Tiler left Jerusalem Marble tiles unsealed

[stevetalbot]

Hi, can anyone give any advice on a tiling job which I have had done.

I supplied the tiles (White Jerusalem Marble) adhesive and grout (ordered sealer but did not arrive).

The tiles were laid in a new kitchen of about 20sq mtrs. I had ordered enough for the tiles to be laid first before the kitchen was installed but was told that the kitchen needed to be fitted first because the island could not be fixed on top of the underfloor heating - I would have thought that the underfloor heating could have been laid to go around where the island was to be located as we had a plan - we are now left with cuts up to end panels and around posts etc and the job took alot longer because of all the cuts.

The tiler took 4 days and we were advised each night not to stand on certain areas which had been laid kate in the day.

After the 4 days he had one tile to cut and various tiles to fix (mainly cuts around the island. As this was Friday we were left over the bank holiday weekend and used the kitchen as normal (we were told that we could).

The tiles were not sealed and over the weekend the tiles became very marked and these marks cannot be removed.

My question is this - should the tiles have been left for this length of time without sealing? The tiler came back on the Tuesday - fitted the loose tiles and left without grouting or offering any help. We have now received his invoice which we have not yet paid.

The supplier of the tiles says that they need grinding on site and this will cost £45 to £50 per metre plus VAT. I have told the tiler and he says that they can be cleaned but expects me to pay.

Any advice?

 

[paulmsd]

long and short

if you walk on stone before it is sealed
you run the risk of some type of staining
that is some thing any good tiler would know
and would of advised you to stay off the floor
or put codex down

 

[DHTiling]

So did you spill anything to mark them, knowing they were not sealed..?

 

[stevetalbot]

long and short

if you walk on stone before it is sealed
you run the risk of some type of staining
that is some thing any good tiler would know
and would of advised you to stay off the floor
or put codex down

I did not know they had not been sealed (was not home during the day) We were not advised not to use - but what were we supposed to do for 3 days over a holiday weekend? surely he should have sealed before leaving?

 

[stevetalbot]

So did you spill anything to mark them, knowing they were not sealed..?

No - nothing spilt just dirt marks from dog paws, shoes etc.

 

[DHTiling]

I did not know they had not been sealed (was not home during the day) We were not advised not to use - but what were we supposed to do for 3 days over a holiday weekend? surely he should have sealed before leaving?

Not as easy as that with stone i'm afraid.. it has to clean and dry and if he had just laid them then NO they will be damp...

 

[paulmsd]

i always seal after the floor is complete
as you need to clean clean and clean again as anything on stone will be sealed in

if it is not 100% clean

 

[hillhead]

He certainly should have sealed knowing that it was a weekend !!
4 days seems very long for 20mtrs too,2 days should do that easily,3 max inc grouting and sealing.

 

[basshunter]

:mad2:

 

[stevetalbot]

Not as easy as that with stone i'm afraid.. it has to clean and dry and if he had just laid them then NO they will be damp...

Thanks - in the same situation how would you have dealt with the job or advised the customer?

 

[DHTiling]

He certainly should have sealed knowing that it was a weekend !!
4 days seems very long for 20mtrs too,2 days should do that easily,3 max inc grouting and sealing.

I have to disagree....depnds upon the stone and floor lay out and prep work...

Plus some marbles can take longer to dry...especially if you have been washing/wiping as you tile...

 

[stevetalbot]

He certainly should have sealed knowing that it was a weekend !!
4 days seems very long for 20mtrs too,2 days should do that easily,3 max inc grouting and sealing.

Thanks - I thought so too. He seemed to progress quickly with the full tiles but had a lot of cuts around island which would have been avoided if he had laid them before the kitchen was fitted. Actual area laid was about 15 mts excluding island.

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks - in the same situation how would you have dealt with the job or advised the customer?

personally i would have either..

1: worked the b/hols to complete.

2: Apologised as i had something planned for the b/hols and explained you need to keep off the floor or at least cover it with dust sheets..

But i find it hard to believe you would walk on the floor with wet/muddy feet or what ever with it being a newly laid floor....even if he had sealed it the sealer will not fully protect the floor from dirt for about 48hrs or so..

So you still would have had to very careful with it...


Why has the tiler refused to grout it...?..is it because of the stains?

 

[hillhead]

I have to disagree....depnds upon the stone and floor lay out and prep work...

Plus some marbles can take longer to dry...especially if you have been washing/wiping as you tile...

Maybe i work too long of hours dave,lol.
I leave house at 6.30am this weather,get to job at 8am,leave it at 6.30,home by 8pm.you see in them hours you can get plenty done.
I know that doesn't suit everyone.

 

[paulmsd]

Thanks - I thought so too. He seemed to progress quickly with the full tiles but had a lot of cuts around island which would have been avoided if he had laid them before the kitchen was fitted. Actual area laid was about 15 mts excluding island.

have to agree with dave

above

every job is different

can't coment on time