British Ceramic Tiles - They actually want our feedback

[Boggs]

I supply and install BCT tiles to almost all of my customers and have done for the past few years.
As with everything in life it comes down to price, customers are not that interested in the quality as such as to them a tile is a tile, they are not fitting them.
We get round most of the problems by opening and mixing several boxes at a time and throwing away the really bad ones.
If I start pricing jobs with higher quality but more expensive tiles I won’t get the work and I have a responsibility to the guys who rely on the work I supply.
That said they can be pretty bad with bowing, glazing faults and size difference even in the same box, especially the Willow range which can be terrible.
Let’s hope they do listen and make the changes to production and quality and we can be proud to push BCT products in the future.

 

[Dumbo]

I supply and install BCT tiles to almost all of my customers and have done for the past few years.
As with everything in life it comes down to price, customers are not that interested in the quality as such as to them a tile is a tile, they are not fitting them.
We get round most of the problems by opening and mixing several boxes at a time and throwing away the really bad ones.
If I start pricing jobs with higher quality but more expensive tiles I won’t get the work and I have a responsibility to the guys who rely on the work I supply.
That said they can be pretty bad with bowing, glazing faults and size difference even in the same box, especially the Willow range which can be terrible.
Let’s hope they do listen and make the changes to production and quality and we can be proud to push BCT products in the future.

Do you tell your customers they are getting a second rate product .

 

[Boggs]

No because I don’t believe they are second rate as such, yes there can be size variations and glazing faults but then the price reflects this.
The tiles perform as they should when fitted, it sometimes takes slightly longer fitting them which is our problem not the customers.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

They don't honour their guarantee Boggs.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

@Boggs - every time you throw away a tile it increases that ‘price’, the extra time costs you money, the poor glaze WILL come back and bite you especially on their wall/floor tiles that are only sold for bathrooms.
You might as well just buy quality tiles in the first place as this manufacturer is setting the tiling game back decades.

 

[Dumbo]

If they are sizey they will look crap . If the glaze us crap they look crap . So all in all they will look crap and yes they are a second rate product .

 

[Italy]

I remember a few years ago there was also the third choice.
and before that there was the first choice with the words written in red, the second in blue and the third in green. old times

 

[Time's Ran Out]

@antonio - not in England since Minton made 6inch tiles have we had a decent manufacturer of tiles!
They have never got the hang of making large format ceramics and porcelain are not available here.
It was a transformation of our trade when Italian tiles arrived on our shores, but of course they had no spacer lugs or glazed edges so we had to invent plastic tile trim and pegs!!

 

[Italy]

@antonio - not in England since Minton made 6inch tiles have we had a decent manufacturer of tiles!
They have never got the hang of making large format ceramics and porcelain are not available here.
It was a transformation of our trade when Italian tiles arrived on our shores, but of course they had no spacer lugs or glazed edges so we had to invent plastic tile trim and pegs!!

I keep thinking ....
why a bigger brand does not buy bct?
I can not find the answer ....
that is, the answer maybe I know it, but I miss the confirmation.
who wants to answer me?
1 all the machines are to be thrown away and the investment is too high?
2 produce in uk could cost too much import and export and produce
not enough just to uk?
3 lack of raw materials?
all this runs in my head and I think that all questions
They could fit into one answer. YES

 

[dynamictiling]

I supply and install BCT tiles to almost all of my customers and have done for the past few years.
As with everything in life it comes down to price, customers are not that interested in the quality as such as to them a tile is a tile, they are not fitting them.
We get round most of the problems by opening and mixing several boxes at a time and throwing away the really bad ones.
If I start pricing jobs with higher quality but more expensive tiles I won’t get the work and I have a responsibility to the guys who rely on the work I supply.
That said they can be pretty bad with bowing, glazing faults and size difference even in the same box, especially the Willow range which can be terrible.
Let’s hope they do listen and make the changes to production and quality and we can be proud to push BCT products in the future.

Be honest what position do you hold in bct?


Personally my whole companies reputation stands 'our perfect finish'

Yes we charge more than our rivals, however we offer a clean, neat and tidy finish with the right prep work done to ensure that our jobs will last the test of time.

When we are opening boxes of tiles and there is 3-5mm differences in size. How can you possibly offer a perfect job? Yes some clever grouting and joint variations hide some mistakes but patterns on tiles not lining up and cracked tile glazing on tiles! There is some things that even the most skilled tiler can't hide from the naked eye.

Personally I cringe everytime i walk into a job and there is bct onsite. It should be the opposite! Yes bct tiles, nice easy job with great tiles. Bad days when I favour Turkish or Romanian tiles over British tiles. .

 

[One Day]

Be honest what position do you hold in bct?

 

[Boggs]

Ah, that took longer than I thought it would.
Positions I hold are:
Father
Husband
CEO
Head of sales
Pa/administrator
Accountant
Plumber
Tiler
Labourer
Cleaner
*** wiper, along with many others, but none affiliated with BCT.
Wish I was, I bet they offer a much better pension scheme than I am on.
Although this thread has got me thinking today so have approached alternative tile distributors to see what else is on offer.
But in the meantime let’s hope BCT listen to us and do make changes to quality, even if this means increasing prices, as surely being able to offer a quality British product would do our industry the world of good.

Peace out!

 

[Blunt Tool]

I think it’s a conspiracy, bct tiles are just a front for all the no’s against leaving the European Union and showing us the British crap we will be left with!
Ps the earth is flat that’s why levels work

 

[Andy Allen]

If you're in a position that you don't have to, or want to fit these tiles, then don't fit them.
Personally I'm not that fussed, there not the best tiles in the world, but with a bit of fiddling around you can make a decent job....
Just ...!!

 

[Boggs]

Yep, I agree.

 

[Waluigi]

Most things made in Britain or for the British Market are of poor quality.

It’s as if the average member of the general public is happy to accept seconds.

People are better than they used to be but generally don’t complain nearly enough. The old British stiff upper lip has gotten Brits nowhere.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to change if people keep buying crap products. I have had to fit crap tiles and terrible bathroom suites all made in Britain in the past but nowadays I only spec my own gear and none is made in Britain apart from a few exceptions.

 

[One Day]

Working in a million pound+ home today and one of the bathrooms had porcelanosa's finest in. Truly awful tiling though and the jobs above look miles better.
Just goes to show ...

 

[Boggs]

BCT Ditto light grey tiles this week, this has been a regular thing throughout the 24sqm going in!

 

[Dumbo]

View attachment 100889 BCT Ditto light grey tiles this week, this has been a regular thing throughout the 24sqm going in!

I do hope that's not you fix your tiles . I hope they are only that close for demonstration only

 

[Boggs]

No that’s how I fit tiles in a shower, I just butt them together it saves on grout.

 

[jenjen]

BCT's quality control is abismal to say the least.

I have complained direct on they're FB page and they tried to reply via messenger and not in the post i posted.

The list of faults goes on from planetising like bowls and printing error to tile face and surface bubbling , mass production with what seems little quality control.

One of the biggest issues is sizing of tiles , some can be as much as 3mm i have found , imho its just not acceptable.

But as usual it just falls on deaf ears...

Hi there, I am currently in a dispute with the liquidators of BCT regarding some pallets of matt white tiles that were sent that the sizing was all over the place. I have to get expert opinion on the tiles, but cannot due to lockdown. Would you be able to provide me an expert opinion . . .. assuming you are a "suitably" qualified person. Regards Jenny
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I have recently tiled a full bathroom walls and floor in bct tiles one feature wall 500x150 plank effect and 500x300 tiles every tile had either a shade variation or size difference up to 4mm and that was in nearly every box.
The tiles are so soft how can they be marketed for floor tiles yet alone suitable for use on underfloor heating.
Also tiles were stated to be 8mm thick bit this is only on the edge as the middle of the tile is more like 10-12mm.
I don’t think I’ve found a single tile that is flat.
And as mentioned the glaze does not cover the entire tile so is subsceptible to water ingress and potential tile failure.
I can honestly say I will never take a job on that includes any type of bct tiles.

Hi there, I am currently in a dispute with the liquidators of BCT regarding some pallets of matt white tiles that were sent that the sizing was all over the place. I have to get expert opinion on the tiles, but cannot due to lockdown. Would you be able to provide me an expert opinion . . .. assuming you are a "suitably" qualified person. Regards Jenny

 

[Dave]

Hi there, I am currently in a dispute with the liquidators of BCT regarding some pallets of matt white tiles that were sent that the sizing was all over the place. I have to get expert opinion on the tiles, but cannot due to lockdown. Would you be able to provide me an expert opinion . . .. assuming you are a "suitably" qualified person. Regards Jenny
[automerge]1588846416[/automerge]

Hi there, I am currently in a dispute with the liquidators of BCT regarding some pallets of matt white tiles that were sent that the sizing was all over the place. I have to get expert opinion on the tiles, but cannot due to lockdown. Would you be able to provide me an expert opinion . . .. assuming you are a "suitably" qualified person. Regards Jenny

hi jenny , unfortunately they fall within bs5385 uk guidelines on sizing , which is +/- 2mm. Ridiculous ratio compared to other countries who mostly are +/- 0.5 mm.