Advice needed re customer.

[felix]

I started a kitchen floor today laying ceramic 330mm2 tiles. I measured them and they were 328mm x329.5mm. No problem I thought. I set them out and started laying the tiles and I was finding it really difficult to keep the grout lines. I had to take the spacers out because it was making it impossible.

Eventually I measured a couple more of the tiles and there is up to 2mm difference in the sizes of them. Some of them aren't even square. They run out by 1.5mm along the length of the tile.

The customer bought the tiles in the sale from B+Q when she got a new kitchen from them. I have to go back tomorrow to grout the floor, but I'm really not happy with the job. I think the grout lines look terrible.

The kitchen itself is awful. The fitters have butchered it in and she didn't notice. i don't think she would notice the floor if I left it but I'm worried that someone else could come in and see it.

Do I tell her that I think she has been sold "seconds" and explain the problem I had or should I not say anything and hope nobody notices it? I have only just started out on my own so I don't want to harm my reputation.

 

[McP77]

As I was reading your post I thought they may have come from B & Q before I got to that part. Some of the tiles they're churning out are absolute crap.

Onto your problem. If it is that bad then on the one hand I would be tempted to mention it to customer. At least then you could explain why the grout joints weren't perfect i.e. tiles are crap not tiler. Problem is, on the other hand, the tiles are now stuck to the floor so she can't take them back for refund.

Difficult one. Are they really that bad? We are our own worst critics. Would they be ok with grout in? Sorry can't be any more help

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Ive done quite a few jobs with the cheap ****e pain in the arse tiles from b&q,wickes and homebase,always try a discourage my customers from buying them from there.If they already have them I open the first box butt up the first two tiles and show the customer,I can almost guaratee they will be a couple of mill out from each other.I then tell them that the grout lines will be all over the place,it doesn't look quite so bad once its grouted but it still isn't great.If she has two tiles left show her this and just tell her what it'll look like its not your fault and theres nothing you can do about it,all tiles from these diy places will be different sizes.

 

[DHTiling]

There is a phrase.... grout hides a multitude of sins......lol....

 

[jreilly]

like dh says grout hides a multitude of sins and
McP77 We are our own worst critics. Try not to worry .

 

[DHTiling]

well said that man..............................................

 

[Dave-T]

jreilly: your right there! no end of times ive said to people "Have you seen the horrific tiling job in the toilets here?" And theyve gone and looked later and said "whats wrong with it?".
The majority of people will not even notice things you think look crap.

In this case... just remember... they got theyre tiles from one of the sheds. so theyre not after a good job... theyre after a cheap job!
Save the worrying for the people that go to a tile specialist for theyre tiles.

 

[felix]

Thanks for that guys. I've grouted it and it doesn't look as bad as it did. I can still see it but the customer was delighted with the job. I told her that the cheap tiles made it extremely difficult and that the grout lines were out in places, but she couldn't see it and wasn't concerned

 

[GazLC81]

I think you did the right thing. As Dave-T said, B&Q tiles normally mean they want the job done cheap.

Good to see you were bothered about the outcome, there are so many crap tilers out there who couldn't care less what it looks like.

Gaz

 

[GazTech]

jreilly: your right there! no end of times ive said to people "Have you seen the horrific tiling job in the toilets here?" And theyve gone and looked later and said "whats wrong with it?".
The majority of people will not even notice things you think look crap.

In this case... just remember... they got theyre tiles from one of the sheds. so theyre not after a good job... theyre after a cheap job!
Save the worrying for the people that go to a tile specialist for theyre tiles.

spot on DT

only start to wory if customer wont pay

 

[DHTiling]

For customers that dont want to pay....WE HAVE WAYS OF PERSUADING THEM.......lol lol:shades_smile:

 

[Varley]

Glad it worked out mate.

 

[jreilly]

Yeah glad it worked out mate, told you not to worry,

 

[TileMaster]

Hello.

I have encountered this situation before as well.
I call the customer and explain the situation....and go from there.
Leave all responsibility on them.

Good luck.

Also....I never ever use spacers. I snap chalk lines on the floor in box shapes....and grid pattern the whole area to be set. If a tile starts getting bigger nad smaller...I am not "locked" in by spacers and I can adjust as I go.

 

[TileMaster]

Aslo....the guy who taught me tile always said...

"A good grout job can make a crappy tile job look good, but a crappy grout job will make a good tile job look bad."