Please help! Bathroom Ruined!

[Kirsty0304]

We had our bathroom redone in March and it looked great with floor to ceiling white tiles. But in May, we notices that one of the tiles above the bath had started to go darker than the rest of the tiles. It has now turned completely grey and sticks out like a sore thumb. I feel like our bathroom is ruined.

I contacted the shop we got the tiles from (not naming names) and the manager came out. He tried to tell me i had a leak and that's what caused the discolouration but i disagreed as its only one tile, and if it had been a leak, surly more tiles would be the same. He said he would fill out a quality form and send it to the quality manager. It was at the point i notices a flaw in the tile that i pointed out to him. Its only noticeable at very close inspection, smaller than a five pence piece, and looks like a bobble under the glaze. The glaze is intacted over the tile, not cracked or damaged. But there is a definite flaw under the glaze.

I waited a month for a reply and got a letter to say that the discolouration was due to water getting into the body of the tile through a 'chip' on the surface that we caused and was not a manufacturers flaw and they will take no responsibility. I am absolutely devastated. This is not the case and the flaw is under the glaze. I disputed this and the quality manager came out himself and couldn't point out the 'chip' he noted in his letter and asked me to show him the flaw I had described on the phone when I called him about his first letter. He would not confirm or deny the 'chip' claim and said he would get back to me. He did today and said he still thinks its something we have done and not his problem.

I am so upset at his attitude. All I want is them to pay someone to replace the tile but they refuse. I have contacted trading standards and they have advised i get independent advice on the tile and then take them to small claims court. I don't know where to start. I need advice from anyone who can back us up with disputing him saying there is a chip on the tile. Can anyone please help me?

 

[afright]

If you only had it done a couple weeks ask the tiler if he is willing to replace the tile as a good will gesture after all its only one tile ,about an hours work tops.

 

[AliGage]

Could be a tiny hole in the Silicon that is allowing the tile biscuit to soak water up like a sponge, if it is get the plumber back for free.

Carefuly see if the Silicon has come away from the darker tile.

Beat me to it.

After the first one or two threads (and then second looking to see where the fault was) i agree it is water ingress into a ceramic tile. However, position and the fact that no tiles around it are effected would suggest that it is one of the following:

1) The seal on the bath has allowed water to be drawn under the seal. Get this looked at asap because your plasterboard wall will be drawing some in also if this is the case.


2) The small blemish you mention on the tile might be allowing an un noticeable ammount of water to pass the glaze. I'm sorry to say the tile stockist can't be to blame for either. The tiles in their batches pass a manufacturers QC line.

It would be difficult to determine which of the above is the problem. But regardless you need to get it changed asap before any serious damage occurs.

I don't want to put any ideas in anyones heads, the best thing to do is just get the fella back out and replace the tile. If he guarentees his work i can't even see you being charged for it to be honest. I wouldn't charge more than a few cups of coffee if my customer had this issue. But......was the bath filled with water prior to sealling and tiling?

Just for other information. If you find that white, clazed ceramic tiles are turning a "bluey" colour in places of water or wet areas. It is likely the "backside" of the tile is getting wet. I've had it before quite a few years ago with a faulty shower quick fix kit leaking into a studd wall. I had two columns of tiles 6 high below the valve turn a blue-ish/grey colour.

 

[macten]

As Ali says, if the tile has changed colour then it is definitely soaking up water.

 

[Gazzer]

Seems odd that its just that one tile and not spreading to others either side ....?

 

[macten]

Grout joints and the uncut edges must be stopping it transfering, cut ceramic edges soak up water like a sponge.
If the tile was definately the same colour as the others and then darkened in time then it can be nothing else.

 

[AliGage]

Grout joints and the uncut edges must be stopping it transfering, cut ceramic edges soak up water like a sponge.
If the tile was definately the same colour as the others and then darkened in time then it can be nothing else.

Spot on, perhaps the core of the ceramic tile is softer, so a lot more absorbant then the external surfaces of the tile.

 

[Houston]

just a dodgy tile, only highlighted when grouted

 

[On one]

just a dodgy tile, only highlighted when grouted

It happens!

 

[afright]

It could be possible the tile was damp before it was fixed,and has just got darker . I had this once when the customer removed his old tiles but wanted them put back so l had to soak them to get the adhesive off, left them to dry after fixing the tiles they become very patchy the water had really stained them
,he wasnt please but would not pay out for fresh tiles.

 

[Martyn Leeds]

I agree with ajax. Have a look on this site for pictures and threads of bathrooms that have been 'ruined', from dodgy tiles or dodgy tilers etc. I don't think its quite in the ruined bathroom category myself.

I think that this is an unfortunate isolated rogue tile problem, that almost certainly has got wet. Hopefully it is through the mark on the glaze or a small hole in the Silicon (& not anything else, not that it looks like a leak or anything)

If it happened on my job i would replace the tile and re-Silicon free of charge. Call the tiler, he should know if there was any spares. find or buy a tile or 2 & ask him to come around to have a look. If he has to travel more than a few miles i would definately offer the tiler £20-30quid for diesel..

 

[Andy Allen]

deffo nowt to do with the tile shop its a water ingrese problem, even if theres a flaw in the tile (yes it dose happen) the responabilty lies with the tiler to check the tile before fixing for imperfections, just get the tiler back to replace the tile..