Help, I think my tiler is doing a bad job. What should I do?

[WordBear]

It was his first day today. I found him on mybuilder. He wasn't the cheapest quote and I chose him because he says he's a professional tiler. It's a bathroom which we're fully tiling with white travertine tiles 30 x 45 x 12. The things I'm worried about / unhappy about are:

1. the first thing he did was put Mapei Primer G all over the tile backer board. I didn't think tile backer board needed primer.

2. he has used Dunlop Set Fast Plus Flexible Tile Adhesive which is grey and doesn't say it's for use with large format natural stone.

3. he has used a 2mm gap for the grout and I thought it was supposed to be at least 3mm for large format natural stone.

4. I can see voids in the adhesive behind the tiles.

5. He has laid out the tiles so that there are narrow strips down one side of the wall (whole / half tile at the other end) and hasn't continued the layout around the corners.

6. His cuts are all rough, uneven and messy. He said something about not having filled the tank for his saw half way through the day. Not sure if that's connected.

7. He has broken loads of tiles. The whole job on area would use 95 tiles. I ordered 10% extra - 105. He has asked for us to buy another 14. Counting up it seems to me he only needs 6.

8. He cut one tile around the shower tray wrong and has fixed it by putting a slither of tile in there!

What should I do? He is coming back tomorrow. I think he's doing a bad job. Am I right? How can these things be fixed? Should I even let him carry on?

I'll try to post some photos.

 

[WordBear]

 

[Andy Allen]

 

[Blunt Tool]

Hi, if you mean he primed the cement backer boards then that’s ok but he should have taped and tanked the boards in the shower area. Natural stone is fragile and when transported can have hairline cracks that split as soon as you touch them, I usually keep them in the hope they can be used for a cut somewhere. That would explain a few of the broken tiles but rest looks as tho he was pushing them too hard and too quick thru machine and they have broke IMO. The sliver is not professional and tile should be replaced. 2mm joint is a preference I prefer 3mm.

 

[Blunt Tool]

I would have used a white flexible powder adhesive not grey, notched the wall with it and buttered the back of stone to fill in all voids

 

[Blunt Tool]

When I set out stone tile half bond I try to fold them round the internal corners ie whatever you take off cut use the other piece on next wall so that same tile, shade and vien turn the corner.

 

[Blunt Tool]

Lastly if the whole bathroom is to be tiled it looks like the walls outside of shower area have been just recently plastered? Is this correct?
Or is this walls outside bathroom?

 

[WordBear]

Thanks callatiler that is confirming some of my fears. The facepalm is doing the same! The recent plastering is outside the bathroom. Area to be tiled is all tile backer board apart from a bit of cement render.

What do I do though? Should I get him to start again? I think I could do a better job myself. There's also £400 of tiles half stuck to the walls now. Do I ask him to take them off or pay to get someone else to do it. I've never been in this situation before. He's got 100% positive reviews! I wish I'd gone with the kitchen fitter now.

 

[Blunt Tool]

IMO when he comes back tomorrow show and tell him what you are not happy about. The choice you have is tell him to take his gear and go then get a professional ( have a look at the directory on here see who is around you) or go into your local tile shops and ask them who is recommended. Or if you are not happy and want compensated by tiler then you have to give him a chance to replace and rectify but could end up costing you more to rectify as work progresses

 

[Blunt Tool]

Ps don’t go with kitchen fitter either ie don’t go into a hairdressers and ask for a pound of sausages

 

[Old Mod]

Ps don’t go with kitchen fitter either ie don’t go into a hairdressers and ask for a pound of sausages

Funny but true!

Ian above is quite correct, do not go with the kitchen fitter.
He may be used to doing 3 high round a kitchen worktop, but a bathroom is a whole new world.
Travertine is notoriously soft and can break just by picking it up at the end and not in the middle, it’s fragile.
That cut at shower tray is laziness beyond belief.

If you want a new local fitter, in your area there is a list of fitters in Berkshire area on the find a tiler page.

Directory of Tilers in Berkshire - Rated Tilers in Berkshire | tilersforums.com | Professional wall and floor tilers forum - https://www.tilersforums.com/directory/tilers-in-berkshire.229

Two I know of that can be trusted in that area are
Ascot Tiling, but they’re a big outfit, so maybe they might not be what you’re looking for.
There’s a guy called Ben Duckett in Reading, not on list but he’s a member.

Tiling in Reading - B. Duckett Ceramics - http://www.bduckettceramics.uk/

 

[WordBear]

Thanks for the advice. Ran through the issues:

He said the cuts are uneven because its travertine. Once he has covered the edges in silicone and decorator's caulk it will be fine. Is that normal?

He also has his other saw today. He said if we're unhappy once he's finished he'll redo them.

He has knocked £50 off for the bad layout.

Changed adhesive. He had brought some white tub adhesive called Ultim8 which I pointed out said it was for ceramic tiles up to 30 x 40. Cue lengthy disagreement and he eventually went and got something that looked more appropriate.

He said if the adhesive bleeds through he'll come back and fix it. Then a little while later said he's going back to Romania in a few months!

The whole house is thick with dust from the grinder he is using to cut the pipe holes.

 

[WordBear]

Forgot to say: pipe holes are really jagged and uneven. Is it not possible to cut a smooth circle out?

He has asked for part payment of £400 today.

 

[Blunt Tool]

Tubbed ready mixed adhesive will never dry so big no no, he shouldn’t be dry grinding in house either outside or wet cut. Holes perfectly round with proper diamond core bits again wet not dry or outside you go. If you are not happy do not pay him think you won’t see him again

 

[Blunt Tool]

Shouldn’t need to hide your cuts under silicone or caulk if he is doing that then he already knows it’s unacceptable

 

[Bathfix Bob]

It gets worse, two attempts and the correct adhesive and wrong both times, no way is he getting on a plane to rip tiles off for free in 6 months...

 

[Flintstone]

Best advice here is to show him the door with his tail between his legs and find somebody with some respect and pride in there work to come and create you a lovely bathroom.

 

[Italy]

send him away, it's the best choice.
otherwise when it has finished, you will not find him anymore.

 

[GoneGuy]

Don’t pay him, he is a cowboy from the sound of it and just wants the money to cover the two days he was there

 

[Martyn Leeds]

Where's the job?

I think you need to find a proper Tiler.
And be prepared to pay a proper rate for a proper job.

 

[WordBear]

Thanks for all the advice. I wanted to show him the door but my husband wants to give him a chance to put things right. Yesterday's cuts seem somewhat smoother but there are still some issues.

1 Could the tiling under the sloping ceiling have been done better?

2 The holes. They're rubbish aren't they?

3 Should those two pipes be notched in from the sides like that?

4 Anyone know what's going on in the corner?

I still don't think he's using enough adhesive. Surely it should be visible along the edge under the window for example.

My husband wants to give him a chance to finish it properly but the list of tiles to be recut is so long not to mention the cost of the tiles.

He has revised the number of additional tiles required down to 6 from 14. I ordered 10% over for cuts and wastage and he is closing in on 20% before he recuts any of the tiles.

We paid him £200 yesterday (he had asked for £400 and husband wanted to pay £300). I'm in Berkshire. It is 13sqm of tiling and this chap's quote was £650 including adhesive and grout (I think it was originally £750 excluding). We had another tiler quote the same amount excluding adhesive and grout and a kitchen fitter quoted £450. Am I not paying enough? We got 3 quotes and went with the most expensive on the basis of his good reviews.

 

[WordBear]

I forgot to mention this beauty: he wasn't going to seal the tiles. He was just about to start grouting everything. He said he never seals travertine tiles and that they don't need to be sealed. I said that everything I have ever read about travertine tiles says they have to be sealed. After looking it up on the internet he said he wouldn't have time to do it and we would have to do it ourselves before he comes next. He will knock £50 off.

Should I tell him not to come back? He is desperate for us to be happy with the work. Says if we give him negative feedback he won't get any more work. I actually feel sorry for him. I think he'll keep trying but I'm not sure he's capable of finishing the job well. In particular, he hasn't recut a single tile yet which worries me. Will he be able to get them off the wall without destroying everything?

 

[Tommcd]

Yes. Yes. No. No.

those holes are all rubbish, will they be in hidden positions?

 

[WordBear]

Oh dear...
I think the first two will be but the hot and cold and the waste won't be because it's an open washstand.

 

[andy-p]

Stop feeling sorry for this guy and stop giving him money , he is a joker and shouldnt be Tiling , dont use these Internet sites for Tradesmen either they are a lottery...

 

[WetSaw]

From the state of the holes he clearly hasn't got the tools to do the job. Whether he gets any more work isn't your problem so don't get sucked in by that.

 

[Flintstone]

Poor job, and a man that doesn’t know what he’s doing.

 

[GAZ5518]

Sorry to say .. but you should not give him anymore money until you are completely satisfied .. Because you will never see him again!
His quote was not unreasonable.. But his work is..

 

[Tilergal]

Shoddy and possibly unsafe if he isn't using the right adhesive. Personally I'd take the hit and get someone else in, if you're not happy now you won't feel any better when he's done and it will cost even more to rectify.

 

[CJ]

Oh deary me...........shoddy state. Show him the door