there is no way you can fit this floor to a high standard without trainning of some kind. Weather that be a karndean course or another course like one of the FITA courses. Of course you could come and work for me or someone else who is skilled at the job for a week and learn more than what you learn on the course.
But i myself still go to all the courses and keep close with karndean, amtico etc for new and improved methods, weather that be me teaching them something or them teaching me. I am lucky that when something new or a new method comes out, that the company in question is normaly on the phone to me for me to try it out and see what i think and vice versa!
Anyway there is more to karndean than to slapping a few tiles down, there is boarder work etc. A proper fitter will be installing boarders on every job and shrinking them to fit or bending them around a bend! This is the bit that i would say no one can do with out trainning of some kind.
The way i look at it tho. Lets say you buy a nice porsche. You take it for its 600 quid oil service at a porsche dealer, The 'porshe mechanic' does the oil change and all seems o.k but then you find out that he is self trainned on his mothers ford fiesta. There is no way he can know all what is needed to know when a few simple courses could train him to do it properly. Would you be happy with this? You may as well pay some tramp at the side of the road 10 quid to slip under the car to do it for you.
Also the courses are worth every penny, you will come away with tools, clothes, bags and products like there glues or screed etc which in total will be about the same as what the course cost, including your lunch and stuff over the few days, karndean dont end up making money after they pay for all the products you use. For instance, the one circle you get to put into the floor costs them 50 quid to make that is scrap 20 minutes later!
