J
javeiro
yes they do move slightly. He told me a flexible adhesive was used on the tiles
Advice Please - Is This Tiling Acceptable?
Judging by the pictures the tiles haven't been installed correctly. The only way to stop the grout cracking is remove and replace the tiles that are loose. You could mix gt1 admix through the grout and reapply the grout but you will have problems with it in the future.
J
javeiro
Thanks for the replies. The floor is sloped slightly but he put the tiles on anyway. One has cracked. I have just hoovered the floor and the grout has been cured out of the gaps with little effort. See photo. He is coming tommorow. What do I tell this incompetent buffoon. ?
O
One Day
Pull a loose tile up and let's see a photo of the back of the tile and the floor where it was lifted from? Pretty sure I can guess what you'll find. If you simply let him regroup it tomorrow, then it'll be a total waste of time.
J
javeiro
Your wish is my command. Here are some photos of under the tile. The water is because I wet the floor to clean it.
M
Meddler
I didn’t realise that this new self levelling material (for those difficult tiling jobs !!) had reached the market yet. Your guy is using the latest technology.
O
On one
Just like the lyrics in the Orange Juice song 
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
J
javeiro
Why were they so easy to rip up? Shouldn't that adhesive (concrete) have set? Or it it usually normal to be able to rip up a tile?
O
On one
The adhesive has set,it just hasn't bonded to your floor substrate......whatever that may be
J
javeiro
Thanks for the reply. I believe it is wood. Appreciate all the replies I'm learning more and more about this profession.
That tile is from Turkey....that's your problem...well at least for poor joints, that stuff is never square, but as said already, sorry for your troubles but this job needs to be redone by a professional tiler. It doesn't meet coverage standards, even here in America, and we are new to this relatively speaking, so probably doesn't meet yours either.
Looks like hard board.....nothing surprises me anymore. .
Er no we don't. .....just the cowboys I'm afraid to say.
J
javeiro
So instead of hardboard what should he have used?
If your going to the hassle of stripping all the tiles and hardboard off, use ditramatting
As much as I hate the turks. Every Turkish tile I have used has been spotted on. Sizing spot on and easy to cut.
S
SJPurdy
I don't think that's hardboard in the pic. It looks like a piece of corrugated cardboard - probably a bit of the box that the tiles came in that was stuck to the back of the tile when it was placed onto the adhesive bed.
I can't see from the photo what the actual floor surface was before the adhesive was spread but the bedding of the tile is not satisfactory. The adhesive should as far as is reasonably possible be a solid bed with no voids - you should not be able to see the ribs of spread adhesive anymore, they should have compressed to give a solid bed -you should not be able to see the back of the lifted tile, it should all have been covered with adhesive.
That said I think there is a bigger problem here with eg movement/bounce in the substrate that has broken the adhesive bond and fractured the grout
I can't see from the photo what the actual floor surface was before the adhesive was spread but the bedding of the tile is not satisfactory. The adhesive should as far as is reasonably possible be a solid bed with no voids - you should not be able to see the ribs of spread adhesive anymore, they should have compressed to give a solid bed -you should not be able to see the back of the lifted tile, it should all have been covered with adhesive.
That said I think there is a bigger problem here with eg movement/bounce in the substrate that has broken the adhesive bond and fractured the grout
J
javeiro
One of the tiles has cracked from walking on it. Grout coming out everywhere. To all you decent professional tilers I appreciate the replies on here, very educating stuff I appreciate it. Heres a video I uploaded to youtube for what it's worth. Have a good laugh 😛
View: https://youtu.be/6wkA7jts6sg
R
Rich Midge
As has already been pointed there are numerous mistakes all round here. Was the adhesive used a fast set or a standard set? A standard set can be 24 hours going off, could it be that the floor was just walked on too soon and that's why the bond has broken. You also say this painter/tiler is a friend of the family,.......... still the case?!
M
Meddler
I hate to say it but it appears your chap has over-extended himself on your job. Did he also fit the shower enclosure as that doesn’t appear to have been sealed properly either.
I suspect he is a wanadoo painting and decorator (as opposed to being formally trained / self taught) as if he had worked on sites with other trades he should have had a greater awareness of the issues. It wouldn’t surprise me if he can “paint” but is clueless regarding preparation and compatibility of paints.
The guys have already given reasons for why the tiles have not stuck – and would need to inspect the floor to confirm the reasons. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that the whole floor needs to come up (don’t let him convince you otherwise) and appropriate treatment and adhesives used for whatever sub-strata you have. If he is unaware of the general issues (I expect you will now have more knowledge than he does) don’t use him anymore and get someone in that knows what he is doing.
I suspect he is a wanadoo painting and decorator (as opposed to being formally trained / self taught) as if he had worked on sites with other trades he should have had a greater awareness of the issues. It wouldn’t surprise me if he can “paint” but is clueless regarding preparation and compatibility of paints.
The guys have already given reasons for why the tiles have not stuck – and would need to inspect the floor to confirm the reasons. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that the whole floor needs to come up (don’t let him convince you otherwise) and appropriate treatment and adhesives used for whatever sub-strata you have. If he is unaware of the general issues (I expect you will now have more knowledge than he does) don’t use him anymore and get someone in that knows what he is doing.
S
SJPurdy
Very good point (which I didn't think of🙁). If it was slow set then not suitable for walking on after 12 hours (as stated in the video clip). The fixings was still very poor though.
J
javeiro
Thanks for replies, I agree it appears he has over extended himself. My dad paid him £1000 up front before he started for the materials. Dad member owes him £1250, but i am thinking of deducting the price of the floor from his pay. Is this the best way to go about it? Once again thanks for the help here.
I
Italy
I I would pay him a plane flight to Sicily.
at least be sure that do not more damage ..........
what a disgrace
at least be sure that do not more damage ..........
what a disgrace
R
Rich Midge
Couldn't agree more, the whole job is a shambles. Can't help but feel sorry for the fella, sometimes being loyal to a family friend isn't the way to go. Probably thought he was doing him a favour by employing him and keeping any money within a circle of friends. Real shame.
It would help if you could break down the costs. I.e what work has he done? What materials did he supply?
Personally I would right down a snagging list of what you aren't happy with. Hit him with it and see what he says. Ultimately with the floor I would expect him to cough up for the tiles and materials and to pay for a Tiler to lay the floor correctly.
Personally I would right down a snagging list of what you aren't happy with. Hit him with it and see what he says. Ultimately with the floor I would expect him to cough up for the tiles and materials and to pay for a Tiler to lay the floor correctly.
M
Meddler
I would agree with Dynamictiling. If you take on a job it is your responsibility to see it through. Unforeseen conditions is one let out but as all have concluded this is just inexperience and incompetence.
It’s a cruel world but you should not be in any worse state than if he didn’t take the job on. Legally it is his responsibility to replace any wasted materials and complete the job satisfactorily.
One last observation relates to grouting of tiles if a slow set adhesive had been used. Any damage to the bedding / bond was probably done in the course of grouting unless it was possible to grout without standing on the tiles. No excuse at all for failing to read the instructions on the packet.
It’s a cruel world but you should not be in any worse state than if he didn’t take the job on. Legally it is his responsibility to replace any wasted materials and complete the job satisfactorily.
One last observation relates to grouting of tiles if a slow set adhesive had been used. Any damage to the bedding / bond was probably done in the course of grouting unless it was possible to grout without standing on the tiles. No excuse at all for failing to read the instructions on the packet.
J
javeiro
Well he came round and agreed that the floor was appalling. My floor isn't good enough for ceramic tiles. So will do without. Carpet maybe? He agreed to deduct the cost of the floor from the balance. And he fixed the shower which will probably leak again where the two doors join theres a slight gap. So £900 , never want to deal with this buffoon again. £1900 spent on this. Could have been worse. Thanks for all your input.
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