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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

55 replies

DemiBourbon · 02/09/2020 17:35

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Newnamenewopenme · 03/09/2020 13:55

Stop trying to pay him 😂 have you got more tiles? Can you get someone else in to redo just that wall? My tiler went over our old tiles because it was a smoother base than bare wall so it might be easier for them!

randomsabreuse · 03/09/2020 14:02

I had a difficult wall plus not level window/floor. My tiler asked what I wanted to do as a compromise, and advised me how to make it look ok (basically plan not to have tiny bits of tile anywhere) he also used a level to set the row above the bottom row, then did the bottom row after that. Was impressed by how good he made it look given what he started with.

Tiling is difficult - your guy sounds like he deserves what he gets on reviews - keep a dated note confirming that he refused payment though!

NoImNotPregnant · 03/09/2020 14:04

@Newnamenewopenme

Stop trying to pay him 😂 have you got more tiles? Can you get someone else in to redo just that wall? My tiler went over our old tiles because it was a smoother base than bare wall so it might be easier for them!
I agree with this!

You've saved yourself the £££ for the three walls you're happy with. Sack him off, and get someone else in to finish the job 👍🏻

housemdwaswrong · 03/09/2020 14:08

How strange! He sounds a little unwell.

Well, you've offered, and have proof in a text, and now you're free to get someone in to sort it. Result!

LakieLady · 03/09/2020 14:10

Pisspoor job imo. My property developer BIL is a tiler by trade, and he is adamant that a proper tiler never uses the spacer things. He says that the way to do it is to make it look straight by subtly varying the spacing between the tiles.

His work is fantastic, even on really old houses riddled with wonkiness.

I'd get someone decent to do it OP, and deduct the cost from the shonky tiler's bill.

FraughtwithGin · 03/09/2020 14:12

You have my sympathy as I do not have a straight anything in my house.
If you are satisfied with the other 3 walls, why not pay him 75% of the price?
By his reaction I think he knows he botched the final wall.
We found that we had to take a "management decision" on a straight line to work from. We chose areas that would be in our line of sight, so guideline determined and worked from. Meant that there were some fiddly bits of cutting/fitting in places, but overall it worked quite well.

singersarp · 03/09/2020 14:20

To be fair that's nothing like level and the tile choice is poor as it's going to show off just how wonky the window and wall are. He should have communicated better with you but equally you're going to have a tough time with those tiles and wall/window. You do sound like you were hassling him when he was just trying to get his stuff and leave. He clearly isn't good at communicating and now he's just lost a few days pay.

user1494055864 · 03/09/2020 14:24

Maybe his wife is a mumsnetter Grin

msbevvy · 03/09/2020 14:29

I agree, stop trying to pay him.
You will have to buy a whole load of new tiles and pay someone to remove the bodged job before you can get it retiled properly

RozHuntleysStump · 03/09/2020 14:29

Christ that’s terrible. Stop trying to give him money. You’re already going to have to buy more tiles.

I think you should have got some remedial building work done before tiling. He should have said something.

billy1966 · 03/09/2020 14:30

Awful job and his behaviour was extremely threatening.

No way would I be paying him, more like reporting him for pushing his way into your son's bedroom.

He sounds like a thug.

Hope you are ok.Flowers

MarshaBradyo · 03/09/2020 14:34

Don’t pay him. Don’t ask him to come back for it either!

Original poster
DemiBourbon · 03/09/2020 14:34

@singersarp I was definitely not hassling him, more like standing there dumbfounded while he had a major strop in my sleeping son’s room Smile And it’s his choice not to accept payment, there’s not a lot more I could have done to remain polite tbh.

That’s all I expected he would do @randomsabreuse
To just discuss it with me and do the best he could to minimise the wonkiness, I wish I had your tiler Sad

I’ve taken off the offending tiles which came off with ease and can all be reused as it turns out he had used grout not the adhesive I’d supplied to fix them to the wall (no sign of the 3 buckets of adhesive I’d bought).

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 03/09/2020 14:36

Where did you find this guy?! I would be worried about the quality of the rest of his work.

Clymene · 03/09/2020 14:39

Is he actually a tiler. Confused

Reallybadidea · 03/09/2020 14:43

If he hasn't used adhesive then isn't the whole lot going to need redoing?

RozHuntleysStump · 03/09/2020 14:46

He attached them to the wall with grouting?! Omg

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 03/09/2020 14:52

You sure it's just adhesive? Some products you can use it for both - think Mapei do some (expensive mind)

Well obviously communication isn't his strong point, awful behaviour.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 03/09/2020 15:01

Actually from looking at the pictures again it looks like he put the adhesive on so it runs vertically as well - where did you find this guy?

Original poster
DemiBourbon · 03/09/2020 15:09

He was recommended by a friend and the work he did for them was great. Tbh, the other 3 wall are great so maybe he can only tile flat walls?

OP posts:
PopsicleHustler · 03/09/2020 15:10

Do not let him back in your home again. He sounds extremely rude, aggressive and very unprofessional. Get someone else that comes with good reviews. Checkatrade and the like

PopsicleHustler · 03/09/2020 15:12

I just cannot believe it. I wouldn't even pay him when he couldn't give a hoot about your children and effing and blinding like that. Unbelievable!

liveitwell · 03/09/2020 15:16

That's a proper botch job.

He clearly isn't a professional, doesn't look like he knows what he's doing at all. Doing bother getting him back as he won't do any better. I'd say you're not happy with the job and will pay him a nominal charge for his effort. Then get someone else in. We're having our tiling done atm and I wouldn't accept yours in a heartbeat (although would have sorted that wall out first, that little ledge/lip looks strange)

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 03/09/2020 15:19

@DemiBourbon

He was recommended by a friend and the work he did for them was great. Tbh, the other 3 wall are great so maybe he can only tile flat walls?
He's going to struggle being a tiler then - it's a rare house that is level and even!
BoomBoomsCousin · 03/09/2020 17:28

The other walls may look great, but if he hasn’t used adhesive, they aren’t going to last long are they?