Wall and floor tiler

Wall and floor tilers fix tiles to the walls and floors of various types of building after first measuring and preparing the surface.

Work activities

Wall and floor tilers prepare walls and floors for tiling, apply adhesive and cut and position tiles. The area must be accurately measured and the laying planned to avoid waste. If they are making a pattern with the tiles, they have to plan this carefully. When all the tiles are in place and the adhesive is dry, they fill the joints with grout.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

As a wall and floor tiler, you need to:

• Be an accurate and careful worker.
• Have an awareness of the importance of health and safety in this industry.
• Be good with your hands.
• Have good number skills for measuring and cutting.
• Be physically fit, because the work involves carrying, kneeling and bending.
• As you will have to travel around locally, a driving licence would be very useful for this type of work.

This job might not be suitable for people who have skin conditions, such as eczema, or breathing complaints, such as asthma.

Pay and opportunities

Wall and floor tilers can expect to start on around £17,000 per year, rising to £32,000 with experience.

Wall and floor tilers work 42-44 hours a week. Overtime, including Saturday working, may be available.

Some wall and floor tilers are self-employed and work independently.

Employers are wall and floor tiling contractors and building contractors. Opportunities for wall and floor tilers occur with flooring contractors in towns and cities throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

Construction is an industry dominated by small firms. Employment levels are projected to grow steadily, as there is an urgent need for more housing over the coming decades. The construction industry is one of the most male dominated industries. Women account for only one in 10 of all jobs. The industry is actively trying to change this. Full-time working remains the main method of working.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. You can search for apprenticeships on the Find an Apprenticeship website.

Entry routes and training

An intermediate apprenticeship as wall and floor tiler is the best route into this role. Alternatively, there are various relevant qualifications available from organisations like City & Guilds and Edexcel. These courses may be in a more general subject area, such as construction. You will work towards a relevant qualification as part of your apprenticeship.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS); for most building companies, you’ll need a CSCS card to work on site. These cards show that you are qualified to do the work you’ve been employed for. Go to the CSCS website for more details.

Apprenticeships will usually involve work- and college-based training. You will also receive training in subjects like health and safety.

In the construction industry, it is possible to work up from craft-level positions to managerial roles, such as construction site manager. Many tilers become self-employed and set up their own businesses.

Qualifications

If you wish to enter this career through an apprenticeship, you will need to be 16 and have GCSEs (including English and maths), although you may be able to complete these qualifications while undertaking your apprenticeship programme if you don’t already have them.

To enter a City & Guilds or Edexcel level 2 course in construction, you’ll usually need at least four GCSEs at grade 4 or higher. However, individual centres may have different entry requirements. You may be able to get on to one of the courses without any qualifications.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Related skills, for example, gained while a building operative, are useful.

Related careers

• Bricklayer
• Builder
• Carpenter/joiner
• Ceiling fixer
• Construction labourer
• Floor layer
• Glazier
• Plumber
• Roofer
• Window fitter