I have recently been contacted about some bad work done by tilers who left a chipped tile on the wall and the grout is so bad the customer has put post-it notes all over the wall indicating where the grout is too proud. What is the best way to rectify this please, bearing in mind I am a female with not much elbow grease for using a grout rake. Any input welcome!

A Fein would be my first choice..

and mine

depends how bad it is ?

Thank you guys - I thought that might be the reply. I don't have a Fein but I am wondering what the possibility of damaging the tiles is when using one.

you can get a cheaper bosch which would do the job too, you can get carbide grout removal blade for it which is easy to use. with a bit of care you shouldnt damage the tiles (provided you have at least 2mm grout lines)

Could try a Dremmel.

How badly do you need the work? I'd be telling the customer to get the original tilers back to sort it out.

If you really do have to do it, then a Fein (or cheaper equivalent) is great for removing grout. You may get away with just sanding the gout joint with sandpaper if they are just overfilled in places. If you have grout all over the tiles then maybe a decent grime remover will help clean the tiles?

Good luck,

Daz

I'am with the Captain - sometimes you can take on more than it's worth.
If they are complaining about a chipped tile now, how much will they require in compensation IF the grout tool scratches the face of a tile.
Make sure you have insurance and cover yourself for the unexpected.

my advice ...BEWARE!!! of post it notes....kinda sez it all , hint hint ..

hi suzie,with jobs like these i always try and get as much info of the customer on the phone and advse them what i charge daily for this type of work

if they are serious about using you to repair it fair enough but most i find get a shock when they find out labour costs

save yourself a wasted trip. on the plus side you may get some work out of it

Originally Posted by Dave

my advice ...BEWARE!!! of post it notes....kinda sez it all , hint hint ..

I missed that bit and you're so right.
I did a job 30 years ago - I reckon before 'post it' was popular .
the customer rang me when I got home and said he'd noticed a pinhole in the glaze of a Pilkington's Penthouse Studio 6inch tile - a very expensive tile in it's day - I told him to mark it with a bit of tape and I'd remove it tomorrow!
He must have had his nose up to every tile (even at ceiling height) 'cause there were 100's of pieces of selotape all over the walls!
I told him it was an inherent feature of that type of glaze, gave him the Reps number and told him if they decided it was a fault they'd pay me to replace them.
I went back later to do his kitchen so it was ok.

I used fein in tiling and it works well and i easily make my tiling better.

Originally Posted by timeless john

I missed that bit and you're so right.
I did a job 30 years ago - I reckon before 'post it' was popular .
the customer rang me when I got home and said he'd noticed a pinhole in the glaze of a Pilkington's Penthouse Studio 6inch tile - a very expensive tile in it's day - I told him to mark it with a bit of tape and I'd remove it tomorrow!
He must have had his nose up to every tile (even at ceiling height) 'cause there were 100's of pieces of selotape all over the walls!
I told him it was an inherent feature of that type of glaze, gave him the Reps number and told him if they decided it was a fault they'd pay me to replace them.
I went back later to do his kitchen so it was ok.

Lady did this to me recently. Another firm laid the floor, and she had one tile which she had chipped herself pretty badly, and she had put post it notes on a dozen tiles saying there were chips in them. I mean, you had to get on your hands and knees to see some of them, and some were so small, you could only feel it if you dragged your nail across it. They were part of the glaze, not any fault of the tilers.

Thing is, she had purchased some more of the same johnsons tile for me to replace them, but they were 2 years newer than the originals, and therefore a totally different shade. Looked awful, but she wanted them changing so I did.

Some good advice above. I use the Fein and think that it is the best thing since sliced bread for removing grout. As above with the BEWARE. These jobs tend to be royal pains in the backside so make sure that the customer knows that they are either going to have to pay to have it sorted or they are going to have to chase the original tilers for it. Always best that everyone knows what they are facing from the word go.

I would explain on the phone that it would have to be done on a day rate and if it isnt far away i would call in to have a look at it first. If possible get us some pics.

Thankyou. I get the point that it could be the customer not the tiler. I haven't seen the work and don't know if I will - depends if the builder gets back to me. I may ask him why he didn't get the tiler who did the work to rectify it. BUT the builder did say himself that the workmanship was bad so he is really agreeing with the customer.

Thankyou Rich. I don't know if I will be offered the job but I would definitely go and see it before I accepted and I would have a few questions to ask as well.