New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra :(

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tuthai

Hi guys,

My builder is just about finishing a retile of my two bathrooms. He's laid 24 square metres of 10cm x 10cm tumbled marble with 17 square metres of bull nose dado. He's done a great job.

However he's now asking an extra £xx because I asked him to tile in a diamond pattern above the dado rail.

For both bathrooms this adds up to an area of 4.39 metres square in a diamond pattern but he claims that to create this diamond pattern has taken an extra weeks work.

This seems ridiculous and calculates to £xx per square metre extra ontop of the money I've already paid to have them tiled anyway. It'd be over £xx square metre if I combined the quote cost and extra cost.

In real terms 62 tiles have been cut in half to form the edges and the rest just rotated 45 degrees. Is that worth £xx extra? Is there much more time involved? An extra week?

When I specified the diamond pattern nothing was mentioned about an increase in cost or difficulty and had I know it was going to be such an increase I would have just kept the tiles horizontal.

Putting aside that I didn't authorise the increased cost, I've built a good relationship with him (so I thought) and would like to use him again on other projects in the future. I don't wish to fall out but is he justified to ask for more or is he just trying it on?

Thanks. Appreciate your comments.


Bathroom 1 and 2 below:

photo 2.JPGphoto 1.JPG
 
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Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

An extra week?? you are joking? maybe an hour maybe two is nearer.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

I can't see how much he is asking for. However assuming its a crazy amount is tell him to jog on as he didn't say it would be extra !
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

We dont allow prices in the open forums but it was an extortionate amount. In terms of time over normal tiling it would have taken longer but not 1 week...maybe an hour or 2 for fixing and even if you said 2 hours for cutting that is still only half a day.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

There's no way he's spent an extra week to just do that surely?? Diamond ia s little more taxing but not much. Looks like it was set out in a simpler way as well but not cutting to the ceiling.
Sometimes jobs entail extras, odds and ends etc. Is what he's charging (and/or the time for the extra weeks labour) just to fix the diamond pattern or did he do any other extras?
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

and i would also be concerned as to why the joints dont pick up in the corners,not in joint,or am i missing something here
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

and i would also be concerned as to why the joints dont pick up in the corners,not in joint,or am i missing something here
I thought that, the back wall has been centred, always better to wrap the cuts if the walls allow
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

if the original spec wasnt diamond set then he can change his estimate if it took him longer however i would imagine if its an outrageous price that its questionable a weeks wages is too much imo for what has been done extra maybe best speaking to him about it and agreeing an amicable price
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

As I said before tuthai, the extra he is charging you for the dismond set is way over the top and it seems these guys agree. My fear is that he initially under priced this job, then whacked you for extras regarding the plastering you mentioned elsewhere and then has hit you again for the diamond set. All told and the overall price you mentioned is very expensive.
 
What has happened to the wrap effect on the return walls , that looks hideous IMHO.

Sorry to be abrupt but that stands out like sore thumb.

As for the pricing, any increase should be discussed before commencing.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

i agree with dave them cuts into the corners not wrapping around would drive me mad looking at , spoils the job imo
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

so how long did the whole job take him, and how long did he say it would take him when he quoted the job, and was the diamond set the only change/extra to the quote..
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

as above, if your not going to follow the diamond round, he should have put a border around the perimeter of the diamond on each wall, it would look 100% better
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

He's a builder not a tiler...you can tell as the joints don't match in the corners..so im guessing it took him longer because he's not a tiler ?..but thats not your problem..its his, and he should have said it will be extra, therefore you don't owe him anything..however it is extra work so give him a drink.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

I agree with the other guys concerning the pricing, it definitely is too high. However I think it is a bit harsh telling you his workmanship is bad. While I agree that it should indeed follow round the corners, that is not why you came here. All this has done is now is make what you thought was acceptable seem bad which brings with it a whole new set of issues.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

Thank you so much for the replies!! Really appreciate it.

The only change was the diamond above the dado. I don't know anything about tiling but it seemed pretty straight forward and he didn't suggest it would cost more.

I certainly don't want to fall out with him, but this extra cost has dissapointed me.

Added to that as you point out, yes I now know about the issue with the wrap in the corners 🙁 I showed a family member earlier and its the first thing he said.

Looking online and in brochures all diamond tiled line up in the corners. It just looks ugly if it doesn't. Oh dear!

Is there a fix? Can the corner diamond tiles be removed and a border with horizontal tiles be put in? This is probably the easiest solution. Please say it's possible :-/

Thanks guys.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

yeah the person seems happy at quality of work so i dont see the need to start on the guys quality of work or what he should or shouldnt have done,, in regards to the change in price a full week seems excessive, maybe you should speak to him about this, an extra day seems a bit more reasonable it that was the only add on
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

A week!!! The guy is obviously trying it on with you and he's being nice and building a relationship up so it makes it hard for you to confront him.
Tell him you refuse to pay it as he should have pointed out and discussed any extra costs before carrying out the work. And wtf why did he not wrap the tiles round?
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

We as tilers will always spot tiling mistakes etc when pictures are posted ... and if it is wrong to make comment on this also , then maybe 1000's of pics already commented on should be removed from this forum..

At the end of the day , there are a lot of pro tilers on here and when they see a job that isn't right , then sometimes they will say they have spotted said mistakes.. so IMO don't shoot down tilers for saying about it...

If anyone feels that the comments on the pics setting out are wrong to be posted , then report said posts and i'm sure the forum staff will look into it , .. just my take on it and don't ball me out for saying so. 🙂

And if you read the OP's post above , it was already mentioned by a visitor to the bathroom.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

Regarding the wrap around I missed it but my father noticed it straight off. He didn't like it.

Is there a relatively easy fix?

The tiles are fairly thick marble so not brittle like ceramics so could an angle grinder or similar cut out the corners and a border put in for example.

Appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks guys.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

Regarding the wrap around I missed it but my father noticed it straight off. He didn't like it.

Is there a relatively easy fix?

The tiles are fairly thick marble so not brittle like ceramics so could an angle grinder or similar cut out the corners and a border put in for example.

Appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks guys.

Yes, you can picture frame each wall , making each diamond set a separate panel.. quite easy to do and seen it done a few times..
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

Fix or cover up ?
2 side wall would need removing IMO
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

Thank you again.

I've been able to look at the job properly this morning and I would like your professional opinions.

I will start a new post to show the results.
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

that price you gave elsewhere, I know you said it included adhesive, grout and plaster. But did it include the shower drain and waterproof membrane or did you pay for that on top along with the tiles?
 
Re: New here and asking for some expert opinion. Tiler charging extra

Sorry.... My mistake. He paid for the membrane and drain.
 

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