Can you grout with tile adhesive?

[Snowfrog]

One thing is for sure, I'm not going to let him lay another tile. He'll want paying for the work he's done this week and I don't really want to pay him as I'm going to have to undo everything he's done and pay for it to be put right. I'm not looking forward to it.

 

[DHTiling]

Don't give him a penny more....:mad2:

 

[Colour Republic]

I know it my seem easy for us to post our opinions from the comfort of our desks but i'd be happy to have a chat with this bloke when he wants your money. We never did find out where you are from

 

[Snowfrog]

Dave what do I say though? I don't want to sound like some 'bored housewife' who's too picky 'cause she has nothing better to do with her time. What can I say that sounds like I know what I am talking about? I'm sorry for being a nuisance.

 

[Snowfrog]

I know it my seem easy for us to post our opinions from the comfort of our desks but i'd be happy to have a chat with this bloke when he wants your money. We never did find out where you are from

I'm from Liverpool.

 

[DHTiling]

You tell him his work is not satisfactory and he has had plenty chances to correct it and he has even charged you for tiles that was he fault..

Just tell him you are very unsatisfied with the standard and do not wish to continue with his services and it will cost you even more money to get this put right, so you would just like to part company full stop...if he says anything back..just say ok..i want some money from you for new tiles to replace ones you have cut short and fixed wonky...

 

[Snowfrog]

Thanks Dave. I will try and learn that verbatim and say it all to him. Wish me luck.

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice, I really do appreciate it. I'm off to bed now and will let you all know how things went, tomorrow.

 

[Colour Republic]

A legal independant report would cost you a fair amount. The cheapest first option would be to contact trading standards I would have thought.

I would also go down the route of getting a few quotes for decorating, any decent painter will tell you the walls need sorting out before painting to ensure a good job (these extras works would not be needed had his plastering been any good). This would give you an arguement to withold payment for the plastering.

In addition I would get a few tilers round to give you a quote.

In both cases you need to feel comfortable that they are giving you sound advice and not ramping up the charges just because they need the work.

 

[Colour Republic]

Thanks Dave. I will try and learn that verbatim and say it all to him. Wish me luck.

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice, I really do appreciate it. I'm off to bed now and will let you all know how things went, tomorrow.

You did say you were from Liverpool before, sorry I forgot.

I would stall him for a day if you need to think about the best way to approach him

 

[Snowfrog]

I can't sleep for the worry of it all. It's all such a mess and cost so much more than it should, (with lots more to come). I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Snowfrog]

I'm still up. I just watched Ugly Betty and played lots of chequers, to try and take my mind of everything. It didn't work, my mind is still whirring with it all.

 

[Gazzer]

DO NOT PAY THIS GUY ANYMORE MONEY!

It seems you realise that you willl have no chance of getting any money back from this person so i would have to say that you should not let this person back in your house at all. Its clear that this person is no tiler and is incapable of doing this job......I use the the term "person" because he is no tradesman !
IMO the only way to get some sort of satisfactory job is to get a real tiler. I would say though that a real tiler would say that the job needs to be done all over again.

 

[Snowfrog]

Hi Sir Ramic, I've just got up again after having another unsuccessful attempt at sleeping. I'm just hoping something can be salvaged from this job, though for sure all the skirting board tiles, at least one floor tile and probably half the wall tiles will have to be removed. I never mentioned, and I don't know if it was clear on the pictures, he went from using 2mm spacers on the wall to 4mm, plus there is a gap where the walls meet, running bath to ceiling, of just under a centimetre.

BTW, what are the tiling qualifications, because I'll ask him what his qualifications are?

 

[Richardk]

DO NOT PAY THIS GUY ANYMORE MONEY!

It seems you realise that you willl have no chance of getting any money back from this person so i would have to say that you should not let this person back in your house at all. Its clear that this person is no tiler and is incapable of doing this job......I use the the term "person" because he is no tradesman !
IMO the only way to get some sort of satisfactory job is to get a real tiler. I would say though that a real tiler would say that the job needs to be done all over again.

Agreed. I wouldnt let him back in the house but make sure you get his full details and make sure you have receipts for all the money you have paid him and any materials you have bought. Why dont you get a pro tiler to come and have a look.

 

[Colour Republic]

The best thing you can do today is put in writing all the things you are not happy with. Tell him you are withholding final payment on these grounds and he has 14 days to rectify the problems or you will get another contractor to do so, possibly at his expense.

i.e The use of adhesive as a grout is not suitable,
the large dips in the plaster work,
the trowel marks in the plaster work,
the varying sizes of the grout lines,
gorut lines not meeting up,
the tile adhesive on the face of the tiles,
the over tiling of the towel rail foot,
the tiles not going into the door threshold,
the plaster splattered on the door frame.

And that's just from the pictures you uploaded!

You maybe able to find a legal template for this letter on the internet, maybe from citizens advice or trading standards