Kitchen refit gone wrong (poor tiling)

[Little Boy Blue]

Hi Folks

Long story short, a friends firm have been doing a kitchen reno for me along with some other work. I let them go to it whilst on holiday, and i'm not best pleased at the tiling I've returned to.

I've attached a couple of pics & wee video links, am I being over critical? (I don't think so, it's ruining the effect of my new kitchen). Now it turns out the floor was tiled, before the kitchen was fitted, to give a neat finish, also meaning, without taking it all back out, it's not an easy fix if at all.

I have a meeting on Friday with the main contractor & tiler, would appreciate any comments.

Along with the uneven tiles, at least 6 of them are intermittently moving slightly on ocassion, or making a popping sound when walking on them (I know that doesn't bode well)

Genuinely at my wits end.... :-(

20180704_164542 (1) - https://vimeo.com/user76846935/review/278347436/af2890a938
Floor - https://vimeo.com/user76846935/review/278349973/49345c63ad

20180704 164139 - https://ibb.co/bx5UUy
20180704 164248 - https://ibb.co/jfkDpy

 

[Qwerty]

Not the worst, but could easily have got it right from the start by using levels, checking lippage or even using levelling clips.

I would have to try hard to get it so bad.

How flat was the substrate before it was tiled?

 

[Little Boy Blue]

I believe the joiner used 18mm ply (on top of chipboard flooring)

 

[Little Boy Blue]

Not the worst, but could easily have got it right from the start by using levels, checking lippage or even using levelling clips.

I would have to try hard to get it so bad.

How flat was the substrate before it was tiled?

 

[Qwerty]

And tiled straight onto the ply?

 

[Little Boy Blue]

I have no idea, and a question I will ask

What should the process have been?

 

[Qwerty]

Overboard wooden floor with tile backer board after checking its free from deflection. Tiling to ply hasnt caused your issues, poor workmanship looks at fault here. Tiling to ply could cause other issues in the future though

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Or use Quickstep, no faffing round with all that endless donkey prep, dirty grout, lippage, slippy tiles etc.
Waterproof click vinyl.

Hey hang on this is a tiling forum...of course floor tiles ...cough

 

[Little Boy Blue]

I don't know if this is relevant or not, on checking dome of the rubbish that's been left behind. The adhesive that appears to have been used on 60cm x 60cm floor tiles, is Mape Grip D1. wall tile adhesive? (Could this be a major factor in the movement?)

 

[Qwerty]

If it had been used to fix the tiles it is a complete disaster. However it looks from the photos like your tiler has used the ready mixed adhesive bucket to mix up the grout (alot of us do similar). If it has been used to fix the tiles it will result in a failed floor sooner or later and yes, could well have helped cause your issues.

 

[Little Boy Blue]

If it had been used to fix the tiles it is a complete disaster. However it looks from the photos like your tiler has used the ready mixed adhesive bucket to mix up the grout (alot of us do similar). If it has been used to fix the tiles it will result in a failed floor sooner or later and yes, could well have helped cause your issues.

Thanks for that, there's 2 empty tubs, of the same stuff (One as you say appears to have been used to mix the grout in, but not the other, which only confirms my suspicions, that's what he's used, given it was only a floor that was being tiled (no walls)

 

[Dumbo]

Thanks for that, there's 2 empty tubs, of the same stuff (One as you say appears to have been used to mix the grout in, but not the other, which only confirms my suspicions, that's what he's used, given it was only a floor that was being tiled (no walls)

Again he could of used it to mix floor adhesive . We all used to do it years ago when we also did a lot more small wall tiling . Tilers very rarely bought buckets,Now any time I need one I have to buy one .

 

[Little Boy Blue]

Again he could of used it to mix floor adhesive . We all used to do it years ago when we also did a lot more small wall tiling . Tilers very rarely bought buckets,Now any time I need one I have to buy one .

Possibly, a bit odd you'd take away the floor adhesive tubs and leave 2 empty wall tile adhesive tubs on a job with no wall tiles

 

[roadking]

Possibly, a bit odd you'd take away the floor adhesive tubs and leave 2 empty wall tile adhesive tubs on a job with no wall tiles

Floor adhesive doesn’t come in tubs. It comes in bags and has to be mixed in buckets...... hence the wall tile adhesive buckets......

 

[Little Boy Blue]

Ok, thanks for that

 

[WetSaw]

No empty adhesive sacks in the rubbish?

 

[david mccullough]

there was a premixed, bucket adhesive about years ago, B&Q still supply it, but it took days for it to set.

 

[Little Boy Blue]

So, a wee update (Thanks to those who replied)

Tiler came over on Friday, he then heard first hand the noise coming from the tiles...He couldn't explain it. I just got a blank look when I asked why the tiles were running off in several places.

Had a bit of a ding dong on the phone with the joiner, who is still of the opinion it's a decent job. He's saying they used 1/4 ply, screwed at 100mm centres.

He then backed down a bit saying he'd get the tiler to replace any tiles i'm unhappy with (only about 99% of them !!), to be honest i've no idea where you'd start & finish with that, the tiling was done after the units were fitted, but i now have a Krion base unit gable & Krion breakfast bar on top of the tiles, which I assume would be nigh on impossible to remove.

As an aside I have a friend who's a surveyor, popped in to see me tonight for a look, he's a bit bemused as to what the actual issue is, but he felt some movement & heard noises at random times. He thinks it could be an adhesive issue, but most certainly a poor tiling job, and says like me, he wouldn't be happy to accept it either.

Really dunno what the next step is.

 

[Dumbo]

So, a wee update (Thanks to those who replied)

Tiler came over on Friday, he then heard first hand the noise coming from the tiles...He couldn't explain it. I just got a blank look when I asked why the tiles were running off in several places.

Had a bit of a ding dong on the phone with the joiner, who is still of the opinion it's a decent job. He's saying they used 1/4 ply, screwed at 100mm centres.

He then backed down a bit saying he'd get the tiler to replace any tiles i'm unhappy with (only about 99% of them !!), to be honest i've no idea where you'd start & finish with that, the tiling was done after the units were fitted, but i now have a Krion base unit gable & Krion breakfast bar on top of the tiles, which I assume would be nigh on impossible to remove.

As an aside I have a friend who's a surveyor, popped in to see me tonight for a look, he's a bit bemused as to what the actual issue is, but he felt some movement & heard noises at random times. He thinks it could be an adhesive issue, but most certainly a poor tiling job, and says like me, he wouldn't be happy to accept it either.

Really dunno what the next step is.

1/4 ply is to thin . British standard for ply overlay is 15 mm glued and screwed at 100mm centres .

 

[ttt tiling]

If the tiles were layed directly onto 6mm ply the floor will crack up , if ditra mat or backer board was used it will probably crack up!

 

[Little Boy Blue]

Hi Folks, after a wee break, finally got things moving on this, to my surprise, the joiner managed to lift the tiles this morning. Out of 45, only 5 broke, 40 came up easily (which i guess confirmed my suspicion, it wasn't done properly)

I've attached a couple of pics, i'd appreciate any feedback (not being a tiler, is the dot & dab method on to the tile the norm?)

**Also meant to ask, why would there be spacer clips in the adhesive?**

 

[On one]

No back skimming of the tiles with adhesive immediately prior to laying.

 

[Just Rizzle]

has he cut the plinths down because that looks like a boomerang than a plinth and put the rough end down that will warp if wet.
have you got more photos of the tiling you seem to be condemning this guy on one tile . you say its a floating floor over laying dosent stop it been floating whether you use ply or backer board. some floating floors a simply not suitable for ceramics and more suited to LVT.

 

[Just Rizzle]

sorry posted before seeing latest pics

my view total abortion every thing WRONG