Rate this work. Quality advice needed. Help.

[mrquamon]

Hi everyone,

wonder if you could help me a little, advise me please.

I have just had some work completed in my kitchen, small 1inch by 2inch ceramic wall tiles (provided free issue) on open woven sheets in a stretcher pattern, white, on 5.6 square metres of wall. The kitchen is 95% refurbed, lighting in place etc.

Because I am not sure of my skill levels in tiling and wanting a very high quality finish I hired a professional.

The quote and subsequent bill was for 2 days, fee: 330 + 45 for adhesive/grout, two days to complete. It took him 7 + 5 hours.

See the photos for the results.
No1 shows the top line looking back towards cupboards, apparently no level was established.

No2 shows the variation in grout width, from 1.5mm to over 5mm. The tiles adjacent to the wall and behind the pipes are not grouted at all. note the variation in width and the face-normal rotation of some tiles. note the lack of horizontal (or parallel) lines. also, vertical lines are not in line for every other course.

No3 shows the vertical misalignment on a section 1200mm high from skirting level. this is the same patch of wall as photo 1. The grout on the floor was advised (with a half empty bag presented also) as the grout colour required. We asked for pale grey grout and got a fairly dark grey. of course the paler grout may have mitigated some of the bad alignments.


I have other photos if needed.
The problems are:
grout is very much the wrong colour
uneven line widths, not plumb, not level across courses.
grout has variable colour and cavities, adhesive shows through in places.
is it normal to sweep grout upto accessories so they are set in it (and wonkily at that (they can be set ok as before))

What is a reasonable conclusion to draw? any comments?

many thanks.

 

[robbbin]

Sorry to say but crap hope you haven't paid him

 

[john32145]

Looks poor m8 did u pay him?

 

[foxman]

This is bad workmanship, call him back and tell him its no where near good enough. Its a lot of money to pay for this poor job.

 

[mrquamon]

I stopped his cheque after the grout dried (I wondered if it might lighten, since I was expecting, and asked for, pale grey) and had a close look at it. I tried to phone him then, but didnt hear from him until his cheque bounced. Now he wants paying.
He came round and made various excuses, claiming it a good job.

I havent paid yet... what is reasonable? (I would pretty much like to take them off and start again with someone else!)

Thanks for you replies.

 

[top tiler]

shocking:yikes: these tiles can very on the sheets but your first photo he didnt even use a leval where on earth did you find him? was you not worried when he turned up on a horse and arsked to be called zorro should not have been paid

 

[david campbell]

looks pretty poor,but instead of ripping it all of could you not strip some of the mosaic from the top and level it up,cant see if that would make it look better from the photos but it might be worth a try and save you some money!

 

[top tiler]

if you take them off he should be paying for them , then sue hi under the trade discrimation act for calling himself a tiler:rant:

 

[john32145]

it depends where u r not supposed to discuss prices on here but if i done a job like that i would sell my tools, there is no excuse for work like that, dont no what ur diy skills r but i bet u wish u had done it yourself. The way i see it i would say he's due u money, dont let him back in your house.:11:

 

[robbbin]

As I said pretty poor if you asked him for a light grout he should have provided a sample Mapei is one FOR EXAMPLE He is not I repeat not aTiler You have pics of his work I WOULD PAY HIM NOTHING tell him to take you to small claims he does not have chance of winning his case