Job description Apprentice Tilesetter in the South Coast–Burin Peninsula Region

Find out what work is like for an apprentice tilesetter in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Tilesetters (NOC 73101).

Tilesetters

Description

Tilesetters cover interior and exterior walls, floors and ceilings with ceramic, marble and quarry tile, mosaics or terrazzo. They are employed by construction companies and masonry contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Work week duration

Tilesetters usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Tilesetters have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • 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.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Handling material manually
  • Keeping or regaining balance

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Tilesetters are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Construction companies
  • Self-employed
  • Masonry contractors

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Standard safety equipment
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Sound and noise
  • Skin injury

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 73101), and a list of similar occupations:

  • apprentice tilesetter
  • ceramic tile installer
  • marble setter
  • terrazzo polisher
  • terrazzo worker
  • tile installer
  • tilesetter

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

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