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HomeFeatured ArticlesTOP UK TILERS – Adrian O’Clements

TOP UK TILERS – Adrian O’Clements

Founded by Adrian O’Clements back in 2016, A&L tiling has been operating for the past 8 years nearly “non-stop,” says its founder. During that time, O’Clements has achieved both Master Tile Fixer certification and the coveted Tile Fixer of the Year Award from TTA, demonstrating his attention to detail and skill.

His wide array of experience and expertise in the world of tiling – covering everything from mosaics all the way up to large format and even including laminate and LVT – make him an authoritative voice on several matters within the industry, which we asked him about below.

What qualities define an expert tiler?
Attention to detail, as well as knowing the British Standards and knowing the correct way to do your installs. To add, good work ethics, being polite and punctual and to also have knowledge of the trade, which can come from gaining experience on the job or going on the master targeted classes available.

It’s a combination of both because the training is lots of hands-on, class work, but you need the real-life world experiences to know how to overcome things and get round obstacles. For example, if you’re installing a floor, a group of judges will know the correct places to put them as well as learning not cutting corners.

What are the biggest challenges facing the tile industry at the moment?
Currently, there’s a lot of scaremongering within the government with the elections and there are many people who aren’t spending as much money. I know it’s coming up to Christmas but there’s many people not spending because they’re worried, which is having a knock-on effect. You’re also getting a lot of the younger generation who aren’t coming into the trade, so I think over the next five to ten years, there will be a lack of tilers.

Saying that, there are a lot of other trades, such as landscape gardeners, who are starting to try tiling indoors. It’s going to be up and down. I know there’s guys struggling for work, maybe because there’s too much competition in that area, whether they’re handymen or tilers at the cutting prices, without the knowledge of tiling properly. It’s on a decline from what I’ve seen on the forums on Tiler’s Community. Some of the guys are really struggling but I think it’s going to be an eye opener in the next two-three years.

TSJ: You mentioned earlier that you install LVT and stick-down flooring, do you think that it represents a challenge or issue particularly in the tiling industry?
There’s never been a challenge towards the tiling industry from LVT or soft flooring design but I think it’s all down to costs and time. Many people these days can’t afford to not be able to work from home for X amount of days while tiles are being fixed, set and grouted, etc, compared to an LVT flooring which can be installed and done in a day. I think that appeals to a lot of people.

I do know there’s several tilers who have started to install glue-down LVT just so they’ve got more work coming in and grow their knowledge of floorcoverings. It’s not a big change for me because I’ve always installed floorcoverings from a young age such as laminates but there’s a few people who are doing extra work in that field.

What are the tools and products that you rely on?
I use a lot of Montolit tools, which is one of my favourite brands for tools. Obviously, there’s a tile cutter, which you can’t be without, as well as a measuring tape and pencil. Those are the most basic products you need which you can use not just for tiling but installing LVTs too. My go-to adhesive is UltraTile. I think it’s a good company and they put on a lot of training. They’ve always been there for technical advice, they’ve got a good range of materials and the most important thing is being able to get the products.

Where I live, there’s only one shop that stocks UltraTile, so if I can’t get to that one shop, I have to order online through Pro Tiler Tools, where I do a lot of my ordering. For big orders, I get them delivered to jobs. UltraTile also provide glues for LVT flooring, so you can use them for flooring as well as tiling. Every product they have is good.

What advice would you offer to new tilers?
My best advice for anyone coming into the trade or retraining would be to give it 100%. Go in, feet first and give it everything. Take as much advice from the Tiler Community Forums and go to a lot of the manufacturers where they do a lot of training data charges or training academies. Get on these free training courses and just get as much knowledge and hands-on experience as you can.

You can even contact local tilers and work alongside them. For example, I’ve got a lad working with me now who initially didn’t even know how to use a tape measure or a pencil to measure out. I’ve had him with me for two weeks and he’s come on leaps and bounds. If you can’t find a local tiler who’s willing to show you, there’s online communities such as Tiler’s Community where there’s always someone to give you advice.

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