About this module
Level 1 taught you to lay a good floor on a good base. Level 2 teaches you to cope when the base is bad, the tile is big, the room is wet and the client wants a pattern.
Who it is for. People who have finished Floor and Wall Tiling (Level 1), or who can show the same skills. National Proficiency II covers varied work, mostly routine, under limited supervision.
CTVET status. The Ghana Skills Development Initiative developed national occupational standards for block laying and tiling at NP I and NP II. The unit list was not found online, so this module is not that curriculum. It follows CTVET's format so it can be put forward later.
Bridge from Level 1: what you already know
- Wet cutting outdoors, masks, gloves, knee pads, grinder guard, safe lifting
- Porcelain against ceramic; estimating area and adding waste (10%, 15%, 15–20%)
- Checking a floor with a 2 m straightedge (3 mm gap); curing times; the 3-4-5 triangle; dry-laying
- Notched trowels, 85% and 95% adhesive coverage, joint widths, perimeter and movement joints
- Lippage, hollow tiles, wall battens, falls to drains, membranes 150 mm up the walls
- Waiting 24 hours before grouting
- Area maps, STMA artisan fee, quoting by area, Google Business Profile, WhatsApp catalogue
Level 1 did not cover large-format tiles, natural stone, adhesive classes, epoxy grout, slip ratings, levelling compounds, patterns, outdoor tiling, repairs, contracts or taking on helpers. Level 2 covers all of these. Swimming pools, tanks and structures that must hold water are specialist work: join a specialist before taking one.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme split of about 30% school and 70% workplace.
Unit 1 · Work safely at Level 2
Bigger tiles, more cutting and more power tools mean more dust, more weight and more risk. Level 1 protected you; Level 2 asks you to protect the team.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Control silica dust better | uses water or on-tool extraction and the right mask for the job |
| 1.2 Lift and carry big tiles | uses two people, a lifter or a trolley and carries tiles on edge |
| 1.3 Keep power tools safe | uses a residual current device and keeps cables out of water |
| 1.4 Work safely in heat and outdoors | plans breaks, water and shade |
Range. All Level 2 tiling work. Evidence. Observation every session; oral questions.
Silica: step up from Level 1
Silica dust from tile, stone and cement can cause silicosis, lung cancer and kidney disease. In Level 1 you learned to cut wet, outdoors, with a mask. At Level 2 you will cut more, and some jobs, such as stone and large formats, mean longer cuts. The UK health and safety regulator's advice for cutting tiles with a power cutter is to use water suppression or on-tool extraction, and a mask with an assigned protection factor of 20, such as a disposable FFP3 mask, which should be fit-tested if it is a tight-fitting type. Use FFP3 where you can get it. FFP2/N95 is the minimum from Level 1. Price and supply of FFP3 masks in Takoradi were not checked.
Water or extraction? Water keeps dust down but makes slurry that dries into dust. Sweep wet or vacuum, never dry-sweep. Use both water and a good mask when you can.
Heavy and awkward tiles
Large porcelain tiles are heavy, awkward and break at the corners. Level 1 told you a 50 kg cement bag is far above the guide weight for lifting. Carry big tiles on their edge, with a partner, or use a suction lifter. Never carry a big tile flat like a tray. Floor layers get knee problems far more than other workers, so keep wearing knee pads.
Power tools, water and cement
- Keep cables away from water and sharp edges. Plug wet saws and grinders into a residual current device. (Never rely on a cable that is cut or taped.)
- Epoxy grout and some adhesives contain chemicals that can irritate skin. Read the label and wear gloves. Wet cement is still alkaline and can burn.
- Work outdoors in the cool of the morning; drink water; rest in shade. (Heat advice is general good practice; no Ghana tiling source was found.)
Safe or unsafe?
- Efua dry-cuts a thick stone slab in a closed room with a paper mask.
- Kojo and Ama carry a large tile on its edge from the car.
- Yaw's wet saw cable lies in the slurry and is plugged in with no RCD.
- Esi sweeps tile dust dry with a broom.
- Kwesi cuts under a shade outdoors with water, an FFP3 mask and glasses.
Safe set-up
- Set up a wet-cutting station outdoors with an RCD on the supply.
- Practise a two-person edge carry and, if you have one, a suction-lifter carry on a large tile.
- Practise wet clean-up: damp sponge, wet sweep, bucket.
- Check each other's mask fit.
Dust at work
Watch a tiler or a stone-cutter. Write what they did right and wrong about dust, water and masks.
Unit 2 · Tiles, adhesives and grouts: choosing well
The wrong adhesive or grout can ruin a perfect tile job. Choose for the tile, the base, the room and the traffic.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Compare tile types | explains porcelain, ceramic and natural stone and where each suits |
| 2.2 Choose adhesive | reads C1, C2, S1, S2 and picks one for a job |
| 2.3 Choose grout | compares cement and epoxy grout |
| 2.4 Read slip ratings | chooses a slip rating for a room |
| 2.5 Know the Ghana market | names local and imported sources and checks prices |
Range. Floor and wall tiles for homes, shops and outdoors. Evidence. Materials chart; oral questions; price survey.
Porcelain, ceramic and natural stone
Porcelain absorbs 0.5% water or less; other ceramic tiles absorb more. Level 1 told you porcelain is stronger for floors and outdoors. Natural stone, such as marble and granite, is a different material: it must usually be sealed before laying so adhesive and grout do not stain it, and light or see-through stones need white adhesive because grey can show through. For moisture-sensitive stone, a rapid-setting, low-moisture C2 adhesive reduces the water that gets into the stone. Ask the stone supplier and the adhesive maker before starting.
Tile adhesive classes
The European standard EN 12004 sorts adhesives. C1 is normal (at least 0.5 N/mm² bond). C2 is improved (at least 1 N/mm²). S1 is flexible and S2 highly flexible. Letters after the class can mean slip-reduced (T), longer open time (E) or fast-setting (F). Dense porcelain, larger formats (for example 30 × 60 cm), underfloor heating and difficult bases call for flexible adhesive. For tiles with a side over 60 cm, Mapei recommends C2 adhesive with S1 or S2 deformability.
Check the bag. Not every bag sold in Ghana shows a class. If the bag shows no class, ask the supplier or maker for a data sheet. If you cannot get one, use it only for small, light, dry-area ceramic work, and test a bay first.
Cement grout and epoxy grout
Cement grout is cement, sand and fillers mixed with water. It is porous and needs sealing; epoxy grout is made of resin and hardener, is effectively waterproof and needs no sealer. Epoxy has a short pot life, must be mixed to the exact ratio and cleaned off the tile faces quickly, or it forms a hard film. Epoxy costs much more per kilogram. Use it for showers, commercial kitchens and areas that stay wet. Use cement grout for ordinary dry floors. A Takoradi price for epoxy grout was not found.
Slip resistance
Floor tiles are given R ratings, from R9 (least grip) to R13, from a ramp test in which a person in oiled boots walks until they slip. R9 suits dry indoor rooms such as bedrooms and hallways, R10 suits kitchens and bathrooms, and R11 suits wet or outdoor areas. The pendulum test gives a different number; R10 is roughly 18–34 and R11 about 34–54 on that scale. No Ghana rule on tile slip ratings was found. Use these as guides, and ask the supplier for the tile's rating.
Which tile?
Choose R9, R10 or R11 and a grout for each: (1) a dry bedroom floor; (2) an outdoor open terrace that gets rain; (3) a shower floor.
The Ghana tile market
Ghana now makes tiles. KEDA Ghana Ceramics, also known as Twyford, has its factory at Aboadze in the Shama District of the Western Region. A $77 million factory was built to produce 14.4 million m² a year. Press reports say Twyford's output cut tile imports by about 40% and that over 95% of its raw materials come from Ghana. Many imported tiles are still sold, so always check the maker, the size, the batch and the rating.
Asking prices on Jiji Ghana, October 2026 (not quotes; sellers mostly in Accra):
| Item | Asking price |
|---|---|
| 60 × 60 cm porcelain floor tiles, carton of 4 (1.44 m²) | GH¢190–235 |
| Manual tile cutter, 800 mm | GH¢770–1,329 |
Tile adhesive listings on the same site ranged from GH¢800 to GH¢4,300 for "25 kg" products, and several were chemical additives rather than ready adhesive, so adhesive prices were not verified. Visit a Takoradi supplier and record real prices.
Materials workshop
- Look at three tile samples. Write the type, size and any rating on the back.
- Read an adhesive bag and a grout bag. Write down the class, coverage, pot life and open time.
- Mix a small batch of cement grout and, with the trainer, a small batch of epoxy grout if available. Compare working time.
- Seal one stone offcut and leave one unsealed; wet both with a drop of oil and compare after ten minutes.
Price survey
Visit two tile shops. Record the price of one carton of 60 × 60 porcelain floor tiles, a bag of adhesive, a bag of grout, and ask for the class on the adhesive bag. Work out the tile price per m².
Unit 3 · Substrates, screeds and levelling
Level 1 said most faults start under the tile. At Level 2 you learn how to put the base right.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Judge the base | tests flatness, hollows, cracks, dust and damp |
| 3.2 Choose a repair | picks screed, levelling compound, patching or a membrane |
| 3.3 Use self-levelling compound | primes, mixes, pours and cures it correctly |
| 3.4 Plan for big tiles | sets a tighter flatness limit for large formats |
Range. Concrete and screeded floors; rendered walls. Evidence. Surface survey; levelled practice bay; oral questions.
How flat is flat enough?
At Level 1 you allowed a 3 mm gap under a 2 m straightedge. For large-format tiles the base should be within about 1.5 mm under a 2 m straightedge. Do not fix a bad base by piling on adhesive. Correct it with screed or a levelling compound first.
Know your base
- New screed or concrete: still curing? Level 1 said at least 7 days.
- Old tiled floor: are tiles loose? Tap each with a coin.
- Dust, oil, laitance (a weak skin on concrete): these stop adhesive biting. Brush, scrape and clean.
- Damp: a patch that stays dark may be rising damp or a leak. Find the cause first.
- Cracks: are they moving or old and still? Moving cracks need a specialist.
How long must a base dry? Level 1 gave a 7-day minimum from Singapore's building authority and 3 weeks for screed or 6 weeks for concrete from UK house-building guidance. The sources disagree. Wait as long as the job allows, especially for large tiles, and follow the adhesive maker's instructions. For levelling compounds, the maker's moisture limit also applies.
Self-levelling compound
Self-levelling compound is a cement-based, polymer-modified mix poured to a runny consistency; it finds its own level, then sets smooth. The most common cause of failure is dust or laitance left on the base. A primer suited to the base (concrete, sand-cement screed or timber each need a different type) is needed. For anything much deeper than 10–15 mm, check the maker's guidance. Mix exactly to the water amount on the bag, pour quickly and keep the area closed until it is hard.
Screed, in brief
A bonded screed is stuck to the base; an unbonded screed lies on a damp-proof sheet so moisture cannot rise. Laying a good screed is a skill of its own, and this module does not teach screeding in full. Learn it from a mason, and practise on your own bay first.
Walls
Walls also need preparation. A rendered wall should be plumb, dry, free of dust and sound. Tap for hollow render. Remove loose paint and old glue. Wet-area walls need a waterproof system (Unit 5).
How much compound?
A room is 3.5 m × 4 m. The base is 4 mm lower at one corner than the highest point, and the maker says one 25 kg bag covers about 5 m² at 3 mm thick. (1) What is the area? (2) Roughly how many bags if the average depth you need is 6 mm? (3) Why prime first?
Fix an uneven bay
- Check a deliberately uneven practice bay with a 2 m straightedge. Mark high and low spots.
- Grind or chip high spots (wet, with a mask) and sweep clean.
- Prime. Mix and pour self-levelling compound within the maker's working time.
- After it sets, check again: no gap over 1.5 mm.
- Write the checks in your logbook.
Base survey
Look at three floors that are about to be tiled or re-tiled. Describe the base. What would you do first?
Unit 4 · Layouts, large formats, cutting and repairs
Big tiles show every mistake. Patterns eat tiles. Plan the layout on paper first.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Plan a pattern | plans straight, offset, diagonal and herringbone layouts and estimates waste |
| 4.2 Lay large formats | back-butters, uses the right trowel and a 33% offset |
| 4.3 Cut complex shapes | cuts holes, notches, L-shapes and mitres |
| 4.4 Find and repair defects | diagnoses cracked, hollow and loose tiles and repairs them |
Range. Floor and wall practice bays. Evidence. Finished bays; repair record; oral questions.
Patterns and waste
| Layout | Typical waste to add |
|---|---|
| Straight (grid) | 5–10% |
| Brick or offset | about 10% on top |
| Diagonal | 15% or more |
| Herringbone or chevron | 15–20%, up to 25% for complex layouts |
Level 1 gave 10% for simple layouts, 15% for bathrooms and 15–20% for diagonals. Use the higher number when unsure. Offcuts from a pattern are often too small to use, so order the extra tiles from the same batch at the start.
Laying large formats
- Large format means a tile with a side over 60 cm.
- Spread adhesive with a notched trowel on the base and on the back of the tile (double-buttering or back-buttering), combing both in the same direction, in straight lines parallel to the short side so air can escape.
- A square notch of about 10–12 mm is common for large tiles, to give at least 90–95% coverage. Lift a tile and check, as in Level 1.
- Joints at least 2 mm wide, wider for bigger tiles, bigger movement or warped tiles. For rectified tile, a minimum average of 1/8 inch (about 3 mm); for non-rectified, 3/16 inch (about 5 mm); add the amount of edge warp.
- Use a 33% offset, not 50%, with long rectangular tiles. Most are slightly bowed along the middle of the long side, and a 50% offset puts the high point next to two low points, so lippage shows.
- Tap each tile level with a rubber mallet or vibrating plate to remove air gaps. Level 1 told you the limit for lippage is about 1 mm with narrow joints. Levelling clips help but do not replace a flat base.
Cutting complex shapes
- Mark with a template (cardboard) held against the pipe or corner.
- L-shape: score and snap the straight sides; use a grinder to cut into the corner from both sides, then finish with the nibbler.
- Hole for a pipe: drill with a diamond hole saw, wet; or cut the tile in half and notch both pieces.
- Mitre (45°) edges: cut with a wet saw and ease the sharp edge with a stone.
- Cut a spare. Always test the cut on an offcut.
Finding the fault
| Fault | Common cause | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Hollow tile | too little adhesive; base not flat | lift, clean base, re-lay with full coverage |
| Cracked tile | base movement; no movement joint; point load; poor coverage | find the cause first, then replace |
| Loose tile | wet base; poor adhesive; moving base | fix the base, re-lay |
| White haze (efflorescence) | moisture carrying salts | clean, remove the moisture source, then seal |
| Failing grout | too little grout, wrong grout, movement | rake out and re-grout |
| Lippage | uneven base or tile bow | grind if minor; otherwise re-lay |
To replace one tile: score and rake out the grout, break the tile with a chisel working from the centre out, scrape the base clean, apply fresh adhesive, bed a new tile with spacers, and grout when cured. Do not just glue over a crack. A repair that ignores the cause will fail again.
Estimate a pattern
A room is 5 m × 4 m. You will lay 60 × 60 cm tiles on the diagonal (add 15%), in cartons of 1.44 m² (4 tiles). (1) Area? (2) Area with waste? (3) Cartons? (4) Extra carton for spares? If so, how many to buy?
Layouts, cuts and repairs
- Draw a layout plan for a room with a door and a pipe. Mark the starting line.
- Lay a large-format bay with back-buttering; lift one tile and record coverage.
- Make an L-cut, a pipe hole and a mitre on offcuts.
- Remove and replace a cracked tile in a practice bay.
Fault walk
Look at three tiled floors or walls. Name each fault and its likely cause. Take photos.
Unit 5 · Wet areas, waterproofing and outdoor tiling
The membrane keeps the water out. The tile and grout are only the finish. Outdoors, sun and rain push tiles harder.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Waterproof a wet area | explains and (in practice) follows the membrane steps |
| 5.2 Set falls | forms and checks falls to a drain or outlet |
| 5.3 Tile and grout a wet area | uses suitable adhesive and grout |
| 5.4 Tile a terrace | plans falls, joints and drainage outdoors |
| 5.5 Place movement joints | places perimeter and field joints |
Range. Practice shower tray, wet wall, small terrace bay. Evidence. Finished bay; flood-test record; oral questions.
Waterproofing a wet room
Level 1 said the tile is not the waterproofing. At Level 2: the whole tiled floor should be waterproofed, with membrane upstands of at least 150 mm up the walls around the edge. Within an enclosed shower, the waterproof finish on walls should be continuous, at least 1,800 mm high from the floor, and extend at least 300 mm above the shower head. These are New Zealand rules, not Ghana law; no Ghana rule on waterproofing was found. Use them as good practice.
- Prepare the base: clean, sound, flat, falls formed.
- Seal corners and drain joints with the maker's tape or bond-breaker.
- Apply the membrane in coats to the thickness on the data sheet, with reinforcing at corners and joints.
- Let each coat cure for the time on the data sheet before the next and before tiling.
- Tile with suitable flexible adhesive; grout; seal the corner joints with flexible sealant, not rigid grout.
Falls remain as in Level 1: about 1 in 100 with a screen or step, at least 1 in 80 with none. Ponding water means a fault. Fix it before tiling.
Practise on a model, not a client's bathroom. A leaking membrane is hidden behind tiles and costs far more to repair than the original work. Use only products with a data sheet, and keep a photo record of each coat. Ask the membrane maker how they want leaks tested. No Ghana method was found. One Australian maker's flood test, as a guide: let the membrane cure fully first (48 to 72 hours for its liquid membranes at 23 °C), plug the drain, flood the area with clean water 25 to 100 mm deep at the low point, keep it there for at least 24 hours (no more than 72), and check underneath for leaks. If it leaks, drain it, find and repair the fault, let the repair cure, and test again.
Movement joints, again
Level 1 gave a perimeter gap of at least 6 mm and a movement joint every 8–10 m indoors, closer in sun or heavy use. A natural-stone guide suggests internal joints about every 6 m, or 4.5 m in sun, and wall joints every 3 to 4.5 m, and carrying structural joints through the tiling. The spacings disagree. Ask the tile maker, and use the closer figure if unsure. Fill movement joints with a flexible sealant, not grout.
Outdoor tiling
- Use porcelain tiles with a suitable slip rating (R11 is a good guide).
- Use adhesive suitable for outdoors, usually a flexible C2 type.
- Build in a fall so rain runs off, and leave expansion joints in the base and the tiles.
- Level 1 told you to use 5 mm joints for outdoor areas.
- Sun heats tiles; work in the cool of the morning and shade the adhesive.
- Raised terraces over habitable rooms are a waterproofing job as well as a tiling job: do not take one without help from an engineer or experienced contractor.
Swimming pools. Pools need a structural and waterproofing specialist. This module does not teach pool tiling. Work with a specialist, ask to watch, and do only supervised small areas.
Grouting wet areas
Wait at least 24 hours before grouting (longer for big tiles), and about 72 hours for full cure. In showers, epoxy grout is a good choice (Unit 2). Do not grout the corner and the junction of floor and wall: seal them flexibly.
Wet area and terrace
- Form a fall on a model shower tray; check with a level and water.
- Apply the membrane in coats to a model, taping corners and the drain, with the trainer; photograph each coat.
- Tile and grout the model; use flexible sealant at the corners.
- Lay a small outdoor bay with a fall and an expansion joint.
- Flood-test the model for the time the trainer decides and record any leaks.
Wet room review
Look at a tiled bathroom or kitchen. Where might water get under the tiles? Where would you put the membrane and the movement joints?
Unit 6 · Your location and business ideas
Go where building is happening. Add a specialist skill. Make friends with the people who send tilers work.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Choose where to work | compares areas and referral partners |
| 6.2 Find a niche | picks a specialist service such as large formats or repairs |
| 6.3 Add income ideas | plans at least three extra income lines |
| 6.4 Know the fees | lists Assembly fees for artisans |
Range. Sekondi-Takoradi, Shama, Axim, Akwidaa and surrounding areas. Evidence. Area map; business plan.
Where the work is
- New estates and houses. Gated estates along the Airport Ridge corridor are growing.
- Near the factory. KEDA/Twyford employs staff and contractors at Aboadze. Ask the supplier which dealers sell its tiles in Takoradi.
- Tile and hardware shops. Customers there need a tiler.
- Hotels, guest houses and restaurants. They renovate wet rooms and kitchens. Akwidaa and the coast have guest houses (visit and ask; no source checked).
- Churches, schools and clinics. Floors need re-laying and repairing.
- Referral partners. Masons, plumbers, painters and contractors.
A specialist niche
- Large-format and natural stone tiling. Not all tilers can do it; charge more.
- Waterproofing and wet-room specialist. Learn the membrane makers' systems.
- Repair and regrouting. Fix hollow tiles, replace cracked ones and re-seal old bathrooms (Unit 4).
- Outdoor terraces and patios. Accra price guide puts patios and paving at GH¢2,000–8,000 per job.
- Tile and sanitary supply linked to installation. Offer a complete package with a plumber.
Assembly fees (STMA 2025)
Sekondi-Takoradi lists "masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, steel benders, tile layers" together in one artisans category at about GH¢100 a year, and signboards at GH¢8 per square foot. Confirm at the Assembly.
Accessibility
The Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) requires accessible public places and bans job discrimination. Tiling floors matter: choose a surface and slip rating that suits wheelchairs, avoid raised thresholds, and ask the client about ramps and grab rails. The Assemblies' disability fund allocation rose from 3% to 5% in 2026; ask your Assembly about help with tools or training. A disabled trainee can learn tiling with adapted tools and seating; ask the trainee how they work best, and agree signals for deaf workers as in Level 1.
Which niche?
Mensah has a mobile phone, a manual cutter, a wet saw and two years of experience. He lives in Takoradi near a tile shop. Write one niche he could start in, who he should visit first, and what he should buy last.
Niche plan
Pick one niche from this unit. Write who would buy it, where to find them, what you would charge and what you would need to learn first.
Unit 7 · Market, quote, contract and grow
People hire the tiler they can find, trust and understand. A clear quote and a written agreement protect both sides.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Market yourself | builds a portfolio, WhatsApp Business profile and Google Business Profile |
| 7.2 Quote by area | prices a job per m² with materials, waste, extras and margin |
| 7.3 Agree a contract | writes a one-page agreement |
| 7.4 Work with builders | agrees scope, access, programme and payment stages |
| 7.5 Train helpers | plans safe training for an apprentice |
Range. The trainee's planned business. Evidence. Portfolio; quote; agreement; record book.
Get found
- WhatsApp Business has a business profile, a catalogue, and automatic greeting and away messages. Show your best photos and your price list.
- Google Business Profile is free and puts you on Google Maps and Search; verification can be by phone, email, video call or a postcard.
- Portfolio: before-and-after photos of every job, with the client's permission; a short caption with size, tile type and the year.
- Signboard: the Assembly lists signboards at GH¢8 per square foot.
- Referrals: ask every happy client, builder and shop for one.
- Never show a photo of someone else's work as yours.
Pricing by m²
Accra labour in 2026 was about GH¢40–80 per m² for floors and GH¢50–100 per m² for walls, and a full bathroom GH¢1,500–3,500. No Takoradi rate was found. Ask three local tilers and two builders and record what they say, with the date. Large formats, patterns, stone and waterproofing normally cost more than plain 60 × 60 tiles; a Nigerian guide from January 2026 put large-format labour above ordinary flat-wall labour. Do not copy foreign prices.
A good quote lists: area (with waste), tile type and size, who buys the tiles, adhesive class and grout type, waterproofing, labour per m², extras, start and finish dates, payment stages and what is not included.
Quote a terrace and a bathroom
A job: terrace floor 12 m² at labour GH¢90 per m², bathroom floor 4 m² at GH¢80 per m², bathroom walls 18 m² at GH¢90 per m², waterproofing labour and materials GH¢700, adhesive and grout GH¢950, transport GH¢150. The client buys the tiles. (1) Labour total? (2) Quote total? (3) Add 10% contingency to the whole quote: what is the price? (4) A 40% deposit on that price?
A simple written agreement
- Names and phone numbers of both people; address of the job
- Scope: rooms, areas, tile types, what is not included
- Price, deposit, payment stages and the final payment on handover
- Start date, finish date, and what happens if the site is not ready
- Who buys the tiles and who pays for breakages and extra tiles
- Who keeps the site clean and safe; access to water and power
- Extras and changes must be agreed in writing with a new price
- Handover check and a short guarantee on your workmanship (you choose the time)
- Signatures and the date
Ghana law on contracts and payment was not checked. This is good practice, not legal advice. For large jobs ask a lawyer or the Assembly's business desk. Keep copies, receipts and photos.
Working with builders and developers
- Agree who prepares the base. Never tile on a base you have not checked and accepted in writing.
- Agree access, power, water, storage and the order of trades (plumber and electrician before you; painter after you).
- Visit before the job and take photos of the base.
- Ask for payment in stages, not all at the end.
- Report faults you did not cause, such as a slab not flat, in writing before you start.
Helpers and apprentices
A large study found construction apprenticeships planned for one year usually lasted three years or more. Make your own arrangement short and clear: write what you will teach, in what order, how long, and when the helper may do paid work alone. Start with safety: masks, gloves, knee pads and wet cutting (Unit 1). Do not let a helper use the grinder, mix epoxy or lift heavy tiles until they have been shown and watched.
Business pack
- Photograph your practice work and arrange a portfolio of six pairs of before-and-after photos.
- Draft a WhatsApp Business profile and a Google Business Profile.
- Write a quote for a practice bathroom using real local prices you have gathered.
- Write a one-page agreement.
- Present your plan to the class; each classmate asks one question.
First paid-job plan
Plan your first paid job: client, area, price, deposit, dates and what could go wrong.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adhesive class (C1, C2, S1, S2) | A code on the bag for bond strength (C) and flexibility (S) |
| Back-buttering | Spreading adhesive on the back of the tile as well as on the base |
| Bond breaker | A tape or strip that stops the membrane stretching at a joint |
| Efflorescence | A white haze left when moisture carries salts to the surface |
| Epoxy grout | A resin grout that is waterproof and needs no sealer |
| Large format | A tile with a side over 60 cm |
| Laitance | A weak powdery skin on new concrete |
| Offset | How far each tile row is moved sideways from the one beside it |
| Pot life | How long a mixed product can be used before it sets |
| R rating | A slip-resistance class for floor tiles, R9 to R13 |
| Self-levelling compound | A runny cement mix that sets flat |
| Screed | The smooth sand-cement layer under floor tiles |
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: safety set-up checks; mask fit; dust observation
- Unit 2: materials chart; adhesive and grout reading; price survey
- Unit 3: base survey; levelling record; flatness checks
- Unit 4: layout plan; large-format coverage check; cuts; repair record; fault walk photos
- Unit 5: shower fall; membrane photos; wet-bay record; terrace bay
- Unit 6: area map; partners met; niche plan
- Unit 7: portfolio; quote; agreement; business pack
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- What mask does the UK regulator suggest for power-cutting tiles with extraction or water?
- Why carry a large tile on its edge?
- What does the C and S in "C2 S1" mean?
- Why seal natural stone before laying?
- Which grout is waterproof and needs no sealer?
- What R rating is a good guide for a wet outdoor area?
- What flatness do large-format tiles need under a 2 m straightedge?
- Why prime a base before self-levelling compound?
- What offset should you use with long rectangular tiles?
- How far up the walls should floor membrane go?
- Why must you find the cause of a cracked tile before replacing it?
- Name three things a written agreement should say.
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: your adhesive and membrane makers' data sheets; the UK HSE pages on silica and cement; the Mapei large-format guide; a tile shop's product sheets.
What this module does not cover: full screeding and plastering, swimming pool tiling, terrazzo polishing, roofing tiles, underfloor heating, Ghana contract law, Ghana waterproofing standards (none found), and Takoradi labour and adhesive prices (not found; check locally).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.