Having managed a number of developments over the years, one of the alarming things that I have found is the lack of tilers. I remember having to contact numerous tiling companies in a number of areas to check for their availability.
Generally, they were too busy or there was a long waiting time. I attended a construction convention and met a tiler called Stanley Irvine. I remember venting my frustrations at being unable to secure the services of a tiler, however, Stanley told me, why not try it yourself or find yourself an available handy man to do the job for you.
I was like no, I can’t do it, I don’t have the tools, heck, I could barely measure a room!
Stanley said, "there are 5 essential tools that any tiler needs". This sounded a little too simplistic for my liking, but he proceeded to discuss the items that a good tiler needs. Here is a breakdown of the essential tools according to Stanley:
1) Tile Cutters
Without a good quality tile cutter, you could go through packs of tiles, end up with lots of broken tiles and a hefty budget for your room design. This is so true, when you think of it! Tiles are sometimes too easy to break. If your tile cutter is blunt or is of poor quality, tiles that you are attempting to cut will simply shatter and become unusable.
Worst of all, a poor quality tile cutter could cause injury to the person using it. We all know how sharp a broken tile can be.
There are both manual and electric tile cutters to choose from, with the electrical option a more expensive yet with better finishing potential.
2) Tile Nippers
Tile nippers are a simple tool for shaping tiles for edges. According to Stanley, "an essential item for cutting wall tiles to fit around a plug socket or light switch". For smaller pieces of tiles, using tile nippers are a better option than a tile cutter as the tile is less likely to shatter.
One of the best things about tile nippers is the fact that they are relatively inexpensive.
3) Notched Trowel
The notched trowel is a tiling tool used for grouting floor and wall tiles. To ensure a long life for your trowel, be sure to wash it properly after using it, so that grout does not dry in. By not properly cleaning your trowel after use, you risk leaving an imperfect finish for your client's project.
Notched trowels are generally an inexpensive item. When buying one, look for one with a comfortable, yet durable handle.
4) Silicone Gun
A Silicone Gun is another tool that a tiler cannot work without. Silicone is essential for waterproofing and for fitting tile trims and edging.
A manual trigger action silicone gun will certainly be adequate for any job that you require.
Remember to use a good grade of silicone to ensure a quality finish that will last.
5) Measuring Tape
Finally, a measuring tape is one of the most important tools for any tiler in order to save time for a project overall, less cutting and to save customers money. A heavy-duty measuring tape is the best option for any tiler to ensure it will work when required.
Those were the essential items for a tiler's tool kit according to Stanley and verified by myself. I bought those items above and tried my hand at some tiling and sure enough, I did an alright job!
