Tilesetters

Nature of work

Tilesetters cover interior and exterior walls, floors and ceilings with ceramic, marble and quarry tile, mosaics, or terrazzo. They work for construction companies and masonry contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Tilesetters:

• Prepare, measure, and mark surface to be covered.
• Build underbeds and install anchor bolts, wires, and brackets.
• Mix, apply and spread mortar, cement, mastic, glue, or other adhesives using hand trowel.
• Set tiles in position and apply pressure to affix tiles to base.
• Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
• Cut and fit tiles around obstacles and openings using hand and power cutting tools.
• Pack grout into joints between tiles and remove excess grout.
• Install tile strips.
• Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural and floor designs.
• Mix, lay, and polish terra surfaces.
• Cut, polish, and install marble and granite.
• Remove and replace cracked or damaged tiles.
• May prepare cost estimates and orders.

Sample job titles

• ceramic tilesetter
• marble mason
• tile fitter
• tile floor layer
• tile installer
• tile mason
• tilesetter

Skills

• A good knowledge of mathematics
• Ability to read blueprints, shop drawings, and specifications
• Planning and visual skills
• A good eye for colour and layout
• Manual and spatial dexterity
• Hand-eye coordination
• Good balance
• Good vision
• Physical stamina and agility
• Ability to do precise work
• Ability to work with little supervision

Job requirements

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• A combination of over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school or college courses in tilesetting.
• Trade Qualifier option, 8,100 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for tilesetters is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for tilesetters.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Other considerations

• Tilesetters use materials like ceramic, mosaics, glass, quarry tiles, slate, engineered stone, terrazzo, porcelain, and marble or granite slabs. They cover walls, floors, ceilings, fireplaces, swimming pools, saunas, showers, and other surfaces.
• Tilesetters work mainly indoors. Some work like cladding and swimming pools may be outside exposing workers to the weather.
• The work can be physically demanding, requiring bending, kneeling, reaching, heavy lifting, and working at heights.
• Risks include injury from working with sharp edges and power tools, and due to heavy lifting.
• They generally work a 40-hour week, but overtime is common to meet construction deadlines.
• Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment.
• Experienced tilesetters may advance to supervisory positions like foreperson, superintendent, and estimator.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

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