Does this tile need to be redone?

5 years ago

I'm pretty sure what the answer will be from other posts...but does this tile have to be completely redone?

I was unhappy with the tile when it as first installed (tiles were not flat/even), and they said they would fix it. They did replace a portion of the tile. When I saw the supposedly finished product with grout applied, I was horrified--but they again said it as fixable. Fast forward a couple weeks, and they have finally admitted it is not fixable. They have suggested a couple workarounds (caulk, replacing just the edge tiles). This is all on top of a host of other workmanship issues and schedule delays.

My question is, can this be fixed (assuming I bring in a new contractor who knows what they're doing)? Or does the tile need to be redone completely? And how much of the originally agreed upon price should I expect to have to pay? (This was a complete reno, including demolishing down through the subfloor.) I was required to pay 50% in advance.

Featured Answer

PRO

Creative Tile Eastern CT

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

If you think it costs a lot to hire a professional. Wait until you see how much it costs to hire a amateur. Sorry but I can't find anything in your photos done properly. Get the money for material replacement also as those tiles will not be reusable. Get a quote from a professional tile shop for replacement so you know exactly what the real world cost will be. You need this information to negotiate a parting of ways. Without this knowledge you will lose thousands more. Good Luck.

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Comments (37)

User
5 years ago
Post in progress pictures of what is underneath that.
tatts
5 years ago
When I look at something and think to myself: I could do better than that, or: the dopes that renovated my house before I bought it could do better than that, then I know there's a serious problem.

I could do better than that.

The guys who did the tile in my house did a great job, and I'm sure that they weren't highly paid specialists.

Unacceptable, not just the appearance, but the functionality--there's grout missing.
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
I looked at the first picture and thought it looked pretty good- tile pattern consistent , layout generally looked fine. Then got to the other images. Oi vey! As Sophie alludes to when the part that shows is this sloppy the part that matters (waterproofing) is usually wrong too.
Sammy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Oh. My. God.

I looked at the first picture and thought it looked pretty good- tile pattern consistent , layout generally looked fine. Then got to the other images. Oi vey!

Ditto^^

There is a good side to this disaster, though, and that is that you’ll never forget the make of the b & w tiles because the bar code is still visible!!
Sammy
5 years ago
This was a complete reno, including demolishing down through the subfloor.

This done not bode well for you. Care to share pics of the other parts of this project?
jellytoast
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It's easy to see why they required 50% before they even began working. I can't imagine anyone willing paying for that after the fact. It's hilarious that they are suggesting caulking as a work-around fix, given the mess they made with the caulk. Whoever wielded that caulking gun should be prevented from ever doing so again.
K R
5 years ago
I don’t have any advice but I love that tile! I hope it all works out for you, so pretty!
saratogaswizzlestick
5 years ago
I shudder to think what is under the tile. Don't pay one more red cent.
Melissa R
5 years ago
most concerning to me would be the shower curb. there will be a ton of water down there and no way is that waterproof!
cartervl
Original Author
5 years ago
Unfortunately, I (very stupidly) gave them the benefit of the doubt since I know nothing about construction. I didn’t start taking photos until I started wondering whether things were wrong. Attaching the two photos I have.
Bri Bosh
5 years ago
That’s a tear out. They didn’t use any waterproofing.
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It’s far worse than you think. Not correct in any form or fashion. Total gut and redo.

Another issue is that it doesn’t look to even be large enough for a legal shower. Can a 30” circle even fit in the interior of that?
torreykm
5 years ago
Oh my. I'm not a pro, but I'm pretty sure there was no waterproofing done here in addition to the other problems. Sadly, I think the whole things gonna have to be torn out.
fidlfreek_justice_4_sophie
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Luckily you got pics! I'm just a homeowner who has seen showers done before. To elaborate: the correct way is to put a special backer board (hardybacker is one) on the walls. Then they come in and do a thing called wet mop on the floor. It's basically a tar like stuff they smear all over the floor. This is the only way to do a shower without a ready made shower pan. Both of these would have been completed prior to any tile being out in. They would also use a lot of special mud stuff to seal up all the edges and seams of the backer board and also even everything out. If it were me I would not pay 50% up front to restart the job. They should give you a complete refund and you should hire someone skilled to do this. It's not just sloppy looking, it's going to mold and leak and ruin not just your bathroom but all adjacent spaces and finishes.
acm
5 years ago
Tear out and start over.

1) waterproofing system, not just cement board.

2) proper tile laying, including making a plan for that outside corner (where the bar code shows) that involves an edging material (or using the white with a bullnose), and proper building of curb.

So, so sorry you're having to deal with this. Your design is gorgeous, so you'll be happy when it's done. On the up-side, catching this now by way of the poor tile work has saved you from wrecking the walls and floor below with inevitable leaks.
roarah
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There may be poly behind the cement board which would be acceptable without a membrane but the seams are not to standards at all. Tub conversions in my area can be under thirty inches if length is 60 according to code. The 30 disc is not always accurate. The 30 is all over, i.e. 27 x27 is not ok but under 30 X 60 is permit-able. but I still would start over with a properly prepped substrate and new installer. Good luck.

code exemption for narrow stalls. 2006 IRCP2708.1 General
Shower compartments shall be not less then 30 inches in minimum dimention measured from the finished interior diamentions of the shower compartment, exclusive of fixture valves, showerheads, soap dishes and safty grab bars or rails.

Exceptions:

2. Shower compartments having not less than 25 inches in minimum dimension measured from the finished interior dimension of the compartment provided that the shower compartment has a minimum of 1,300 square inches or cross sectional area.
millworkman
5 years ago
"There may be poly behind the cement board which would be acceptable without a membrane but the seams are not to standards at all."

Screw pattern does not appeaar correct (or the screw type), and the joints do not appear to be taped. With work that shi**y I would doubt they were smart enough to put poly behind the cement board. Tiling. While. HIgh.. I would have just said intoxicated but they kept working on it for several weeks and offered additional "repair" thought. So they must be high..........................
PRO
AWM Carpentry LLC
5 years ago
I agree with the others of a total redo.

I would hire a tile installer and not a jack of all trades.

As for the money. Use what you didn't pay the first person to pay the new person and if the cost to fix is higher than what you still owe you should ask for a refund to cover the cost to fix. Then the first person will at least be paid for the other things that were done.

Example. A flooring contractor started a railing install for a woman and messed it up a bit. She told him not to finish and we came in to redo it. The floor guy gave her the money back for the railing work and material that had to be replaced but kept the money for the flooring he installed throughout the second floor. Homeowner thought that was fair.
roarah
5 years ago
In many states if there is a contract and you want to with hold or retrive money you must allow the orginal contractor a chance to make it right first. You may still need to pay him or let him make it right before recourse. It is important to look into your rights vs the contractor's. Did you have a GC? They should be handling this mess. Good luck.
User
5 years ago
I'm not in favor of the death penalty, but I could make an exception in this case.
katinparadise
5 years ago
following
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
No water proofing. Tiles are ragged and the amount of caulking is screaming out "I have NO IDEA what I'm doing but I hope no one notices!"

I'm so sorry but this is a redo. And Sophie has a HUGE point...is the space big enough for a shower?

Please stop them IMMEDIATELY and call a professional tile setter and/or a professional kitchen/bath renovation company to come in and have a look.
cartervl
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, everyone. This was what I was afraid of, but it's good to at least have confirmation so I can move forward.

Regarding the shower size--that was the first thing that seemed off to me. The original bathroom had a normal-size bathtub in the exact same location, and the walls in that spot were not supposed to have been moved during this reno. So I am honestly not sure why the shower turned out so small.

I was able to find a few more photos, so I'm attaching some of them, in case anyone sees anything else that my untrained I doesn't see. I'm including the vanity area (which was just redone again based on initial sloppy workmanship)--I think (hope) it's fine now, but would love any inputs if there's something wrong.

I'll be reaching out to new contractors tomorrow to get the shower area assessed. Thanks again, everyone!
cartervl
Original Author
5 years ago
Vanity area photos
cartervl
Original Author
5 years ago
Finished vanity (sorry--having issues with Houzz photo upload)
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
I’m just looking from a phone screen but I’m seriously confused. Is that a P trap installed vertically? What’s happening with the edge detail on the tile where the adjacent wall isn’t dry walled? A roll of shower pan liner is a good sign (?) except it’s cut around a light switch? Is it me?
User
5 years ago
UFB. Sets a new standard. Get all of your materials net back. Hire someone with a clue. It won’t be Mr. 5K Hack.
cartervl
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm also unsure why the sink plumbing was installed that way--good to know that isn't normal. Is there any reason someone would install it that way??

For the edge of the tile by the drywall, they removed the tile that was in that picture and put in pencil trim.

Believe it or not, this was not supposed to be a budget contractor. This was a $16K project from a company with "remodeling" in their name. This entire experience has been beyond frustrating.
chispa
5 years ago
Was that $16k including materials? I paid $27K for just labor for a similar sized bathroom and I wasn't converting a tub to shower. Did they even change out the drain size that needs to be done for a tub to shower conversion?

Are those cement tiles supposed to be used in wet areas?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
5 years ago
Tell them to GTFO. You're not paying any more. Tear it out after it leaks if it ever does.
kudzu9
5 years ago
Unless that vanity drain just had a fitting shoved in it temporarily to keep crap from falling in while they were working -- and then they did it correctly -- it's totally wacko. There is no variation of how a P-trap is assembled that would look like that. Can you post another photo of the finished drain under the sink?
cat_ky
5 years ago
I would have an inspector come in and check everything out, and then hire a new contractor to do the job right. So sorry, you are having all these frustrating problems, and they definitely are problems.
PRO
Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
5 years ago
Your sink plumbing does not appear to be properly vented. Did you have a permit for this remodel?

While the company you hired may be reputable, they may have contracted it out to an unqualified sub. This is why permits and inspections are important, regardless of the faith you have in your contractor.
cpartist
5 years ago
Not only wouldn't I pay them another dime, I'd go to small claims court to at least get whatever the maximum allowed back is.

And you don't want another contractor. You want a tile expert. Go to a quality tile store near you and ask for recommendations. Then read up on what a good tile job requires and be armed to ask them questions.
User
5 years ago
https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
"what’s happening with the edge detail on the tile where the adjacent wall isn’t dry walled? A roll of shower pan liner is a good sign (?) except it’s cut around a light switch? Is it me? PVC"

PVC pan liners can be used as waterproofing behind CBU! yep even though your gonna put fasteners thru it.. Youll often find novice installers attempting to use it on benchs, niches and even walls. For many years in the 80's-90's using a pan liner on the pan floor, walls and ceiling was A standard steam shower detail.

No point in even commenting on this install though....Oh my.