Bad job or unavoidable? - TilersForums.com

[Spauser90]

Hi,

Currently getting a new bathroom fitted with metro tiles. The tiler is back today to finish off grouting and laying the floor tiles. I've gone in this morning to check the last 2 days work (having been busy working myself so couldn't check before now) and I am pretty unhappy with the way the tiles have been laid very unevenly in my opinion. Is this acceptable or unavoidable for some reason? Thanks.

 

[Spauser90]

 

[Spauser90]

 

[Dave]

That wall must be well out of plumb and not easy to over come with that size tile.

 

[Spauser90]

Just spoke to the guy and this is what he said. Unfortunately didn't let me know otherwise I would have got it replastered. It is an old, terraced, edwardian house so doesn't help either!

 

[Dave]

Just spoke to the guy and this is what he said. Unfortunately didn't let me know otherwise I would have got it replastered. It is an old, terraced, edwardian house so doesn't help either!

Plastering it wouldn’t have helped, would need dry lining as too much to make up with skim.

 

[GAZ5518]

The center joints look to be in line so definitely walls are out as is
frame which you couldn’t really do anything about…. Grout in white will help blend in.

 

[mattconway1984]

Two things you need to do:

1 . Hold a (decent length) level (vertically) against the vertical edge of one tile to show how aligned the vertical edges of the tiles are.

2. Hold a (decent length) level vertically against the corners of your walls and photograph the bubble to show how plumb your walls are.

It's hard to tell from the photos you posted, but it does look to me like the tiles are not vertically aligned (I held a straight edge rule on one tile edge and the tiles are out of plumb on all your photos so it's suspicious).... However, it could be a combination of both as tiles are way out looking at your photos.


If your walls really are that far out, that should have been mentioned to you (if the tradesman was any good) before the job was started so you were aware of the problem --- it could have been easily rectified by overboarding. Another potential issue is that if your walls are that far out, a lot of not-very-good tilers will start tiling from one corner of the room relying on the corner edge as their plumb line. Problem is, if that's out (and it usually is) the tiles will never be properly vertically aligned - that might have been done in your case as you've not photographed all corners.

 

[Kevbos]

Plastering it wouldn’t have helped, would need dry lining as too much to make up with skim.

Plastering does not just involve skimming walls !!

 

[Kevbos]

Two things you need to do:

1 . Hold a (decent length) level (vertically) against the vertical edge of one tile to show how aligned the vertical edges of the tiles are.

2. Hold a (decent length) level vertically against the corners of your walls and photograph the bubble to show how plumb your walls are.

It's hard to tell from the photos you posted, but it does look to me like the tiles are not vertically aligned (I held a straight edge rule on one tile edge and the tiles are out of plumb on all your photos so it's suspicious).... However, it could be a combination of both as tiles are way out looking at your photos.


If your walls really are that far out, that should have been mentioned to you (if the tradesman was any good) before the job was started so you were aware of the problem --- it could have been easily rectified by overboarding. Another potential issue is that if your walls are that far out, a lot of not-very-good tilers will start tiling from one corner of the room relying on the corner edge as their plumb line. Problem is, if that's out (and it usually is) the tiles will never be properly vertically aligned - that might have been done in your case as you've not photographed all corners.

To me it looks like !what happens all too often , a plumber has also been involved in the new bathroom , as capped pipes in picture , it's very easy for criticism, but we don't know budgets etc etc !! Is a builder involved , it's not right that walls are wrong , but who was responsible for preparation??

 

[mattconway1984]

To me it looks like !what happens all too often , a plumber has also been involved in the new bathroom , as capped pipes in picture , it's very easy for criticism, but we don't know budgets etc etc !! Is a builder involved , it's not right that walls are wrong , but who was responsible for preparation??

Doesn't detract from the fact that whoever tiled it didn't do a good job. If the plumber left capped pipes to tile around then that's fine and in ideal world, just what you want..... The tiler should have checked the room for plumb before doing anything, in this case as the walls are waaaay off plumb he should have let the client know before just going ahead and starting the job...... I mean, that's what is meant by professionalism.

 

[Kevbos]

Doesn't detract from the fact that whoever tiled it didn't do a good job. If the plumber left capped pipes to tile around then that's fine and in ideal world, just what you want..... The tiler should have checked the room for plumb before doing anything, in this case as the walls are waaaay off plumb he should have let the client know before just going ahead and starting the job...... I mean, that's what is meant by professionalism.

A professional plumber would have also brought this up as usually its there job as s whole

 

[Kevbos]

A professional plumber would have also brought this up as usually its there job as s whole

And what I mean is , do we know if there is a builder , or plumber etc who's job it is ? Do we know the circumstances of the tiler doing the job , because if it is someone else's job , the tiler may have been told to just tile it , ideal world situations are great if they work , but if you book in 2 or 3 days to do a job !turn up , walls are not great ,then told to do best you can ! Which does happen , a situation arises , you go home have 3 days off , or raise problem with the builder or plumber etc , if they are not willing to rectify walls , what do you do ?? Go to customer who essentially not your customer and raise issue !! Lose all future work with builder plumber or do as you are told ?? Unfortunately there are to many poor trades out there

 

[Kevbos]

A professional plumber would have also brought this up as usually its there job as s whole

Essentially it's a bad job !! But we don't know all circumstances , and I was just lucky to mostly work alongside great plumbers and builders , who also knew I would not tile over poor preparation!!