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Please talk me down - tile disaster!!

15 replies

Janicejaniceahmfallin · 17/06/2020 11:50

Before I start I should say I do know this is a first world problem and I’m being ridiculous, but ...

We’ve been living in a building site now for 2 and a half years. It’s been a right old slog, including being ripped off by cowboy builders, nearly bankrupting ourselves and having just about everything possible go wrong.

Cut to now, and after 3 months of zero progress we’ve got one guy back on site (socially distanced!) and are finally getting to second fix and all the ‘nice’ bits, finishes, decorating etc.

We managed to get hold of some beautiful natural stone bathroom tiles at a bargain price on the basis we knew we’d have to hand sort them because of the massive colour variation. It took me AGES to sort it all and calculate where each one needed to go, and I knew we’d be left with three boxes of dark tiles.

I then, for some unknown reason, told the tiler to start with completely the wrong boxes (prob due to chronic insomnia as I’m squeezed between my ill parents and my struggling teenagers, so spend most of my nights worrying about various family members - I’m not so much of a princess that tiles are my biggest problem!).

By the time I realised, it was way too late to do anything about it. So I now have three boxes of beautiful, hand sorted white tiles left over, and a big ugly band of dark grey running right around what was supposed to be my gorgeous, pale, dream bathroom.

I know it’s idiotic but I can’t seem to let go of how sad and stupid it makes me feel every time I walk in there - like a bloody great metaphor for futility, all that wasted time and effort and money and I’ve ended up with the exact thing I absolutely didn’t want. I’m just afraid now to even think about all the million and one decisions I’ve got to make in the next few months and the potential for everything to end up being a bit shit no matter how hard I try. And after everything we’ve been through, this was supposed to be the fun, exciting bit!

I need to give my head a wobble, don’t I?

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sorryiasked · 17/06/2020 12:49

If it's bothering you that much, and is always going to spoil the room for you then get them relaid.

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LadyFeliciaMontague · 17/06/2020 12:52

Agree with pp. if it’s making you this miserable then have them relaid.

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Slightlydustcovered · 17/06/2020 13:00

Oh I'm sorry op, yes the tiles would get me too. More so as you put the effort in to sorting them. Best case is it's not that bad and because you know it you notice it but it becomes livable. Worst case you sort it out. You don't need to do it now just put the tiles to one side and come back to it when you have a bit more energy. I am currently going through a renovation I am sure I will make calls I later wish to change, I am not a professional so am not going to beat myself up. Try to enjoy it - it really isn't the end of the world if not perfect. Also please send this back to me when I post the same thing in the next few months Grin

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BuzzShitbagBobbly · 17/06/2020 13:02

Kill two birds with one stone and take out your rage on the dark tiles by chipping them off the wall; and as pp say - replace them with the ones you really want.

Think about what you'll regret more - the relatively inconsequential extra time and £; or having to look at the EVERY SINGLE DAY (and disposing of the nice ones too?)

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Ernieshere · 17/06/2020 13:05

Re do them.

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Jojobythesea · 17/06/2020 13:11

I feel for you. We had limestone tiles in our bathroom. I cleaned the bathroom a week after it was finished and it took all the sheen off them in big squirt patches. I actually cried. We then had to squirt and rub off the sheen on the entire bathroom so they all looked the same 😭

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GreyishDays · 17/06/2020 13:14

Can you replace just the dark bit with something different but paler? Or does that not help?

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CottonSock · 17/06/2020 13:16

Get it fixed. I had to change things on our build I got wrong e.g sink ridiculous size.

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poisson428 · 17/06/2020 13:19

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justkeepmovingon · 17/06/2020 13:27

Get them taken off now and get the right ones back on.. it's never about the tiles, you sound so tired and stressed and for the sake of your sanity I'd be getting it fixed!

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Pinkywoo · 17/06/2020 13:33

Just get them to change it, DH is a tiler and customers change their mind all the time, as long as you pay for any extra days they work I'm sure it won't be a problem.

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Janicejaniceahmfallin · 17/06/2020 14:35

Thanks everyone. I’d love to change them but we’re on such a ridiculously tight budget I just can’t afford to waste money on the labour it’ll take to get them replaced, plus all the mess and grief (they’re already grouted, room is nearly finished). But it’s a great idea to hang onto the good ones and maybe do something a bit further down the line. I know I’m being stupid - venting has made me feel a bit better, so thank you.

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VenusClapTrap · 17/06/2020 21:03

Oh op, I do feel for you. It’s so easy to make mistakes like that. I spent weeks making mood boards and planning my bathrooms to the nth degree, agonising over every detail and drawing careful scale drawings on graph paper for the builders. Then when I came to order the tiles, I was tired and ordered the wrong bloody ones. Idiot. I’m stuck with them now. 🙄

Also the decorators hung dd’s wallpaper upside down. It’s supposed to be vines trailing down from the ceiling, but instead it looks like a privet hedge growing up from the floor. The decorators offered to redo it, but Dh can’t face more upheaval and dd days she doesn’t mind, so I’m stuck with that too. But every time I walk into her room I think UPSIDE DOWN.

I’m trying to get it into perspective. 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Casino218 · 17/06/2020 21:37

Just get them redone otherwise it will drive you nuts.

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Janicejaniceahmfallin · 17/06/2020 23:08

Oh god, Jojo and Venus, I really feel for you! At the end of the day it’s just stuff, isn’t it, but it’s still your home and it’s frigging demoralising after putting in the effort to try to make it nice.

You’re right, perspective is definitely the key - when you get yours could you send me some?!

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