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I'm being made redundant aged 41. Thinking of trying tiling for a living.
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dingabellFree Member
I’m in need of a major career change after being a printer since I left school. I’m trying to think of a career change where I could use my redundancy money to fund a training course. I’m considering tiling and wondered if anyone has actually done a course and then succeeded in making a go of it in the real world? In particular, has anyone used one of the training centres in Surrey, and were they any good? Any stories of anyone else who has been in a similar situation as me would be great, as I’m finding the thought a little bit daunting.
higgoFree MemberHow are your knees?
Are you going to suggest a different profession?
Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition
Latest Singletrack VideosFresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...ashleydwsmithFree MemberI know a chap who used to be a lawyer and that went bad, so as a fill in job he traine dot be a tiler and he is very good and doing very well. He tiled our kitchen and did a great job. He was quite fortunate in that a relative does bathroom and kitchen fits so could put work his way but yeah he is doing well.
projectFree MemberIts an expensive trade if things go wrong or dont look right, smash a few tiles or put some crooked,and your profits gone.
Also its a highly skilled job, so youll need a bit of training and plenty of cash.
wait4meFull MemberFeel your pain dingabell. In same trade and it’s a bit scary looking at such a sketchy future in your 40’s (44). Had a bit of time out of work and promised myself I wouldn’t step foot in another print works. But my lack of imagination held me back and after a few months I realised it was pretty much all I could do, and got out freelancing. It turned out ok and i’ve fallen on my feet to some extent, but i’d grab an opportunity to get out of the game with both hands if i could. Good luck.
plumberFree MemberA good tiler is worth his weight in gold. Having said that I havent come across a half way decent one for 15 years
pottsathomeFree MemberI learnt during my 4 year plastering training. Takes time to become good I ve been at it 15 years and still learn stuff of the old boys. Hard to make money at it now as their are so many people doing a month course and saying that are a tiler
loddrikFree MemberA good tiler is worth his weight in gold. Having said that I havent come across a half way decent one for 15 years
Maybe the vocation we should be looking at is kidnapping tilers…?
Sounds like there’s serious money to be made as I’d imagine gold would be easier to move on than tilers, which don’t melt down too well, or so I’m told.
CoyoteFree MemberMaybe the vocation we should be looking at is kidnapping tilers…?
Strokes beard in contemplation…
glasgowdanFree MemberGo for it.
I was made redundant in September 2009. I was working in environmental consultancy and hated it, hated the environment in the office, the report-writing, the hierarchy and manner in which people sucked up and schmoozed their way to the pointless promotions.
I responded to a gumtree ad for a gardener wanted. I then branded myself and did some marketing, and this kept the bills paid that first winter. By the end of April 2010 I was full time and earning more than I had ever done before in consultancy!
I am now an employer and have around 60 clients, work 12-months a year, a good brand, new(ish) vehicle and equipment, I have been trained in all manner of things that enable me to carry out large-scale professional works that I would never have dreamed of in the beginning.
I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else right now, although the weather this year has been a serious mind-killer.
My advice is to go for it 100%. Get the training and do some basic small jobs to get you in there. Always mention to customers that you are looking for recommendations as a lot of work comes from them (family, friends – I have a lot of clients refer me to their mothers actually!).
Don’t be put off by lack of experience. Spend hours researching equipment, methods and materials. Build a basic website via a wordpress template. Think of a brand name that people will remember, define your geographical area and try and stick to it, and don’t be put off by competitors, as there is ALWAYS space for an honest and thorough tradesperson.
Turn up on time, honour appointments, don’t say you can do something if you can’t, learn to weed out crap jobs on the initial phone call and just say you can’t fit them in, spend £300 on good vehicle signwriting as you’ll get work from people who see the van etc. A nice ford connect-sized van would be perfect.
Keep a close eye on expenditure – every penny out is not going into your pocket.
You can do it, and you’ll never look back.
jon1973Free MemberAlso its a highly skilled job, so youll need a bit of training and plenty of cash.
I’ve done the kitchen and bathroom in my house, and it looks as good, or better that anything I’ve paid anyone to do in the past. Not sure it’s really that highly skilled. It just takes you longer as a DIYer – but I’m sure that comes with time. Right tools for the job is they key.
kimbersFull Memberas someone currently trying to find a decent tiler in west London is say go for it !
projectFree Memberas someone currently trying to find a decent tiler in west London is say go for it !
Descent tiler being the important words, skills take time to build up, and its not done overnight,you need to start small and work up, as a mistake will show and be obvious, people also spend a lot of time sitting or bathing in a bathroom and mis placed or leaning tiles do your head in.
Then there is also the people skills, some tradesmaen have no personality, and some have loads, and usually get more work, are you used to dealing with people.
A chap at a local hospital was a printer, now he cuts the plaster off peoples limbs, with a circular saw, and he has a great easy going personality, puts everyone at ease.
Its s o easy to splash a load of cash on a training course,and proffesioanl tools and a van and get no work, seen it a few times, why not tchat to some tilers and ask them .
Inbred456Free MemberVery hard on the knee’s. Some tilers I know have stopped by their late 30’s, obviously floor tiling being the worst. Do you like riding a bike? I would tend to go towards gardening and landscaping, gets you fit, gets you outside and very hard to mess up.
leffeboyFull MemberI’ve done the kitchen and bathroom in my house, and it looks as good, or better that anything I’ve paid anyone to do in the past. Not sure it’s really that highly skilled. It just takes you longer as a DIYer – but I’m sure that comes with time. Right tools for the job is they key.
I’ve done the same and did as good a job as some pro tilers I’ve seen. I’ve also had good pro tilers in and it’s another level. The problem is a good job takes a bit longer and if you are competing on price then it can be a tough sell. You are going to need good interpersonal skill as well as the tiling ones.
Good luck though. It’s a real pleasure to see people at work when they really have the skills
glasgowdanFree Memberinbred456 – landscaping is very hard to mess up? Are you nuts! It’s one trade where messing it up is almost inevitable if you aren’t highly skilled and trained!
SandwichFull MemberVery, very hard on the knees as Jota180 alludes to above. Can also be bad for the back with lifting boxes of tiles and being crouched over a hot tile saw or laying floor tiles.
Domestic tiling should be less stress on the body, commercial work is a job for youngsters as it can involve laying huge amounts of tile/stone and they are all worked out by their late 30’s (Westfield at Shepherds Bush had acres of floor tiling).ScottCheggFree MemberStrangely, a printer I know left the business to be a tiler.
He recently came back to the printing fold having found the real world a lot less comfy than ink-flinging.
dingabellFree MemberSpeaking with 23 years experience, printing here in the south is far from comfy at the moment, in fact it seems to be dying on it’s arse. Thanks for everone’s comments. I thought of tiling because like others on here I’ve done my bathroom and cloakroom and it wasn’t too shabby really. Obviously I’d need to speed things up a bit, but I’m sure that would come with time, training and the right tools for the job? My friend is also a plumber so I’d be able to at least quote on his bathroom jobs. I just need to get a bit of confidence to make the jump, as I would only want to do it if I thought I could make it work. Hearing how other people have changed careers for the better, is 100% helpfull. I’ll keep my options open, but watch this space. Could be time for a life-change.
kcalFull Membergarden maintenance would have been my choice – as above. or postman ??
FWIW, mate here came out of the RAF technician level – tried it as a tiler – but once he’d bought all the kit, done the training, and obviously started at the bottom of the pile for jobs – found it really hard to break into. He was doing contract work as a means to keep working, but the tiler is one of the last guys to get called on, and he’s get frequently put back a day or two – made it very hard to get regular income. had to travel a lot. When he did the sums after a couple fo years, it wasn’t working out – now back in the RAF as a civvi technician, but glad of the experience I think.
poolmanFree Memberwhat about general property maintenance for all those absent landlords? Get in with the agents & you should be busy from day 1. I’d avoid the specialist stuff like electrics & plumbing & go for the odd jobs, carpet cleaning, painting, toilet fixing etc.
In the blocks I own flats in there are over 100 let flats. Tenants won’t do anything, just get yourself known.
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