Construction and the built environment
Wall and floor tiler
Tiling walls and floors.
Summary
This occupation is found in both new build and refurbishment construction sector. Wall and Floor Tilers operate in domestic and commercial properties undertaking all types of wall and floor tiling. Premises include houses, schools, offices, airports hospitals, factories, and construction sites. Wall and Floor Tilers could be working for either a sole trader or a large limited company.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to install of a wide range of ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles using different techniques. Wall and Floor Tilers work both internally and externally. They have a good knowledge of tiles, backgrounds, and ancillary products. They understand and comply with statutory, safety and environmental requirements. Wall and Floor Tilers interpret drawings to extract relevant information to the task in hand. They work to clients’ specifications following design drawings, compliance sheets and manufacturers’ specification. Wall and Floor Tilers recognise and achieve high levels of quality in their finished work, working to current British Standards.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with clients, site managers, and other trades.
Wall and Floor Tilers work individually and as part of a team. They are good problem solvers and communicators and are able to interact effectively with colleagues, clients and associated trades.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their own work, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet installation quality standards and deadlines. They may work as part of a team, with responsibility for a specific aspect of the installation, contributing to the completion of the project.
Typical job titles include
- Tiler | Wall and floor tiler
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance (Emergencies and First Aid provision and mandatory reporting of accidents and near misses) and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Electrical safety, emergency stop procedures. Lone working. Safety equipment and guards on machinery and power tools.
K2:
Safety Control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and dust suppression.
K3:
Working at height equipment and safe use.
K4:
Safe systems of work: Site specific inductions, risk assessments, method statements and hazard identification in the work area.
K5:
Standards and regulations relevant to the wall and floor tiler role: British Standards including BS5385, BS8000, building regulations, quality standards and Codes of Practice including the installation of movement joints and construction joints in line with the tolerances set out within the standards.
K6:
Tiling industry: private residential, new construction, commercial, refurbishment, retrofit.
K7:
Construction technology: traditional, modern. Principles of buildings: structural support, cavity wall, timber frame, steel frame, modern methods of construction.
K8:
Order of work methods and techniques. Pre-installation checks.
K9:
Protection of work area and adjacent finishes.
K10:
Wall and floor tiles: ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, agglomerate and mosaics tiles. Characteristics, quality, uses.
K11:
Resource estimation techniques relevant to the role.
K12:
Substrate: types, weight limits, preparation for tiling techniques, drying and curing times: adhesives, grouts, primers, levelling compounds, screeds, render, anti-fracture membranes, board systems.
K13:
Setting out techniques for wall and floor tiling.
K14:
Techniques for measuring, marking and cutting materials including cutting around obstacles and using laser levels.
K15:
Wall and floor tiles fixing techniques.
K16:
Wall and floor tiles removal techniques and methods.
K17:
Electric underfloor heating: installation techniques.
K18:
Decoupling membranes: uses and characteristics.
K19:
Tanking: types and installation techniques.
K20:
Techniques to select and apply adhesives for wall and floor tiling.
K21:
Techniques to select, apply and finish grouts for wall and floor tiling.
K22:
Techniques to rectify defects or damages.
K23:
Handover process to commercial and domestic customers.
K24:
Techniques of using tools and equipment: power tools, hand tools, cutting tools and measuring equipment.
K25:
Techniques and methods of moving, handling and storing tools and equipment: hand, power and cutting tools, materials and measuring equipment.
K26:
Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications, digital documents, and work instructions, including manufacturers instructions
K27:
Awareness of environmental and sustainability regulations and the principles of recycling, reusing, and disposing of waste.
K28:
Team working techniques.
K29:
Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them.
K30:
Responsibilities and methods for reporting non-compliance with regulations or Standards.
K31:
Contractual arrangements: penalty clauses, customer rights and product as described.
K32:
Principles of inclusion, equity, and diversity in the workplace.
K33:
Well-being: mental and physical health considerations in yourself and others and how to access support.
K34:
Employment types (self employed and employed), small business start up principles and tax responsibilities.
K35:
Final inspection and workplace documentation and methods of completing.
Technical Educational Products
- FA0002: Finishing trades foundation apprenticeship (Level 2)
Technical education progression
- ST0368: Wall and floor tiler (Level 2) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0368
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £32,395 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5322 Floorers and wall tilers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5322/03 Tilers
- 5322/02 Floor layers
S1:
Follow procedures and comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and statutory guidance.
S2:
Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and dust suppression.
S3:
Comply with risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.
S4:
Use access and work at height equipment, for example step ladders, podium steps, hop up safety platforms.
S5:
Plan order of works and carry out pre-installation checks.
S6:
Protect work area and adjacent finishes.
S7:
Prepare and maintain working area.
S8:
Select and use wall and floor tiles such as ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, agglomerate and mosaics tiles.
S9:
Calculate required amounts of tiles, materials, and resources for the work requirements.
S10:
Select and use substrate primer.
S11:
Set out for tiling wall and floor areas.
S12:
Measure, mark and cut tiles including cutting around obstacles and using laser levels.
S13:
Fix wall and floor tiles.
S14:
Install electric under-tile heating.
S15:
Install decoupling membranes.
S16:
Install tanking systems.
S17:
Apply adhesives in preparation to fix tiles to wall and floor surfaces.
S18:
Grout and finish tiles that are fixed to wall or floor areas.
S19:
Complete final inspections and workplace documentation.
S20:
Complete a customer or site manager handover.
S21:
Select, check, and use hand, power, cutting tools and measuring equipment.
S22:
Move and store hand, power and cutting tools, measuring equipment and materials.
S23:
Read and interpret information from manufacturers guidance and other sources, for example from drawings, specifications, digital documents, or work instructions.
S24:
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
S25:
Ensure materials are used efficiently and sustainably.
S26:
Apply team working principles.
S27:
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
S28:
Remove wall and floor tiles.
S29:
Carry out and record learning and development activities.
S30:
Identity substrates and prepare for tiling using renders, levelling compounds and screeds.
S31:
Rectifies defects and damages.
Technical Educational Products
- FA0002: Finishing trades foundation apprenticeship (Level 2) Technical education progression
- ST0368: Wall and floor tiler (Level 2) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0368
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £32,395 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5322 Floorers and wall tilers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5322/03 Tilers
- 5322/02 Floor layers
B1:
Put wellbeing, health, and safety first.
B2:
Take ownership of given work.
B3:
Maintain working relationships with colleagues, customers and others.
B4:
Consider the environment when using resources and carrying out processes.
B5:
Seek learning and development opportunities.
B6:
Contribute to an inclusive and diverse culture.
Technical Educational Products
- FA0002: Finishing trades foundation apprenticeship (Level 2) Technical education progression
- ST0368: Wall and floor tiler (Level 2) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0368
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £32,395 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5322 Floorers and wall tilers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5322/03 Tilers
- 5322/02 Floor layers
