JOB DESCRIPTION
Wall and floor tilers lay ceramic, clay, slate, marble, glass and other types of tiles on external and internal walls and floors to provide protective and decorative finishes. Wall and floor tilers sometimes work in confined areas where bending and kneeling is required. They lift and carry cement and stacks of tiles. They sometimes work at heights using ladders or scaffolding. Most tilers work in small teams and move frequently from one job location to another.
DUTIES AND TASKS
Wall and floor tilers may perform the following tasks:
- look at plans, measure and mark surfaces to be covered and lay out work
- prepare wall and floor surfaces by removing old tiles, grout, cement and adhesive
- use tile-cutting tools to cut and shape tiles needed for edges, corners, or around obstacles such as fittings and pipes
- attach tiles to surfaces, using correct adhesive, making sure that patterned tiles match
- space and even the tiles by using tools such as spirit levels, squares and plumb-lines
- prepare and apply grout, remove excess grout, clean and polish tiles
- lay floors of cement, granolithic, terrazzo or similar composition
- apply waterproofing systems.
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
- enjoy practical and manual work
- able to work at heights
- good hand-eye coordination
- able to make simple calculations
- able to work independently
- able to cope with the physical demands of the job
- able to work neatly and accurately