To ask for urgent help re a tradesman

[LilyMyOneAndOnly]

Sorry if I leave out any details but I'm rushing to post this before leaving for work!!

We are building a house extension atm and the upright elevations are tiled on the top half. Our tilers have been on site for a couple of days last week and are about 50% complete with the works. At the weekend we went up on the scaffolding to have a look at what they had done so far and for one third of the house they have used reclaimed tiles that don't even match!! They are all different shades, textures and covered in mud! They have ordered new tiles for the rest of the house which are currently sat on our drive way.

I called the tilers and left a message to say that the old tiles they have used are unacceptable and they have emailed me this morning to say that at no time did they say they would use all new tiles and if I want new all the way round it will cost us more! I have checked the quote and it doesn't specify old or new.. but at no time in all our conversations and the site visit did he ever mention using reclaimed (un-matching) tiles for a part of the extension!!

I have called and left a message for them to call me asap.. but I guess I'd like to ask if anyone knows if I have leg to stand on as the quote doesn't specify one way or another? The original quote was around £3000 so I dread to think how much more they are going to try and charge us.

Any advice very gratefully received!!!

[Solasum]

Will it definitely be visible or noticeable from ground level? Mud will wash off of course.

[Trickydecision]

Are the reclaimed tiles visible only if you climb the scaffolding? If they can't be seen normally I would not be too bothered. But if they can.....sorry can't give useful advice on how to proceed but I would be annoyed too. After all, if a bathroom was involved would he give you a reclaimed bath because you did not specify new? Or a reclaimed anything?

[LilyMyOneAndOnly]

Yes the side they have done them in is on the road side, so the only section of the extension that is visible to the public! It is more the face that they are different colours and textures.. the rest of our house has plain grey tiles and these are all shades from grey to light brown.. it looks awful!

[CountingThePennies]

Have you paid him any money?

[Icimoi]

You probably have an argument that it is so obvious that tiles need to match that you shouldn't have to specify - i.e. it's an implied term of the contract. However, I don't know enough about building practice and law and you might need to contact a lawyer who practises in that area.

[Tyzer85]

I would have thought that the type of tiles would have been agreed and priced up before the work started, are they a reputable outfit?

[SistersOfPercy]

Is he working from an architectural drawing? Usually in the notes on the drawing it will state something like 'tiles and brickwork to match existing'. If he's priced from this drawing then he's at fault.

[LilyMyOneAndOnly]

No we haven't paid them for this work yet (they did our roof too - no problem and that has been paid for). Yes they are reputable.. came recommended to us by family who are in the building trade.

Just spoken to him and he is saying that that is what they priced for and if I want new tiles it will be a higher price. I have asked for the original quote to be broken down into labour charges, price per tile for the new tiles and price per tile for the old ones. Been out and counted them.. we have about 400 old tiles and 1000 new ones.

[lapetitesiren]

Is the issue that they are reclaimed or the wrong colour. Maybe they would be willing to change them for a better colour match if you asked.

[FlyingSpud]

Have shown this to DH who is a tradesman (not a tiler) and he says that although you are going to have some challenges as new tiles weren't specified in the contract, the easiest way to get this resolved is to put a large banner on the side of your house advertising the name and contact details of your tiler. Highlight their shit job using an arrow or suchlike.

I hope you get it sorted quickly.