Why would you ever skimp on quality for the sake of saving the customer a few quid? I understand it can be difficult to turn work down if you're quiet, but surely if you cut your quality, you cut your reputation and build a rod for your own back?
Simply because there are different owners, with different bodgets.
I did only a bathroom with only full tiles, not cuts, in my life. Took me 2 months to complete it.
Should I expect another 20 yrs before I take the next similar job from a customer that could afford to pay something like this?
I don't want to move too far, I am living in a small town, sometimes going to London, but only for old customers.
I don't mind the reputation, if the customer needs a job to look fine and last it obviously takes more time to prepare and tile it, if not, I tell them by writing that's not the suitable for
their job. If they agree, than I do not mind to tile with 4 mm spacers instead of 2mm, for example. If I do not take it, they will offer to the next handyman they find. There are few people with houses worthing 2-3 millions around me. If the customer owe an old house where there is nothing straight, plaster, decoration are awful, there is a non sense to tile top quality, they do not want to pay for it. Many do not want to pay for tanking, for example, even if I seriously reduce the warranty for it....
There are many people who want flat and levelled tiled surfaces, but they offer poor level. I can tile directly, no mater what level is, or take my time to level the support first. This work takes time that should be paid. This increase the price by sqm, even to double, not many are happy to pay it.
As told before, if I don't want to take it, they will find the next handy to do it or they will do it by themself, they won't call you to pay you the double for some more quality....