My son is 4; works harder than most men. Joseph Maiuri, Shores Tile Co., Roseville, Mich.: Yes sir. 12. First job I had was removing the paper between the quarry tile base and cutting the cardboard off the top: “Police the area.” I also cleaned my brother’s truck. I think I got $10/hr back then. That’s awesome – teach them young! Matthew Allcott, MGA Tiling, Frome, Somerset UK : I’ve let my boy have a go on the dry cuts (sub- way tile) and grout a small floor; he’s 11. He got 15 pounds for the day. Dave Morgan, CA Flooring, LLC, Clinton, Miss.: My son helps my brother some throughout the sum- mers. He’s 14 now and has been helping for the past few years. Nathan N Michelle Mikoski of Batharium, Kannapolis, N.C.: Depends on the kid. My old- est started when he was 9, and around 13 things clicked for him. By 14 he was straight up setting small jobs and tub surrounds on his own. He’s started back today for the summer and will be 16 in a few weeks. He’s paid for his first car (a 1970 Beetle) and his own monster gaming rig. His younger brother is 11 and still isn’t ready to handle a power tool, but he has other skills neither I nor his older brother have Greg Dawson, Greg’s Flooring, Quesnel, B.C.: Pay $15/hr. Make him work, but try to have fun. Every dollar you pay him now is money that you won’t give him later to go out and do stuff. And he will feel like he earned it. It’s com- ing out of your pocket either way; just let them work for it. Dennis Pacetti, Pacetti Tile & Remodeling, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Pay him what you’d pay an actual helper, and work him like an actual helper. George Adams, ST Tile, Wellington, Ohio: My son has been on jobs since about 4. I was self-employed for 15 years and a single father, so my son came to work with me as often as pos- sible. When he was 16, he started working for the same company I do. This is his second year here and he earned himself a $3 dollar/ hour raise. HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Matthew Allcott’s 11-year-old son grouting a floor… …and doing dry cuts on subway tile. 54 TileLetter | June 2018