Tiling News

Topps Tiles cuts half-year dividend

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-05-30T07:38:34+01:00

The UK's biggest tile and wood floor retailer Topps Tiles has cut its half-year dividend in response to tougher economic conditions. Topps said the change in its dividend policy - resulting in a reduced payment to shareholders of 3p a share from 3.75p a year ago - reflected a "more prudent approach" in the current climate. It also reported a 3% drop in like-for-like revenues since the start of April, weaker than the 0.9% fall for the first half of the financial year. Pre-tax profits for the six months were £15.8 million, down from £18.7 million in 2007. Topps said the business had shown resilience in the face of weakening consumer spending, with revenues including shop openings ahead 4% at £106.3 million. It added: "Whilst the board does not anticipate the environment changing dramatically in the short term, we have a proven and resilient business model." Topps said ten new UK stores opened in the half-year to March 29, taking its number of outlets in the UK to 311. There are also 20 sites in Holland. It vowed to maintain its cautious approach to operational activities, but said it still remained on track for 20 new UK openings over the financial year. Topps said the dividend change provided it with sufficient financial flexibility to support its plans for growth. The Leicestershire-based firm has also boosted its marketing efforts, including through a new campaign on ITV promoting the business under the Tiling the Nation strapline. The additional £1 million spent on advertising meant operating profits for the half-year fell to £20.8 million, a decline of 2.3%. Topps Tiles was founded in Manchester in 1963 by chairman Barry Bester and Stuart Williams.

Wall Tiling Course Review PITT- Conclusion

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-05-23T10:33:38+01:00

The PITT wall tiling course sets out to teach people the correct way to tile. They cover the best working practices, setting out procedures, application techniques through to finishing the whole project. And all of this is done clearly and succinctly mostly using techniques and tools that are very inexpensive. I particularly liked the whole emphasis on hand tools to make cuts and smoothing edges. And like all the other PITT courses I've attended I was pleased that they felt no need to pressurise course members into buying tools or products from them, even though there is a tools and adhesive showroom right outside the training rooms. As always all instructors and staff are very friendly and welcoming and above all understanding of each persons needs and abilities. The premises and facilities are kept spotlessly clean and the lunches included within the course fee are simple fantastic. And though I've wrote all these reviews from a students point of view, I'm without doubt knowledgeable and experienced in tiling and the construction industry and can honestly state that the courses run by PITT are a perfect starting point for any budding tiler. Most certainly a place I would recommend to any future employees to attend. Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Conclusion For more details on the PITT Wall Tiling Course click here. You can also leave feedback on this course here PITT Wall Tiling Course Feedback I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. Review by Dave M. Carr [e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Wall Tiling Course Review PITT- Day Five

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-05-23T10:13:33+01:00

This is the last day of the PITT wall tiling course and there is like all the other PITT courses plenty to cover on the final day. The first thing we cover is grouting our walls. After a thorough demonstration on the use of epoxy and cement based grouts, including the application and cleaning of the tiles after grouting, it is time to have a go ourselves. I can see most the other course members are having fun with this task, others a little more frustrated as they find the new tools that bit different to what they are used to. But either they are all learning a valuable skill that only gets easier with practice. After the process of grouting and the grout has firmed up, the course members start to wash down the grout residue and clean off. Jason takes us through a quick demonstration of the application of silicone sealant and variety of different techniques to apply sealant. There's also information on what to look for in a good silicone as they not all created equally. It's at this point that the movement joint we've created becomes clear as Jason explains in depth the requirements for movement joints and the correct construction of them. He also explains how many tilers still do them incorrectly. After another quick demonstration of fixing mosaics it is into a lengthy lesson of identifying substrates. The identifying substrates lesson really is a crucial part of tiling as Jason clearly and thoroughly explains each substrate and the required primers, adhesives to be used with each substrate. There is also plenty of information about the safe load capacities of each substrate, again something that many tilers simply do not know. Following plenty of time for questions and answers the is the certificate presentation. Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Conclusion For more details on the PITT Wall Tiling Course click here. You can also leave feedback on this course here PITT Wall Tiling Course Feedback I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk

Wall Tiling Course Review PITT- Day Four

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-05-23T09:34:25+01:00

The whole of the fourth day of the PITT wall tiling course is given over to tiling our bays. With great emphasis and instruction on tiling in and around a window. Jason is constantly doing the rounds within the bays ensuring all the course members are fully happy with the tasks at hand, I can hear in the other bays that there's plenty of advice and hands on tips being offered. It's always good to go over the things you're not sure about and Jason has no problem spending extra time to explain things fully. I have noticed that all of the course members are doing very well, their tiling progressing nicely. Our instructor Jason takes the process of tiling around a window step by step. PITT's method of tiling a window is a tried and tested method that I've used many times before and I have no doubt that if the rest of the course follow the technique they'll be able to tackle windows with relative ease. There's also good instruction on measuring, cutting and installing tile trim. Doing this properly makes all the difference to the finish. I like how the course is paced with plenty of time to allow everyone the time to get the knack of fixing tiles. Some people are just naturally handy; others are not. And the time PITT allow is ideal for those who want to fix a tile, realise it's not perfect and want to remove and try again. I can definitely say it is better to learn the real basics well than to have a huge array of skills thrown at you in a short space of time. Jason is also full of time saving tricks which are of genuine benefit, naturally Jason is more than happy to show each individual the techniques. The last thing we cover today is the different types of grouts available, as we will start with grouting in the morning. There's a lot of information on grouts, how different grouts are more suitable than others in certain scenarios, flexibility requirements and potential hazards surrounding grouts. All in all a very thorough lesson on the materials needed to complete the work. ...For more details on the PITT Wall Tiling Course click here. You can also leave feedback on this course here PITT Wall Tiling Course Feedback I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

Wall Tiling Course Review PITT- Day Three

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-29T12:19:48+01:00

First thing Wednesday, Jason quickly recaps on the setting out we've already covered. I like how PITT put so much emphasis on setting out and preparation, it really is the key to a successful finish. Next on PITT's wall tiling course is learning how to set out for vertical joints. Again Jason is clearly demonstrating the correct procedure of how to use our tile staff to determine the best cut sizes and what things need to be considered. There are various methods discussed, PITT's way, the NVQ way and wrap around setting out, the wrap around would prove very helpful with the recent ranges from Porcelanosa which need a continuous flow of pattern. As always there's plenty of practical involved to reinforce the knowledge learned over the first few days. During this practical we also set up the tile lines and support our straight edges to create a solid base from which to tile from. We are all issued with notched trowels (platinum for myself) and bucket trowels for the adhesive. Once we've got our bays set up, we are ready to watch the next demonstration which involves Jason teaching the course how to apply adhesive to the wall. The process is covered in full right from using the bucket trowel to remove the adhesive to applying to the notched trowel to spreading the adhesive on the wall and combing in a uniform direction. It is also explained why we need to keep the combing in one direction rather than random patterns or spirals. Great emphasis placed on working cleanly, which I highly approve of as it is a pet hate to see dirty tiles and tools. Next comes instruction on how to actually fix the tiles to the wall, Jason does a few courses to give a clear example on the correct way to place, space and align the tiles. ...I'm very impressed with the depth of the demonstrations and how clearly everything is explained. And it's very obvious that the rest of the course are absorbing the information as quick as it given, with just a few questions that are quickly and easily answered. The whole of the afternoon is given over to the tiling of our bays. We all work at different speeds so plenty of time has been allotted to the tiling practical, again with emphasis on working clean and trying to produce a first attempt to be proud of. The first obstacle to tile around will be our windows, we'll be tiling into the reveals and applying trim to the edges and allowing for movement joints. ...You can also leave feedback on this course here PITT Wall Tiling Course Feedback I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

Wall Tiling Course Review PITT- Day Two

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-28T16:22:11+01:00

Jason starts this morning with a recap on yesterdays setting out lessons, after a quick practice we move onto further information on setting out the walls. This time we are going to find out how to deal with obstacles and features and work out the best horizontal joints. The lesson is clearly demonstrated and explained by Jason as he breaks each step down into bite size pieces, this makes it easier for novices to grasp the fundamentals of the exercise. Firstly we are shown how to use our tile staff to find the cut sizes around the obstacles in our bays, there's plenty to work out. We've got cuts around showers, shower trays, windows, vents, not forgetting the floor and ceiling to mark and measure. After we've had a practice in our own bays it's time to move around one bay and start the whole process from the start. Jason wants us to fully understand everything we've covered so far and have to deal with obstacles of different dimensions. Practice makes perfect and by time we've marked the second bay the course members are starting to get a better grasp of the setting out. Next we need to adjust the set out to get the best possible cuts. Jason again clearly explains how we achieve this through a demonstration that he repeats a couple of times, just clarifying a few queries. ...But eventually I think personal preference would determine which system you'd use, as each is as accurate as the next. ... So now we've got to find the best possible cuts sizes for our bays, when we think we've cracked it, Jason drops in to check the accuracy and to check our process of finding the sizes. After another scrumptious lunch there's still a few puzzled faces from the other course members. Jason takes us through a short recap of the setting out, but just long enough as he doesn't want the course delegates to get too bogged down; he knows all this new knowledge will sink in later. We've got a few lessons this afternoon that are a little less mentally intensive, purposely planned this way it is worth noting. The first is on the various trowels available and where you would use them. ... Even though this is a lighter section of the day, there's still a lot of information and advice to absorb and make notes on. ...Including notes on priming, tile sizes and how to spec out a job with the correct adhesives. ...You can also leave feedback on this course here PITT Wall Tiling Course Feedback I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

Wall Tiling Course Review PITT- Day One

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-28T13:42:03+01:00

Today is the start of the PITT Wall Tiling Course and it is the third course that I have attended and reviewed at the PITT training centre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. ... I find this first 20 minutes an ideal time to break the ice with the other course delegates and find out what they are wanting achieve and what if any tiling experience they've had. This course has a few less members on it than the floor tiling course which I reviewed, which to be honest I prefer as it gives that feel of greater individual attention and focus. ...PITT tiling instructor Jason takes us through the health and safety requirements of the course, the availability of first aid and fire exits are also covered in full detail. ...With many training courses no matter what the subject, members are often a little nervous or apprehensive. ...But even though I've plenty of experience of tiling, there's often things I've either forgotten or become distanced from through lack of use. One of those is the manual cutting of tiles; I always use a dry cutter or a wet saw. But Jason (Jase) has taken us all back the an even more manual approach to cutting tiles, a method I've not used for many years; with just a tile scribe and our hands. ...After mastering the manual tile cutting we are then taught the correct and most effective way to use nippers. ... Sure enough Jason starts by getting us to cut a few key cuts, U cuts and later on curves of very degrees of difficulty. For the course delegates this has proved to be an excellent learning process and introduces them to one of the tilers indispensable tools. Norma has laid out a fresh buffet lunch full of healthy variety (all included within the cost of the course) and this gives all the course members a chance to discuss the course so far. I can tell the others are very excited about what they've learned this morning with many of them not realising such tools were available. ...Jason also shows the course how to make a center cut out of a tile with a lock boy and carbide hammer, these I again I haven't used for a while. But nonetheless they still useful tools and techniques to use and understand, especially if you get caught out with electricity. ...We're are taught how to set out the room, but only up to a point as Jason doesn't want any brains too overloaded. I was glad to see that PITT teach a method very similar to what I currently use, and I've never failed to get a room well set out. ...With anything new you need to practice to make full sense of it all, and I was glad to see the other course members working in their bays, marking their datum lines and finding the highs and lows of the room. From what I could hear, many didn't expect there would be some much involved with tiling; this comment was echoed many times through out the week. ...I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

Plumbing Course Review PITT - Conclusion

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-26T13:55:58+01:00

You can leave feedback on this course here PITT Plumbing Course Feedback This has been a really hard course to write about, why? For a few simple reasons, there was just so much to take in. Both from plumbing knowledge stance as the PITT course really does try to cram in as much content as physically possible within those 5 days. And because of the level of information coming from the instructor John Kimberley, much of which I really believe he tailors to the individual because I could see him relating to various course members slightly differently and using subtly different anecdotes and examples to explain both the theory and the practical sides to his trade. A very patient, understanding and intelligent teacher who really knew how to convey the sometimes difficult subjects in the easiest of ways, very much more than your average tradesman. Overall this course does exactly what it says on the tin. If you want to learn how to remove and refit bathrooms and water piping within a domestic setting then this is an ideal course for you and one that would put you in a very good position to take this new knowledge into either your workplace or your own projects. I wouldn't hesitate for a second in recommending this course or any other service provided by Paul Riley's team at PITT. And I have to commend PITT for not forcing other aspects of their business, such as the tools supply onto the delegates as this was left very low key and entirely up to the individuals discretion whether to purchase or not. That being said the tools package they specified did include an excellent range of tools from the best brands and at very keen prices, plus you'd have the tools support from their trades-direct staff. Naturally a big thank you to Norma for all the fantastic catering and the immaculately clean coffee area and lunch room, believe me the course really did appreciate the relaxing environment. Throughout the week the whole building was kept spotlessly clean all the staff were friendly, polite and genuinely helpful and I looking forward to my PITT Wall Tiling course the following week. For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five | Conclusion Review by Dave M. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Plumbing Course Review PITT - Day Five

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-26T13:21:33+01:00

You can leave feedback on this course here PITT Plumbing Course Feedback That's the basin fully connected and working on the radiator, overnight I think all the knowledge has sunk in that bit more and I'm pretty much flying along with the installation, especially when you consider I've not done any plumbing before. I've managed all the pipe bends with ease and soldered all the joints as cleanly as a novice can and they survived the air test for a whole two minutes before one of the solder joints blew; at least my installation wasn't full of what at the time. But what a godsend air testing is, without it I reckon the solder would have held for a while before starting a slow leak. A quick re-solder and the repair is complete. Now it's time to fill the system will water and as I open the valve I have to admit to being a little nervous, but I needn't have worried as not a drop was spilt. I've bled my radiator and the toilet flushes perfectly. Basin taps and waste work a treat, not a leak in sight! During lunch I was suggesting to the other course members that maybe John would be downstairs in the training room rigging our installations for leaks, just so that we could learn to cope with even more snags. Little did I know that before I finished my lunch, someone had done just that to my job, a few smiling faces; all in the name of fun. And I learned how to cope with the leaks as well. After completing our installation, John took us through the removal and re-installation of a bath and a whole host of things to look for the ensure that we don't get caught out. The last thing before we get our certificates, John opens the floor for questions and answers to go through anything we're are not sure of. There was only a few things raised, but as usual John is only too happy to full explain and put our minds at ease. For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five | Conclusion ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Plumbing Course Review PITT - Day Four

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-26T12:32:45+01:00

You can leave feedback on this course here PITT Plumbing Course Feedback Day four of the PITT Plumbing Course and we're in to the real meat of the course now with the start of the actual installation. So you can see what PITT and John have been trying to achieve with this course by putting all the required techniques and skills and knowledge into our heads for the first half of the week, so that we understand what we're are doing on the installation. Firstly it's a case of getting out all the required sanitary ware, naturally with every piece that moves from storage into our hands comes complete with an explanation, an anecdote and John's own twist on things; there's just somethings you can't learn from a book. For the installation we'll be working in our bays and fitting a pan and cistern, a radiator and basin and all the required piping to strict measurements. John has us all working one task at a time after he's demonstrated the task to a few course members at a time to ensure they can see properly, after all there's only so many people who can crowd around one man, so John's repeating the notes and demos where required. With the tips that John's been dispatching over the last few days some elements of the installation are proving really quite simple and most importantly enjoyable. Overall the class is very laid back and taking the task within their stride, working quietly along to the radio. During the breaks I took the liberty to ask the other delegates about the knowledge they were learning and how they thought it would help them in their careers. Needless to say they are of the same opinion as myself in that the course provides an excellent learning experience, especially at the price and duration. By the end of the day we've got our cistern and pan located and connected, including all the internal fittings as well as learning about different syphons and ball valves, we've also got the radiator and basin positioned, tomorrow we'll be piping it all up. You may be thinking that we've been taking our time doing the installation, but there's been a whole lot of demonstrations and learning along the way, which we've all required to do the installation correctly. For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five | Conclusion Review by Dave M. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

TilerSpace Plaguarised

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-26T07:11:56+01:00

We always new that TilerSpace.com would be an excellent tool for all tilers and those who work with the tiling industry. So we had to smile when we saw a direct copy of our site this morning; even using the very same software to create it. But as they say 'it is easier to aspire than inspire' and it just so happens we have the inspiration and the vision to create exciting tools. No doubt they'll look to copy some of the things we'll be publishing in the next few months.

Plumbing Course Review PITT - Day Three

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-22T18:30:26+01:00

You can leave feedback on this course here PITT Plumbing Course Feedback Day three begins with lessons on combination boiler systems and condensing boilers. John starts from where the rising main enters the building and clearly describes the waters passage to the cold water taps and the supply to the boiler. I've to say this system is far easier than yesterdays and within minutes we're clearly able to see how the radiators are connected on a combination system. John also takes us completely through the procedure for removing radiators, changing fittings and replacing taps and how to do it all without damage to the boiler or too much water loss. Ever wondered how to get inhibitor into a sealed system like a combi system? Well after this lesson I now know, and if you're wondering how to tell the difference between the boiler types and how to refill a combination boiler after draining the water; this is all covered in an easy to follow way. Again I'm fleeting over the details of this morning lessons as they are literally packed with information and I'd be here for hours typing the full contents. After another fine lunch, John sets us a small task of bending pipes through a series of holes that connect to pipes on the rear of the board and all to strict dimensions, failure to keep the bends to the correct angle and pipes to the correct length, will result in the small system refusing to fit correctly. At first this seemed a rather easy little task, but in reality was quite challenging as it encompassed many different bends and at various places along the pipe; not just at the ends. There's plenty of time allotted to this task to ensure that we fully grasp the importance of the task and the skills necessary to achieve a satisfactory fit. It's worth stressing that John is very keen on best working practices, working safely, working cleanly and there's always an emphasis on looking after the customers property, this as I'm sure you'll agree is most important to both new and established businesses. For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five | Conclusion Review by Dave M. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Plumbing Course Review PITT - Day Two

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-21T18:33:47+01:00

You can leave feedback on this course here PITT Plumbing Course Feedback ...We cover why there is a need for a waste, what they are made from and their different designs and how to connect them. John also demonstrates push fit and solvent weld styles and the pro's and con's to each system and where he would use each system. We also cover wastes for different applications such as sinks, baths and showers and the new Hepworth waste which would prove very useful in space restrictive areas. Then we're onto a conventional vented central heating system. The class starts from where the rising main enters the property and we follow it's path through the house, John clearly explains where all the associated tanks are kept, what they feed and the water regulations concerned with this type of system. There is an awful lot of information in this lesson as we trace the inlets and outlets from the hot water cylinder, the use of the three-way valves and the schematics of how the radiators are connected to the system. It may seem like I'm glossing over the finer details of this lesson, but for good reason; I'd be typing for hours. By the end John's lesson on conventional vented central heating systems we have a firm understanding of how hot and cold water is fed to both the kitchen and bathroom areas (including regulations and water pressures) and how to stop the flow of water, increase the pressure and drain down to remove taps or damaged pipes. John's also covered the central heating side of the system and demonstrated how to remove a radiator and refit. This demonstration also included useful tips on draining down and ways to 'bung' the system. We have also learned how install a shower properly so the hot water doesn't fade away when another member of the household draws hot water downstairs. Again John's opened my eyes with the ballofix valves fitted in my bathroom and how they're possibly hampering my showers performance; should have fitted 'full bore' varieties. After lunch John's shows us all how to bend pipe with the Hillmor pipe bender or 'wrestling the Octopus' as someone called it. This may seem like a very easy task, but there's far more involved in this essential skill for plumbing. John's explains how we create 90 degree bends, offsets and how to direct the copper pipe. There's quite a lot of practice time allotted for this task; and with good reason. I have to say that while my bends and offsets came out where they should, it did take some practice and I'd definitely say the additional practice payed off later in the week when we did the bathroom fit. For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

Plumbing Course Review PITT - Day One

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-20T17:20:36+01:00

You can leave feedback on this course here PITT Plumbing Course Feedback The PITT plumbing course is designed to teach the removal and refitting of a bathroom suite in a domestic setting, which was I now know encompasses most of the plumbing within the domestic household. Naturally central heating systems are also covered. The first thing I notice when going through the PITT entrance is that the showroom has been completed, please see the photos attached. Not you average training centre reception I'm sure you would agree. ...After meeting the rest of the guys on the course up in the coffee area, the day begins with Jason detailing the health and safety assessments carried out, fire procedures and availability of first aiders. The training area for the plumbing course has training bays around the perimeter of the room, with a central seating area for theory lessons and powerpoint presentations, they are also displays of a conventional heating system, a bath, a shower and central heating controls. There is also a large range of pipe fittings and sundries to the front of the training area. From here John Kimberley our course tutor takes over and begins with a comprehensive breakdown of required tools for plumbing, what they are called and what they are needed for. John has a very visual teaching style in that he likes to show you exactly what he's talking about and demonstrates how tools / fittings would be used; this was a great help to people like myself who've never really attempted plumbing or the use of the tools. After the tool breakdown, John takes up through a powerpoint presentation of pipe fittings of end feed, compression, solder ring and push fit varieties. The presentation is also backed up with John showing us actual fittings and explained why and when they would be used. This information is also in the supplied booklet. John also clearly explains about soil pipes and how to connect to them and the various types of soil in the domestic market. Later in the day we have soldering practice, where we have free reign to solder various pipes together with bends and couplers. I've always thought that soldering would be a tricky thing to learn; not in the slightest. John first takes us through the fire precautions and potential hazards involved with flux, solder and blow torches, after that he goes through a few simple and clear demonstrations of the soldering process and then it's off to our own bays for a try. The blowtorch we are using is the Rothenberger Sure Fire 2 which seems to whip the flame around the pipe, soldering is a breeze. For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

TilerSpace

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-17T19:31:45+01:00

We've recently created the TilerSpace website which aims to link tilers with plumbers, bathroom fitters, other tilers and those who sell tiling related products. You can sign up for FREE and upload your portfolio photos, videos and post blogs, news and articles. Basically it's an excellent free self promotion tool aimed at tilers, you sign up and show the world what you can do through photos, articles etc. The more news and blog posts you submit the more exposure you get. Each post will notify around 5000 other sites of your post. You can create events, so if your doing a demo or have an open day at a property you've developed, get the event created and let people know about. You can also create groups both private and public and invite those into you want or have it open to all. For example say you want have a group for tilers in Aberdeenshire where you can recommend each other or your chosen trade professionals - you can do that easily. So if you want to generate extra buzz to your business or website, get signed up and start filling out your profile; what do you have to lose? Sign up for FREE here

Chalk Hog 100 Review

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-09T13:48:31+01:00

I've been using the Chalk Hog 100 by C.H. Hanson quite extensively over the last few weeks, so far as ditching the straight line laser for this tool. You could be asking what is special about a chalk line. Well for a start this is more than just a chalk line, it also includes a pencil sharpener which always comes in handy, rapid line winder and the ability to screw in a whole bottle of chalk which saves mess. Naturally you can just pour chalk in and screw in the bung like a standard chalk line, but I've stuck with the ease of bottle. The line is far superior to the standard string types. Being a braided nylon cord it seems to trap the chalk inside and drops very little when being spooled out and leaves a nice visible line when snapped. As I've already mentioned this is a braided cord so it really does snap back strongly, unlike string which after a while refuses to do much of anything useful. The winder is very fast and retrieves the line with little effort, on the side of the winding handle is a free spooling button. This allows you to pull the line out with the handle leaving it's stop position or spinning around madly in the palm of your hand. So far I've used the Chalk Hog on a variety of substrates with great results. It made marking out floors for Woodtech tiles from Porcelanosa a breese with the lines being highly visible. Lines where equally as visible on skimmed plaster and ply wood and made lining up with existing tile courses very easy. The only thing really to watch for when loaded with a bottle of chalk, is to ensure that the chalk housing is not too full of chalk. Otherwise the line can't be wound back in as it's crammed with chalk. A quick shake rectifies this problem, just remember to shake it to re-chalk the line rather than overfill. Review by Dave M. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Tylow Review

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-08T17:28:38+01:00

The Tylow is a simple enough idea that aims to replace the long established tile spacer. Whilst the spacer has been around for a few years in many different sizes they all come back to pretty much the same design style; a white plastic cross. Some tilers like myself simply use the spacer as a small handle inserted into the grout joints and remove before grouting; others insert the spacer into the intersection of the four tiles believing this to keep the tiles square. Either way the tile spacer is not exactly high tech nor 100% accurate especially with tiles that have uneven sides where the spacer can if not watched fall into low points or ride the high points of the tile edge. The Tylow is completely different from the spacer in the fact that it's made from a clear acrylic strip that's scored at 50mm intervals. The aim is that you can use the Tylow as either a 900mm continuous strip or break pieces off to the size required. At present the Tylow is only available in 2mm thicknesses which is ideal for wall tiling, but can be doubled up for thicker joints. For £4.69 you get six strips of 900mm which break down into 108 50mm spacers, which are obviously reusable so the initial purchase price would be recouped quickly. Being clear you can see through to the tiles below to check the perps and used a continuous length it is well suited to uneven tiles where it will ride all the high points to give you a little uniformity. When I used the Tylows on a small toilet tiling project I found them to work well with 200mm x 150mm tiles, where I used 50mm pieces keeping everything nice and aligned. The Tylows where also easy to remove from the joints; certainly no harder than the traditional tile spacer, adhesive was cleaned off with ease (as long as you don't leave it on for too long, then you'll need to scrape!) My method of tiling involves me feeling for lippage with neighbouring tiles, I then twist and move the tile into position, by using the Tylow as a complete strip I found I wasn't able to do this, but I think this could be down to my technique. You can still see if there is lippage; I like to feel it rather than see it. Tiling was certainly quicker with the Tylows as I was only adding two Tylows per tile rather than four spacers to ensure squareness and a lot less fiddly. Personally I'd like to see some more thicknesses available with maybe a different colour for each thickness or at least a 3mm for floors (BS minimum for floors), then you could create a 5mm quite easily. Hopefully they'll get their fledgling product out to the masses and be able to increase the size range and bring the price down a little (tilers are tight). From now on I'll be using these as a 2mm spacer until they get some more thicknesses available as I reckon you'd lose the speed increase gained by doubling / tripling up, I just hope that other tilers will give them a fighting chance as I know all too well how stubborn and unwilling to change tilers can be, even when the gains are staring them in the face. Excellent little product from two brothers who are ex-tilers, for more details see http://www.tylows.co.uk ...[w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk

Travis Perkins acquires Tile It All

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-04-03T17:03:33+01:00

Acquisition provides opportunity to become a 'major force' in this attractive and growing market, says Travis Perkins chief executive. Travis Perkins has announced the acquisition of Tile It All (UK) Ltd ('Tile It All') from Stephen and Shirley Bell. Stephen Bell was managing director. After selling the entire share capital, Mr Bell will step aside and the business will be run by new md, Mo Iqbal formerly of Tile Giant. Tile It All is a retailer of tiles and accessories, which trades from 16 outlets predominantly in the North East of England and Scotland. Earnings for the year ended 30 April 30, 2007 amounted to £1.3m; gross assets were £3.2m. "Tile It All complements our existing portfolio of recently acquired tile businesses, Tile Giant and Tile Magic," the company said in a statement. "The acquisition represents an excellent geographic fit and significantly increases our move towards full national coverage. Together, our tile businesses now operate from 67 stores across the country." Geoff Cooper chief executive of Travis Perkins said: "Under the entrepreneurial leadership of Managing Director, Mo Iqbal, our tile businesses are set to become a major force in this attractive and growing market."

Tomecanic Supercoup

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-29T12:07:28+00:00

The Tomecanic Supercoup tile cutter is our current favourite tile cutter for larger tiles. Take a look at this short video while we spend just a little bit more time reviewing their products.

Floor Tiling Course Review PITT - Conclusion

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-29T10:09:38+00:00

Here my final thoughts and overall conclusion of the P-ITT floor tiling course that I've attended for the past week. You can leave feedback about this course here PITT Floor Tiling Course Feedback Firstly I'd like to wish all my fellow students all the best on their new careers and truly hope they succeed and prove to be great professional tilers. There's a number of things to commend P-ITT on, so here's a quick run down. (note P-ITT were refitting the entrance area at the time, which caused no disruption to the course) The staff and instructors were all very friendly, supportive, polite and above all professional. The premises were not only kept very clean but also featured an nice dining area with a travertine floor and coffee and buffet area with a slate floor and very clean toilets. The buffet lunches that were included in the cost of the course were excellent to say the least with most of the course getting 3rd's or 4th's most days. Many thanks to Norma for keeping us all so well fed! Naturally there was unlimited tea & coffee throughout the course and a daily selection of papers and trade magazines. And even though Trades-Direct is located within the same premises as the training course, there was never a case of 'only buy from us' or 'buy this, buy that'. Of course there are tool packages available but that is left entirely to you to decide to purchase with no pressure. I'd also like to mention that for a company director Paul Riley is very hands on and always approachable and I think this was of definite benefit to the course members to have such an experienced tiler available to give advice and ideas. It's very apparent from day one that he's very passionate about his courses and from all accounts he's always looking for ways to improve yet further. I have no doubt that if I did find fault with anything the team would listen and improve where necessary. So I'm sure you can tell from the last few days that I'm happy with the course, its contents and the instructors and their teaching methods and the overall emphasis on British Standards and 'best practices'. As a result I've already booked and paid for P-ITT's plumbing course and as soon as I have a free week I'll be paying for their wall tiling course. I'm also looking to get most of my work colleagues on the courses as I'm sure they would learn buckets just as I did. From someone who can tile and very well if I'd like to boast, I'll definitely recommend P-ITT's floor tiling course to anyone who's either looking to get into tiling or is already a tiler; remember yearly courses are tax deductible!! I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process. Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Conclusion

Floor Tiling Course Review PITT - Day 5

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-29T09:01:22+00:00

Day five of the P-ITT floor tiling course and it's been busy with lots of information packed topics covered. ...Then it's time for a demonstration of the correct way to apply grout to the floor with tips on how to make the task easier and what to look for to ensure the joints are filled. As the grout starts to stiffen up, Jason then demonstrates the ideal way to use a washboy and the need for a decent sponge and spongeboard; most of the students haven't seen a washboy. Nick who I was working with was very impressed with the washboy and I think the whole exercise will help him greatly on future jobs. Again the technique P-ITT uses with the washboy is very slightly different to my own; but easier on the muscles than my way! Once the clean has been completed and we're all happy with the process and the need for cleaning up we are then onto a lengthy lesson on underfloor heating. ...We cover a variety of types including water based systems, electrical wire, mat and foil systems and the pro's and con's to each of them. ... Most of the students hadn't heard of this, so Jason explained this area fully and detailed what can and can't be done by a tiler without Part P accreditation. I was very glad to know P-ITT share my thoughts on tiling straight over electrical wire matting and the problems that it causes not only with the increased risk of damaging cables but also the difficulty in complying with British Standards for complete coverage of adhesive. Fixing methods for underfloor heating elements were fully covered along with instructions for screeding and leveling compounds, including a slide show presentation of works in progress where heating elements where being used. ...Removing tiles and how to repair damaged caused when removing the said tiles was a short but informative lesson, which covered what is a regular little job. ...The lesson included what can be tiled to and what to use and of course substrates that are not suitable for tiling. How to identify the substrates was an important element as many had never heard of a greater majority of the terms used; but all was explained. ...Wet rooms, this for me was a very good lesson and indeed a little bit of a revelation as I'd been doing these in a much more difficult way. During the course of the lesson Jason explained how to construct a basic wet room and form the required slopes, how and where to apply the tanking and what the required adhesive and grouts are. All in all an excellent day with a lot of content covered, but covered at a pace that I think all could cope with. To complete the course there was a question and answer session after which where Paul explained about the technical support line that is available to all P-ITT students 91 hours per week. This feature in itself is worth a fortune, to know you can call someone for help when your in the mire or just plain lost on what to do. Paul also asked the class if they were happy with the course and if there was anything they weren't clear on. ...Each day of the course will be reviewed so please continue to read, for more details of the floor tiling course click here

BeadBuddy Review

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-29T07:47:59+00:00

The BeadBuddy is a simple device that fits on the end of your silicone or caulk tube, enabling you to achieve angles up to 45 degrees without having to compromise your stance or balance. We've tried the BeadBuddy with decorators caulk and silicone and found it to be a great little tool, especially where you would need to reach behind baths, the sides of architrave and those awkward spaces where normally you'd not be able to get your gun into position. Because the device is only around 75mm in length, it is relatively easy to clean out once the sealant has cured; you simply drag it out and clean through. So how does the BeadBuddy work? Well there's not much to it. If you look at the photos you'll see a little black tube with a yellow knuckle joint, this fixes between the tube and the nozzle with a screw thread. The yellow knuckle allows you to move the nozzle into different angles quickly and easily and the joint is stiff enough to keep the angle, so there's little risk of the nozzle shifting while application of sealant is being performed. A very useful tool for any tiler. More information can be found on the Bromley Adhesives website Review by Dave M. Carr [e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Floor Tiling Course Review PITT - Day 4

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-29T07:10:05+00:00

Day four of the P-ITT floor tiling course has begun with the completion of our floor tiling, including cutting around a circular obstacle. The cutting and shape finding of this is to be done with the most basic of tools; just incase you're in a situation where you don't have all your fancy tools with you. The large format tiles now stretch from our bays into the corridors and into the neighbouring bays and considering how inexperienced the course students, I have to admit to being very impressed with the results of first floor tiling work; well done guys! Next Jason demonstrates the correct way to tile up steps / stairs; you wouldn't believe how many of these I've seen done incorrectly. So it was nice to see them done correctly and again instructed in a clear and easily understandable way. Plenty of time was allowed for the students to get to grips with the measuring, cutting and fixing of the risers and treads of the steps; all grout lines had to follow the floor. After another cracking lunch prepared by Norma, we settle down for what I consider one of the most important areas of a business; customer service. Without decent customer service and knowing how to accurately provide quotations, your tiling business will be short lived. I was glad to see that Jason's and P-ITT's advice toward customer service, quotations and pricing was based on real life experience, realistic expectations and common courtesy; I see so many people giving advice and it's always like one of the sketches where 'I'm a little bit whoa, little bit waay!" type of spiel, glad this wasn't the case here. I had been giving a few pointers to my fellow course members over the days on what NOT to do, so I was pleased when the same things where mentioned in the customer service lesson. So if everyone was to follow the advice given within that lesson, they could easily manage a successful business and continue to generate repeat business and referrals. You can leave feedback about this course here PITT Floor Tiling Course Feedback Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Conclusion Each day of the course will be reviewed so please continue to read, for more details of the floor tiling course click here Review by Dave M. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Floor Tiling Course Review PITT - Day 3

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-27T20:37:39+00:00

Day three of the P-ITT floor tiling course has commenced with the whole group starting work on the floor tiling, which will consist of tiling their individual bays into the corridors so that all the grout lines match. You can leave feedback about this course here PITT Floor Tiling Course Feedback Something that did surprise me was the use of real floor adhesive 'BAL gold star' and not the lime knock-up that I've been trained with before. The reason for this is to ensure authenticity when trowelling the adhesive out on the floor before fixing the tiles. You may argue that this is a small matter but there is definitely a difference, anyone who's laid floor tiles before with any decent adhesive will be aware of its grab. Again Jason has excelled at putting across the information and required techniques so the whole class understood. Not only has he demonstrated the use of power mixers, gauging the adhesive / water mix and the correct consistency, but also the correct technique for apply the adhesive to the substrate. So the whole of today has been spent working hard fixing our tiles with plenty of large format tiles on hand and no limitations on the amount of cuts you're allowed to make or rather mess-up. Again the P-ITT staff have found an excellent way to control the working area and ensure that the floor is laid squarely, I'm not going to divulge this technique, but I will say that it is a far more effective way than simply laying tiles against a line. Workbenches with a variety of dry cutters are available to ensure the students get a feel of the mechanisms employed by different manufacturers. I must admit to having struggled a little with the dry cutters available as I tend to use 'drag' action cutters by Sigma or for floors a Tomecanic Supercoup which has a completely different feel from anything else. So I think it was a case of getting used to something different. Naturally there were a pair of quality Montolit wet saws available and all necessary safety equipment, all of which was fully explained and the use of enforced. So all in all a day filled with hard work which when completed will have taught all of us far more than we previously knew. Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Conclusion Each day of the course will be reviewed so please continue to read, for more details of the floor tiling course click here Review by Dave M. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Topps Tiles Sales Drop

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-27T06:27:47+00:00

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - UK tile and wood flooring company Topps Tiles PLC said it sees lower first half pretax profit, dragged down by a hedging charge, with like-for-like sales to show decline. The company is expecting pretax profit of around 15.5 mln stg from 18.7 mln in the year-ago period mainly due to a 2.0 mln stg interest rate hedging loss, while operating profit is seen falling to around 20.7 mln stg from 21.3 mln. Topps Tiles said for the first half to March 29, it sees overall group sales rising to 106 mln stg from 101.8 mln last year but expects like-for-like revenue to slide by 0.5 pct, citing a 'very challenging' retail environment. Divisionally, UK like-for-like sales are expected to decline by 0.5 pct, compared with a 4 pct increase one year previously, while like-for-like sales in Holland are expected to drop 3 pct, against a previous 19 pct rise. Overall, sales in the UK and Holland are expected to rise by 4 pct and 7 pct respectively, compared with growth of 11.7 pct and 35 pct reported in the year-ago period. Matt Williams, chief executive said: 'The negative economic backdrop is translating into an increasingly challenging consumer market and the board does not envisage the environment changing in the short term. We are, however, pleased with the resilience the business has shown over the last few months and we are confident the business model remains robust and will serve us well during the current difficult period.' Topps Tiles added it has a new store opening target of a net 20 new UK stores and will have opened 8 in the period while in Holland it continued to trade 20 stores throughout the period and envisage opening 1 or 2 in the second half of the financial year. Topps Tiles will announce interim results on May 28. TFN.newsdesk@thomson.com yos/ssa/lht/yos/jro/vlb COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News. Neither the Subscriber nor Thomson Financial News warrants the completeness or accuracy of the Service or the suitability of the Service as a trading aid and neither accepts any liability for losses howsoever incurred. The content on this site, including news, quotes, data and other information, is provided by Thomson Financial News and its third party content providers for your personal information only, and neither Thomson Financial News nor its third party content providers shall be liable for any errors, inaccuracies or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Floor Tiling Course Review PITT - Day 2

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-26T19:37:56+00:00

Day two of P-ITT's floor tiling course and I must admit I had to think long and hard on the problems of fully disclosing the contents of today lessons; why? Well I know for a fact that todays multi-room and multi-corridor layout is not taught anywhere else and if it is, please let me know and to what degree. ...But it wasn't until I watched my fellow course students feverishly working away following Jason's instructions and guidance and genuinely enjoying the tasks at hand, that I thought "It's all in the teaching method". You could have the best course content in the world but if you can't convey the information in a way that everyone understands then what's the point. Put it this way, I've spent years and years doing floors differently and within minutes they'd convinced my brain that there is an easier and more flexible way to work with floor tiling and I'm prepared to take those new lessons away with me and put them into practice. During the course of today we have set out seven rooms and three corridors with tiles continuing from the corridor focal points through doorways (no door strips) into the rooms, around stairs and other floor obstacles. Not only did this layout include a standard square layout, but also a diamond border design in the corridors. As a group we also had to determine the best layout that provide the least poorly sized cuts. Each pair had to accurately measure and report all their cuts sizes, the amount of rake cuts for square and brickbond layouts. ... So this process had to be done more than once and I'm glad the group had to go through the process more than once, because nothing in the real world is perfectly square, so you need to know what to do when things don't work out quite right. As you can imagine with this many layouts in so many rooms with different tile patterns this took quite a few hours, just enough time to let the knowledge seep in and settle. After lunch we then went through a seated lesson on ceramic tile and natural stone make-up. Which materials fell into which category, how they are made, their strengths and weaknesses and what problems may occur when fixing. The group then had the chance to inspect many different tile materials such as porcelain, travertine, quartzite, basalt, terracotta, granite and marble plus many more. Jason then took the class through detailed information on adhesive and grout requirements when working with natural stone materials plus how why and when they need sealing. There were also demonstrations on what happens to tiles which aren't sealed correctly and the different types of sealer and their uses. I have to say that day two for me was even better than day one, if for nothing else simply the multi-room layout. But saying that, the natural stone lesson was very informative and contained dare I say it 'essential information' for anyone working with stone. Again there were subtle differences with my current practices, but I'm truly glad because I've learnt new ways to make what for me is a really rewarding job, even easier and more versatile. ...Each day of the course will be reviewed so please continue to read, for more details of the floor tiling course click here

Floor Tiling Course Review PITT - Day 1

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-25T18:43:28+00:00

This review has been written for two main reasons, primarily to find out how good the course is and would I recommend people pay for the course and secondly as a CPD (Continued Professional Development) course for myself. ...I've managed to misjudge the traffic and the amount of time required to get from my home to P-ITT; I'm an hour early. Initially I was a little hesitant entering the premises at first with being so early, but those feelings were soon pushed to one side when Angela the site director welcomed me and showed me the signing in book and pointed me in the right direction for a coffee; vital fluids after a long journey. ...The workshop has seven tiling bays, a store room with all the required tools and demonstration items, plus a central area at the front of the seats where the projector screen and main teaching area is. Each bay has plenty of space in which to work as a pair or singly, obstacles such as windows are built into the bay walls. Jason the course instructor takes us through the health and safety aspects of the course, the fire escapes, meeting points and ensures that we read and understand the supplied health and safety notices included in the student packs. ...The instructor also details what part of the building regulations call for their requirement and in what scenarios you will most likely need to use these acoustic dampening systems. Grouts are then covered in the same high level of detail as the adhesives, their physical makeup, flexibility levels, water resistance and again when and where you would use the appropriate grout. ...The class covers scenarios where overboarding with ply are required and at what thickness and at what centers the fixings must be placed and naturally what adhesive and grout you would use with which tiles. It's important to note that this element of the course has not been rushed, nor have we been made to feel that we're on a timescale. ...Admittedly the technique taught by P-ITT is very subtly different from the method I've always used, but I can honestly say their method is easier to grasp and as it transpires far more versatile. And before anyone asks neither P-ITT or myself do the 'find the centre of the room' method of laying out of a floor; I've proved that method doesn't work at the best of times. ...Not only this, we know where our raking cuts and furthest points are, the size of our standard cuts and we've also determined which of our walls produces the best overall floor layout from it's relationship to square. ... Because the staff have thoughtfully made the some of the walls un-square and to different degrees in certain bays, hence why we are rotated through the bays a number of times to perfect the lessons. ...During the final lesson we spent quite a deal of time staffing out to find out our cuts in both directions, to transfer points and to determine out setting out lines. This was done not only for standard square tiling but also for diamond and the necessary calculations used for determining the ideal cut sizes. Again the emphasis on this lesson, as it has been throughout the day was on understanding what we where doing, and knowing that Jason was on hand to explain further if needed. ...I'm notoriously picky and opinionated on subjects I care about and tiling is one of them, not for a second did I have to question my reasons for being on the course. Even after day one, I've got to say it's money very well spent; you can teach an old dog new tricks and I'm happy to learn them. ...Each day of the course will be reviewed so please continue to read, for more details of the floor tiling course click here

Aims of the Tiler Register

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-24T19:48:47+00:00

Since the site started there has been a lot of speculation about what this site is about or indeed what the site's aims are. Well simply, we aim to report and review on the products, services, courses and news that are either of importance or interest to the professional tiler. If we review anything that we think is decent we'll post the review here, but on the other hand if we feel it's garbage the review will never see the light of day; rather the supplier would be told what we thought privately. Why won't we publish the negative reviews? Simply because they're not worth the effort of trying to defend our verdict against fans of poor products and because it is all so easy to be slapped with legal action even though we'd be speaking the truth. Money doesn't grow on trees, so if we can save tilers money by promoting the products that are worth purchasing then that's a job well done. We are not tied to any one training provider, trade supplier or brand nor are we paid to review anything, our revenue is solely from the advertising on this website. Anyone can have their products, services or courses reviewed by us, they just have to ask and we'll be happy to oblige. You may be asking why have us review anything? Simply because we have so many readers around the world. Even for such a new site our reach and popularity is nothing short of astounding, with new readers subscribing daily.

Weber Problems and Solutions

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-23T11:58:21+00:00

We now have a dedicated page for Weber technical advice related to 21 different problems along with Weber's solutions based on their tiling products. The information boasts a wealth of sensible advice and technical knowledge. Start finding solutions to your problems here

Karl Dahm Special Trowels Review

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-22T12:02:04+00:00

Karl Dahm Special Trowels Review

The Karl Dahm 'special' trowels are designed to give a far greater adhesive coverage compared to the standard square-notch trowels of old. You can see by the photos these trowels have a rather unique pattern, not too dissimilar to the Schneegans Euro pattern trowels. This pattern creates a zip-like effect with the adhesive. We found the trowels to be lightweight and very comfortable to use, their blades whilst not as rigid as many of Karl Dahm's competitors applied both tubbed and bagged adhesives in a thorough and efficient manner. The slight spring in the blade was especially helpfully when cutting in the adhesive around toe kicks and under wall cabinets. Here's a point, if you look at the trowel above you'll see there's a lot blade either side of the handle base. With one trowel we did cut this excess off to create a smaller trowel for splash backs and tighter areas, it really did make a difference to be able to get adhesive nicely spread in those awkward areas. Considering the complicated design of the trowel pattern the blades were relatively easy to clean, due mainly to the 'Rost Frei' stainless steel blades. Any tiler will you a stainless steel blade is a must and the Karl Dahm offers exactly that. The grip is a well designed an ergonomic soft rubber and offers a very comfortable feel in the hand. The only downside to these trowels would be there limited sizing as they are currently only available in two sizes medi [7 mm x 10 mm] and maxi [12 mm x 12 mm] maybe there should be a smaller size for mosaic or smaller tiles < 120 mm square for example a 5 mm x 8 mm and a larger 16 mm x 16 mm version? Overall we have to conclude that these are a very ingenious and practical trowel that for the most part removes the need for back butter and are especially suited in wet areas where a greater adhesive coverage is required. Both trowels are less than £10 each, a bargain. Review by Dave M. Carr [e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

The Ulitmate Tile Training Course

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-21T10:55:02+00:00

The tile training course industry is literally bursting at the seams with a new course or training school popping up almost monthly, some looking a truly professional outfit; others giving nothing more than a 'quick buck' image. We've poured over many a prospectus and brochure over the last year and whilst many of the training providers are offering 3 - 4 week courses covering a wide range of topics, purporting to be 'professional tiling courses', the UK Tiler Register feels that the bar could be raised further yet to be truly 'professional'. If new tilers are to leave the training course they need to have the skill and knowledge to safely and professionally provide that level of service that is expected of them by their paying customers. And while it is often an excuse by many intensive tile training courses that the real knowledge comes with experience from on the job training, this itself poses many problems as there is often limited trainee placements and paid work especially for those with limited experience. This is not to knock students of intensive short course, rather to help them find further courses which will improve their professionalism. Naturally what we are about to suggest will come at a price, no student can expect to learn real knowledge and skill for free; it all comes at a price. But we see the need to bring far greater standards into the tile training industry rather than waving the NVQ banner on every sentence of a brochure. Of course we understand the reasoning for the NVQ qualification and its soon to be essential requirement for construction sites, it's how that initial knowledge is learnt and to what extent we are concerned with. And a course is more than just its content, without a decent teacher the content will never be learnt. How many times have you seen questions on forums about getting grout lines to match or how to set out a bathroom? And these are posts from people who have completed tile training courses. ...As far as we are concerned a course that truly produces a professional tiler as the end result must include the following aspects; in no particular order of importance. ...To learn this effectively would take time and dedication, not something you can learn in few days and hope to retain for life. Naturally there will be elements on the list that are already covered and those which many a training centre will scoff at. First Aid is a prime target, but have you ever seen an injury caused by a sharp tile? During my apprentice ship I had to save my bosses life after I found him bleeding to death on a balcony he was tiling. By time the ambulance had turned up the man had lost so much blood he nearly lost an arm and to this day, his injury is a disability. Had I been fully trained in first aid, maybe his injury would have been less severe. So we'd love to hear from any tile training course that is either able to provide all the training points mentioned above or even exceed them. But we'd also need you to prove it by allowing us to take your course for it's full duration.

Saint-Gobain's Acquisitions in 2007

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-21T09:03:05+00:00

70 Acquisitions Representing a Financial Investment of EUR965 Million for ...release details the acquisitions carried out by the Group in 2007, ...does not include details of the Maxit acquisition, which was announced in ... retention of a 20% stake in Desjonqueres further to the sale of the ... - Building Distribution: financial investment of EUR582 million for around EUR1.3 billion in estimated additional full-year sales The 53 acquisitions carried out by the Building Distribution Sector in 2007 added 291 new outlets to a network that now boasts more than 4,000. The largest acquisition was Norandex, a manufacturer and distributor of vinyl sidings in the US, representing a financial investment of EUR181 million for EUR580 million in estimated full-year sales. ...and distribution of ready-to-use concrete) and the builders' merchant ... The largest acquisitions in the UK and the Republic of Ireland were ... The Building Distribution sector acquired Vemac in Italy, a major ... The main acquisitions were carried out in the Netherlands (a general ...for EUR332 million in estimated additional full-year sales ... - Innovative Materials: financial investment of EUR89 million for EUR61 million in estimated additional full-year sales The Flat Glass Sector carried out three small-scale acquisitions in ... The Packaging Sector retained a 20% stake in Desjonqueres in accordance

Tiling Tools Reviews

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-20T09:42:18+00:00

Tiling Tools Reviews

We are currently reviewing some exciting professional tiling tools. As soon as the in depth reviews are completed we'll publish them here complete with photos and where possible video footage to demonstrate the products fully. Our hope is that you will be able to make a far more informed purchase in the future. Reviews to come are • Tomecanic Supercoup series • Rubi TS Range • Husqvarna 470 & 670 • Platinum trowels, grout float, nippers & knee pads • Karl Dahm special trowels & washboy • Siri Bricollina wet saw So stay tuned to read those reviews

Tile Forums

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-20T08:46:06+00:00

Tileforums.com recommended by UK Tiler Register

Over the last few weeks we've been using a number of forums to assess which tile forum offers the best experience for the professional tiler. Admittedly there aren't that many tile forums out there, but if you are going to invest your time and effort in using a forum to either learn something new or offer advice to others, you have to ensure you picked the right one. To establish which forum was suitable for our recommendation, we had to ensure the said forum met certain criteria. Fancy features were not at the top of our requirements, neither was the graphical look of the forum but the following points were essential to determining the best tile forum for UK tilers. • Quality of advice and guidance ... • Overall user and visitor experience Time and again we kept returning to the same forum for more than the criteria listed above, but for a while there was a potential contender. This contender was naturally removed from the running when we noticed threads which publicly slandered a member who had recently been banned, allowing the thread to go so far to publicly name the member and his address along with unsubstantiated claims. These claims were also mirrored on an associated blog. Please note that whilst the thread and blog post have been removed, the damage and defamation of the ex-member in question has already been done. Copies of the aforementioned threads/blog are available to interested parties. So that left a sole runner in the tile forum arena the Tile Forums run by the Professional-ITT training centre. We arranged to meet with the system administrators of the Tile Forums to discuss data security and site stability which we felt was sorely lacking on the other sites. Right from the start we were impressed with the professionalism of the staff and the dedication involved in maintaining the forums quality. So to conclude, we found the forum run by Professional-ITT to be the best overall forum experience for tilers, with exceptionally good advice and guidance. Keen moderation and an overall the members of the board are highly commendable for their professional approach. Admittedly some may criticise the board for promoting their own products and courses, but surely that makes perfect sense was they're ensuring that their company, forum and staff promote products that they believe are the best they can and products they believe in. This is a far more professional situation than a board that sells advertising to the highest bidder with no control over the quality of the products or courses offered. Once again thank you for the kind hospitality offered to us by the Professional-ITT Tile Training Course staff.

New Account Manager for British Ceramic Tile

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-20T07:58:26+00:00

Devon based tile manufacturer British Ceramic Tile (BCT) has announced the appointment of Gary Chaffey as its new national account manager. Mr Chaffey will be responsible for national accounts with major existing diy multiple customers as well as developing new opportunities. He has sales and marketing experience, previously working with leading diy retailers including, Spear and Jackson, Argos and John Lewis Partnerships. Last year BCT won several significant contracts, including becoming the biggest wall tile supplier to Homebase. British Ceramic Tile designs and produces a wide range of ceramic wall and floor tiles including the Candy Tile range and ranges for Laura Ashley and WET by the Hemingways.

Council Painters Retrain to be Tilers

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-19T16:33:29+00:00

Council Painters Retrain to be Tilers

Council tenants in Durham City will wait less time for many maintenance jobs following a workforce revamp. More than half of the council's painters volunteered to retrain as tilers under a new initiative designed to multi-skill staff and cut waiting times for certain jobs. The council spent £5,000 to bring the plan to fruition, and believe it is money well spent. Steve Brown, from the property services division, said: "These men all volunteered and have put in a great deal of hard work and dedication to reach NVQ level 2. "The council is proud to have funded this innovative programme of improving staff skills. "It means our 6,000 tenants will wait less time for all tiling work, while the staff involved are now both qualified painters and tilers giving them greater skills for the future. "There is also more flexibility. If they are working on an outdoor painting job and it starts to pour with rain they can move inside to a tiling job." Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2008, All Rights Reserved.

Kaul Washboy Review

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-19T14:41:37+00:00

Kaul Washboy Review

We recently received a Kaul tilers washboy to review. After spending years using washboys sold by Karl Dahm and Rubi the Kaul washboy was a breath of fresh air. Naturally all washboys consist of the same main components to ensure effective cleaning of the grout sponge, but Kaul's design is far superior in the test we carried out. The main difference are the rollers, these are hollow perforated plastic with raised lips around the perforations to help reduce the amount of dirty water being embedded in the sponge as you are trying to clean it. Water is extracted far more quickly via the perforations in the twin rollers compared to Kaul's competitors, and overall we'd have to say they cut the time associated with sponge emptying greatly. As the sponge is compressed and water flows out over and through the rollers, it drops into a grout chute below the rollers which further reduce the amount of grout residue getting back into the cleaner water in the higher areas of the washboy. This is done by having small perforations in the grout chute which helps separate the grout from the water being extracted by the rollers. A wire plunge basket is standard with most washboys and the Kaul is no exception. This is the first port of call for the dirtied sponge after grout cleaning. By compressing the sponge on the basket you purge the grout and reintroduce water, a couple of cycles clean a great majority of the grout. A lot of this is dependent on the quality of the sponge and again the supplied Kaul sponge is a segmented hydro sponge very similar to the upper range Karl Dahm sponges. After purging the sponge you then press the sponge board across the rollers and tip back at both ends to remove the water, ready for further grout cleaning. The Kaul washboy includes some nice features such as a neat little spout integrated into the washboy body, small plastic rollers which spread the weight of the water across the width of the washboy rather than four small areas associated with castors. Though castors can be added if required. Overall we'd have to say this was the finest example of a tilers washboy we've used and far beyond it's competitors. But we have to point out that the Kaul is not exactly cheap due to few importers and most of the parts are bought separately to allow for greatly flexibility. If you have an existing Karl Dahm wire basket, it will fit perfectly in the Kaul, so that will save you money. ...[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk

New features coming soon

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-19T09:07:58+00:00

New features coming soon

We've teamed with some of the top adhesive manufacturers to bring you some exciting content delivered in a way no one else is doing. This goes far beyond any forum or blog posts, this is top level technical advice and data presented in a way only we can. Work is currently underway, code is being written and within the next fews weeks we should be able to unveil our latest information resource for you. Our contacts and ourselves are very excited about the venture and looking forward to helping tilers across the country to understand their adhesives and grouts that bit better. If it can save the tiler time, money and sleepless nights then we'll do everything we can to make that information available.

Tile Training Course Reviews

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-19T08:53:29+00:00

Tile Training Course Reviews

We are glad to say that we are due to conduct some in-depth reviews of one of the countries top tile training courses, with some of the most experience staff of any tile training centre. This review will be broken down to a day to day basis, with full details of the content, the level of instruction, the quality of tools and training environment. The reviews of the tile training course will include photos and video footage where possible. Testimonials from course students and pointers on what the course needs to improve on if anything. This is our way of bringing you the most informed and non-biased facts from the tile training industry. Stay tuned for the day to day accounts from our review staff and make a far more informed decision on your tiling career before parting with any of your money. The opportunity is open all tiling training course centres, the only requirement is that our staff need to attend and partake in the course, only then can a review be written.

Mibo Tile Tattoos

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-14T09:41:49+00:00

Mibo Tile Tattoos

This is the perfect idea for anyone looking to add some flair to their plain white kitchen or bathroom tiles. Now available in packs of 10, the self-adhesive vinyl squares can be applied in any chosen formation to create a totally unique look. Tile tattoos are perfect for renovating on a budget, as they are long lasting and waterproof. They are also suitable for folk who want to make their rented home their own, as they can be easily removed once their tenancy is up. The tiles tattoos come in a choice of 3 designs in 2 different colourways and are available now for £12.50 from www.mibo.co.uk

East Midlands Ceramics

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-09T15:53:33+00:00

East Midlands Ceramics

On a recent visit to East Midlands Ceramics located just off Hucknall Road, Nottingham, I had the pleasure to browse through their extensive selection of tiles and discuss the new ranges that are soon to be unveiled at the showroom. The EMC staff have a friendly but laid back approach to sales; you're not pounced upon but are simply asked if any help is required and that they are on hand when required. It is obvious that all the staff both in the showroom and in the trade outlet have an in-depth knowledge of tiles, fixing techniques and the tiling industry. Unfortunately this is not usually the case in showrooms of this calibre, so East Midlands Ceramics score full marks here. The showroom is well fitted out with superb displays of both floors and walls from ceramics through to exotic mosaics, sliding panels allow you to compare different colours and textures from the same ranges. There are also pieces of worktop for you to compare the tiles against. Naturally EMC is a TTA member, should you can be assured that you are buying a quality product every time. The trade outlet offers not only excellent trade prices to tilers on adhesives, grouts and fixing accessories, but they also boast a fine selection of tools for the professional tiler. Review by Dave M. Carr [e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk [w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Marketing Advice for Tilers

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-09T14:48:14+00:00

We've complied a check list for any budding tiler looking to get their skills recognised after they've completed their training or apprenticeship. Where possible we've tried to put the items into the preferred order, but as you'll see you can get a few of things rolling at the same time. ...As with any business you need to have a reason for someone to employ you, a reason for them to call you and trust you over other tradesmen; especially those who have been trading for many years. A 'unique selling point' is just that, a reason to choose your skills. ...So for any new business it would be wise advice to examine the current competition and see what is missing, what services are lacking. ...It is no good having all the talent and professionalism in the world if no one but yourself knows you exist. ...Website - Top points for this would be a cheap but professional looking website that can be used as a contact point with a professional email address, an online gallery, a place to write articles and news. If done correctly a website can be a very effective marketing tool and one that need not cost the earth. Business Cards - The reason for putting business cards after the creation of a website, is simply so you can advertise your website address, email and any logos on the cards. ... If you are looking to leave some business cards with a showroom etc, leave them in a small plastic display case; no one likes cards littering a counter. Flyers - Small flyers or business cards are best, they are more likely to be kept, pinned on notice boards etc. But as a rule of thumb only 2% of all distributed flyers will result in contact, so only use them in areas which show signs of property development, renovation or property sales. Remember you don't need to pay VAT on flyers unless you offer a discount or something for free. Local tile distributors and showrooms - These outlets are probably your most important port of call, not only can you develop excellent trade links with them and in turn reduced material or tile costs. ...Kitchen and bathroom shows - What good is a showroom for expensive bathrooms and kitchens if they don't have access to professional tilers? ... So ensure you take along a portfolio and business cards and explain what services and specialisations you offer. ...Local tradesmen - You can get work from other tradesmen but it will normally be at a much lower rate than those you've quoted for yourself. ...They should ideally be free, Google especially penalises sites which pay for links from other sites, hence why this site does not charge. Sites offering referrals are by and large worthless, you'll never really cover your investment - mainly because most web users don't trust their services; who knows who's going to call you? ...Website Design - The UK Tiler Register are currently offering a website package for £200 which includes: website design, domain name, email address, hosting for a year.

Chase Tiling Academy Cannock

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-03-05T08:34:50+00:00

Due to recent events this review has been removed until further notice

Official London Underground range launched

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-02-29T14:39:13+00:00

Commercial tile design specialists The Great British Tile Company Ltd (www.great-tiles.co.uk) have scored another coup by acquiring the exclusive rights to distribute a range of unique ceramic tiles bearing the famous London Underground station designs and connecting lines. The deal gives the UK and Hong Kong based company the sole rights of distribution within the UK as well as the USA, Japanese and European markets. The tiles which measure 300mm x 300mm are designed specifically for commercial application and are available directly from the company and a soon to be announced small network of carefully selected distributors. It is anticipated that this range of very high quality ceramic tiles will be of particular interest to architectural, professional, and interior design clients. The 28 designs represent some of the most famous signs in the world and include London’s most popular tube station signs such as London Bridge, Baker Street, Covent Garden, Green Park, St Pauls, Victoria and Waterloo. The original underground symbol is also available as well as a fun ‘Mind the Gap’ version. Apart from the well known roundel station signs there are also ‘straight line’ ‘corner line’ and ‘intersection’ designed tiles depicting the Central, Circle, District, Jubilee, Northern and Victoria lines. With the number of British themed pubs around the world ever increasing, The Great British Tile Company sees its new London Underground range as a perfect installation and feature. Damian Cook, Managing Director of The Great British Tile Company says “these unique, high quality tiles represent an icon which is most unlikely to go out of fashion - something which is important when considering any refurbishment project”. It is anticipated that the tiles will be especially appreciated during the period of the 2012 Olympics Games as the tiles would be ideal to create a striking feature between the transport links at Stratford Station and the Olympic village. The Great British Tile Company was specifically established to design and/or source unusual and innovative ranges of tile designs and bring them to the world marketplace. The London Underground range is a prime example of how the company successfully seeks out unusual concepts and incorporates them onto ceramic tiles, providing that special ‘wow factor’ to the surrounding environment.

UK Tiler Register is born

info@tilerregister.co.uk — 2008-02-29T11:21:15+00:00

The UK Tiler Register is born. The aim is to promote professional tilers services across the whole of the UK, so hopefully we can spread the word and reduce the amount of DIY disasters. The site will not only include details of local tilers but also tile suppliers, tool suppliers and the latest news from the industry. So if you have news that needs publishing please use the contact us form to submit your information. We are also going to create a gallery with which to wow our visitors and competitors alike, so feel free to email us your photos.