Help, I think my tiler is doing a bad job. What should I do?

[WordBear]

It was his first day today. I found him on mybuilder. He wasn't the cheapest quote and I chose him because he says he's a professional tiler. It's a bathroom which we're fully tiling with white travertine tiles 30 x 45 x 12. The things I'm worried about / unhappy about are:

1. the first thing he did was put Mapei Primer G all over the tile backer board. I didn't think tile backer board needed primer.

2. he has used Dunlop Set Fast Plus Flexible Tile Adhesive which is grey and doesn't say it's for use with large format natural stone.

3. he has used a 2mm gap for the grout and I thought it was supposed to be at least 3mm for large format natural stone.

4. I can see voids in the adhesive behind the tiles.

5. He has laid out the tiles so that there are narrow strips down one side of the wall (whole / half tile at the other end) and hasn't continued the layout around the corners.

6. His cuts are all rough, uneven and messy. He said something about not having filled the tank for his saw half way through the day. Not sure if that's connected.

7. He has broken loads of tiles. The whole job on area would use 95 tiles. I ordered 10% extra - 105. He has asked for us to buy another 14. Counting up it seems to me he only needs 6.

8. He cut one tile around the shower tray wrong and has fixed it by putting a slither of tile in there!

What should I do? He is coming back tomorrow. I think he's doing a bad job. Am I right? How can these things be fixed? Should I even let him carry on?

I'll try to post some photos.

 

[WordBear]

 

[Andy Allen]

 

[Blunt Tool]

Hi, if you mean he primed the cement backer boards then that’s ok but he should have taped and tanked the boards in the shower area. Natural stone is fragile and when transported can have hairline cracks that split as soon as you touch them, I usually keep them in the hope they can be used for a cut somewhere. That would explain a few of the broken tiles but rest looks as tho he was pushing them too hard and too quick thru machine and they have broke IMO. The sliver is not professional and tile should be replaced. 2mm joint is a preference I prefer 3mm.

 

[Blunt Tool]

I would have used a white flexible powder adhesive not grey, notched the wall with it and buttered the back of stone to fill in all voids

 

[Blunt Tool]

When I set out stone tile half bond I try to fold them round the internal corners ie whatever you take off cut use the other piece on next wall so that same tile, shade and vien turn the corner.

 

[Blunt Tool]

Lastly if the whole bathroom is to be tiled it looks like the walls outside of shower area have been just recently plastered? Is this correct?
Or is this walls outside bathroom?

 

[WordBear]

Thanks callatiler that is confirming some of my fears. The facepalm is doing the same! The recent plastering is outside the bathroom. Area to be tiled is all tile backer board apart from a bit of cement render.

What do I do though? Should I get him to start again? I think I could do a better job myself. There's also £400 of tiles half stuck to the walls now. Do I ask him to take them off or pay to get someone else to do it. I've never been in this situation before. He's got 100% positive reviews! I wish I'd gone with the kitchen fitter now.

 

[Blunt Tool]

IMO when he comes back tomorrow show and tell him what you are not happy about. The choice you have is tell him to take his gear and go then get a professional ( have a look at the directory on here see who is around you) or go into your local tile shops and ask them who is recommended. Or if you are not happy and want compensated by tiler then you have to give him a chance to replace and rectify but could end up costing you more to rectify as work progresses

 

[Blunt Tool]

Ps don’t go with kitchen fitter either ie don’t go into a hairdressers and ask for a pound of sausages