Hi, i have an interesting question - have had to part company with builder as had various issues with him. however he states that he is not allowed to touch electrics, hence tiled around sockets and switches rather than unscrew and tile under (well i assume he unscrewed anyway as he took the tiles off and that's how they were done before).
is this correct - are you not allowed to even unscrew a socket / switch case to tile under in a kitchen if you're not an electrician? and re-screw it back again.
Said tiler had a speed of 5 tiles / hour if uncut (these are trade standard white 15x15cm tiles) and 2-3 / hour if needed to cut them. Apparently this speed was due to unlevel walls, not perfectly square tiles, not perfect lighting in kitchen and i'm sure there was some more stuff too. 4m2 to tile (3 straight walls, various depths), still nowhere near complete after 5 days in kitchen when he had a tantrum as i didn't want to continue with the next project on the list. then i gave up.
is a shame as i don't want to lose faith in hiring a builder but this certainly doesn't help!

this guy aint a tiler

Hi, no this is not right at all, we 'all' unscrew the face plates to tile behind and then replave / rescrew the plates back. As or the slow speed, that's just taking the micky, I hope he wasn't, a) on day rates and b) paid, sounds like a chancer.

On a side not, why not register with the forum, you'll get a lot more response

not sure on the rules of unscrewing sockets but i always do, i never tile around them

Originally Posted by david campbell

this guy aint a tiler

That's what I said, just not as straight as that

yes you can unscew the socket and tile behind

you were best rid, hope he wasnt on daywork

advertise on here for a tiler near you for your next project

That's like no builder, or tiler I know

you lot beat me to it

Originally Posted by mikethetile

you lot beat me to it

You have to be quick round here mate, even omnipresent sometimes!

Bet that looks a picture, tiling around sockets

Dodgy

Originally Posted by whitebeam

Bet that looks a picture, tiling around sockets

seen a few of them, awwwwful

Was his company name saddlebag ceramics, by any chance

I hope you put him on his horse and chased the two of them
bloody cowboys!!

Did he have his cutter strapped to his saddle?

ohh dear another one

thanks all! you've put my faith back... thought i was going mad.

I'll definately register and advertise for a tiler when we come to the bathroom, we're going to have a bash at doing the basic diy first, then i'll come on here. look out for a tiling job in a month or two.

A tiler who wont remove items - but tiles around them



Same guy perhaps ?

Tiling around sockets.... quite funny really, if it wasn't so sad.... re the speed, was he really really really careful then and finished up with the perfect job, and never charged you for his time, just for the job? Well, he sounds just perfect! ....Yuck....