Do your own tiling work? | Gaining Plumbing Experience | Page 5 | Plumbers Forums

Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

Do your own tiling work?

Post thread
Post reply

Discuss Do your own tiling work? in the Gaining Plumbing Experience area at Plumbers Forums

i occasionally brick up chimneys, and old balanced flue holes. I also plaster over the balanced flue holes internally but its just a bit of rough plastering usually as the boiler/pipes will cover it anyway. I do alot of electrics in my work as i'm sure most of you do, its part of our trade and i hate the fact that we are now being forced into either subbing to sparks or paying for a course(i know this is not up scotland yet but only a matter of time) we are taught about electrics as part of our apprenticeship, i also have a good bit of theory knowledge of electrics through my HNC Construction course. I know my limits when it comes to electrics and sub out anything that is outwith my abilities. I do a bit of basic joinery work and I'm quite confident in doing joinery but then again my mate is a joiner so i prefer to sub the work out to him as he passes work my way, I done a 6 monthn joinery course and was quite good at it

oh and btw I don't know any tilers, but then again dont get many bathrooms, will keep you in mind mate when i need one.
 
One things for sure tiling is a lot more interesting than plumbing. 100 replies on a tiling thread in the plumbing forum?! Me personally, I can't stand tiling. Bloody nightmare job. Id much sooner get a tiler in, make a bit on him being there and then I get to drink a cup of tea and watch him grout!
 
APPlumbing said:
One things for sure tiling is a lot more interesting than plumbing. 100 replies on a tiling thread in the plumbing forum?! Me personally, I can't stand tiling. Bloody nightmare job. Id much sooner get a tiler in, make a bit on him being there and then I get to drink a cup of tea and watch him grout!
Click to expand...


I'll get my coat :D

ha ha been good to get some info and advice regarding tiling from plumbers. It's not a must have qualification for plumbers but good to hear some guys like to take advantage of sticking a few extra quid in their pocket. Considering I have done no tiling at all and the cost of a course is reasonably cheap it's worth doing especially when looking at costs for sparky qualifications.

The money spent learning can be made back quickly.
 
I'm no expert but the basics of tiling (adhesive, grout etc) are fairly straight forward. It's the setting out, measuring up etc that's harder.

Bit like most trades really!
 
Armyash, you might find yourself getting more work and money from tiling than plumbing. All the tilers I know are fully booked months in advance.
 
Resolute said:
I'm no expert but the basics of tiling (adhesive, grout etc) are fairly straight forward. It's the setting out, measuring up etc that's harder.

Bit like most trades really!
Click to expand...

If only! Theres no such thing as basic Tiling!

I wonder how many of these Handy men chaps are Usuing Pva as a bonding agent using tubbed gear in wet areas or tubbed gear for large format Tiles not water proofing wet areas and not sealing porcelain Tiling onto fresh plaster? or does none of this count in BASIC bathroom tiling.

Sooner this country takes a lead from countrys like Norway or Canada and tightens up regs the better.

One of the biggest benefits in my eyes of serving a traditional apprenticeship versus say a 6 week course is your taught discipline and to have respect for TRADESMEN in general and there respective trades.

I wouldnt let say my mechanic near my boiler because its a "SIMMILAR" trade or discipline.
 
gall.b-tiler said:
If only! Theres no such thing as basic Tiling!

I wonder how many of these Handy men chaps are Usuing Pva as a bonding agent using tubbed gear in wet areas or tubbed gear for large format Tiles not water proofing wet areas and not sealing porcelain Tiling onto fresh plaster? or does none of this count in BASIC bathroom tiling.

Sooner this country takes a lead from countrys like Norway or Canada and tightens up regs the better.

One of the biggest benefits in my eyes of serving a traditional apprenticeship versus say a 6 week course is your taught discipline and to have respect for TRADESMEN in general and there respective trades.

I wouldnt let say my mechanic near my boiler because its a "SIMMILAR" trade or discipline.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean any offence. I was more along the lines of simple splash backs and the basis of putting tiles on the wall straight, etc is basic and easy. It's the things you've pointed out that make it more difficult.
 
Resolute said:
I'm on Balvenie double wood tonight! And like System started around an hour ago!

I took the photo of an old jug in a quaint pub in the lake district!
Click to expand...

Got a bottle of that a couple of Christmas's ago , cracking half that, one of Grants I think?
Got the Lagavulin up in Skye in October from the Talisker distillery, never used to like the peaty stuff funny how your tastes change.
 
gall.b-tiler said:
One of the biggest benefits in my eyes of serving a traditional apprenticeship versus say a 6 week course is your taught discipline and to have respect for TRADESMEN in general and there respective trades.
Click to expand...

I hear what you are saying Brian. All the trades are suffering the same from the instant tradesman thing. Pick up the paper or listen to the radio and you get the be a "tradesman" in 6 weeks. It does my nut in too but there is little we can do. Trades are changing for the worst and we are all trying to keep afloat in the rising tide. If that means crossing trades then i'm afraid if i have the skills i will do it. I will do anything i am capable and confident in to make a wage.

Back to the topic tho.
I am a decent enough tiler. I have had enough practice at it and can do as good a job or better than your average site tiler but i had a lot of learning and practice doing hotel bathrooms for 3 years with a wee cornish scouser! who showed me the ropes (we were paid on completion so it became a joint effort). After a wee while we were doing 2 completed bathrooms a day. Suite floor and walls done, 2 of us and a labourer. Hard work but good money, better than i'm doing now.
This was in the late 90's. Wedi board and cement board was a new thing in this country but the wee man had spent 10 years doing up east germany before i met him and was switched on to it all as he had been using it over there.
I learned a lot from him even though i led him off the straight and narrow when we went out at night and i wanted to shg for scotland:lol:

Now if i can't tile a council house bathroom there would be no hope for me but depending on the tiles and the workload i will get a guy in to do it. I have to get him the gear, constantly remind him of the pipe centres and stuff because he is thick, I look at the finished job and think i could have done that better but i keep him on because i hate tiling.

You are a pretty switched on guy with your trade and i can tell you take pride in your work. I've bookmarked your internet page so i may give you a shout in the future.

BTW Ardbeg 10 year old. I think it is evaporating as it is half empty
 
I love a good whisky. The Balvenie was a Christmas present and already half gone!

Whenever I go up to Scotland I do a distillery tour and buy the single malt they produce.
 
Cheers Tam appreciate that, I do like Wedi products not getting the turn I was getting a few years ago masel doubt it will ever come back.

Nice half that too, strange how it evaporates though???? Can tell a good tradesman by what he drinks on a Saturday night :wink:
 
Whenever i go to the shops i buy some malt too. Whatever is on offer with a tenner or so off.
Tend to stick to the peatier Islay ones and some Speysides.
When i first tasted a Laphroaig i nearly had the boak but my taste buds have matured :lol:
 
Resolute said:
I love a good whisky. The Balvenie was a Christmas present and already half gone!

Whenever I go up to Scotland I do a distillery tour and buy the single malt they produce.
Click to expand...

Do like a good Bourbon as well, rumour has it the Mrs has me a bottle of Jim Beam Red Stag for my birthday next week, the heavy hinting leading up to crimbo didnt work and she got my JB black label instead, och well drank it outa politeness.
 
New posts

Similar plumbing topics

E
Trainee Needing work experience
Hi RPM, Gasway were the first company i...
Replies
4
Views
2K
EM1993
E
O
  • Article
Electrician Are at home Level 2 courses actually viable?
Are at home Level 2 courses actually viable...
Replies
0
Views
237
OLG0824
O
S
  • Question
Pura shower head - too much weight for a tiny thread
No photo shown. It is usual to apply ptfe tape...
Replies
1
Views
338
Ben-gee
B
T
Gas safe course portfolio advice
Hi sir i don't suggest you go out on your own...
Replies
1
Views
1K
EM1993
E
F
  • Question
got myself in a muddle! shower bar install
No, don’t just fix into tiles. Drill 6mm hole...
Replies
21
Views
2K
Ben-gee
B
Back
Top