Inaccurate tiles

**astute1** · 18-10-2010

Just thought Id bring this up as a discussion topic, just to see if you guys are noticing the abundance of cheap/ badly sized tiles that have been arriving on the market of the last couple of years. A few years ago most tiles ( other than hand made ) were well shaped and accurate in there sizeing. Now it seems to be most are the opposite. It is becoming increasingly frustrating not to be able to hold a true vert and horizontal grout line. The clients are being suckered into buying bad sized tiles by the retail industry and then expecting us poor tilers to make them look great. For me it takes longer to lay them, constantly correcting with wedges and you end up with a less than desirable job, and make less money. Sorry a big moan.
Anyway Im thinking about placing some type of clause in my quotes and estimates. Is anyone else doing this.

**faithhealer** · 18-10-2010

Theres a thread just been discussing similar, Homebase tiles, this can't be right! 'can't do nothing about it except point out the issueto the customer before fitting a tile

**Bathfix Bob** · 18-10-2010

Ah yes those damn Homebase tiles, I know exactly what you mean, the borders were even worse, up to 3 mm but they been factory cut from a bigger tile.

On this job I got away with it but had the customer been a nasty peice of work (not that I work for that type anyway) they could have noticed the uneven grout lines and blamed me for sloppy work.

"Oh its the tiles is it?"

**Stewart** · 18-10-2010

I'm lucky that the majority of my customers buy quality tiles. However there is a certain tile warehouse in my area, that I refuse to fit their tiles.........

**david campbell** · 18-10-2010

most diy sheds sell poor quality tiles,customers think they are getting a bargain but they are getting no better than seconds

**john.bell55** · 18-10-2010

Agree with David, fitted B&Q ones recently. Out of square and different sizes, I mean about 5mm...dreadful

**timeless john** · 18-10-2010

I've just laid 60mts of 600x600mm BQ porcelain tiles - Ivory - which cost the customer £9-00+ a metre!
They were all from the same 2 pallets, all edge protected, well packaged and an absolute pleasure to use and had I not known the supply source, could well have mistaken them for £70-00/metre Italian tiles.

**Brian the Tile** · 18-10-2010

agree with you there timeless john ive used alot of those in the past they sometimes have them in black and once had alovely minky coloured one ,yes a nice tile