Tricky Situation

[rockyroo]

I have just had the job from hell, I tiled a kitchen with more nooks and crannies than I care to mention, the woman wanted chrome trim around the whole lot and I told her that the walls would need to be as smooth as possible as there had been tiles on there before.

When I got there the tiles had been removed and the walls were not in great shape, looking back I should not have started the job but as I was there I thought that once I got going it would be ok!! (wrong). The chrome trim would not meet in certain places due to the wall being uneven and left some sharp edges, I thought that I would be able to soften these with the grout, all the way along I explained this to her and she seemed fine. I went there this morning only to find out that the husband had been home the night before and was not happy! We had a bit of a verbal and I ended up saying that I would not grout it as they were not happy with the workmanship and (when backed into a corner) said that I would reimburse them for the tiles(yes I know).

So angry with the whole situation, just annoyed with myself in the first place for even starting the job.

Has anyone else come across a similar problem and how have you dealt with it?

Cheers

 

[Fekin]

I guess when you say the trim wouldn't line up from wall to wall, then the tiles obviously didn't meet up either from one wall to the next ?

 

[TonyJ]

Funny how the husband turned up after you had done the job. where was he when you said to his wife, the walls need smoothing off ? I would have followed up with the sentence, " you don't need a tiler to take tiles off and smooth the wall's" a tiler puts tiles on.

A lesson to us all I suppose. If your not happy with the substrate, refuse to tile it until it's sorted. even if you end up doing it yourself, charge them for it. make the husband dip further into his pocket, make him wish he'd should have done that bit himself.:wink_smile:

 

[rockyroo]

I guess when you say the trim wouldn't line up from wall to wall, then the tiles obviously didn't meet up either from one wall to the next ?

No the tiles met up, it wasn't the height that was an issue, it was the the right angles of the chrome not meeting due to the walls being uneven

 

[DHTiling]

If you used a sliding bevel to get the correct angle on the corners that were to be trimmed you would of got the mitres spot on.....just a small tip....

next time make sure the walls are ok before commencing tiling........dave..🙂

 

[GazTech]

Bit tough on you there mate,plastic trims can bend a bit ....steel trims not as forgiving.

 

[rockyroo]

next time make sure the walls are ok before commencing tiling........dave..🙂

Nothing quite like being told what you already know, thanks dh !!

 

[DHTiling]

Nothing quite like being told what you already know, thanks dh !!

wasn't being funny but at the end of the day once you took the job on.. The problem walls then became your's......customers tend to think tilers can get over anything dont they..lol lol..........dave....🙂

 

[IvegotsTILE]

I had problem last week like that,they wanted Chrome trim everywhere,was going really well until they said they wanted the tiles and trim all the way down by the sides of the new door that had been installed and I said fine without looking properly at the door.They'd had a new doorway opening done and when I came round to tiling round the corner bits the walls were SEVERLY out.I showed them the problem which they accepted ad said just do your best.I spent hours doing something that should take no more than 30 mins,had to drill the trim to the wall and fix with screws to bend it a touch,customers were were well pleased with it but to be honest I wasn't,won't attempt that again.

Whats a sliding bevel dave?

 

[GazTech]

wasn't being funny but at the end of the day once you took the job on.. The problem walls then became your's......customers tend to think tilers can get over anything dont they..lol lol..........dave....🙂

I know I can ....at a price,the longer you stick at this job the easier your judgement will be...........so stiff upper lip mate and chalk it down etc :wink_smile:

 

[DHTiling]

i don't know simon mate...wot u like.....for those that " DONT " know wot a sliding bevel is.......The Sliding Bevel .............dave..

It is a tool used to duplicate angles....

 

[IvegotsTILE]

HA! Bloody hell I think I have seen one of those before.It was on the discovery channel,they were showing you the tools that Noah used to build the Ark!
Bit of an old mans tool,bet Gaz has one.

 

[GazTech]

i don't know simon mate...wot u like.....for those that " DONT " know wot a sliding bevel is.......The Sliding Bevel .............dave..

I've still got Grandads in boxwood and brass

 

[Varley]

Luckily nothing like this happened to me...yet. Whenever tiles need to be removed from a wall before I tile it I qive the customer the quote for the job but tell them I will need to see the walls once the tiles have been removed. So they call me when the tiles are off and I pop round to have a look, then either discuss a starting date or advise of prep work needed.

 

[Confiteor]

Rockyroo, how much do you stand to lose as a result of all this?

 

[McP77]

Must be working too hard but am still confused. I can see how the sliding bevel allows you to know what angle a corner of the wall is, but how do you then transpose that onto some plastic/chrome trim to get the right angle?

For example, suppose you had a perfect corner. The bevel would be 90 degrees. But you don't cut the plastic trim at 90 degrees do you?


HELP

 

[DHTiling]

Must be working too hard but am still confused. I can see how the sliding bevel allows you to know what angle a corner of the wall is, but how do you then transpose that onto some plastic/chrome trim to get the right angle?

For example, suppose you had a perfect corner. The bevel would be 90 degrees. But you don't cut the plastic trim at 90 degrees do you?


HELP

sorry i didn't explain it more clearly... use the sliding bevel to determine how out of sqaure the corner is.. transfer this measurement to a set sqaure . wot ever the distance is between the bevels angle and the set sqaure .. half of this gives the corners true angle...adjust the bevel to that angle and transfer to tile trim........hope this is abit clearer... easy when you've done it a few times............dave..

 

[Holohana]

think the problem was that the tiles were bowed because of the walls and the chrome trim wont have any give in it so cant follow it.

Doesnt matter what tools you have it simply wont fit right. Run a starigth edge across the window ledge or spirit level, that'd show any problems as well i guess.

Ive done similar stuff b4 Rockyroo and taken the hit. Thing is in need for earning cash you think you'll get round anything and dont want to let the job go or walk away from it!

Its a tough learning curve, keep smiling and earning cos you wont do it again!

 

[faithhealer]

'Sliding Bevel', I think I made one of them in 'Metalwork' back in the dark ages. Might treat myself to one again, do they sell them in the pound shop Dave?

 

[Holohana]

v good tool for finding angle of sloping ceiling in bathroom say.

Also good if tiling on a diamond perhaps?

 

[DHTiling]

Might get one down bishop ...lol lol....plastic one that is......for a quid.........dave..

 

[GazTech]

Old Antique Preston Tools
this is a selection of my tools,as a young chippy

 

[rockyroo]

Used materials from previous few jobs so at the minute I have just lost my time, but still waiting for the customer to come back to me about the tiles. Learnt a tough lesson this week, business was a bit slow and I took the bait, but will be more careful in future.

 

[Holohana]

chin up big man, wont happen again.....and what with the discount on tiles youll negotiate!!!!

 

[rockyroo]

Knocks the confidence a bit, but just did 21sqm kitchen/diner/utility today, back to grout it tomorrow, 340 quid, thank you very much. So it's not all bad !!!

 

[Holohana]

mate started 22m of bathroom, 6m2 of floor, 2m2 of toilet floor and 5m2 of toilet wall this week.

Plumber had problems and meant i didnt lay a tile till Tuesday afternoon around 12.30. Could have done another job!

Rapid set on the floor took ages to go off so couldnt grout till Weds am.

Finally got to tiling bathroom yesterday at about 3pm and stopped at 7.30pm. Just about finished this evening bar window reveal and few cuts above door but now bath got scratch in it so out it comes and fooks tomorrow up now.

Limestone grout, awful stuff, and still got w/c to tile yet tomorrow. 3 x 12hr days on the bounce now!

Still all be worth over £1,200k when it comes in, happy days, sort of.

Shows we all have mares of jobs!