Tilers cover walls and floors with tiles, on construction jobs that can range from tiling a kitchen or bathroom to fitting out a shop, hotel or restaurant. Some tilers also carry out specialist work, for instance on swimming pools and mosaic walls found in landscape gardening.

Tilers follow plans drawn up by an architect, builder or designer. A typical job involves the following tasks:

• marking out (known as setting out) an area to estimate the amount of tiles and adhesive needed
• cutting tiles to size and shape with hand-cutters or bench-mounted tools
• preparing surfaces by levelling off with plaster, sand or cement
• fixing the wall or floor tiles and applying the grout before finishing off.

If tilers are working on a restoration job, they may have to repair or remove the previous surface before the setting out stage.

Tilers work with a lot of different building materials, including ceramics, glass, terracotta, stone, granite and marble. On large projects, tilers work in teams, and they often work with other construction tradespeople like plasters or carpenters, for example when kitchen fitting or shopfitting.

Hours and Environment

Tilers normally work between 37 and 45 hours a week, Monday to Friday, although overtime may be available to meet contract deadlines.

Tiling can be physically demanding work, which includes lifting heavy loads. You will normally wear personal protective clothing when working with adhesives and grout.

You will travel between sites for jobs and some contracts may involve working away from home for periods of time.

Skills and Interests

To be a tiler, you need:

• good practical skills
• the ability to follow design plans 
• the ability to measure accurately and pay attention to detail
• good numerical skills for calculating quantities of materials and costs 
• a creative approach and appreciation for design
• a reasonable level of fitness
• the ability to work as part of a team and alone
• a pleasant manner for dealing with clients
• an awareness of health and safety
• the ability to keep paperwork and accounts up to date if self-employed.

Entry

There are no set entry requirements for becoming a tiler, but employers tend to look for people with some on-site experience. If you have not worked in construction before, then you may want to consider working as a labourer to gain site experience. Once working, the employer may be willing to offer you training in tiling (see the Training section below).

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme with a building or tiling firm. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you may need some GCSEs/S grades in subjects such as maths, English and design and technology, or equivalent vocational qualifications like the Edexcel Introductory Certificate or Diploma in Construction.

Some colleges offer a Intermediate Construction Award (Tiling), which is open to all ages. This can teach you some of the skills needed for the job, but employers may still want to see some experience. Check with ConstructionSkills and your local colleges for more details.

You can find a list of accredited tiling training centres on the Tile Association website in Further Information. 

ConstructionSkills has more information about construction careers and qualifications, and the Equal Opportunities Commission is promoting the construction trades as a career option for women through its Know Your Place campaign.

Training

Once you are working as a tiler, you can train on the job, with day or block release at a local college or training centre. You can work towards the NVQs/SVQs in Wall and Floor Tiling at levels 2 and 3, by combining your training with assessments in the workplace.

To achieve the NVQ/SVQ you must pass several units, including:

• setting out
• preparing surfaces
• positioning and fixing wall and floor tiles
• mosaics finishes.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
By 2010, workers within the construction sector must hold a CSCS card or register with an affiliated scheme. Many construction firms and their clients already insist that workers have a relevant card to work on site. To get your card, you must hold an NVQ/SVQ or acceptable equivalent and pass a health and safety assessment.

Your card will be graded according to your qualifications and experience. If you are an experienced worker without formal qualifications, you can use On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) to get your card.

For details about the CSCS scheme, gradings, equivalent qualifications and applications, contact CSCS or SkillsDirect. See the ConstructionSkills website for more information about the health and safety test, training providers, OSAT and EWPA.

Opportunities

Most tilers work for specialist tiling contractors who provide services to the construction industry, directly to businesses and to individual householders.

With additional training, you may be able to progress to site supervision, clerk of works or contract management. You may also have options to work as an NVQ/SVQ trainer and assessor on tiling courses. Self-employment is another common option.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries for tilers are between £11,500 and £16,000 a year.
With qualifications, this can rise to between £17,500 and £22,000.
Tilers with supervisory or training duties can earn up to £25,000.

Wage rates may be higher if bonuses, shift allowances and overtime are included.

Further information

Tel: 0870 417 8777 Tel: 0870 8505262 Bircham Newton
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 01485 577577