Tiler
Tilers fix tiles to walls and floors in kitchens, bathrooms, shops and restaurants, using materials like ceramics, slate, stone and marble.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a wall and floor tiler, you'll:
- work out the amount of materials needed for a job
- follow design plans to match the layout of tile patterns
- cut tiles to the correct shape and size by hand or with power tools
- prepare surfaces by levelling off with plaster, sand or cement
- fix tiles into place and apply grouting and sealants
- tidy up work areas and dispose of old materials safely
Working environment
You could work at a client's home, at a client's business or on a construction site.
Your working environment may be dusty, noisy and physically demanding.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Career path and progression
With experience and extra training, you could move into:
- site management
- estimating
- contract management
- heritage work
You could also train apprentices in further education or set up your own business.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with your hands
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to work well with others
- customer service skills
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to organise your time and workload
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You may need a driving licence for some jobs.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could take a college course to learn some of the skills needed to do this job. Courses include:
- wall and floor tiling
- construction skills - tiling
Some colleges offer short DIY courses in tiling that you can try before deciding whether to take a longer course that leads to a qualification.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You could apply to do a Wall and Floor Tiling Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This can take up to 3 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with off-site study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
You may be able to start work as a site labourer or tiler's 'mate' and do further training on the job to qualify as a tiler.
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Further information
You can find more details about tiling careers and training from:
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.