Help please..tile voids

[Kent22]

Is it common practice to dot n dab floor tiles and once set pore in self levelling compound or some sort of adhesive through the joint lines after to fill the voids?

I only noticed this when I stood on a tile last night and it broke. They are a porcelain tile.

Today was ment to be completion day and grouting but as a tile broke last night the tiler is saying he will fill the voids...

Am I going to have issues in the future and what should I do.

Thanks

 

[Tile Shop]

No they should be solid bed fixed from the start, not do half the job and fill the gaps. Sorry but I think you need to get a tiler who knows how to tile.

 

[Kent22]

Thanks, thought so.

Will they definitely crack or move in the very near future?

 

[Chris N]

Pile of poop. Lot needs to come up and start again. Get them up asap and you may be able to re-use the tiles.

 

[Tile Shop]

Unfortunatley, yes. There is so little contact with the adhesive that even the slightest of knocks will dislodge or crack them, as you've kinda proved already with your first picture. Sticking leveling compound in as an after thought is not guaranteed to fill up to the back of the tile without air pockets. Its a ludicrous idea and if that is what they have suggested they are going to do, shoot them! Plus, I'd love to know how they intend to do it.

Insist on nothing less than ripping them up and starting again properly.

 

[Kent22]

The cutting and levelling of tiles is surely the hardest part, I don’t understand why he has not spread the adhesive.

Thanks for the advice, stress right before Xmas 🙁

 

[Perry]

Sorry he's not a tiler. A chancer more like it. It will be problems as you have already found out before its finished.

 

[Chris N]

The floor should have been levelled at the start. Spotting tiles makes it easy to get over an undulating surface or one that's not at the correct height or a combination of the two. It may be stressful now to take it up, buy the likelihood is that more tiles will crack.

 

[Kent22]

The question is how do I find a tiler that will do the job 100% right.

What certificates or qualifications do I need to ask for?

Thanks

 

[Kent22]

The substrate is concrete and pretty much level...

 

[Perry]

Where are you? Someone on here may be able to help.

 

[Kent22]

I’m in snodland Kent, always the way finding these forums once there’s problems

Cheers

 

[Tile Shop]

Directory of Tilers in Kent - Rated Tilers in Kent | tilersforums.com | Professional wall and floor tilers forum - https://www.tilersforums.com/directory/tilers-in-kent.315

 

[Kent22]

Sorry Paul to keep banging on,

That link shows some of these tilers being all rounders plastering,plumbing etc.

I’m after a professional that tiles every day, as I’m covering my kitchen,hallway and living room with these tiles.35sq metres.

Back to the question of how do I know there qualified? What certicates or qualifications do I need to see or ask for...

Thanks

 

[Perry]

What certificates or qualifications has the tiler you have doing the work now?

 

[Kent22]

I found him on check a trade and only now just found out that they are the middle man and don’t really do many checks.

Claims he has been on a tiling course with no evidence to prove it.

Thanks

 

[Dumbo]

Ask for an nvq or city in guilds in wall and floor tiling.

 

[Chris N]

Fortunately, you've had a tile crack now. The overall look may appear good, and you wouldn't know if the floor had been laid correctly or not until they start cracking.

Fitted a kitchen for a friend recently and the guy who tiled the floor had spotted them. Ones already gone about 4 weeks layer!

 

[Kent22]

Thanks fellas, really appreciate the advice

 

[Flintstone]

Terrible terrible! Don’t pay him, you need a tiler with a portfolio or one who comes recommended, doesn’t matter about formal qualifications!

 

[Dumbo]

I found him on check a trade and only now just found out that they are the middle man and don’t really do many checks.

Claims he has been on a tiling course with no evidence to prove it.

Thanks

You should report him to checkatrade. Their system will only work if people like you provide negative feedback and not just positive . This may of happened to someone else and they just kept quiet. If you keep quiet about it , it will happen to someone else .

 

[Qwerty]

Recommendations and a comprehensive portfolio is worth more than any qualification. Im not saying an NVQ or equivalent means nothing (alot of top pro tilers have them), but equally there are alot of self taught and experienced tilers who have no qualifications at all.

The tradesmans Checkatrade page will likely show completed tiling jobs and look all nice and professional (ish) but underneath it all will be hidden horrors like yours.

If you really have no luck finding one on this site, then either try a reputable tile shop for a recommendation or look in the TTA website.

 

[GoneGuy]

As said in previous posts, the floor needs to come up and be re laid properly.
Always try and get a tiler from recommendation even have a look on their website/Facebook page will help.
Some multi trades are usually top tilers so don’t be afraid of that.
Really have a good look on the forum find a tiler in your area and invite them around for a quote.

 

[Kent22]

Is the TTA Website reliable or could I still stumble across a rogue trader?

Thanks

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Your first issue is the floor you have now!
He’s been on a course and that’s his standard of work. If you haven’t paid him - don’t.
There is no guarantee that anyone on this forums ‘find a tiler’ is any good as it’s just a list of names. You need to do your homework, get your estimates and see their work.
Unfortunately ours is not a regulated trade and anyone can and do purport to be a tiler, take your money and leave you like this.
NVQ level 2 provides the basis of a qualification that someone should have to be able to charge as a professional, but the best qualification is a portfolio, recommendations, and seeing their actual work.

 

[Tile seller]

As mentioned in a post above, a local tile shop should know of a few decent fitters.
Also, ask anyone u know who's had good work done for the tilers details.

Definitely report this too, it's outrageous.

 

[Old Mod]

I got a driving and motorcycle licence, but that’s it.
Used to have a bus licence too, but it expired. 😀
Who ever you speak with, just ask if you can visit the site they’re currently working on, if they say no, then they probably aren’t what you’re looking for.
If they say yes, you can see first hand how they complete their work.
And you already know how they shouldn't be fixed, so you could probably tell from what you see, whether or not you think they’re suitable.
Paper isn’t everything, it just means you have the capability to learn, it doesn’t mean you’re any good at it.

 

[Andy Allen]

And I've just seen on the news there's a massive black market in selling forged Construction certificates...