How did you get into the tiling industry?

I was a landscape gardener and tree surgeon at the time, and I was tiling a patio and the customer ask me if I could tile the lounge, hallway and toilet with the extra tiles. I completed the job and thought I like this and I’m not getting rained on all the time, so I took myself off on a couple of courses to learn more about it and studied and studied and studied all types of tiling.

What do you like most about your job?

I’d have to say the creativity. Every job has different challenges.

Why did you become a member of The Tile Association?

To know more about the industry and get the accreditation and recognition of a tiling specialist.

What region do you work in?

Worcestershire/South Birmingham.

What types of installations do you provide?

All aspects.

What changes have you experienced since becoming a Master Tile Fixer?

Recognition, a bit more challenge at first from clients and more work from TTA’s directory.

What tiling project are you most proud of?

Quite a few but there’s one that stands out for sure. The cow shed, 196sqm of plank herringbone flowing through 5 rooms with borders and the wetroom, hexagonals on the floor with white fishscale tiles on the walls, just beautiful.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt on the job?

If you question it and change it, be patient.

What is the best advice you have been told or would like to share for anyone entering the industry?

Always trust your gut feeling about the job or the clients. Don’t rush, slow down. Aways try and manage the clients’ expectations. Every day’s a school day and you don’t stop learning.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Fishing, fishing, fishing and a bit of golf!

The Master Tile Fixer certification scheme supports highly experienced and skilled independent tile fixers with the aim of promoting best practice and encouraging existing tiling professionals to strive for excellence.

To find out how Master Tile Fixers stand out from the competition – including a directory listing at the top of search pages in TTA’s website directory as well as press and social media announcements – or to discover how to become a Master Tile Fixer, visit https://www.tiles.org.uk/master-tile-fixer/.