Need advice -bad professional job? - Tile Advice

[David Jatt]

Hi

I'm after some advice. A professional tiler has laid original style victorian tiles in my hallway. I have concerns that some of the work is below standard. Most importantly the border pattern changes abruptly in going around the corner (he seems to have improvised) and is a bit of an eyesore. Also, quite a few tiles are scuffed or chipped (although only slightly) and some tiles are mis-cut around the skirting boards. I have enclosed some pictures for example.

Unfortunately I have paid for this already and it was completed a few weeks ago. I thought at the time it was below par but tried to convince myself that it wasnt that bad. I have asked him to come round and sort out grouting issues /scuffs which he says he is going to do. I haven't mentioned the lay out problem.

I just need some advice if i'm being too pernickety or whether I'm justified in raising these issues?

Advice much appreciated.

 

[WetSaw]

I'm sure the guys on here that do geometrics will give you the answer and as far as I can see it won't be good news. What is going on with that corner is definitely wrong.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

A picture of the whole floor area would show the setting out better, however picture 1 shows a lack of planning and yes improvising.
Was it a fix only costing he provided or did he specify the tile quantities because by only using a 25mm strip on the outside of the border it limits the options available.
The present Original Style tiles are not of the quality of old (now made in the EU) and certain blemishes are meant to be acceptable, but the cut edges should be better than shown. Not sure why you have 45* cuts to the skirting and those could be a lot tighter.
He may be a professional tiler in the respect you paid him however not a specialist in geometric installation.

 

[WetSaw]

Good point TJ, I'd seen the cuts weren't that great to the skirting but where's the border is the real question.

 

[One Day]

Well before the standard anyone should expect of a geo floor. Sorry to say that your payment indicates acceptance so you're on a bad footing really. The border shows clearly he's inexperienced and the poor cuts show his eye for detail (lack of) also shows he doesn't have the skills required for geo work.

 

[andy8758]

Actually, I have seen worse mistakes on original Victorian geometric floors. Although, for a modern geometric - its pants.

The design looks real "Heath-Robinsonish" - border tiles matching main design? They should be a complimentary but contrasting design. It should be designed so that the outer border tile takes up the inconsistencies of the room. Closest to traditional geometric design is the old black and white checkerboard design, but that grey/black and white simply doesn't work for me. If pressed to replicate that design, I would have gone for the next size down in the border square tiles, to give more room for the outer edge tile. That would probably have made the dog leg corner easier to get right.

The border around that corner is wrongly set out, the tile "damage" is unfortunately consistent with Original Style supplied tiles, the finishing is sloppy at the skirting, the grout gap is less than recommended by Original Style, but the finished floor does look flat. I wonder if that is an otherwise capable tilers first attempt at replicating a geometric floor?

 

[Andy Allen]

I'm at a loss as to why you would pay for a job your not happy with then moan about it afterwards ...??

 

[David Jatt]

Thanks for the responses.

In response to Andy above, I tried to convince myself that it looked ok however more and more people commented on it and it then dawned on me that the problems could (possibly) have been avoided. I am not a tiler and have very little DIY experience, hence why I am asking advice as to whether I have a valid complaint or being unrealistic. Bottom line is I felt that the work has been done, and was not a botch job, so I paid. Maybe that was naive, I dont know.

My conclusion on the work is that although its a difficult corner, the awkwardness could have been avoided by better planning. Also there are aspects of the tile cutting which could have been done better.

If it helps, below are a couple of further pictures, one shows the whole room. As you see, the further away you are the less bad it looks. Could the awkward corner really have been avoided? From my perspective I think that it could have been - by getting rid of the back to back squares in the corners and just continuing with the diamonds in the border. Perhaps this would have left an awkward narrow gap along the wall?

Anyway, I suppose what I need to establish is whether anything can be done to rectify and whether I should be insisting on this? The tiler is coming back next week so I need to be clear what I expect.

It cost me 2K all in all!

many thanks!

Ps - ignore the bad paintwork on the walls - thats the next job (and will be done properly!)

 

[WetSaw]

Is there a particular reason why the border doesn't go all the way around?

 

[Bill]

Is there a particular reason why the border doesn't go all the way around?

cost?

 

[David Jatt]

The tiler said no need for border on one side, probably because the hall is narrow (in hindsight there maybe should have been some sort of narrow border i.e one of the narrow grey tiles) but I can live with that aspect. I think he can address the chipped tiles and bad cuts at the skirting no problem, but my main worry is how to sort the messy corner, if at all possible.

 

[Bill]

The tiler said no need for border on one side, probably because the hall is narrow (in hindsight there maybe should have been some sort of narrow border i.e one of the narrow grey tiles) but I can live with that aspect. I think he can address the chipped tiles and bad cuts at the skirting no problem, but my main worry is how to sort the messy corner, if at all possible.

to be fair, the tiles are the wrong size for such a narrow passage. With smaller tiles, you could easily have achieved an all around border effect.

 

[David Jatt]

to be fair, the tiles are the wrong size for such a narrow passage. With smaller tiles, you coul

to be fair, the tiles are the wrong size for such a narrow passage. With smaller tiles, you could easily have achieved an all around border effect.

d easily have achieved an all around border effect.

I've had a brainwave. Played around with some spare tiles and it seems to me that this option could be taken (the alternate colour scheme becomes out of whack so they will also need to be changed):

I will ask him back, say im not happy with the corner he did and ask him to implement the above. That seems reasonable doesnt it?

Also, should i insist that all chipped tiles are replaced? What about the tiles next to the skirting. Is it practical to ask for a border there now? or just ask him to replace all tiles that arent straight?

I'm not sure what level of perfection I should be asking for?

 

[Old Mod]

The reason the border doesn't go around the stairs is because it's not meant to.
True Victorian layouts effectively have the actual room tiled with a border and then the stairs are sat on top.
So that part of the border appears to disappear into the staircase.
In that respect it's correct.

 

[Old Mod]

Oh ok I missed the bit where you explained the reason for no border. Haha
Well it's done correctly by mistake haha
It's just the modern take, and generally what clients want these days, is for the border to be visible everywhere.