Acceptable lippage in large format floor tiles

[Shinyshiny054]

hi all,

I wrote some time back about issues with ufh system, we managed to get this laid and poured a screed over to level the floor. The screed wasn’t perfectly level but there wasn’t a great deal of variance across the floor. We employed a tiler as opposed to DIY due to large format tiles that varied a little in size plus the area to tile was vast and we wanted the best finish possible - hence calling in a professional. The work was completed on Thursday and I am concerned with the lippage of the tiles. I have contacted the tiler who says the problem was with the tiles being different sizes. To be clear, these weren’t expensive tiles, they varied between 603 and 605mm sq. could this be a valid reason for the lippage?

Further point - I asked about the shoddy grout work and was advised this was due to low lighting conditions (alarm bell!)

Further point - I asked if the high points on the floor should be ground down to give a flatter floor and was advised that it was within tolerance and wouldn’t affect the job.

Advice please - is this lippage acceptable?

Thnk you

 

[Andy Allen]

 

[One Day]

View attachment 96185

Beat me to it!

 

[Andy Allen]

Not good is it...
Lippage is bad and not much attention to the finish...
Who leveled the floor you or the tiler...?

 

[Shinyshiny054]

@Andy Allen @impish - are these ‘yes its a bad job’ or ‘another layman complaining yet again’ responses? Any advice?

Cheers

 

[Shinyshiny054]

Not good is it...
Lippage is bad and not much attention to the finish...
Who leveled the floor you or the tiler...?

I levelled the floor, there were a couple of high spots but he said that these wouldn’t be a problem. We’d bought a sanding pad to rub the high spots back a little but were advised the floor was level enough. I know the tiles weren’t great quality, hence why I’m looking to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Then I look at the grout and think - we’ve been cowboyed

 

[Flintstone]

It’s not a good job. Grouting and clean up is the worst of it but the lips aren’t good either

 

[Flintstone]

It’s bad grouting that’s a cert. if it was too dark then he should have some lights

 

[Shinyshiny054]

The whole wall is a window, and there is a pendant light there too. They turned up some time after the sun was up (which is late, since its winter...) therefore had to work somewhat after the sun started to go down - not that long however. No mention made when they left that the grout was so shoddy. Have asked when he is coming back and got no response. Could more grout solve some of the lippage issues? Can grout be added retrospectively? Should a discount be given for the unevenness?

Thanks all

 

[Shinyshiny054]

How do you get grout off out of interest?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

@Shinyshiny054 - there it is - ‘should a discount be given for the unevenness?’

Put 2 of the 605mm tiles together and then 2 of the 603mm and you’d need a joint of up to 6mm to cope for the poor quality tiles you supplied.
That’s no excuse for the poor quality areas of grouting you have shown and yes he could add a grout wash to low areas and scrape off the excess.

 

[Shinyshiny054]

@Shinyshiny054 - there it is - ‘should a discount be given for the unevenness?’

Put 2 of the 605mm tiles together and then 2 of the 603mm and you’d need a joint of up to 6mm to cope for the poor quality tiles you supplied.
That’s no excuse for the poor quality areas of grouting you have shown and yes he could add a grout wash to low areas and scrape off the excess.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt; I am curious to know if there are tiling tricks of the trade that would allow for the variation to be taken into account, but given your response I am guessing not.

I have asked for him to return and repair the grout job, he is sending someone tomorrow. Hoping that this takes care of at least some of the unevenness, the rest will need to be covered with a rug.

 

[Flintstone]

Was he cheap by any chance? @Shinyshiny054

 

[Shinyshiny054]

Was he cheap by any chance? @Shinyshiny054

Not sure he was that much cheaper to be honest, but the other guys wanted to use a decoupling membrane

 

[Italy]

Christ!!! what I must see and hear
still in 2018 .........
little lighting ....
this is like climbing
on the mirrors ....
sure it was a tiler?
take more care of the grouting and a self-leveling system,
they would have solved all the problems a lot.
I'm very sorry for this result.