Poor Tiling Job? Advise please...

[vik987]

@vik987 did the chrome tiles not have a plastic film over them? I'm sure I've fitted these before and they had a film designed to be removed after grouting, to prevent any scratching from coarse grouts.

the whole sheet had a film but not individually I don't think will have to check spare tiles....

 

[beanz]

Read my post above I've said I don't want them doing it. Gave them the chance to sort a tiller but they want me to get someone to sort it and feel the £300 I owe them will cover that

Yeah, sorry Vik, I didn't realise you'd already included the reply. We must've been posting at the same time, as i already editted my post hehe!

 

[One Day]

Awwww! I think it's nice that they are at least giving the blind folk a chance to work meaningfully! :lol:

 

[PJ Tiling]

@vik987 did the chrome tiles not have a plastic film over them? I'm sure I've fitted these before and they had a film designed to be removed after grouting, to prevent any scratching from coarse grouts.

This is what I was thinking. How the hell you supposed to grout if the grout scratchs the surface of the tiles. Every crome tile that I've ever grouted has had a film on them, the one's that havent I used a craft knife and cut the protective film that covered the whole tile and then peeled off after grouting.

Truely shocking work tho, and just because he can quote BS this and BS that the fact is the job is awful!

 

[AMtek]

Read my post above I've said I don't want them doing it. Gave them the chance to sort a tiller but they want me to get someone to sort it and feel the £300 I owe them will cover that

you seem to like jumping down my throat beanz! haha :45:

 

[One Day]

I love how they've quoted BS5385 - 3mm over a 2m run!!!

 

[DHTiling]

Advise what to do now...

Ok sent them this:

I am writing to you today in order to notify you of the following problems I have discovered with the work you have carried out for me.
The mosaic wall tiling which was completed whilst doing a full kitchen installation has unfortunately not been done to an acceptable standard.

I need to inform you of the following problems

Tiles not cut straight
Grout missing or cracking in places
Tiles uneven and not level
Metal tiles scratched
Large gaps filled with grout instead of tiles

Which means overall the finish looks awful and is to a very poor standard.

The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 states “that reasonable care or skill must be used while working”. In my opinion, you did not use reasonable care and skill when you carried out this work and you have broken your contract with me.

I would ask that I would like tiling done again to a reasonable standard. But I do not want **** or **** doing the tiling again. I require that they use someone who is experienced in mosaic tiling. I am happy for **** to arrange for someone else to do this as long they guarantee their work. Alternatively we are happy to organise this if needed. But it should be at no additional cost to ourselves.
We require all tiles to be taken off the wall. Any damage to be repaired (if damage is done when removing tiles, if necessary plastering) and levelling off wall before retiling with new tiles, all costs involved putting job right including adhesive, grout, plastering, tiles and any labour costs to be met by ****

Refund for labour of tiling already paid for poor tiling work, damages to original tiles, and for the inconvenience caused.

Please contact me as soon as possible, and no later than 14 days from the date of this letter, to agree a date by which this work will be put right.

If I do not hear back from you in the time suggested above, I will be taking further action in seeking legal advice.

Reply I got back....

Many thanks for your email. This reply is receipt of the email and the attached letter dated 4th Feb 2013.

As a dispute has arisen over our work we have no option but to cease working for yourself until the dispute has been rectified. We feel we have all the information we need and therefore our meeting tomorrow at 08:30 is unnecessary.

We have received the pictures and have looked over them. It sounds to us that you will not be happy until all the tiles have been removed from the walls and the whole job started again. This is where we disagree.

Most of the pictures show grout still on the tiles, which can be removed using grout remover. Extra grout is also needed for the gaps where we have missed. Black grout on black tiles is hard to distinguish from so we apologies where we have missed some of the grouting. With regards to the leveling of the tiles. BS 5385-3 states that a 2m straightedge should be used when trying to measure the level of the tiles. Any gap over 3mm is classed as unacceptable and we would be more than happy to replace any tiles that are out of level more than 3mm. Although thinking back we feel that there are not many tiles out of level more than 3mm. All of the above paragraph shows that not all tiles need to be removed.

We understand that you may not be happy with parts of the tiling, but feel that this can be resolved without ripping the entire thing off.

You stated in your letter that you do not mind organising your own tiler. We would prefer you to organise the tiling so any other issues that arise are dealt with by your future tiler. We feel that it is important to point out at this point that you still owe £305 before your account is settled and we feel that this amount will go along way to rectifying the work which is not up to BS5385-3 standards.

**** are always looking for customer satisfaction and we will not just run away from problems, there is no need to threaten us with court action so early on as we have only really discovered this dispute this morning.

I hope we can resolve this quickly as it is not nice for either parties involved.

The +/- 3mm over a 2 mtr straight edge is substrate prep as well... this should have been checked before commencing tiling..

Ok, some areas of missing grout can be fixed etc.. but what about all the scratched metal mosaics..? .. to rectify this , then it is a full replacement , do not employ the services of another tiler until you have sought legal advice .. the original company must be given chance to rectify and if/when declined to do so , then you can proceed to claim back the cost of the installation.

You can in the mean time get an independent inspection done by a qualified tiler and also get quotes done to re-tile .. but as i said do not do any work till you are advised to by a legal representative.

 

[beanz]

you seem to like jumping down my throat beanz! haha :45:

I do!?! :19:

 

[CJ]

I have done the very same tile, and whilst the chrome tiles are covered in a protective plastic, they are covered before being stuck to the backing.....hence, the film goes right down all 4 sides and is impossible to remove after grouting.These tiles need a fine grade of grout to prevent scratches.

 

[The D]

BSI 5385 8.1.3 Tolerance for finished mosaic surfaces
Unless an uneven surface is specified or the tesserae are made with irregular or distorted faces, there should be no significant visible change of plane between adjacent tesserae. Surface tolerances should conform to
7.1.9.1

 

[The D]

7.1.9.1
Finished tile surfaces
The surface should be true such that, when checked with a 2 m
straightedge with 3 mm thick feet at each end, the straightedge
should not be obstructed by the tiles and no gap should be greater
than 6 mm.
There are permissible manufacturing tolerances for ceramic tiles
defined in BS EN 14411; certain types of tiles, e.g. extruded or large
format, might have permissible surface flatness irregularities that
cannot satisfactorily be accommodated within the surface flatness
tolerance permitted to the tile installer; this should be taken into
account when evaluating the achievable flatness of a wall floor tiling
installation.
NOTE Where adhesives are used, this degree of accuracy can be
achieved only when the background surface is equally true.

7.1.9.2
Across joints
There should be no appreciable difference in level across joints
(commonly called “lipping”) and the maximum deviation between
tile surfaces either side of a joint, including movement joints, should
be as follows.
a) Joints less than 6 mm wide, 1 mm.
b) Joints 6 mm or more wide, 2 mm.

 

[vik987]

7.1.9.1
Finished tile surfaces
The surface should be true such that, when checked with a 2 m
straightedge with 3 mm thick feet at each end, the straightedge
should not be obstructed by the tiles and no gap should be greater
than 6 mm.
There are permissible manufacturing tolerances for ceramic tiles
defined in BS EN 14411; certain types of tiles, e.g. extruded or large
format, might have permissible surface flatness irregularities that
cannot satisfactorily be accommodated within the surface flatness
tolerance permitted to the tile installer; this should be taken into
account when evaluating the achievable flatness of a wall floor tiling
installation.
NOTE Where adhesives are used, this degree of accuracy can be
achieved only when the background surface is equally true.

7.1.9.2
Across joints
There should be no appreciable difference in level across joints
(commonly called “lipping”) and the maximum deviation between
tile surfaces either side of a joint, including movement joints, should
be as follows.
a) Joints less than 6 mm wide, 1 mm.
b) Joints 6 mm or more wide, 2 mm.

Thanks for info.

Can i have that translated into english for me please, i no idea what it all means ha ha

 

[John Benton]

Thanks for info.

Can i have that translated into english for me please, i no idea what it all means ha ha

It means the tiles need to come off and start again

 

[The D]

in short your job is

 

[vik987]

It means the tiles need to come off and start again

Thanks

No honestly would rather they all come off than just a few or look odd.

Just got to get them to agree but see us having to take legal action