Just had my kitchen tiled with mosaics

[Tirccir]

Hi all, new to this forum so thank you in advance for reading my post. I'll try to be short and concise.

On Friday my kitchen plash back was tiled with 10mm thick marble moasics with 12.5mm trim by a tiler who had previously done my kitchen/dining room floor. Unfortunately, I feel the kitchen work is of poor quality and I need some honest advice on whether I'm being overly picky and/or what I should do next.

Key issues I have:
- Chimney stack built to 600mm wide and not 900mm despite specifically pointing this out
- Tiles are not flush with trim by 1-2mm despite being told by my tiler the size trim is what I needed (what seems to be a 1mm max cement bed)
- Large grout lines in areas
- Trim not very well placed in areas
- All corners of window reveal don't align
- Tile missing leaving a gap when plug socket is attached

There were a few minor things but the above is what I'm concerned about. So I have explained my concerns to which he got quite defensive about but he did say he would fix the issues to the of his best ability and within reason, and provided I pay 50% of the original cost upfront. I feel that if the quality was not on par the first time, he won't be able to fix the issues to the standard I had expected (this is where I wonder if being picky). I believe that anyone should be given the chance to rectify there mistakes (specifically making the chimney to the width originally specified) but unfortunately, I don't have faith the quality will improve.

A comment which put doubts in my head was that, when I pointed out the 1-2mm protruding lip of the trim he asked if I got the wrong sized trim. I then told him that I got the 12.5mm trim on his instruction, to which he then replied that there is usually a 1-2 mm lip on tiling like this.

I'm not sure where to go from here and any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tirccir]

I know what my two options are, either ask my guy to fix the issues and accept what ever is left, or get someone else in to either fix it or start again. Just wanted to get a second opinion.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I think you will not be happy with a fix it option!
Start again would be my answer.

 

[Tirccir]

Thanks John appreciated. Could I ask, are you suggesting that because you think the quality is not up to the mark or my expectations could do with coming down a peg or two?

Additionally, is it standard to have a trim lip and grout lines like that?

I like my tiler, he's a decent bloke. Though it appears I've annoyed him with my unintentional lack of tactfulness.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I like my tiler, he's a decent bloke. Though it appears I've annoyed him with my unintentional lack of tactfulness.

Are we related?
There seems to be too many areas of concern for remedial work to be undertaken. The trim is protruding over the face tiles, corner mitring ( internal and external) poor, uneven grout lined, large gaps to worktops filled with grout, badly set out cuts to window frame. Lesser issues - missing grout, pointed gap under cill....
Not a decent standard really for a ‘professional’ - buts that just my opinion!

 

[MTiler]

'Not a decent standard' is an understatement.
Be a lot easier to do it again.

 

[Tirccir]

Haha it's possible!

It is just opinion but thank you for giving it all the same, it's not always easy to know what is an acceptable level of quality.

Perhaps you might know of a tiler down East Midlands way worthy of your recommendation??

 

[Tirccir]

Thanks MissTiler. Seems to be the way I'm heading.

 

[GoneGuy]

It’s poor work, and as suggested will be best removing and starting again. You could post the job up on
Tilers: find tiling jobs listed here - https://www.tilersforums.com/forums/tiling-jobs/
Where you can find a local tiler who is able to do this job for you

 

[Tirccir]

This is perhaps a stupid question but I'm assuming that if I'm getting it redone I'll have to take the £300 hit of replacing the tiles?

Thanks Andy, I'll do that

 

[Time's Ran Out]

A lot will depend on how long ago it was done and what adhesive they used!
If it was ready mixed in a bucket you may be able to clean them up to reuse.
You’ll certainly have to buy some but the back of marble can take a while to dry. What’s the total area/number of tiles involved?

 

[Flintstone]

If I was to take on the re tile I would insist on using new tiles. Have you paid the man who's done the job ?

 

[Waluigi]

Full rip out and start again.
If it was just one area of concern the same guy might be able to improve but it’s a catalogue of errors- poor trim mitring, incorrect mitring method. Poor cutting against window, gap too large and grouted between tile and window sill, tiles jutting out, tiles misaligned, grout everywhere, grout missing and tile cuts missing!

That’s just off the top of my head. The guy can’t honestly be a Tiler.

One thing that is also worth noting- if the guy can’t get the visual stuff right by making so many errors, what hope is there for things you can’t see! Poor preparation of walls, priming of the wall and adhesive used.

 

[Dumbo]

To be honest i wouldnt of used trims on that job .
Gap beside socket is probably due to the fact there is a gap between the electrical socket and the blockwork/plaster so nothing to stick the tile to . He should of filled it first . Also looks like abutments have been grouted, they should of been siliconed .

 

[Waluigi]

Yes I agree with that. External corners no need for trims at all or the top of the tile. Possibly just the top of the tile people sometimes want.

 

[On one]

Too many things going wrong,for it to be repaired.
I like the idea of being able to remove the tiles and reuse them,but by the time you try and carefully remove the tiles from the walls,soaked the adhesive off,etc,etc......they will be rendered virtually useless by being separated from the mesh backing.

 

[Tirccir]

@Adey1980 Adey* sorry autocorrect.

@timeless john - there's about 30 300mm x 300mm tiles used here. Thankfully I have 12 left over. I'll save some if I can but I would understand why @Localtiler wouldn't want to use reclaimed. I also haven't paid the guy yet as it was only done on Friday.

@Waluigi I hadn't thought that far but it's a fair comment. No idea. I guess on the bright side is if he hasn't prepared the walls very well, the tiles will be easier to remove? I also like your suggestion of no trim down the reveals, though the trim along the top I'd be interested to see how that would look. Neither were suggested to me.

@jcrtiling what do you mean by abutments?

Overall, thanks for all the feedback people. Unfortunately, I have spoken to him since and he doesn't think he's done a bad job.

Any suggestions on how I should tackle removing them all? What should I do if I end up removing plaster? Is this something I should do to aid the next tiler or would it be better if they did it? Always happy to pitch in and can't imagine it's something anyone would want to do.

 

[Dumbo]

Abutment . Where one surface connects with another also internal angles should be siliconed . As I said earlier I wouldn't use trims and by that I wouldn't use them anywhere on this job .

 

[Boggs]

He’s made a lovely job of that hasn’t he.

 

[Jacko]

I believe you should always give the person a chance to correct their mistake *cough* mistakes.
Plus he's already done work for you at a good enough standard to have you call him back.

And not paying him is a bit tight. You could have mentioned his 'bad job' craftmanship while he was working or before he left your property.

 

[Tirccir]

Don't suppose you fancy a trip up north do you jcr? 😛

 

[Dumbo]

I get a nose bleed past Northampton.

 

[Tirccir]

@Jacko unfortunately I was working so I wasn't there to see the end result. Additionally, he was the one to say not to pay him. If he doesn't see it a bad job, and not willing to redo the work, how is he meant to rectify the mistakes to a good standard which other professionals here seem to acknowledge as acceptable?

I don't think he has much experience with mosaics, hence the mistakes. He then took on the job knowing he had little practice and tried to get it all done in one day. I also told him I didn't mind it taking longer at extra cost if it needed it. So it would be a mistake to get him to redo the work.

 

[Jacko]

Ah right.
Fair enough, if he don't want your money, use it to buy enough beer and drink till the tiling looks the dogs ********.