Wall and Floor Tiling Advice for Kate the Mate

[Kate the mate]

Please see my earlier thread for background information to this problem.

http://www.tilersforums.com/stone-tiling-forum/40827-travertine-tiles-shower-help-needed.html

The tiler/plumber started on Tuesday this week. He brought with him a younger guy to assist. They took out the bath, washbasin, loo and shower tray and boarded and then tiled the floor. The tiles had all been sealed first. So far, so good I thought.

Yesterday they put the bath back in and then started tiling around the bath. All seemed to be going well as far as I could see. Today, the main man went out 'to get some grout' and was gone for over three hours. During that time his assistant (a carpenter) carried on tiling. I went upstairs to see how he was getting on and was horrified to see that he had started at one corner of the wall and has worked across the wall, but when he gets to the other corner there is a gap which he tells me he will fill with grout. He has used very few spacers, working mainly by eye, so the grouting gaps are not consistent, some are big, some are small. My picture will explain better than me.

When the main man gets back he tells me not to worry, he will cut some slithers of tile to put in the gaps, which he has done, but to me the whole thing has been spoiled. There is a full tile at one end of the wall and a slither of tile at the other, and it's the wall facing you as you come into the bathroom. I could have wept. I really wanted a great job and, to me, it looks amateurish. Picture enclosed.

On another wall the bath is centred and the taps are centred too, but the tiling is not centred on the taps so the tiling looks unbalanced. Please tell me, will it look better when it's grouted, which is what the tiler tells me? Am I being too particular?

I really wanted to feel that this was fabulous, it's costing a fortune, but I feel physically sick about what to do or think.

 

[Alan.P]

Hi Kate, not good setting out at all, on the bath, yes it should have been centred, looks odd as it is, in my opinion, as for the shower, very very bad setting out, as as for putting slither in, it will look just as bad.

Sorry.


EDIT: and with grout, it will still look bad, that's the bottom of it, it is a bad job.

Sorry.

 

[enduro]

That is poor setting out, photo 2 is not acceptable you must get them to do it again. Dont pay them until its right.

 

[Kate the mate]

Don't be sorry, Alan.P. It's a relief to know I'm not wrong. I just don't know what to do now.

 

[Kate the mate]

Will the tiles be ruined if they are taken off?

 

[Stewart]

As above.... poor planning before commencing with the tiling. Insist they put right!

 

[Kate the mate]

Thanks enduro. I'm not very good at confrontation. I know I won't sleep tonight.

 

[Alan.P]

Any tiles that are damaged and can't be re-used will have to be replaced at their cost, as should any other materials.

 

[Alan.P]

Thanks enduro. I'm not very good at confrontation. I know I won't sleep tonight.

You'll have to stand your ground Kate, otherwise they will try and fob you off.

 

[faithhealer]

golden rule of tiling kate is that you never start with a full tile

 

[enduro]

Will the tiles be ruined if they are taken off?

Depends if they come off without breaking, then use an electric sander to remove adhesive from back of the tiles.

 

[Kate the mate]

Oh, dear. I knew instinctively that it was wrong and I told the tiler that I thought so, but he said 'are you trying to tell me how to do my job?' That's why I came here to check. I wish you could come and tell the tiler rather than me.

 

[enduro]

Oh, dear. I knew instinctively that it was wrong and I told the tiler that I thought so, but he said 'are you trying to tell me how to do my job?' That's why I came here to check. I wish you could come and tell the tiler rather than me.

Sounds like you know more about tiling than the tiler.

 

[Kate the mate]

faithealer, I have tiled in my utility and was so careful to make sure the tiles matched at either side. I honestly think I would have done a better job of the walls but I really wanted it to look perfect.

 

[Stewart]

If they still disagree, ask them to come to the forum to explain their setting out. You have to remember it's your money, and with work like that, you can tell him how to do his job properly. Be brave, and if they wont remedy the problem, ask them to leave.

 

[enduro]

What area are you from maybe a forum member could help you with this.

 

[Ian]

Oh, dear. I knew instinctively that it was wrong and I told the tiler that I thought so, but he said 'are you trying to tell me how to do my job?' That's why I came here to check. I wish you could come and tell the tiler rather than me.

Kate i'd love to come and tell your tiler that his work is sub-standard. Ive confronted a guy before who'd done some awful work for a female friend of mine. and refused to leave her house until he'd removed the mess he called a job. Can you get your partner or a friend to be present when you talk to him? Remember you are right and that is not a good job as you have already worked out for yourself. Best of luck Bri

 

[Peter]

Looks like tubbed adhesive too.

 

[Kate the mate]

Here is the repair he did to fill the corner,

 

[Scott]

Rubbish! What is he going to do around the taps then? The first pic didnt look too bad until i zoomed in. Get him to put it right!

 

[Stewart]

Very poor workmanship! you must ask him to remove and redo......

 

[Ian]

Here is the repair he did to fill the corner,

Kate as i said a few minutes ago this really not acceptable. As you said you have paid good money for this and you expect a good job, and this, quite simply, is not.

 

[Kate the mate]

If I confront him and he disagrees with what I've said, do I pay him anything to get rid of him? What do I do? I don't want to end up over paying to get rid of him. Funny thing is he has been a very nice man so far.

 

[Stewart]

Don't pay another penny until the job is done correctly.

 

[Kate the mate]

I haven't paid him anything yet although we have bought all the tiles.

 

[mikethetile]

A lot of these blokes are very nice but unfortunatly you havent paid for a candlelit dinner with him , you have paid for a pro tiling job, which is what you havent got

he has refused to refix the tiles and his repair is unacceptable

remove him from the job and withhold payment untill he corrects the work to your satisfaction

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi Kate, sorry but I have to agree with you, and my forum colleagues above. This work is not acceptable imo, basic setting out not good. You are paying for a professional job, this is not one. Insist they rectify this work at their own expense:mad2:

 

[faithhealer]

where are you at kate

 

[White Room]

If he finishes the bathroom you won't be happy and will probably suffer it because the cost of new tiles to replace............

Have a talk tomorrow, you are the customer, if they can't see it being that bad then they should'nt be putting the tiles on in the first place.

 

[Ian]

Kate you don't have to be confrontational, just voice your concerns, but DON'T back down all the lads and lasses on here will tell you that this is not a professional job, send him in our direction if he starts making excuses. Sorry to sound a bit harsh, but if you let this go you will be looking at it every day, and every day it will make you angrier until you rip it all down