Job description Apprentice Tilesetter in the Lower Mainland–Southwest 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

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

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)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

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

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Tilesetters in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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