Shading Issue

[Rookery]

Just tiled a wall in an en-suite with 200 x 250 glazed ceramics from BCT. Neither I nor the customer noticed some tiles a different shade until grouted. Tiles were picked from different boxes during tiling. Boxes had no batch number on but shop confirmed to the customer they're all one batch at the time of purchase. Customer is very happy with my work and has paid me, including a tip. What would you do in these circumstances?

 

[cam_low]

Why could you not tell the shade difference until grouted ? What colour are the tiles ?

If you are paid that to me confirms the customer is happy with the job.

 

[Andy Allen]

who bought the tiles you or the customer.....no batch numbers is a bit strange......were any of the boxs opened and taped up.....and if its a light colour tile it is hard to notice untill grouted..

 

[Gazzer]

I have had this issue too , These tiles seem to be very shady and I know what you mean about not seeing it until grouted.

 

[afright]

This has happened to me before sometimes its hard to spot until grouted The worst one,s for this is Wicke,s cheapy whites,and it dont help that i,m colour blind.

 

[Perry]

No you won't see it untill it's grouted so you are not to blame these not a lot a tiler can do thats down to the customer and supplier unless that was yourself

 

[foggy34]

agree with above! hard to spot sometimes with lighter colours, would prob go back and replace if not to many foc! altho sourcing the right tiles may be a mission in itself

 

[Spud]

there is always some slight shading with ceramics even within the same batch, years ago they used to puton the boxes that you need to work out of several boxes as you fix to mix the tiles this stopped the stop start effect of working out of one box then moving on to another they also used to put that you need to check your material before fixing as no claims could be made once the tiles were fitted ,to be honest its not something you see too often these days as the glazes and quality control is much higher these days ,

 

[Rookery]

Thanks guys. Yes the customer bought the tiles and he was assured by the shop that they were all the same batch. They are a very very pale grey colour, though some paler than others. The boxes had been opened I think by the customer, they werent taped up so unlikely to be mixed returns. I did work from 3 boxes as I fixed. Having finished the job and been paid, the customer is still happy with me and my work. His dispute is with the tile shop who, inevitably are going to blame me. I'll report back if it gets ugly.

 

[Andy Allen]

can't blame you mate , you didn't buy the tiles, you were just employed to fix them..

 

[AliGage]

If the tile supplier has told the customer they are from the same batch the buck stops there. If there is no batch codes to work from you did right picking from different boxes as you tiled.
I would say it's not your problem. But i would also return to said tile shop with the the customer when they take it up with them so you can defend yourself.

 

[afright]

It,s the same old thing Tiles,Adhesive problems it always fall,s back on the tiler,the trouble is these company,s are to big to fight in the court,s ,once had a big adhesive failure did every thing by the book I called in the tech guys from the adhesive company even tiled a small area with him and it failed as well a week later,but the report came back saying it was the tiler,s fault.lost all faith in Fastflex.