SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Tile and Stone Setters

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Ceramic Tile Mechanic
  • Ceramic Tile Setter
  • Tile and Marble Installer
  • Tile and Marble Setter
  • Tile Finisher
  • Tile Installer
  • Tile Man
  • Tile Mason

What do Tile and Stone Setters do?

Tile and Stone Setters are skilled tradespeople who specialize in installing various types of tiles and stone materials in residential and commercial settings. They work with materials such as ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite, and glass, applying their craftsmanship to create aesthetically pleasing and durable surfaces. Their work includes preparing substrates, measuring and cutting tiles or stones to fit specific areas, and using adhesives and grouting materials to secure the installations. Tile and Stone Setters often collaborate with architects, designers, and builders to ensure that the final product meets design specifications and withstands the test of time. Their role is crucial in enhancing the beauty and functionality of indoor and outdoor spaces, including floors, walls, backsplashes, and countertops.

What the work actually is

  • Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
  • Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.
  • Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
  • Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.
  • Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.

Abilities

  • Visualization The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Extent Flexibility The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

Knowledge

  • Building and Construction Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Design Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Less than high school diploma
Some college, no degree

A normal week

  • Getting Information
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Customer relationship management CRM software Salesforce software
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Computer aided design CAD software EasyCAD Iris 2D · TileGem
  • Data base user interface and query software Aya Associates Comp-U-Floor
  • Project management software Measure Square FloorEstimate Pro

Tools

  • Trowels Buttering trowels · Gauging trowels · Notch trowels
  • Plaster or mortar mixers Colloidal mixers · Drum cement mixers · Horizontal shaft mixers
  • Floats Bull floats · Grout floats · Magnesium floats
  • Scaffolding Ladder jacks · Mechanical scaffolds · Rolling scaffolds
  • Power grinders Base grinders · Floor grinding machines · Mini grinders

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Tile and Stone Setters earn in South Africa?

Tile and Stone Setters salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Tile and Stone Setters do?

Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges, Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge and Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.