[nathanjd]

Morning folks.

Planning on venturing into the hard floor world. Currently been with carpets and upholstery for about 10 years. And feel that its a good diversifying step.

I want to do a course, and so which course would you recommend i do to give me a good starting knowledge of all hard floor types.

Nathan

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Nathan, I'm sure not everyone will agree with me but I think you need to do a couple of courses as hard floors/stones are far more involved than textiles.

I did the IICRC Stone and Masonry course but it was very theory based, I then attended Kevin Martin's course which was a mixture of theory and practical - even now after completing a few jobs I would still like to do another course, maybe Mike Philbin's one.

You won't learn everything from one course provider - hope this helps.

[Kev Martin]

Morning folks.

Planning on venturing into the hard floor world. Currently been with carpets and upholstery for about 10 years. And feel that its a good diversifying step.

I want to do a course, and so which course would you recommend i do to give me a good starting knowledge of all hard floor types.

Nathan

Nathan

You have a choice!  you can either do:

1.  Nu Life Course Mike Philbin
2.  Tile Doctor Russell
3.  IICRC Course Flood School
4.  Marblelife Ltd (Our Course)

Up to you really on which one you choose.  Wait for a few more posts from CIU Members who have done the various ones and make a decision from that!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[SteveAllan]

I think Steve hits the nail on the head above.

[maxcampbell]

We did IICRC Keith Robertson. Very good grounding in stone types & the fundamentals, but f'ing useless in how to go about doing a job. We just got a few jobs on & coped. Now booked on Kevin's course. Expect to be told we need lots of honing powder & aqua mix products. Now van written to say we're stone floor experts.

One step at a time.

[maxcampbell]

We haven't had a major F up yet, and we've made money. The main thing is stone can be more satisfying than carpet. You really can get it "better than new" and earn well, but not every day.

[Graeme Smith]

I did Kevins course and have visited Nulife to look at monster pads. I use kevins methods, the support after is worth ££s

[Mark@Able Stonecare]

Done a few courses but Tiling Logistics for me also as mentioned elsewhere on this thread the help received over the telephone is readily available from either Kev or Antony which i have first hand experience of.

Mark.

[Rob Hall]

I have done the following;

Posh Floors

Tile Doctor

MarbleLife 

At Posh Floors, I stood all day polishing a 2sqm floor. Would I recommend it?  NO! Waste of time and money. Whatever you do, do not buy their machines, I did... and found out that their customer service is disgraceful.

Tile Doctor. Would I recommend...No! 
Why?
Polishing marble is encouraged with Twister pads, nothing wrong with that, they do work but, polishing is best done with diamonds, as taught by Kevin Martins course.
Having used Tile Doctor products, I have thrown them all away. Make up your own mind on that one!
If you decide to join the Tile Doctor team, they want £100 a month to add you to their website...£100 A MONTH!!
Thats not all....The paperwork that you fill in at a customers house costs you another few hundred quid....in my opinion A RIP OFF!
Oh and just one other thing....NEVER speak to others on any forums about them, they don't like it. Other than that, they do buy you lunch on their course, which is nice.

Kevin not only runs a good course, they also have decent kit to use. Klindex probably make one of the best machines on the market, The Levighetor.
The Levighetor will be added to my kit as soon as I can afford it.
They are always happy to answer questions over the phone and offer advice. How much is that worth?
AND....their products work.

Not done Nu-Life, maybe I will in the future.

Hope this helps

[StoneSealersHQ]

Get on all the courses you can, they'll all have something worth learning.

Pop along and do Amir's one day course, which is held free of charge once a month on a friday. It's all hands on and you will be encouraged to get involved to restore stone, both by hand, hand polisher and floor machine. You will taught the way we used to be taught in the day of apprentices, based on knowledge and experience, not what is regurgitated from a 3 day aqua mix course. Amir's a very nice, incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful person, a guru within the stone restoration industry, look him up.

When you really want to learn to be a professional, you need to stray off the heavily promoted beaten track, free your mind and learn from those who do, than those who say they do.

[Kev Martin]

Get on all the courses you can, they'll all have something worth learning.

Pop along and do Amir's one day course, which is held free of charge once a month on a friday. It's all hands on and you will be encouraged to get involved to restore stone, both by hand, hand polisher and floor machine. You will taught the way we used to be taught in the day of apprentices, based on knowledge and experience, not what is regurgitated from a 3 day aqua mix course. Amir's a very nice, incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful person, a guru within the stone restoration industry, look him up.

When you really want to learn to be a professional, you need to stray off the heavily promoted beaten track, free your mind and learn from those who do, than those who say they do.

Crikey Dave I must have been listening to a bunch of liars!!

When did you do a course with him?
What did you specifically learn?
I didn't realise he ran the courses with such regularity when is the next one?
Where and when was the course you did run?  I only ask because at least 10 different people over the last 4 years have told me they went to different places and the general conssensus seems to be that the course he runs was akin to a clutterfu*k?
So where was yours held and what made it different?
I have had stories of people on his courses being chased out of premises because he was treaspassing and had no authority to be there!
Clearly after your post everything I have been told is Bullsh*t?

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Paul Moss]

Get on all the courses you can, they'll all have something worth learning.

Pop along and do Amir's one day course, which is held free of charge once a month on a friday. It's all hands on and you will be encouraged to get involved to restore stone, both by hand, hand polisher and floor machine. You will taught the way we used to be taught in the day of apprentices, based on knowledge and experience, not what is regurgitated from a 3 day aqua mix course. Amir's a very nice, incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful person, a guru within the stone restoration industry, look him up.


When you really want to learn to be a professional, you need to stray off the heavily promoted beaten track, free your mind and learn from those who do, than those who say they do.

Who is Amir and where is he based?

[Jason Smith]

Who is Amir and where is he based?
[/quote]

Paul,

I have not had the opportuity to attend his FREE course but I can say he is a very friendly knowledgable man. I know quite a lot of people who have been on his course and the majority have said they enjoyed it and that they learnt as much as any of the paid courses that they had previously attended.

Here are his details,

CHEMSPEC Klindex UK Official Dealer of Klindex in United Kingdom
Staines, Middlesex TW19 7ND
Phone (44) 01784 259814 Mobile (44) 07711383101 Email: amir@klindex.co.uk
http://www.klindex.co.uk/

[Kev Martin]

Who is Amir and where is he based?

Paul,

I have not had the opportuity to attend his FREE course but I can say he is a very friendly knowledgable man. I know quite a lot of people who have been on his course and the majority have said they enjoyed it and that they learnt as much as any of the paid courses that they had previously attended.

Here are his details,

CHEMSPEC Klindex UK Official Dealer of Klindex in United Kingdom
Staines, Middlesex TW19 7ND
Phone (44) 01784 259814 Mobile (44) 07711383101 Email: amir@klindex.co.uk
[/quote]

Jason

Another post that is not accurate!

He is the other UK Authorised Dealer appointed by Klindex for the UK along with us.  Although he has been a dealer for Klindex a lot  longer than us and we only run 6 Free Klindex Courses a year where as your mate Dave Carr has now informed the Forum that he runs 12 free courses a year.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Jason Smith]

Get on all the courses you can, they'll all have something worth learning.

Pop along and do Amir's one day course, which is held free of charge once a month on a friday. It's all hands on and you will be encouraged to get involved to restore stone, both by hand, hand polisher and floor machine. You will taught the way we used to be taught in the day of apprentices, based on knowledge and experience, not what is regurgitated from a 3 day aqua mix course. Amir's a very nice, incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful person, a guru within the stone restoration industry, look him up.


When you really want to learn to be a professional, you need to stray off the heavily promoted beaten track, free your mind and learn from those who do, than those who say they do.

Who is Amir and where is he based?

What are you going on about Kevin, I was just answering Paul question of who is Amir... give me a break.

[Kev Martin]

Jason

Why do you need abreak?  I was only pointing out that your post was not entirely accurate!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Jason Smith]

Jason

Why do you need abreak?  I was only pointing out that your post was not entirely accurate!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

If the contact details I posted for Paul are incorrect then you are telling the wrong person, this is the info that I got from the Klindex.co.uk website. Regarding the course and how many he runs I already told you I haven't attended so I don't know this information, we only have the feedback from the guys we supply chemicals too that have attended this course.

CHEMSPEC Klindex UK Official Dealer of Klindex in United Kingdom
Staines, Middlesex TW19 7ND
Phone (44) 01784 259814 Mobile (44) 07711383101 Email: amir@klindex.co.uk
http://www.klindex.co.uk/

To clarify, Dave doesn't work for Universeal he is a valued customer like any other, so your comments need to be aimed at him seeing he has been on the course and he made the post regarding how many courses Amir runs if he's incorrect.
What I meant by give me a break, was surely I should be able to help a forum member like any other member with the information they have requested without you jumping straight in talking boll*cks and looking to start something again.

I thought you made us a promise Kevin?... and I'm not going to waste this weekend back and forth with you about nothing?

Please just let me post freely without hassle, Thanks
 
 
 

[Kev Martin]

Jason

Please be kind enough to let me have a couple of names and contact details of the guys you supply chemicals to that have attended his course and enjoyed it.  I would really value their positive opinion!  Then this will help because I can refer anyone who contacts us for a Hard Floor Course to him based on their opinion as we have stopped doing courses

Kind regards

[StoneSealersHQ]

Get on all the courses you can, they'll all have something worth learning.

Pop along and do Amir's one day course, which is held free of charge once a month on a friday. It's all hands on and you will be encouraged to get involved to restore stone, both by hand, hand polisher and floor machine. You will taught the way we used to be taught in the day of apprentices, based on knowledge and experience, not what is regurgitated from a 3 day aqua mix course. Amir's a very nice, incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful person, a guru within the stone restoration industry, look him up.

When you really want to learn to be a professional, you need to stray off the heavily promoted beaten track, free your mind and learn from those who do, than those who say they do.

Crikey Dave I must have been listening to a bunch of liars!!

When did you do a course with him?
What did you specifically learn?
I didn't realise he ran the courses with such regularity when is the next one?
Where and when was the course you did run?  I only ask because at least 10 different people over the last 4 years have told me they went to different places and the general conssensus seems to be that the course he runs was akin to a clutterfu*k?
So where was yours held and what made it different?
I have had stories of people on his courses being chased out of premises because he was treaspassing and had no authority to be there!
Clearly after your post everything I have been told is Bullsh*t?

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

I went on the course yesterday, I was supposed to go a month back but I took ill. It was held in his unit and whilst not the ritz, it was more than functional for a free hands on training day.

Literally if we wanted to learn something Amir would have moved heaven and earth to make the space and demonstrate for anyone to replica, learn under tuition. He really is a friendly guy who loves his trade.

I would recommend anyone who has a spare Friday to drop in and do the course, if you don't learn anything then you haven't asked the questions and haven't joined in. The course is quite reactionary, Amir wants your participation.

[Kev Martin]

Dave

So essentially what you are saying is:

 "If you want to do a Hard Floor Course this is the one to do then?"

Did you expect to learn so much in a day?  What are your honest opinions on the Levighetor, UFO, Vertika and Extrema now you have had an opportunity to try them all?

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics