Discuss Tile Lippage in the Tiling Forum at TilersForums; I would be very much obliged if you could provide some advice on the following concerns that I have. A few years ago I tiled my hallway floor into my ...
I would be very much obliged if you could provide some advice on the following concerns that I have. A few years ago I tiled my hallway floor into my bathroom at one end, leading into a toilet midway and then into the kitchen at the adjacent end.
I fitted a tile that was 60cm x 15cm. Having no previous experience I fitted the tiles in a brickbond layout and as I laid each tile I used a small spirit level. Unbeknowing that the floor was not very level I used an excessive amount of adhesive in certain areas to maintain a level surface. Unfortunately I was left with endless lips as I found it very hard to level one tile up to the next without effecting an adjoining tile.
I had 3 tilers visit to give me their opinion which were all complimentary of my efforts, however they all advised that brickbond was not the ideal layout for the length of this tile and on some tiles there was a slight curve which obviously amplified the 'lip' problem. Subsequently the un-eveness of the floor was always going to be a problem
Having decided to wait 18 months we opted to hire a professional tiler who has been in the business for 29 years. We purchased a very expensive tile which was 50cm squared.
Overall I am reasonably happy with the work however I had hoped that there would be no lip issues, but on closer inspection I have found quite a few. As you can see from the images most of the lips are the depth of a one pence piece/1-1.5mm.
The issue is, am I being far too pedantic having spent the last few years scrutinising my own work or should a professional tiler be able to avoid any raised lips irrespective of surface level? Alternatively is there a tolerance which is deemed acceptable within the professional trade?
The whole area was 20 square metres which took the tiler and his apprentice 14 hours to complete. This also raised other concerns because as per his and other quotes, most estimated that it would take 3 days, however this was undertaken in 1 and a half.
I appreciate that my concrete floor of 40 years is not level but is not damaged, and that hallway is narrow with 6 door ways, but am I asking too much for perfection?
At no point did any tiler mention the possibilities of levelling the floor, however did I give the tiler too much room for error by telling him the floor was not level. On the first morning I did see him use a laser across the floor.
I really do hope you can help with my concerns to give me some direction or piece of mind.
That floor has more lips than a Mick Jagger lookalike convention.
Your ''tiler'' should have got the floor flat first, then tile. That way those lips could be avoided.
What is SLC? I am sure in his opinion that he will say he did the best he can. He did mention that he was having some trouble as the floor was not level, but should that then have been down to him to stop work and advise the potential consequences if he was to carry on?
Not the best deffo ask him back
if you have any tiles left over can you place them face to face and just check they are not bowed slightly (check all sides) might be the pic but they do seem to be slightly bowed
still no excuseDSC00334.JPG
self leveller it is. could of been prepped and completed in a day ready for tiling. at least you would of had the option to self level or not....... strange he never offered because it requires more work which is more business.......
plus you would of got better results which is more business again...........
some of the joins look like he didnt use cross spacers, unless thats just camera angle.
As I have spent a fortune on these tiles do you think I could get many up without breaking them, is there a particulat technique?
By the way thanks to you all for replying, I did not know who to ask in my local area, but just cannot help feeling dissappointed and out of pocket. In your opinion is it a realistic ask to ask for all of my money back plus loss of tiles or just part money back?
As I have spent a fortune on these tiles do you think I could get many up without breaking them, is there a particulat technique?
By the way thanks to you all for replying, I did not know who to ask in my local area, but just cannot help feeling dissappointed and out of pocket. In your opinion is it a realistic ask to ask for all of my money back plus loss of tiles or just part money back?
its hard to say if the tiles will lift in one piece or not all depends on what adh was used and the way they were fixed
your best advice is to talk to the tiler and sort it out with him
to be fair you should give the tiler the opportunity to fix the tiles at his cost.once a tiler starts laying tiles he accepts the surface hes working on,so any defects are his problem.
Loughborough is an hour and a bit. Im sure we can come to some arrangement, although its probably better in this instance to get the original tiler round to sort it out.
Firstly I like to say many thanks to all those that have replied with advice and their opinion regarding the lippage problem that I have encountered.
I received a visit from the tiler and in short his opinion is that there is nothing wrong with the job and that I am being too over critical. He has offered to replace some tiles but again there is a disagreement between us as to how many should be replaced. Subsequently it is like dominoes, altering one tile effects the next and so on etc.
The tilers comments were 'I can only work with what I have' so therefore I do not feel that I am confident in letting him revisit to 'try' and amend some of the tiles, because he has said he did the best job he could, so how will he improve it?
So therefore my next question is, has anyone had any communication or know of any information (without being too technical) as to how a report from the tilers association would help me. I am aware that there is a tolerance that is allowed, something like 2.3mm over a 2 metre edge, but this doesn't really mean anything to me in relation to my case.
The cost for this is nearly as much as I paid for the tiles, but if a report was to identify that the tiler did not do his job correctly how would this benefit me? Is this information good enough to pursue a court hearing? Do they provide a representative that demonstrates their findings? so on and so forth.
How will this report benefit me if it does indicate that the work is not up to standard? Is it a case of then going to court? Does he have to be a member of the TTA or work to a particular industry standard legally e.g. plumbing - corgi, electrical JIB standard/17th Ed. Regs etc?
As far as I am aware there are only 4 people in the country who can do an official report for the TTA. I think the fee is now £850 + Vat, less for members. it's a lot of money. I believe in small claims court any professional tiler can submit a report.
As far as I am aware there are only 4 people in the country who can do an official report for the TTA. I think the fee is now £850 + Vat, less for members. it's a lot of money. I believe in small claims court any professional tiler can submit a report.
I will stand corrected if I am wrong.
But a TTA report is very thorough and will not be questioned in a court of law, where as an independent report if not backed by qualifications could backfire IMO
I agree 100% Dave, TTA is the only sure way. I was just going off a case I have been involved with recently. personally I would never get caught up in giving reports myself, without professional indemnity insurance ( could be a can of worms)
For those that are tilers, do you think it is an unreasonable request to ask a tiler (paid of course) to provide a basic report on the work that they think should have be carried out to avoid the tile lippage problem that I currently have with my floor.
Unfortunately I am not having much success with the guy that fitted the tiles to my floor and bathroom. He thinks he has done a good job so as far as he is concerned case is closed, but that is his opinion. I have been advised that some written recommendations would stand up in court if I have to take it that far.
As I say I am not looking any direct criticism, just written professional advise on what really should have been carried out by a majority of tilers.
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Originally Posted by geronimo183 
it's a lot of money. I believe in small claims court any professional tiler can submit a report.
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