Help!: quality

[montster]

Hi,
Have done a bit of DIY tiling in the past but prefer to pay to have the work done.
Having some work done at the moment but would like some advice as to what quality and standards I should expect.
The kitchen has just been tiled 4 courses above the worktop (U-shape in plan) about 1.5 sq metres total area. At the start of the tiling the gap between the bottom of the tiles to the worktop is about 3mm, a few areas there is no gap, he has not sealed the tiles to the worktop in any way.
He brought edging strip, didn`t have the correct size for the tiles he brought, so has left the tiles around the window, untrimmed not used edge glazed tiles.
He spread adhesive past where he has tiled, not removed the excess off before it set, it now needs sanding off.
There are about 6 spacers showing through the grout, there is a fine dusting of grout spread across all the tiles which is comong off with a bit of polishing.
There are also 4 sockets on the wall, the cut-outs aren`t large enough to fit the sockets in to the wall boxes, he reckons its the electricians job to open em up.
The worktops & floor covering are all newly fitted but he managed to get adhesive on both, which he has tried to clean off, now theres a film of it engrained in the worktops & lino floor covering which I have had a few attemts at cleaning, its just drying as a white dusty film.
Have mentioned most of the above to him, he aint keen on tidying anything up, I paid him for materials, he was due to come back and tile approx 2.5 sq metres in the bathroom.
It looks as if I might have to get someone else in to finish off.
Any sesible advice on the above would be appreciated.

[CTD Marie]

Haver you got any photos you cvan add so the guys on here can see what you are talking about??

[TheWrightTiler]

grout haze can be removed with a dry cloth like a stockinette roll

as for the socket cuts its his job to do not the sparks

from worktop gap should be equal all along unless worktop uneven then you would cut the tile to fit to the bunker to acheive an equal gap

use a product called lithothin cement away to remove the film

unedged tiles will need to be removed and adhesive scraped off and reapplied, trim isnt expensive

i would not pay this clown anyhting until you are satisified and if tiles are to be removed then its at his expense to purchase new tiles etc

andy

[crash]

from what you are saying its not looking good.
i would be looking for another tiler,let him have a look at the work done so far,let him comment,then u have a standard to start with.

[montster]

Thanks to all for your comments & information.
I will post some photos.

[Dan]

I hate thinking a tiler isn't getting paid here. Give him the chance to correct it and TELL HIM that you're giving him a chance here. At least before holding any labour payment (which will be feeding his family!).

[wetdec]

I hate thinking a tiler isn't getting paid here. Give him the chance to correct it and TELL HIM that you're giving him a chance here. At least before holding any labour payment (which will be feeding his family!).

If he has left the adhesive on the walls to be sanded off then are we really talking about a tiler here.




I understand this isnt a good situation viewed from your side and from what you have said I would be less than happy also.

Take a couple of pics then get another tiler in to have a look at it.

Part with no more money my friend.


tiler

,,

[Fekin]

I hate thinking a tiler isn't getting paid here. Give him the chance to correct it and TELL HIM that you're giving him a chance here. At least before holding any labour payment (which will be feeding his family!).

I sort of understand where your coming from Dan, you've said this before in threads, but the way I see it is if someone cannot do a propper job the first time around, then why should we expect good paying customers to allow someone a second attempt to sort it all out, when they obviously have shown they do not have either the trade skills\know how or enthusiasm to do the job propperly in the first place.

I hope you get it all sorted montster

[montster]

He`s had ample time to correct the job and finish it off properly.
Has been blase about everything I have mentioned to him, he said he would cut the edge tiles back and trim the edges with grout, he also said he would cut out for the sockets if I marked out where they wanted cutting.
I am reluctant to let him loose in my house again, have got someone else coming today to look at putting things right who has already said he may need to remove a row of tiles along the window sill to fit some edge trim but obviously can`t comment further until he has seen the job.
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.
I`ve got a missus n children to feed as well.

[bigneil]

i never heard of a tiler that didn't do the sockets properly. had he left the socket screwed to the wall and cut round the outside of the face plate. or what? if its done right the face plate is loosened and the tile cut to the box in the wall, then the faceplate screwed back on top of the tile with a longer screw if required. and if the trim he had was the wrong size why didn't he go and change it instead of just battering on without it? from your descriptions i would say that by not asking him back you have done the wise thing. did you say that you paid him for materials?

[montster]

Sockets had all been removed so all he needed to do was cut the tiles to the profile of the plaster box (not rocket science).
Will take some photos tonight and post them tomorrow, am open to reason so if there were issues re work that was not perfect but a reasonable compromise was reached I would be happy.
Just put new kitchen units, floor covering etc... in and wanted a quality job done,
bizarrely my bro recommended him from work done for people he knows (that bit has really got me scratching my head??? wtf)
Yh, he asked for cash for materials up front, I know some people work that way, but I won`t employ anyone again on that basis.
Didn`t notice the "John Wayne" sign on his van.

[bigneil]

LOL, grout cassidy and the silicone kid. I look forward to see those pics. good luck
bigneil

[montster]

Exactly.
Cheers
Paul

[montster]

Morning all, just put some photos in a gallery on my profile, do I need to put them somewhere else?
Sorry am a bit of a technophobe when it comes to net forums but learning all the time.

[Oli]

Morning all, just put some photos in a gallery on my profile, do I need to put them somewhere else?
Sorry am a bit of a technophobe when it comes to net forums but learning all the time.

No mate you've done it right, there in your album and showing ok

[Sir Ramic]

No problem we can see them and thats some shocking tiling going on there.

[Oli]

Thats rough mate, rogue's gallery material.

[Sir Ramic]

The grouting is bad too.

[Mike Strutter]

Didn`t notice the "John Wayne" sign on his van.

That's because he arrived on a horse
Didn't his ten gallon hat and swagger give you a clue

[montster]

That's because he arrived on a horse
Didn't his ten gallon hat and swagger give you a clue

Yee haa,
you live and learn
was told he was a perfectionist
maybe he was
but he aint now!!!

[Sir Ramic]

Yee haa,
you live and learn
was told he was a perfectionist
maybe he was
but he aint now!!!

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA

[montster]

nobody working today then?

[Mike Strutter]

nobody working today then?

Worked a bit later last night so i only had to grout a small floor this morning. Loads to do at home

[Sir Ramic]

nobody working today then?

Grouted a small bathroom floor this morning and siliconed up. Off to a wedding reception soon.

[smurf21]

this guy aint no tiler hes a chancer and why should he have the chance to put it right send him packing its guys like him that make it hard for the rest of us. lets face it anyone that can hold a trowel thinks they can fix tiles....

[deanotile]

Personally I tell all my domestic customers there’s no payment required until the job is complete and they are totally happy with the job. I will not pay a man for a bad job and nether should you.

[devonmark]

Personally I tell all my domestic customers there’s no payment required until the job is complete and they are totally happy with the job. I will not pay a man for a bad job and nether should you.

..llikewise....

[whitebeam]

..llikewise....

Same as, Have hard of guy,s asking for £50 for materials up front

[salmonfisher]

i will take a 20% deposit if the total job price exceeds £1500 then balance on completion

[frostfree]

I always take a 30% deposit on any work over £500. Remember many people are in a bad way with their finances. A couple of customers have tried it on over the last six months, the usual excuses, cant find the cheque book, can I pay you next month, there was £30,000 in that account I cant understand why the cheque has bounced? People can be solvent one week and heading for bankruptcy the next week. I would recommend taking a deposit as this covers you for your materials and weeds out any dreamers!

Cover yourselves, you dont want a couple of bad debts to ruin your business. Your in business to make money, not to offer customers a credit facility while they take their time to pay. You have to pay for most other goods and services upfront why not tradespeople? They dont let you take your supermarket shopping home and pay for it when you've eaten it all and decided it tasted OK!!