dry lumps, it may help to tilt the bucket towards you and frequently scrape the sides. Take care not to create too many air bubbles.
5. Use the sponge to drip in extra water, take care to get an accurate consistency (not too watery).
6. Leave the grout for 5 to 10 minutes to strengthen and then give it a stir before applying.
7. Use a grout float to apply the grout.
8. Clean with sponge and fresh water
9. You should make sure you use the grout immediately as most grout sets in around 60-90 minutes. If you are tiling a particularly large area, you may want to make half the grout at a time.

More advice on how to mix grout from UK Pro Tiling Training

 Should you require any further information on how to mix grout, then feel free to contact us at UK Pro Tiling Training.

So, you’ve finally chosen your new tiles to transform your kitchen, bathroom or conservatory floor, and, although, it has taken a while to choose the tiles, you’re more than happy with your choice and are ready to improve your home’s interior.

However, whilst you have chosen your ideal internal tiles, it is extremely important not to overlook which cement tile adhesive you use, and, ultimately, you should ensure you mix the cement tile adhesive correctly.

Many people are under the impression that the tile adhesive is not important inside the property as they say that internal tiles are not left open to stress from harsh weather conditions or corrosion. That, however, is untrue, after all, internal tiles should be applied equally strongly for durability and for supreme interior quality.

Here’s a few tips on how to mix cement tile adhesive:

Before you start

Make sure the surface you are applying your tiles to is dry and acrylic primed. Make sure your floors are covered and the room is prepared for the tiling work.

Make sure you have all the tiling equipment you need to hand, including safety goggles or glasses, and gloves.

You will need to make sure that you purchase the correct type of adhesive for the surface you are applying the tiles on to. It is also highly important to abide by the manufacturer instructions on adhesive you are using. Many of the instructions will be slightly different, so make sure you are following the correct instructions.

Advice when applying the tiles

Take your time when applying the tiles to the surface and make sure you are working for precision and accuracy. Taking time and care makes a huge difference between a professional project and a mediocre job.

Although applying adhesive is extremely important for the success of the tile installation, all you need is practice and dedication to get it right. So, don’t panic! Here’s some advice when applying the tiles with adhesive.

Keep calm and apply the adhesive accurately

When applying the tiles with the cement adhesive, the following points can make the job simpler to complete and leave an improved finish:

• Use a spirit level before you apply the tile adhesive to make sure the surface is level or flat.
• Use a drill and mixing paddle to mix the cement adhesive by adding water to the powder.
• Make sure there are no lumps in the adhesive and it is the consistency of a thick paste.
• Spread the adhesive with a notched trowel to cover the surface.
• Place the first tile securely into the adhesive and slide away about 5 mm then back, using a batten for support and leaving enough space between each tile.
• Check frequently that the tiles are aligned flush with the wall, using a spirit level.
• Don’t apply too much adhesive, the adhesive should not fill the grout lines.
• If any adhesive gets onto the tiles, make sure you wipe it off straight away with a damp sponge.
• Once all the tiles are applied, leave the adhesive to dry thoroughly before continuing with the grouting.

More tiling advice from UK Pro Tiling Training

If you would like some more information about tiling from UK Pro Tiling Training, then take a look at our website’s Guides section.

If you are familiar with the tiling industry and different types of tiles, then you’ll have heard about various options of floor and wall tiling that can be used in various applications. Some choices of tiling materials are made from natural stone, rather than manmade materials like vinyl and laminate tiles.

Natural stone tiles are, essentially, one of the more popular tiling applications. Loved for their unique aesthetic and natural appearance, tiling with natural stone is a key skill for tilers to develop and will undoubtedly be a required task in any tiler’s career. We offer a natural stone tiling course for anyone wanting to get into working with natural stone.

However, what exactly is natural stone? And what should you consider before applying natural stone tiles?

Types of Natural Stone

Natural stone is, ultimately, any type of stone that has been taken from the earth and is primarily the stone quarried from mountain ground. The types of natural stone commonly used in tiling are:

• Slate. Slate is generally quarried in fine layers and ranges in colour from light to dark grey, depending on the type of slate you opt for.
• Granite. Granite is a highly durable tiling material and is heavily resistant to dirt. Granite is, therefore, a popular material for floor tiles that have heavy use and/or high levels of foot traffic.
• Limestone. Softer choices of limestone tiles should be used in areas where the floor is not in constant use. There is also the option of harder limestone that tends to be darker in colour than softer limestone choices.
• Basalt. Basalt shares many similarities with granite. It is a very hard natural stone, sourced from volcanoes, and is dark grey in colour.
• Quartzite. Quartzite has a sparkling finish and is becoming increasingly popular in kitchen applications.
• Marble. Marble is known for its beautiful and long-lasting applications. Marble has connotations of luxury and tradition.
• Sandstone. Sandstone is popular for country-style properties. Sandstone tiles are known for their smooth appearance and natural edge.
• Travertine. Travertine tiles generally have a lighter appearance and are a popular type of tile for many building projects.

What to consider when choosing your natural stone tiles

Before purchasing your natural stone tiles, you should ensure to thoroughly research where you are buying from, and that the type of tile is suitable for your particular application.

Ultimately, there is the possibility of some tiles getting scratched easily and wearing down quickly, particularly where an unsuitable material is selected for a particular purpose.

To avoid the excessive wear and tear of brand new tiles, you should consider whether your tiles are being used for indoor or outdoor use and whether the tiles need to withstand heavy foot traffic.

In addition, you should consider the grade of the tiles. Grade 1 tiles are extremely high-quality, while grade 2 can have some chips and imperfections. Grade 3 tiles tend to be significantly flawed.

Another thing to think about is the absorption of the tiles. If the tiles have a high absorption rating, they can be more susceptible to staining and further damage. Vitreous tiles is the name given to tiles that offer a standard absorption rate, suitable for low to medium amounts of foot traffic, both indoors and outdoors.

How can a professional tiler help you select your natural stone tiles?

In most cases, a reliable, experienced and qualified tiler can be well-informed about the best place local to you where you can buy natural stone tiles. It is beneficial to buy natural stone tiles from a local dealer, so to keep environmental impact to a minimum.

A professional tiler can also help inform you about the most suitable type of natural stone for your particular project.