Split Face Tile - Is this how it should look when job is finished? - Tile Advice

[SamWickens]

Hey everyone!
Just want to say first of all that I am not a tiler or anything I’m just in need of some advice if possible!
My parents got their chimney breast done in Split Face Slate Tiles and I’m not sure if this is how it should have been left, I’ll try and attach images but there is a lot of excess grout or adhesive on the joins and some on the face of the tiles.
On the corner edges there is alot of gaps where you can just see the adhesive, again I am not a tiler so I have no idea if this is the norm I just wanted to ask some of you.
Also is there anyway to achieve the wet, darker look permanently? The fella that done the work told my mum to put baby oil on it once a week and that’s too much work for her to try and do to the whole chimney breast every week.

Hopefully someone can offer some insight!
Thank you

 

[Trigger]

Poorly finished, you shouldn’t see any adhesive.

 

[eddcottee]

That looks like a rushed job to me. It's adhesive you can see, not grout. Just a really poor finish that is.

There may be a suitable colour intensifier which will help with the colour but that depends on whether they've been sealed or not.

 

[Hobnob]

That doesn’t look like he wanted to do that job.
I’ll attach a pic of a split face job that I did a lot of years ago as reference for you. *found another job for ref too 👍🏼

With regards to getting more of a wet look, the tiles will need a serious clean with a chemical to remove all those adhesive residues first. You could then look to seal with “Lithofin slate seal” which does give a pretty good dark, wettish appearance.