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jdg: 1 year ago | Last edited at 7:48PM on 10/15/2011

Is this bathroom tile work acceptable?

We are in the midst of a total gut of our house. The contractor brought in his "highly experienced" tile installer. He installed glass tile which I had purchased. In my opinion, he butchered the job. The horizontal lines don't match in the corner. The tile was on a mat and there are entire horizontal lines where the bottom tile of one mat rests on top of the top tile of the lower mat. The tile around the tub is resting on the tub with no gap for caulk. The contractor thinks it doesn't look bad. He wants to try replacing the column of mats along the corner so the lines match. He says urethane caulk will seal the tub edge. And he wants to try popping off some individual tiles that are out of alignment and replace them. He has no real answer for the tile-on-tile issue. I think we should start from scratch. I think he should pay to replace the tile, but I'd be willing to share the cost. Am I wrong about the work being unacceptable? About paying for more tile?

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Answer 1

Sephira: 1 year ago

If they screwed up the job, you certainly should not be offering to foot any extra costs to redo the tiling. Your best bet might be to call in another contractor to take a look at it, but the bottom line is that if you think it doesn't look right, then it probably isn't. Your contractor is going to keep trying to convince you that it looks ok, because he doesn't want to have to lose money on it, but if you don't like it, then he needs to fix it.

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Answer 2

magles59: 1 year ago via Android

they should replace it

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Answer 3

WinnSam31: 1 year ago via iPhone

YOU are the boss. HE works for you. YOU determine whether the work meets your approval. Did he understand exactly what you wanted? It sounds like maybe not. You may have to share some of the cost but you are the one who has to live with it. If he wants payment it has to meet your approval. Try to find a way to satisfy each party. Sit down and talk with him reasonably. If he is a decent guy he should understand. If not I'd get a new tile man.

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jdg: 1 year ago

He knows I'm extremely detailed and that I expect professional work. I think matching the tile lines in the corners is basic to the job. And leaving space between tiles for grout also seems like a no-brainer. We're meeting again Monday to discuss the options. I'm being more than reasonable, I think. But if he cannot admit that the work is inadequate, I'm thinking I need to take a very hard line with him

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WinnSam31: 1 year ago via iPhone

Good luck. We just build a home and at the end the contractor charged us over $35,000 for do-overs. All his mistakes. We had all the plans clearly drawn up. Why they don't do it right the first time i don't know. We ended up having a lawyer friend help us and saved us tons of $. Keep everything in writing and document all your mtgs. Be very clear. Good luck.

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jdg: 1 year ago

Wow...thanks!

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Answer 4

SLelectronics: 1 year ago

The tub should have a liner of plastic along the bottom edge to prevent leaks ( caulk is not water proof) there is a red paste ( some time blue) that should be pasted on the rock broad before the tile is placed... If you are not 100 percent satisfied with the job don't pay.. if there is no water paste or tub lining over the years the tub will leak causing wood to rot and more damage you want to handle

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jdg: 1 year ago

Paying is complicated by the fact that its a comprehensive job on every aspect of the house. I've already paid plenty. Thanks for the info on the paste

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