Shade Difference in white gloss tiles

[burncross]

Had a 3 problem jobs over the last 12 months, where a shade difference is noticable only when tiles have been fixed, grouted and cleaned.
First of these was when customer supplied B&Q 30x20 gloss white (in blue boxes, no batch or shade codes on them) all looked same when fixing, but only when grouted and cleaned off, was there a definated shade difference, but even on box it states that 'shade difference is inherent with these tiles'
Customer was ok with it as he had supplied tiles
Second job was 60x30 ceramic white gloss with rectified edges,made in China, with just a batch code on box, which were all the same. Customer also supplied these tiles. Again all looked ok until it was grouted, cleaned off, and in certain sunlight, some tiles appeared darker than others. Customer was ok with me about it, and said he would take it up with tile shop.
Third job was 60x30 ceramic white gloss from Turkey, with batch and shade codes, all the same. But same again, slight shade difference in some tiles, not as significant as last 2 but still not a good luck.
Is anyone else having these problems? I don't look forward to working with white gloss tiles, as one day they'l blame me and I won't get paid

 

[Ian]

I have had a similar experience recently with a 200x250mm gloss white but, they were really cheap (£6 per m2) it was commercial work and the client didn't even notice they just wanted the job as cheap as possible. Not the point I know, I wasn't very pleased but this seems to be quite common now in cheap tiles.

 

[DHTiling]

I do a lot of disabled wetrooms for care and repair and they always use 12 x 10 bumpy whites... always make sure the codes are the same and not had any probs yet..

I will say though that the B&Q ones will probs just be from mixed pallets , as they just top up a pallet as stock gets low on it , hence mixing batches..

I always stress to customers who are going to B&Q to double check codes etc ..

As for you problem, then you can only do so much and as long as your are mixing tiles form cartons as you install to minimise block grouping of shading, then you are doing the right thing.

 

[burncross]

Yes, did mix them, but with the large format 60x30, done straight set portrait, on a smallish bathroom wall, you get the effect of light shade and dark shade on one wall?

 

[DHTiling]

All you can do is either pull them off as you notice and get extras.. shading can be common , so patience is needed and a good eye for the problem before you get to far into the project..

 

[Rich]

All good advice above, mix the boxes and of course check the codes on the boxes. Dont use these tiles again if you are given the choice and whenever a customer supplies gloss whites, let them know that you have had problems with them, explain that you mix the boxes and check the codes but as Dave says, there is only so much you can do. This should at least cover your back if it happens again.

 

[burncross]

At the time I was doing the Chinese ones i was talking to my local supplier and he said he'd been offered them too at £2.20 per meter for a pallet, he declined them wisely.
But I know the customer paid about £25/m from where he got them from......so not a bad mark up for the tile shop

 

[Rich]

I am in the wrong business!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Not sure if you are quoting these issues from all cheap tiles but Greece, China and Turkey will all have different manufacturing standards to Italy and Germany. It wont take much pigment change to affect a 'white' tile base and so they will cover themselves with the shade difference override.
As others if you are using the same box code there is very little you can do, apart from keeping a record for each job and for every aspect from surface preparation/adhesive etc. and confirm before you start to the customer that all tiles they/you have supplied are of the same batch.

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Had it a few times but other than making sure codes/batches are the same what can you do,both times I did have a problem it wasnt noticeable until the spot lights were put in,wasnt noticeable before.