Thinking About Getting Into Tile Work

J DoubleD FLoor

I'm already in the flooring business with hardwoods and laminates, and was thinking about trying some tile work. I have an employee who has tile experience and I've done a couple jobs. Just curious if you guys think it's worth it. I've always had family and friend jobs to hone my skills on LOL maybe, just maybe I'll try it on a professional level

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Quality is not expensive ... It's PRICELESS !!!
www.neoflooringco.com

MattCoops

you'll get far more customers
and get more money

tile makes more than wood, laminate, or carpet

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

R&D Tile

A couple of jobs is far from enough experience, hire someone who knows what they have been doing for years, get the TCA handbook and memorize it, there's alot more to know for setting tile CORRECTLY than there is to know from wood and laminates, prep is everything, a failure can cost you thousands, do it right, do it once.

Tom R

Go for it, everybody starts somewhere.

And GOOD LUCK!!

MattCoops

Reading TCA references isnt going to give you experience, but you'll know the rules and regs.
There's people who talk about the job, and there is people that do the job.
Work on some jobs with an old buck with bad knees
He'll show you the ropes.

Also, invest in an MK Diamond wet saw and some kneepads.

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Floorwizard

Learn well, and you will make tons.

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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"

MattCoops

I love the sales guys that know all the regs and codes, they know it all
but are afraid to grab some tools get on their hands and knees and break a sweat

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

pacontractor

How are your knees ? - they will take a lot of wear and tear unless your guys do all the work.

pacontractor

Well Said - take that fist step if it's what you want to do.

bassmaster

Nothing to be afraid of. I just started offering tile this past year. Spent alot time learning & some investment in the right tools.

Made the investment back in no time and It falls in nicely with the other work I offer.

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A bad day on the water is better than a good day at work !

BASSMASTER

mdshunk

Considering that a customer of mine happily paid 20K for a custom tile steam shower and whirlpool surround that both look pretty ordinary to me, I'd say that there must be a few sheckels to be made in tile work. Have at it!

R&D Tile

Better to know how to do it, before breaking a sweat, hands on is still the best way to learn, IF the teacher knows what they are doing, problem is, how would a new comer know this, yes, I know guys in this business for 25 years now, half of them still don't do it right, they start out doing it their way and and that's the way it stays for their entire career, 25 plus years and I'm still learning something new everyday.

J DoubleD FLoor

Thank you all for your responses. I just recently hired on someone who had an extensive background in tile. I believe with him onboard I'll start offering tile. "here goes nothing" Just picture the General Lee (dukes of hazard) in a still shot, in the air, and half way over the river - go to the commercial- we'll be back right after this .... hey it's the weekend and maybe I've had a few to many already

__________________
Quality is not expensive ... It's PRICELESS !!!
www.neoflooringco.com

Tom R

Most guys (like myself) in the trades for over 25 years tend to base whether or not they change their methods on whether or not the very work they have installed has held up for that very 25 years you speak of.

I find it hard to believe that someone would not change their methods if their work was failing on any scale.

I too, - - still learn every day, - - but I also remain (grain-o-salt) skeptical (and for too many good reasons to even name).

Personally, - - I have witnessed 'umpteen' numbers of new methods that have 'failed' just several years after they were all 'hyped-up' by both the marketers and the newcomers (talking about all trades, - - not just floors here).

Example/Prediction - - the new PT wood that's been all hyped-up will be (in fact, already is) eating through it's fasteners and failing every which-a-way, - - and will probably be taken back/replaced with somethin 'all-new' (but not TIME-TESTED) that will be hyped-up even more than 'it' was. Has anyone even noticed (between all the hype), - - that even SIMPSON has 'backed-off' on their wording with their (special) Z-Max fasteners??

Here's another one, - - TYV_K, - - probably the most HYPED-UP product ever witnessed, - - and yet, - - people have found it all but TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED after only 10 years in use. Turns out D_P_nt failed to mention the tiny little detail that it has a chemical reaction with wood that makes it fail. Their latest statement "Put TWO layers"!!

Now if only I could remember all the guys I argued with that "I think I'll just stick to good ole' FELT PAPER"!!

MikeT

Well said Tom....
That is right on the money this one and your previous post We all start somewhere ....