- Thread starter Qwerty
- Start date
- Replies 111
- Views 33K
- Copy link Copy link
Search the forum,
Thanks for your findings
This is what happens when a degree in marketing and or web design is worth SO much more than the old fashioned engineering apprenticeships.
I watched a documentary a while ago about a load of pensioners still employed to repair and maintain the Caledonian ferries. Some of the ladies stripping out and repairing engines and components were in their late 60's. Still employed because only they knew the stuff!
Where are the next generation coming from?
That's just one example.
All these snowflakes with their pointless degrees, who is going to keep the lights on, the water flowing, the roads, bridges and railways built???
I believe a British factory CAN make great tiles.
The problem here is the market position.
BCT are very much a budget brand despite their marketing claims.
Royal Mosa or Florim they certainly are not.
You get what you pay for and to be fair BCT don't cost much.
That said, they're still truly awful even at budget prices!
I would say that the issues and faults are mainly with their attitude.
Discuss British Ceramic Tiles - They actually want our feedback in the Tilers' Talk - All Other Countries area at TilersForums.com.
Interesting thread...
I recently purchased a large amount of tiles, so I contacted BCT asking for their comments regarding this thread.
They said they were concerned about some of the comments here and as a company take great pride in the products they manufacture, willing to investigate any issues.
They quoted stringent quality controls and BS standards.
(To which I did question how the above tiles could possibly have passed this)
They also told me that Laura Ashley was a reputable brand and high quality.
(I pointed out another forum which stated Laura Ashley themselves do not take any responsibility for products their name is used on)
On the specific concern I had, which was poor glaze and possible water ingress, they stated that using waterproof grout and correct fitting would reduce the chance of this happening. They recommended always being fitted by a professional.
(I pointed out that it was the professionals who were seeing the issues and that it was the glaze/biscuit backing which was a concern, not the fitting. I then asked if any future problems with glaze would be rectified if by any chance something did happen)
Whilst I was concerned by this thread and emailed BCT, I did check all 150 ish wood plant effect tiles on delivery and only a small few had chips from delivery which were refunded.
The second batch, wicker tiles, actually via Bathstore had just a handful with very minor imperfections but appeared to be very high quality with good online reviews.
Therefore, I am hoping we see no issues, but because of this thread I thought it would be good to feedback from this angle.
I recently purchased a large amount of tiles, so I contacted BCT asking for their comments regarding this thread.
They said they were concerned about some of the comments here and as a company take great pride in the products they manufacture, willing to investigate any issues.
They quoted stringent quality controls and BS standards.
(To which I did question how the above tiles could possibly have passed this)
They also told me that Laura Ashley was a reputable brand and high quality.
(I pointed out another forum which stated Laura Ashley themselves do not take any responsibility for products their name is used on)
On the specific concern I had, which was poor glaze and possible water ingress, they stated that using waterproof grout and correct fitting would reduce the chance of this happening. They recommended always being fitted by a professional.
(I pointed out that it was the professionals who were seeing the issues and that it was the glaze/biscuit backing which was a concern, not the fitting. I then asked if any future problems with glaze would be rectified if by any chance something did happen)
Whilst I was concerned by this thread and emailed BCT, I did check all 150 ish wood plant effect tiles on delivery and only a small few had chips from delivery which were refunded.
The second batch, wicker tiles, actually via Bathstore had just a handful with very minor imperfections but appeared to be very high quality with good online reviews.
Therefore, I am hoping we see no issues, but because of this thread I thought it would be good to feedback from this angle.
Q
Qwerty
Thanks for your findings
P
paddyh2
Do some work for a showroom who in fairness somehow sell a lot of BCT 600mm x 300mm tiles. The fitters all know how bad they are and know if your spacers are 2mm, have plenty of 3mm spacers and rubi wedges at hand. Cardboard box makes useful shim as well. British Curly Tiles they are affectionately known as.
Further to my recent emails from BCT, they highlight the complete opposite and ask those tradesmen here to contact them direct with these issues.
"With the opportunity to investigate, we would be able to fully understand the situation here. We would strongly recommend the person raising this issue contacts us directly in order for us to understand further. As you have pointed out, sometimes unfortunately things do not go as planned however when they do, we strive to resolve the issue, exceed our customers satisfaction and learn from our mistakes."
They also said
"As you have pointed out, there are several measures required in order to ensure water does not ingress into the tile. The steps you have advised, provided they are applied by a professional tiler, will ensure this does not occur. However, if we can prove that the issue is in fact a manufacturing glaze related issue, we will always thoroughly investigate and resolve as quickly as possible."
(In response to me raising the poor glaze issue some have highlighted)
"With the opportunity to investigate, we would be able to fully understand the situation here. We would strongly recommend the person raising this issue contacts us directly in order for us to understand further. As you have pointed out, sometimes unfortunately things do not go as planned however when they do, we strive to resolve the issue, exceed our customers satisfaction and learn from our mistakes."
They also said
"As you have pointed out, there are several measures required in order to ensure water does not ingress into the tile. The steps you have advised, provided they are applied by a professional tiler, will ensure this does not occur. However, if we can prove that the issue is in fact a manufacturing glaze related issue, we will always thoroughly investigate and resolve as quickly as possible."
(In response to me raising the poor glaze issue some have highlighted)
D
Dumbo
O
One Day
This is what happens when a degree in marketing and or web design is worth SO much more than the old fashioned engineering apprenticeships.
I watched a documentary a while ago about a load of pensioners still employed to repair and maintain the Caledonian ferries. Some of the ladies stripping out and repairing engines and components were in their late 60's. Still employed because only they knew the stuff!
Where are the next generation coming from?
That's just one example.
All these snowflakes with their pointless degrees, who is going to keep the lights on, the water flowing, the roads, bridges and railways built???
Q
Qwerty
So I met up with BCT today. A little bit of an impromptu initial meeting but it was positive. We discussed alot but the important thing is that they are listening and now driving their company forward with the help of new management and feedback from tilers.
It's hoped that they will join the forum soon and with a further meeting (s) we may soon see things improving for us all.
It's hoped that they will join the forum soon and with a further meeting (s) we may soon see things improving for us all.
O
One Day
I believe a British factory CAN make great tiles.
The problem here is the market position.
BCT are very much a budget brand despite their marketing claims.
Royal Mosa or Florim they certainly are not.
You get what you pay for and to be fair BCT don't cost much.
That said, they're still truly awful even at budget prices!
D
Dumbo
If you're lucky made abroad and reboxed into bct boxes
qualitywork
TF
I have recently been fixing for bathstore.
So far all of the bathrooms that I have done have been with tiles from BCT.
What a joke these tiles are.
I put some 100x200 tiles up and they were1mm different on the vertical. Many were twisted and many had transit marks.
I have done a further half dozen bathrooms using BCT tiles and they all had issues.
Sure, I got over it, but it takes extra time.
I would always try and steer a customer away from this company.
In fact when a customer asks where to source tiles from, I give them a few names but also say please don’t buy from this company.
Absolute garbage!
Somebody on here mentioned poor quality control.
I would say no quality control !
They really need to up their game and get modern machinery/ techniques. If not what is their problem ?
There must be a manufacturing issue surely ?
So far all of the bathrooms that I have done have been with tiles from BCT.
What a joke these tiles are.
I put some 100x200 tiles up and they were1mm different on the vertical. Many were twisted and many had transit marks.
I have done a further half dozen bathrooms using BCT tiles and they all had issues.
Sure, I got over it, but it takes extra time.
I would always try and steer a customer away from this company.
In fact when a customer asks where to source tiles from, I give them a few names but also say please don’t buy from this company.
Absolute garbage!
Somebody on here mentioned poor quality control.
I would say no quality control !
They really need to up their game and get modern machinery/ techniques. If not what is their problem ?
There must be a manufacturing issue surely ?
O
One Day
I would say that the issues and faults are mainly with their attitude.
Q
Qwerty
Was contacted by a lady in NYC back in April about an issue she had with BCT tiles that somehow found themselves stuck (very badly I might add through tile quality, not fixer error!) to her bathroom walls. Got this reply from her today after I got back to her.......
If the quality of a BCT product is unacceptable in the USA, why is it acceptable here!?!?!?
If the quality of a BCT product is unacceptable in the USA, why is it acceptable here!?!?!?
Reply to British Ceramic Tiles - They actually want our feedback in the Tilers' Talk - All Other Countries area at TilersForums.com
Posting a tiling question to the forum? Post in Tilers' Talk if you are unsure which forum to post in. We'll move it if there's a more suitable forum.
