To not pay tiler until he’s fixed a botched job?

[DemiBourbon]

We’ve had our bathroom tiled over the last few days and the majority of the tiling is to a good standard. However, one section is absolutely horrific, big gaps, bits of trim cobbled together, tiles really sloping etc. I’m thinking of telling him I will only pay once it’s fixed. AIBU?

I’ve marked a line in black along the tiles using a spirit level showing how much they’re out of line.

Yep that doesn’t look great. Definitely don’t pay until you’re happy.

My sympathies. Thing is you’ll have to buy more tiles. They don’t just come off in one piece. I threw out a bad tiler once and refused to pay. Had to get someone else.

YANBU they need sorting out

That is truly dreadful workmanship. Put you concerns in writing or email to him immediately and be specific what you want rectifying

@RozHuntleysStump how far did he get with the tiling before you threw him out?

I’ve just messaged him to say that whole section probably needs to come off and all the edges will need trims. I hate anything like this

Some more of the offending section

Yeh it looks awful, I’d be amazed and concerned if he can’t see it needs sorting

Yeah that's bad. Don't pay a penny and if he's that bad don't let him do any more! Get somebody else in.

It looks like it's because your wall/window frame isn't parallel. See how the tiles are perfectly neat at the window side (right of picture) but the gap between the tiles and the wall near the left of the picture has uneven gaps. I think however the tiles had done that wall the unevenness of the wall would have shown up some how.

@Wanderer1 yeah, the wall isn’t the best but he’s not used any trim, put in a tile with a big chip out of it etc. I do have some tolerance for wonkiness but it’s just a bit too much for me. I feel like if he didn’t think he could make it look acceptable he should have discussed it with us beforehand. It’s just generally untidy as well. I’ll have to see what he says tomorrow.

Probably a daft question, but have you checked that the walls in there are actually vertical, and the windowsill totally horizontal? Because they too look quite a way out to me.

Snap with the tiles by the way, we have the same ones, done last week.

About halfway. He wasn’t using spacers or a level. It was floor tiles. We had a big row and he left. God I was so pissed off. I hate having people in now. It’s so stressful.

I had a very unfortunate painter and decorator who insisted on being paid cash upfront. The work was shoddy. I told him I was reporting him to trading standards and HMRC and he gave me my money back. Do not pay. Get somebody else if necessary. Cheap always costs in the end.

It looks like it would be better off bringing the wall into line with the rest of the tiling before redoing it, don’t know what the best thing to use but surely it would be straightforward for him?

The walls are a little bit out, as I say, I can tolerate a certain amount of unavoidable wonkiness but I just think he couldn’t be arse once he got to this bit.

@RozHuntleysStump I know, it’s so stressful!

I actually feel like having a go myself. As the rest is ok, if he says he can’t do any better what do I say? Do I deduct something from the bill?

I don't understand the bit next to the window with the extra trim, is that recessed for a reason? Either way that's a really poor job for a professional and that's from someone whose only has experience tiling my own bathroom.

Personally if I were him before beginning the job I'd have suggested to build that recess out so it's flush with the rest of the wall and then tile - would have made the job way easier for him!

In all honesty, it might look better once it's been grouted.

Why don't you just have a chat with him about it and see what he says.

Putting on a chipped tile is really unacceptable, that alone would make me phone him!

@bluecoffeecups I just feel like, even thou the wall might be wonky, it shouldn’t stop someone applying the tile using a spirit level iyswim.

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter

I don't understand the bit next to the window with the extra trim, is that recessed for a reason? Either way that's a really poor job for a professional and that's from someone whose only has experience tiling my own bathroom.

Personally if I were him before beginning the job I'd have suggested to build that recess out so it's flush with the rest of the wall and then tile - would have made the job way easier for him!

Explained it better than I did - it is only recessed by a small bit, he needs to pad it out with something to bring it into line

He’s put a tile up that’s chipped

I wouldn’t pay til he’s fixed it.

Did you speak to him? Hope it’s getting sorted. I’ve got people tiling in my house too at the moment but they’re doing a good job. Probably because I’m always watching them.

It looks a mess, although it also looks like it is a very difficult area and your walls are wonky.

@RozHuntleysStump he did come this morning. I’m still in shock. This is how it went:

Knock on door at 8.45
Me - Hi, you ok? Come in and I’ll show you which bit I mean.
Follows me upstairs.
Me - I’m more than happy with the other 3 walls but you can see the bit I mean over the toilet.
Him - It’s the wall, there’s nothing I can do about it. I just want my stuff and to get out of here.
Me - Do you not want to discuss it then? Do you want me to just pay you for the bit I’m happy with?
Him - I just want my stuff, I don’t want anything from you (starts to go into my son’s bedroom where his stuff is being kept).
Me - Stop, my son’s asleep in there! ( I open door so I can get stuff, he pushes past me and begins to shout and swear and call me condescending).
Me - stop swearing, my son’s in here!
Him - you fucking messed me around with the dates anyway! (Lockdown happened)
Me - what?? Do you want paying or not?
Him - I don’t fucking want anything from you.
Me - do you really want me to leave you a review of this?
Him - leave me a fucking review (storms downstairs and out of the door)

I’ve sent him this message, just so he can’t say I’ve not offered to pay:

‘I have offered to pay you a proportion of your fee based on the 3 walls I’m happy with. Come to collect your money if you wish. The way you behaved by storming into my sleeping son’s room and shouting and swearing is totally unacceptable and I would ask you to think about this. He is very shaken. He is only 9 years old. My 4 year old also heard you. I have been more than accommodating and have given you the opportunity to rectify the untidy section’.