Tiler messed up laying natural slate

[tim222]

Hi,

I decided after reading these forums to not do my own tiling and got someone in. Fortunately I only got him to do the bathroom not my kitchen which is a lot bigger.
He pretty well messed it up, the tiles are very uneven, I know they are riven and wanted that type of surface but there is a toe stubber on the edge of almost every other tile (i am assuming this is not acceptable?).
I got another guy to do the wall tiling (great job) and asked him to take some tiles up and replace them to make them more even, problem is that as he is trying to take the first one up 2 around it split as the grout has gone into the seams of the stone.
I cant really grind them out at this stage as the dust in the rest of the house would be unbearable so they have to be drilled out and it will take ages.
Would I be best to rip them up and start over ?
Thanks in advance
Tim

 

[stevee]

someone more expieienced with slate will be here soon ,but i think u can chisel off the steps,steve

 

[Gazzer]

yes you could dress the "steps" off to give a better feel.

 

[Olz]

Could you post some pictures tim so we could see what where talking about

 

[doug boardley]

if they're riven slate, could you not dress the toe stubbers with a hammer and 2" bolster?

 

[CJ]

I'd go with a hammer and bolster as mentioned

Does'nt take much Tim :smilewinkgrin:

 

[basshunter]

tim ?

hello ?:biker:

 

[tim222]

thanks you,

I have tried that and it does indeed knock the "step" off, I will take a couple of pictures and see what you think.

Tim

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

All good advice above, you came to the right place. Once you have sealed the tile you won't know there was ever a lip. Good luck.

 

[Terry Cottar]

Please remember safety!!! Make sure the bolster is sharp and that you wear good quality gloves and eye protection before you attempt this please or you could end up with a hammered hand or chippings in your eye

tel

 

[doug boardley]

..... and if you've got a fireguard, place that where chips will be flying off at, don't want fixtures and fittings damaged

 

[tim222]

What is happening is its taking the tile down level with the grout line in about 2 or 3 inches so instead of the toe stubber it slopes up to the edge of the tile. is this right ?
Just going to try to take a picture
Tim

 

[tim222]

Have tried to attach here

 

[DHTiling]

If you wanted a flat tiled floor then why choose natural split slate..?

It is a riven stone and these are characteristics of natural split...

 

[tim222]

Hi Dave,

You mis-understand me ! I did not want flat, thats why I chose it, however I did expect the edges of the tile to meet flush, the pictures do not really tell the story, on some of them there is a 5mm or more discrepancy on the edge of the tile sticking up above the other.
If this is normal then fine I can live with normal and stop stressing about it :8:

However if its bad workmanship which I suspect it is then it will bug me forever and I need to change it so it won't.

In the picture where I chisled the edge of do you think that it will look ok when its sealed ?

Tim