Tiler has made mistakes - Advice required

[tonyfaestoney]

Guys another thought. I joined this forum this morning and have probably spent 4-6hours trying to find an amicable solution. I could have just agreed with the offer of not having to pay and got on with my life. Instead I have still looked for advice from you as professionals on a workable solution. I work in the oil & gas industry but would not imagine you guys would want to spend much time on forums on this subject.

I can assure you there is nothing fishy ans my intentions are good. The tiler is a nice guy and I don't feel comfortable criticising his work, but it is a bit too obvious now. The first bathroom I did not inspect properly with other tradesmen and other jobs going on in the house. He had well started the second bathroom before I noticed the imperfections. These are fixable and would have talked to him prior to both jobs being completed.

 

[tommyzooom]

Yep, overboard and skim the ceiling would be a simple fix.
And I have had to hack off the plaster from the window head, and tile directly to the lintel before (this was to level up two windows, and was in no way to fix a **** up on my part)
cough

 

[White Room]

If you do decide to overboard and skim, have plenty of polythene available.....

 

[tonyfaestoney]

If you do decide to overboard and skim, have plenty of polythene available.....

Hi whitebeam, what is the reason for this? The dust and mess you mean?

 

[charlie1]

If it was me tony I would of stopped him after the first bathroom if I wasn't happy with the standard of work..but it's done now. and I wouldn't want it bodged up with silly borders.but it's hard to say without seeing the job..

hey Andy, wasnt suggesting a silly border, a nice one was what I was thinking of!

 

[Gazzer]

The whole point is that it is all fixable and at the end of the day it will all be forgotten when the place is finished. Lots more things in life to worry about than this. Do as I suggested, take the money it costs out of the tilers bill and everyone is happy ??

 

[tonyfaestoney]

hey Andy, wasnt suggesting a silly border, a nice one was what I was thinking of!

This is probably the most appealing solution to me to get a smart mosaic border in black to tidy up around window and ceiling. Would go well with the black floor. Thanks.

 

[dave l and l]

personally i would go with coving, but thats because i like the look of it. i also like the idea of a different tile round the window,
if the tiler has told you not to pay because his work is not up to standard then he probably shouldnt be in the trade, i would want to question how well they are fixed if the standard of work is not much cop,
if you have both reached an amicable agreement then good,,
didnt realise aberdeen was booming that much that you couldnt get another tiler for three months. i can only imagine that is slightly exaggerated

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Lets hope tiler learnt from this, I'd reboard but if the gap is 30mm then may have to be double boarded with a thick double skim.

 

[afright]

Think that Tiler should find another job.

 

[tonyfaestoney]

personally i would go with coving, but thats because i like the look of it. i also like the idea of a different tile round the window,
if the tiler has told you not to pay because his work is not up to standard then he probably shouldnt be in the trade, i would want to question how well they are fixed if the standard of work is not much cop,
if you have both reached an amicable agreement then good,,
didnt realise aberdeen was booming that much that you couldnt get another tiler for three months. i can only imagine that is slightly exaggerated

Hi Dave,
Aberdeen is certainly booming but I actually live in a town 15miles away. I am referring to the local tilers in the town where I know their reputable. I should have gone for one of these but as I say it was a plumbers recommendation (not the plumber doing my work) and thought it would be fine.

Lesson learnt for myself and the tiler as he freely admits.

Again thanks for all your advice, it has been much appreciated and given some ideas that can hopefully get the job finished to suit tiler and myself.

 

[AliGage]

I've got half way down page 3 and decided to reply. I appreiciate everything the op is saying about wanting it up and working, but this is how i see it:

Personally i wouldn't have the guy back at all and i'd have him payout for replacement tiles (on both jobs), the money you would of paid him can contribute to another tiler prehaps. But, i understand that you have a long wait for a different tiler. so, I'd be asking your current tiler to rectify all works. You have a bathroom complete you can use whilst the one you have displayed pictures for gets striped out and re-tiled. He shouldn't make the same error twice, but prehaps walk round the room with him and check the setting out before he places a tile.

Once happy with the tiling in that room and depending on the standard (which i believe you're still unhappy with) of the second room. I'd get him to de-tile and re-tile and/or correct errors in that too.
It's your tilers responsabilty to do a professional and proper job. He clearly hasn't. Sir Ramics answer to the ceiling is what i would of suggested and is probably the best option on that alone. But across the window (IMHO) is completely unacceptable.


Materials, tiles, adhesive and repair works is now your tilers responsability. Pay him what you intended to pay him when he's re-tiled. He also needs to be on your job straight away, especially taking health circumstances into account. His other future bodges should be pushed back until your work is completed and you are 100% happy with the finished result. Yes his diarised customers will be unhappy at the delay, but that's not your problem.

 

[swanman]

I feel sorry for the tiler

Ive seen a lot worse to. Pay him for the first bathroom at least. Life to short they are only tiles and it can be sorted . i think its a liberty asking him to come back and finish

Tilers are always under the microscope not everyone is perfect

 

[Andy Allen]

what i dont like is the fact you keep changing your mind, first you say your happy with the first bathroom, then your not, theres things that need putting right, but you still let him carry on working there on the second bathroom...

imo you should of stopped him stright away if you thought his work wasnt up to scratch, instead of having a free job done..

do the right thing, give him a chance to make good and pay the man...

 

[dave l and l]

if the guy has done some rough work then he is obviously not up to much and probably should find a new forte, paying someone for doing sub standard work only entices them to go on and create more problems and give the trade a bad name, its hard enough out there for those of us who are actually good at our jobs,
personally i wouldnt have the guy back if his work is poor, he should not be trading as a tiler if he cant leave a proper job.