Not a good weekend

[Paul72]

A lady in my village wanted me to tile her bathroom and kitchen, it was/is my first 'real' job.
Now when i gave the quote i stated on it that the radiator, sink and toilet be removed before tiling starts, she was having a new suit installed by B&Q. So thought there would be a first and second fit, wrong!
When i turned up this weekend (part time at mo) everything was fitted, even a cuboard above the sink and bath panels shower head the lot! When i was there for the quote i also mentioned that the walls were in a mess from old tiles been removed by her, old adhesive and large painted areas so i said it would be best to over board the entire room (17m2).
I went through this again with her and said that things will have to come out and i wasn't happy tiling onto walls in that state. So she got a plasterer she knew to come and have i look. She calls today saying platerer thinks i'm talking rubbish and just trying to rip her off so he knew a tiler/plumber that would be happy to tile things as they are and do today and tom.
Was i right to stick to my guns and cost myself a job?
She still wants me to do kitchen splash back which i will for the exp.
Any thoughts please and sorry for such a long post.

[kilty55]

hi mate,yes as long as you agreed with her what was to be done beforehand,the only person whos not caring about the job is the person who installed the bathroom as they clearly cant be bothered coming back to fit after you have tiled and also mister plasterer who was so kind as to steal your work and pass it onto his mate,bit of bad luck mate but id go ahead and do her splashback regardless for the experience,good luck

[cornish_crofter]

You have to go with what you feel is right. Never mind what the other tiler says - If he's happy to do it like that then thats fine. It's no good you doing a job that you're not happy with, you'll hate doing it and want to apologise for it when it's finished, even though it may not be that bad.

Some people do things differently to me, that's just life.

I have been doing odd jobs, spending around 50% of my time in bathrooms, hence I've been doing quite a bit of tiling. I can't call myself an expert by any means - you only have to look at some of my questions

Up until a few years ago I would have tiled on pretty much anything. After struggling to get a reasonable job for hours I came up with the idea of removing plasterboard along with the tiles. The first time I did this was in my brother in law's house. He thought it was a bit drastic but he relented and let me get on with it.

Result - tiles are flat against the wall, the hour or so spent replacing the affected plasterboard in each bathroom paid dividends. Unlike his kitchen where the 'tiler'had to fill holes left by the old tiles then skim with some one coat or similar. He managed to put curves in the wall that weren't there to start with. I saw the prep when I stayed the night up there, and his wife actually suggested (begged me) that she bought me some tiling tools so I could start afresh. The problem is that I would have wanted to take all the repaired plasterboard off and start again.

More recently I have struggled with out of level walls. Today I have spent about an hour prepping one wall with rapid setting cement based product that can be applied and spread thinly. The level has greatly improved, so I'm looking foorward to tiling it in a 3rd of the time

[Daveyboy]

No you weren't wrong Paul...some customers are just too impatient and some other tradesmen don't care about those following on behind them...I'd do the kitchen and have a look at the work done by the plasterer's mate if he's done it by then...if it's bad then you will have some satisfaction from that and possibly a phone call in the future from the client asking you to put it right.

[whitebeam]

I've turned up on a job and the sparks put all the sockets and switches on and they expected me to float and set plaster, They just wanted in and out and got there money and bugger everyone else

[CJ]

I've turned up on a job and the sparks put all the sockets and switches on and they expected me to float and set plaster, They just wanted in and out and got there money and bugger everyone else

Unfortunately that is fairly normal with sparks.

Oh, and plumbers that fix everything to the wall tight and with a tube of silicon behind for good measure

[devonmark]

always go with what you feel is right...I have walked away from possible jobs because the customer would not go with my recommendations, i'm not trying to rip people off, I just prefer to do a proper job. Mark.

[TilingLogistics]

I think at the end of the day you will always lose out to a smartass. But you wqill sleep better at night knowing you have given the correct advice and eventually you will win through on reccomendation

Kev

[Paul72]

The kitchen was just as funny, i'd arranged to do some prep to walls (repairing damage from old tiles) but when i turned up everthing was still on worktops and there was even the sunday veg waiting to be boiled on the hob about 6" off where i was going to fill!
I'm there to tile on sat so hold my breath as to what that repair now looks like? A nice lady but as mad as a fish me thinks!

[LOFTHOUSE]

Man-O-Man.....you are going to have some fun, just remember your prosperity, all of this will pay off someday.

I just love it when the customer tries to tell me how to Tile, and I'm open to suggestions.

Consider collecting 50% of the job upfront with these type of customers, and make that 50% a high one, that way, when you're finished, you've already been paid in full
If she gets finnicky or scoffs at the result/process........it's too late to not pay you, see? Then, if you do get paid (and by all means you should) take a pretty girl to dinner.

[bigandy]

Agree with all the other boys stick to what you believe is the best solution for the best results.

Sorry cant say i would agree with lofthouse(sorry) and charge up front (in case they dont want to pay?) as this would suggest i was nt going to do the properly and just walk away with there money.
Sorry if i read your post wrong lofty

[faithhealer]

agree with the above. I lost a massive job because I wouldn't put their expensive glass mosaics on a battered wall. glad I refused because it would have been the end of my reputation in the area if they weren't up to scratch.

[MICK the Tiler]

I wouldn't bother with the kitchen let the othergit do it..................he seems to know everything