Advice please. Tiles not flat.

[Cutiecat]

We are having a lot of work done on our house and the builder has just tiled and grouted the family bathroom. I went in today to have a look under lights for the first time. The wall tiles are 10cm by 30cm and have been laid in a brickbond pattern. After just having seen it under light for the first time i am quite shocked how uneven the surface is. The worst wall is really uneven above the bath, this was a new stud wall which had plywood on top. We have not used the bathroom at all yet and have got an architect working with us on this job and i really like my builder. What should i do? I am very bad at telling anyone i am not happy about something.

[enduro]

Could you show us some pictures as this makes it easier to advise. Thanks

[tfs]

It sounds like you would not be happy to let it go, if this is the case you realy should talk to the builder and let him know.

He may offer a discount or he may offer to put it right!

Either way have a think about what outcome you would like before raising this with your builder.

[Brinkley]

yep pics ,brick bond is notoriously the hardest formation to keep flat looking due to bowing tiles etc but on a brand new wall and im sure if you have an architect in the tiles arent bnq cheapos it shouldnt be shocking any way pics needed for further comment.

[nybor62]

what lighting was used whilst he was tiling, as tiling in poor light is not a good idea

[Cutiecat]

Ok i will try to upload some photos. The tiling was done in daylight but the halogens have just been installed today. It does look much worse under the artiical light. Right back in a minute.

[Dave]

IMO it does not matter what light is used.. lips are lips..

[hillhead]

Pics will tell us more.

[Cutiecat]

Family bathroom tiling 001.jpgFamily bathroom tiling 005.jpgFamily bathroom tiling 002.jpgFamily bathroom tiling 006.jpgFamily bathroom tiling 003.jpgFamily bathroom tiling 004.jpg

[Stewart]

No excuse for lipping tiles on a new wall, no matter what pattern you use.......

After seeing the pics, thats not very good at all and is very sloppy in my opinion. Ask the tiler his opinion and then tell him you are not happy with the standard of work.....

[Cutiecat]

This are not the best photos ever as I took them on my iphone for ease of uploading. Comments please.

[Cutiecat]

Thanks Stewart. As a total novice can you please tell me what lipping is.

[kilty55]

that is awful work,you must aproach the builder and ask him to rectify it

[enduro]

Have you got any tiles left over? do they looked bowed when you look along them length ways.

[hillhead]

That IMO is a builder again saving the pennies and not subbing the proper man in .
I.E a good tiler.
Do not accept this work cutiecat.
Disgraceful.

[Cutiecat]

we have got tiles left over. I will just run upstairs and get a couple. I will get back to you in a min.

[aph257]

lipping is when adjacent tiles are not flush with each other. in the last pic the tile looks bowed. if you have any left, put two together face to face and see if the seesaw.

[hillhead]

The tiles do look slightly bowed too but in no way should they end up like this and who ever tiled it should have discussed different layouts.

[kilty55]

even if they are bowed they should not have been fixed

it needs to be re done ,if your not happy with it then you have to say something

[Cutiecat]

Right got about 35 tiles left and they are all very flat. They were not cheap tiles bought for a good supplier.

Is this something that can be patched or do the whole load have to come off and start again. If more are needed who should pay for them?

Thank you so much for your help. I am at a total loss as to how to deal with this as 8 months pregnant. Should I get the architect to deal with it or would it be better to come from me. I am a total push over and don't want to offend wnyone.

[nybor62]

IMO it does not matter what light is used.. lips are lips..

yes i know and agree with you dave ,

[Stewart]

If the architect is running the project, then tell him you want the work rectified to a satisfactory standard at the builders expense.....

[Cutiecat]

We still have a lot of work to be done on the house and I was putting the pressure on to ge tthe bathroon finished as we had been 4 weeks using a small shower room with 2 under 5s. I hate to make a fuss but it isn't acceptable is it.

[aph257]

no it's not accepatable and imo it'll have to be re-done. and in your condition get the architect to sort it. good luck btw

[Stewart]

No.... it's not acceptable and I don"t think you're fussing for wanting the quality job that you are paying for. Speak to them asap and ell them your concerns and don't accept any silly excuses for poor workmanship.

[Brinkley]

omg shocker it is not good lippage is tiles petruding which in your case they do.... a lot .
if you run your hand over surely you can feel the sticking out ones .
Finally even in light they can not look that good either .
hope you get it sorted

[CCTiling]

When fixing tiles half/brick bond each row has to be completly level otherwise you will get this problem if it's not. Grab yourself a long level and place it on a few rows to check level. This work is unexceptable in my opinion and you should query the workmanship with your builder.

[Cutiecat]

I will forward to photos to the architect and get him to deal with it. I am not happy with it and it is so frustrating as this means that the bathroom will still be out of action for another week or so.

You have put my mind at rest. Thank you so much. I was worried I was being a bit 'pregnant' about it.

[Brinkley]

im shocked you havent had kittens over it lol

[Daz]

The finished job is shocking IMO. I presume that the "new" wall was built by the builder and therefore he should have made sure that it was suitable to tile before commencing.
If the tiles were not flat, this should have been demonstrated and alternative options (i.e. change tiles or layout) should have been discussed prior to work commencing.

I suggest that you discuss with your architect the "quality" of the work and get the architect to raise the issue with the builder if you are not comfortable of bringing to their attention collectively. Whilst you are discussing the tiling with your architect, can you ask why plywood has been used in a wet area and what tanking (waterproofing) has been applied prior to tiling, please? The walls should have been built using, preferably, cement boards or cement lined poly-core boards which don't require tanking, or at least plasterboards that were subsequently tanked prior to tiling.

Unfortunately, this is not going to be a quick fix as the walls are constructed incorrectly and the wall tiling is a secondary inconvenience, IMO.

Good luck,

Daz