How much work involved in taking up badly fitted tiles?

[DHTiling]

Seen it done a few times, builders/cowboys think it levels the floor for tiling..

 

[MissH]

Yes, you're right that he tiled onto the vinyl tiles and did some "infilling" with adhesive or screed. I did ask whether I needed to take the tiles up and he said they'd be fine. The spacing is all out too as you can see which is why the whole floor veers off at an angle. I don't think he marked it out first as I know you're supposed too. The architrave is cut as I specifically asked for it, I reckon he would have just butted it up and infilled with grout!

I'm pleased you all agree it's a shocking job. If I did work like this I'd be ashamed. Still I guess you learn from your mistakes though it'll be an expensive one. I think I realised a few days after he'd done it that it would all have to come up

Plan now though is to get a new kitchen in after ripping up those tiles ( heartbreaking as it is as I really like the tiles themselves), and then getting some professionals in like you guys to assess whether I can have tiles or will have to go with wood. I don't supposed they could be salvaged could they?

 

[jwatson]

would that not be visqueen??

 

[jwatson]

another shocking piece of work from a "Builder/Tiler"
There are regs for every trade, seems to me as these builder types totally ignore british standards when tiling. they have left this person out of pocket and with a poor piece of work.......shocking!!! really annoys me.
This site is brilliant for quality advise, quick responces,contacts for materials and pro tilers.

the tiles should come up relativly easy with a hammer and bolster(he sez:lol as you say they are lifting all over. if not a kango will defo do it and you should be able to hire one.
rip it up, take some pics of what you have and come back and ask what prep needed.
if you do get a tiler in to do the work, ask questions on how they intend to complete the job and arm youself with all the knowledge you can from this site before you comence battle.
Good luck

 

[bobbynz]

You really should get this fool back to rip it all up and fork out for new tiles and refund you what he charged you. Your photos will be enough together with a report by a proffessional tiler, if he doesn't want to know. If thats the case then take him to small claims and get your money. I know its a hassle but when it's all over you will have a brand new kitchen and floor just like you wanted originally and it's not going to cost you twice as much .
For yours and others sake it will send him a message that his poxy workmanship will not be tolerated.:incazzato:

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Sadly this guy rode off into the sunset 2 years ago, even if you did manage to speak to him he'd just argue wear and tear and than his 'gaurantee' ran out after a year. He'll also be skint after Christmas.

If the setting out and grout lines were spot on but just wrong preperation then maybe we could be easier on him, if he didn't know any better but still wanted to do a good job. But his workmanship is terrible as well. Cowboy.

What I mean is there are loads of builders who can do a fantastic tiling job etc, but tile onto the wrong surface and they fail. They don't know any better as they don't specialise.

 

[MissH]

Thanks again guys,
Bobbynz I wish I could get him back but as he tried to repair his mistakes two years ago without success I have little faith in him so wouldn't ever have him back in my house. I've accepted I've just had to take a hit on this one
Actually might be quite theraputic ripping up the tiles with a nice big hammer and bolster. Will take some pics as I'm doing the work. Actually, just reading through some of the forum posts and it is so obvious that that width of ply he used would never work in a million years!! Just wonder how many other floors he's laid have lifted too as he must have used the same method. Oh forgot to mention as well, the grout was all different shades, from bright white to dark gray?!

 

[Mike]

regarding re-using the old tiles, do you know if he used a cement based adhesive? did the adhesive stay on the tiles after lifting? you may be able to clean off the adhesive , especially if he's used inferior/wrong adhesive. you could even try soaking a few overnight in a bucket to see if it softens the adhesive. worth a try.

 

[Bolter]

regarding re-using the old tiles, do you know if he used a cement based adhesive? did the adhesive stay on the tiles after lifting? you may be able to clean off the adhesive , especially if he's used inferior/wrong adhesive. you could even try soaking a few overnight in a bucket to see if it softens the adhesive. worth a try.

There are no spares and a few fitted ones are cracked so not sure it'll work.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Going by the pics I'm sure that paper thin ply can be pulled out like a table cloth and leave all the tiles on the floor ready to be just picked up.

I would just get a claw hammer and wide blunt wood chisel (I have loads!) and just try getting the ply up first rather than removing tile from ply. You'll probably find the tiles just pop off doing that.

 

[MissH]

I did an experiment earlier and put a tile in the sink for just an hour ( I don't have a big enough bucket!). Was able to flake off the adhesive with a wall paper scraper and hammer...came off in quite big pieces and it seemed quite soft but would be hard work doing all of 106 of them I think. Plus not sure what I'd do if there's not enough due to cutting and waste etc once they're re-laid. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to match them after this time.

I like your tablecloth idea Bob Hey presto!

Seriously though so far by the looks of things the job has been done incorrectly on the following counts:-
1) 4mm ply used instead of 15mm and ply just screwed not glued as well.
2) Vinyl tiles left and boarded over - should have been removed.
2) Ply not taken up to edge of room leading to cracking of tiles.
3) Floor not marked up correctly leading to veering off at the other side of the room
4) Wrong mix of adhesive used - mixture too powdery
5) Adhesive not applied correctly and not enough used for suffiecient grab in places
5) Too small spacers used leading to differing widths between tiles.
6) Grout not mixed correctly and accurately leading to different colours.

I might just email the builder ( he's still trading!) and see what he says. Worth a try anyway!

 

[John Benton]

If you still have his details it may be worth mailing him just to prick his conscience, if he has one, attach the pictures as well. I'd be surprised if you get any response. Where did you get the tiles from originally? It's possible that they still do them even after this length of time and you could possibly take one of the tiles taken up to colour match and size.

 

[Alan M]

worth a try going back to the tile shop.
i did that for a small job i did. managed to get tiles that were down 10 years at least. god only knows how he found them after this time. all i wanted was something close enough for a splash back . he even gave them to me free. probably knew he couldnt sell them and wanted rid. . very nice of him thow. always good to repeat customers

 

[doug boardley]

I always leave tiles behind the kickboard in a kitchen, with all the relevant info from the box they came in, a lot of tlers do this for customers future reference.

 

[John Benton]

Me also Doug, I think this was mentioned in the recent thread about how many actual m2 you charge for when fitting. Try to leave a good few tiles to cover any future breaks etc.