Do you pay much attention to the floors beneath your feet? Or do you walk along without giving it much thought? More often than not, most of us only notice flooring when it’s uneven or uncomfortable. But for all the other times you enjoy a smooth, even surface to walk upon, you have a tile setter to thank. Today, we’re featuring this very important position that lays the groundwork for every great project.
As the title connotes, tile setters install new floor like ceramic tile, marble, and granite, and fixes issues with the previously laid floor. With their expertise, floors are waterproofed and prepared for everyday wear and tear. From mixing materials to applying grout, tile setters use a variety of tools, machines, and devices to get each job done.
Though each job is different, most tile setters follow this path for each project:
- First, they must remove the existing flooring before cleaning and leveling the ground area that is to be covered.
- Then, they measure the specific area and cut flooring material to fit before arranging according to the design plan.
- Once everything is properly in place, tile setters lay flooring using a range of adhesives, nails, or staples.
- Lastly, they fill joints with filler compound, remove excess compound or flooring material, and apply any necessary finishes like sealants or stains.
These top 5 traits will serve every tile setter well in these daily tasks:
Creativity
Many floor materials offer a unique pattern that must be followed for the best look, especially materials like mosaic tiles. Aside from following the recommended design, tile setters do best when they can offer creative alternatives to otherwise mundane arrangements.
Math Skills
In addition to innate creativity, tile setters thrive when they have honed their math skills. Their day-to-day projects require more than a good eye. Tile setters need to be able to calculate all measurements down to the last millimeter.
Physical Stamina & Strength
Every project for a tile setter is different, but physical demands are present daily. In the average day, tile setters must have the endurance to stand or kneel for hours at a time and the strength to lift and carry heavy materials.
Attention To Detail
To properly build out a beautiful floor, a tile setter must have the precise eye to plan and layout all materials. This includes expert color identification, as workers must be able to distinguish tiles amid a sea of sameness with the tiniest variations and must offer their professional recommendation for the best looking finish.
Personable, Customer-Centric Nature
Friendliness goes a long way for tile setters. Jobs are commonly completed in customers’ private homes, so courteous, considerate actions are crucial while completing the tile setting tasks.
This is a great time to become a tile setter because of the ever-growing opportunity. Across the country, homeowners and business owners alike are looking to either establish a new property with fresh flooring or update an existing floor while maintaining historical integrity. In addition to job security, tile setters can expect to earn a great income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual salary of a tile setter in Ohio is more than $50,000.
If this job sounds like a perfect fit for you or someone you know, visit our careers page to learn how to get started. You won’t want to gloss over our apprenticeships page, as that is the best way to begin a career as a tile setter.
