Bathroom being installed - poor tiling?

[BathroomStresser]

Hi there,
We are into week 3 of a complete bathroom refit. We are using a local plumber and up to now have been impressed with his plumbing work. This week the tiling has begun and I am really disappointed. I know it is not yet finished so I do not know if once it is finished something will change and I have not given him chance?

I have come home today and a tile has not been cut straight at all so I have contacted the plumber and told him I want this sorting tmw. He has agreed.

However, now the more I look at the tiling I am thinking I need to mention the other areas. I would appreciate your advice / opinion before I go to though ...

He said that in places our walls are not straight and so he has built up the wall where he can but still the tiles stick out in places.

He also said that our choice of tile hasn't helped (too big, honeycomb pattern).

I was accepting of all of this at the beginning but now as the job progresses I am becoming concerned.

I will post photos and look forward to hearing your opinion on the work. If I am being harsh and it is my choice of tile, I will accept responsibility but if it is poor Labour then I feel I much say something.

 

[Boggs]

Oh dear!

Are they porcelain?

Looks like he has tiled over the paint on skimmed walls.

someone will point you to a tile backer weights table, not sure how to myself.

The picture showing the right side of the window looks like they have been dot and dabbed nearer the top.

Regardless of the rest of the finish this is a rip out and start again I’m afraid.

 

[Waluigi]

Pull him up on it. I’d want the whole lot taken down and re done by a professional.

People who can’t tile shouldn’t be charging customers for their work. Simple as that.

It’s confrontation time I’m afraid.

 

[BathroomStresser]

Yes they are porcelain tiles - is that a bad choice on our part?

 

[Boggs]

Yes they are porcelain tiles - is that a bad choice on our part?

You can’t blame yourself for the work carried out here.

Your installer is blaming the walls not being flat when he should not be tiling on them in the first place.
They should have been over boarded with tile backer or plasterboard to be able to take the weight of the porcelain tiles anyway.

With tiling the preparation on the background is key to a quality finish, get this wrong and it will fail.

 

[Boggs]

He we go.


Wall Substrate Maximum Weight of tiling per m2
Gypsum Plaster 20Kg/m2
Gypsum Plasterboard Direct (without a plaster skim) 32Kg/m2
Plywood (WBP) Up to 30Kg/m2
Lightweight Tilebacking Boards Up to 40Kg/m2. Dependant on the type and thickness of the board.
Glass reinforced Cement Sheets Up to 50Kg/m2. Dependant on the type and thickness of the board.
Gypsum Fibre Boards Approximately 35-40Kg/m2

Have a look at the weight of your tiles, it should be in the box, and see if you are ok with them holding to the wall only as well as the paint is stuck.

Your walls are classed as Gypsum Plaster so maximum weight is 20kg sqm that includes the tile adhesive and grout.

I know I wouldn’t be!

 

[Waluigi]

It’s worth noting that ply wood isn’t now considered a suitable substrate for tiles according to the British Standard.

Also the weight limits for the tile backer boards do vary hugely, for example Hardiebacker goes up to 100kg PSM now I believe.

Are we definitely looking at painted walls?

Either way, the finish really isn’t acceptable. I’d be having words today. He has to know.

 

[WetSaw]

Totally unacceptable by any standard.

 

[BathroomStresser]

Thank you all. Yes the walls previously were half painted and half tiled so the top half of the room he is tiling over paint... the bottom half he put some plaster board on in places, due to the walls coming away when he took the old tiles off.

I have no expertise in this area hense supposedly paying for a professional to do it so your advice is much appreciated as whilst I know it doesn't look pretty, I wanted to be sure it was down to his Labour before I said anything.

Looks like I'll be having that awkward conversation this morning!

 

[Muff Tiler]

I'd take that window board off too and tile it looks better I reckon.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

What the hell is going on around that window sill ?, that really isn't how its done and looks weird, as said it should have been ripped off and tiled.
The only thing holding those upper tiles on is paint, he has a lot to learn about tiling.

 

[GoneGuy]

It’s take them down and get it done properly, looks like the tiles are dot and dabbed onto paint.
So only paint holding those porcelain tiles above your head while having a bath or shower which if/when it fails could cause serious injury and a lot of damage.

 

[LM]

Wow!
Pretenders like that savage our trades name!
Early dawn call for that chap in my book!

 

[dynamictiling]

This is why you shouldn't let the plumber do the tiling. Very rough, strip out and restart for a proper job. I am fairly confident to say he will miss his level lines (grout joints) above the window and the door.

 

[GAZ5518]

Sorry ..but unfortunately a very poor unprofessional attempt..and should be ripped out and redone to your expectations and what you are paying good money for !
In my experience...Plumbers should stick to plumbing and leave "Finishing" to those who know how...
Stand your ground with that conversation ..