Disaster shower wet wall - Tile Advice

[Warthog]

I had my bathroom tiled and fit by a “bathroom fitter, tiler and plumber with 14 years in the industry” in 2018 and he did some pipework elsewhere. He’s registered with a chartered body.

His work has been poor, he’s since come back and ripped it all out (except the shower) and just left it. I don’t believe he’s tanked the shower walls and I have a penetrating damp to deal with, one of the other sides of which is attached.

He’s stated properly installed tiles using quality PVA, waterproof grout and water proof adhesive is sufficient and anything else is a bodge. He is confused by my question about tanking and keeps stating it’s money down the drain.

He previously told me spacers and levelling systems are for bodgers and DIYers, I wasn’t impressed with his tile spacing or lipped edges, he’s blaming bad walls but he tiled onto Hardie backer.....😆

The shower door exploded at random, door maker sent a specialist who stated the tiles were so uneven that he couldn’t install due to stress on the frame.

I’m going down the route of a CCJ against him but he’s claiming I’m just a perfectionist. I’ve queried his knowledge on BS5385-1:2018 clause 6.1.1.3, he hasn’t even heard of it.

Am I right in that he should have used an approved tanking system in a wet area. Is this code of best practice?

Mushrooms are growing under my shower on floor area he made “good”....

 

[One Day]

Sorry to see your problems.
What trade body is he a member of?

In terms of bs5385 in an ideal world every tiler would be familiar with, and adhere to it.
The trouble is, it takes a very determined person to even get hold of the standards.
They are not readily available and in some cases are very out of date.
Also, they are just standards, not legal requirements.

You've been cowboyed plain and simple I'm afraid. He should have used a tanking system but it's not a legal requirement, just best practise, for reasons that are now all too obvious!

 

[Warthog]

Ok thanks for your reply, I believe he is a chartered plumber, not that it means anything, his plumbing was just shocking.

I am also a member of a chartered body and am bound by regulations and codes of best practice but do appreciate this may be specific to my profession.

The cowboy is requesting a 28 day timescale to liaise with his solicitor in response to my 14 day request to proceed.

I suspect he’s going to counter claim for defamation or libel as I’ve given him a deadline before my honest negative reviews with supporting pictures go live.

 

[One Day]

There really should be regulation of our profession, particularly as it involves some very large, heavy tiles these days and as you've experienced, poor preparation of wet areas can be structurally devastating.
Long gone are the days of small, lightweight ceramic tiles...