Tile Setter/Flooring installer

Tile setters are skilled tradesmen who have worked in the field for a minimum of 3-5 years assisting and learning the trade of cutting and fitting "hard tile" to fit into spaces on both floors and walls and around obstacles that use a variety of mortars and substrates that are specific to each job. A tile setter handles both power and hand cutting tools, drills, and often owns his own set of setting tools and trowels, etc. A tile setter has worked with a lot of materials and sizes including but not limited to mosaic tiles, wall tile, large format porcelain tiles, plank tile, natural stone, stacked stone, quarry tile, glass tile, coved based and bullnose tiles. A tile setter knows how to align, set-up mark and measure areas to prep for tile, and how to implement the best layouts to achieve desired patterns. A tile setter also knows how to read a blueprint and how to transition finished surfaces. Most tile setters are experienced tradesmen in both new construction and remodeling. A valuable tile setter knows how to recognize substrate issues and offer solutions and/or correct leveling issues, waterproof concerns and shower system set ups.

Specific tasks associated with setting tile include:
--prepping and/or installing subfloors, cement board, waterproofing membranes, etc.
--measuring and marking surfaces that are to be tiled using squares, levels, straight edges, etc.
--cutting and shaping tile to fit in a straight line with little to no cupping or high spots and uniform grout lines --sealing natural stone tile
--grouting and caulking areas tiled
--laying transitions between finished floors
--installing base tile and or bullnose tile (including miters at outside corners and/or metal edging) --installing decorative inserts, mosaics, murals and designs

Skills and Abilities that Tile Setters have:
--critical thinking skills and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of approaches to the job and finding alternative solutions to problems:
--active listening and giving full attention to what instructions are given and taking the time to understand what is expected;
--coordination of actions in relation to other's actions on the jobsite and knowing when to offer suggestion or guidance of a less experienced co-worker;
--talking to other to convey information helpful to getting the job done effectively and timely; --the ability to imagine how something will look after it is installed, moved, removed, or replaced; -- physical body strength and flexibility to support the demands of the job.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE TILE SETTERS OWN
-- tile cutters in various lengths, grinders
--mixing drills, cement mixers, mortar mixing tools & scrapers --floats and trowels for different notching, buttering, grouting,
--rags, broom, utility knives, hammers, screwdrivers, tape measure, sponges, buckets and a dust pan
--safety glasses, dust masks, waterproof gloves, and first aid kit