Rubbish Job, Advice needed.

[Terry-La-Tiler]

Hi Guys,

Can somebody give me some advice please?

A guy called me and told me that he had water getting behind tiles in his bathroom, I went to have a look and tried to sell him a re-fit but being the landlord he wouldn't have it. The tiles have one of those borders that's shaped like a hollow curve and sits about an inch out from the wall, all around the bath area the border's cracked, water has been getting behind the other (old) tiles and seeping through the floor into the downstairs flat. He also thinks the old silicone around the bath is letting water in so would like that seen to also.

I've given a price to do a fix on the border and re-silicone the bath. This bloke however is so tight, he wont even buy a new border. He wants me to take off the old broken border and replace it with strips of cheap plain white tiles.

Now...
When I prize the old border off, the plasterboard will obviously be damp in some area's, are there any ways to dry these out quickly or do you suppose I might be able to apply adhesive even though these area's are still damp.
Also, can anybody tell me if there is any particular tool or any good way or clearing old silicone from a bath and cleaning the area before re-applying?

I kind of wish I told this guy to poke it but I suppose beggars can't be choosers can they.

Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
T.

[enduro]

If your desperate for the work, but i would walk away as it wont cure the problem, and he will only slag you down because it hasn't worked. If you are going ahead with the job then get him to sign a disclaimer explaining this wont solve the problem so there is no come back on you. Those boarders i always fill with adhesive before fixing as it make them stronger, as for removing them, who know what you are going to find...could be ply or plasterboard, so its a day rate plus materials.

[mikethetile]

be carefull terry

do you want the reputation for being a bodger or a first class reputable tiler

you cant have both

walk away mate

[CJ CERAMICS]

hi terry thought i was the only one who got all the rubbish jobs.
you are right you prob should have passed on this one but as you say beggers cant be chosers. the plasterboard really should be replaced as the drying time will be long and if the penetration is extensive the plaster will have blown inside. a heat gun for paint stripping may be useful if only small parts but you will be mainly drying the paper cover not the plaster inside. for removing the silicone i use washing up liquid to break down the silicone and a harris wall paper scraper(very carefully) but it comes off nicely. hope this helps.

[ssharpe]

if water has got in to the plasterboard then it will be shot
walk away as its your rep thats on the line.could be coming through anywhere ,cracked grout ,tiles.all it takes sometimes is a hairline crack.
its either a strip and redo or if the walls are solid dot plasterboard over and retilebut thats just hiding the mess underneath which will still be damp.strip and leave to dry out then resheet and tile.he wont go for that so let him patch it himself

[CJ]

Jobs like these have a habit of coming back and biting ya ar55e.

Tell him "do it right......or not at all"

Or walk away...........if not, you will be the guy he phones again and again

[Terry-La-Tiler]

I'll be calling him today and passing this one by.

Thanks for all your advice.

T.

[david campbell]

well done mate your reputation is worth far more than a few days work

[inspiredandy]

Dont blame you, if he is too tight to buy new border he wont pay for you to do the job properly. Run a mile!!

[spacer]

Sound advice, If he doesn't want you to do it properly don't do it at all

[Thespanishtiler]

good move, dont let yourself and your reputation down by doing this sort of thing, walk away

spanish

[doug boardley]

as everybody above Terry. Give us an update about what he says after you've phoned him

[Oli]

I've a job on this monday, the similar problem, tiles coming away on the bottom row of tiles around the shower, the customer just wanted them sticking back on again, insisted that they all needed removing in the effected area, replacing with cement board then refixing and sealing properly. She tried to insist that they could just be stuck back on becuase she'd had afew qoutes from people willing to do just that.

Told her I wouldnt just stick them back on cos they'd just come off again and it needed doing properly or not at all. She phoned me back about an hour after i left having decided that having it done right was the best choice.

[CJ]

Quoted for a job a few weeks ago......which I got so was booked in for a couple of weeks time. Had a phone call yesterday from the guy, who was in a bit of a panic........so off I went to look.

Turns out that his old conservatory floor had been done by a DIYer...........screed had far too many hollow spots in it. Out with a hammer and tapped a bit here and there..........bloody holes everywhere. Screed far too thin for the size of conservatory......so the lot need digging out and re-screeded. Which I have passed on to a builder mate.

I'm not fit enough to dig and hump that lot about

So thats another job put back a while.

Had a call tonight from a quote I did earlier in the week............got that. So that can slot into the vacant week.. SORTED

[woodie]

Good for you matey, I don't think i'd even consider doing a job like that, i've got a reputation to protect, as for getting old silicone off i just take my time with a stanley blade,care and patience. all the best Mike

[smurf21]

quote for the refit a repair on that sounds like your asking for trouble once you touch it it becomes your problem if you cant guarantee the repair walk away

[whitebeam]

Went to do a regrout because of cracking in the joints, touched one tile which dissapeared through the wall. Total damage was even the stud work had disintegrated, cost her insurance but be prepared for a job like that, as others have said he wants a quick fix and if it continues leaking after your've tried to sort the fault then he'll make it your problem.

[Terry-La-Tiler]

I tried calling his mobile yesterday and got his voice mail over and over again, in the end I left a message expaining things with an apology. Still heard nothing from him though, suppose I'll get a call from him tomorrow asking where I am.

Anyway, cheers guys, I feel sure now I made the right decision.