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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect the same standard of work?

19 replies

goldrabbit22 · 24/09/2020 17:39

We've waited over two years to have our kitchen floor re tiled, living with messy, cracked ceramic tiles which made the kitchen so scruffy.

When we hired the tiler we told him we wanted the areas under the washing machine and the fridge all tiled as well, right to the back and bought more than enough tiles and grout to cover the job.

On the day he finished the job I was surprised to see the washer and fridge freezer back in place as I would have expected them not to have been put back for a few days to allow the tile adhesive and grout to dry properly.

I then noticed as I looked along the side of the washer I could see 'bare' untiled floor along the outer edges so I pulled the washer out.

There was a cracked tile, loose tiles where they'd come unstuck and messy uneven bare untiled edges on both left and right sides.

The area under the fridge freezer seemed ok until I looked closer and saw the same bare edge and then tiles that had no grout at all.

Obviously we've complained and he's coming back to, hopefully, do it properly.

The thing is, I get the impression he thinks we are complaining over nothing as these are areas that you can't really see so does it really matter? He's not actually said this but I get that vibe.

I think it's irrelevant whether you can see them or not , they should be as good a standard as the area of floor that you can see.

He has made a good job of the rest of the floor so he CAN tile which makes it even more perplexing. I would have thought he would have more pride in his work if nothing else and want to do a good job,

He has really fantastic reviews on line and to be honest I can't say our whole experience of him was that great - he's done another job as well at the same time.

We did not get the job done cheap, we paid what we understand is a reasonable rate for size and type of job.

Am I really just being too fussy just wanted the standard to be good all over?

OP posts:
Whataroyalannoyance · 24/09/2020 17:41

You asked and paid for a specific job. That included those areas. Of course you arent being unreasonable.

goldrabbit22 · 24/09/2020 17:46

Whataroyalannoyance

Looking at it it does seem a ridiculous question. We don't have many workmen in as I tend to do a lot of painting and decorating myself and I'm not used to dealing with workmen. His attitude was puzzlement bordering on indignation that I wasn't happy and it's made me question myself, especially as he has so many glowing reviews!

OP posts:
OldEvilOwl · 24/09/2020 17:49

Of course he was unreasonable, what if you decided to move the fridge freezer or sold the house? it should have been done properly from the start

Codexdivinchi · 24/09/2020 17:50

Yep we had a tiler do this once. He then fitted the kitchen work top over it. I couldn’t get the fucking washing machine out with out breaking the worktop.

Lazy bastards

Runnerduck34 · 24/09/2020 17:51

He's trying it on, you are right to ask for it to be sorted

goldrabbit22 · 24/09/2020 17:54

Yep we had a tiler do this once. He then fitted the kitchen work top over it. I couldn’t get the fucking washing machine out with out breaking the worktop

just why?? Especially these days with online reviews???

OP posts:
BadDucks · 24/09/2020 17:57

Yeah he’s taking this piss we’ve just had all our downstairs flooring done and purposely had it fitted under all the kitchen cupboards and appliances and took out the downstairs toilet and sink so they could sit on top. Which means if we change things the flooring doesn’t need redoing.
The previous owners only tiled around appliances which was a pain in the arse

Waveifyouknowme · 24/09/2020 18:00

Are the glowing reviews on check a trade? If so check a trade works for the tradesman who pays to advertise with them not the customer, they can and do remove or not publish bad reviews

goldrabbit22 · 24/09/2020 18:04

I forgot to mention, he has also damaged the look of two of the baseboards that he had to remove to tile under the kitchen units, with chunks broken of the front layer. I will have to put wood filler on them, sand them and paint them.

As I said, we rarely have workmen in, and one of the reasons is that out of the half a dozen we've had in over the years, every single time they have done some kind of damage to the house, minor and cosmetic but still damage, that we have to sort out.

I don't know if this is usual or we are just unlucky!! Confused

OP posts:
goldrabbit22 · 24/09/2020 18:08

Are the glowing reviews on check a trade? If so check a trade works for the tradesman who pays to advertise with them not the customer, they can and do remove or not publish bad reviews

Wow! No it's not them but I did not know that. He came recommended by word of mouth - they say that's the best way!! These reviews were on yell.com

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 24/09/2020 18:09

If you’ve paid for the entire floor to be tiled it’s entirely reasonable to expect it all to be done to the same standard. It’s not acceptable for him to think he can cut corners on the bits you can’t see.

dotty12345 · 24/09/2020 18:25

I worked for an electrical contractors for years and Check a Trade sell the jobs to the highest bidder. They are charlatans of the highest order and take around 15% of the quoted price thereby driving costs up.

Pembsgirl · 24/09/2020 19:36

Sadly you're not the only one that this sort of thing happens to, which when you think about it, makes it even worse! Where we live it seems a vast number of so called 'tradesmen', want to do the job the quickest way possible, and if that means cutting corners they do. Then when you do finally get a tradesman that takes a pride in his work, and you get what you were really hoping for, you end up feeling like you ought to pay them double, just for doing the job properly! As far as this bloke's concerned, make sure he finishes under the washing machine etc, as nicely as he's done the bits on view, as not everyone wants a built in kitchen these days, so as you say, if you don't do the whole floor, the next person who comes in, has to change the whole thing when they really should have to. Also, tiling right under things makes it much easier when it comes to pulling them out to clean under/behind on the odd occasion, ie, when the repairman comes, lol.

ilovepuppies2019 · 24/09/2020 19:40

What if you bought different sized appliances that allowed the untiled area to be seen? I wouldn't be happy with this OP. Were the appliances out of the tiling area before he began the job? I'm just wondering if it was too heavy to move so he tiled around the areas. This doesn't sound good enough.

Burnthurst187 · 24/09/2020 19:49

I wouldn't read too much in to reviews online. I know two businesses that have great reviews and they're all from friends and family. Fake

goldrabbit22 · 25/09/2020 09:03

@Pembsgirl

Yes, this was part of the reason we wanted the tiles all over - dirt and crumbs kept gathering along the side and was difficult to sweep them out due to narrowness of gap and uneven floor surface.

@ilovepuppies2019

Yes, he moved the fridge and washer totally out of the way and then moved them back so no problems there. I really don't get it!

OP posts:
goldrabbit22 · 25/09/2020 09:05

@Burnthurst187

I think I am naive as have generally used reviews as a guide. Obviously, not worth a jot! It explains why they're not bothered about a BAD review then as they can just get positive reviews to dilute them and make them seem unreasonable.

OP posts:
msbevvy · 25/09/2020 09:33

You are not unreasonable at all. If the tiles and grouting aren't done properly under the washing machine it could cause more problems if the machine were to leak.

Livelovebehappy · 25/09/2020 09:40

YANBU. What happens if you want to rearrange your kitchen at some point, and those tiles under the fridge might be more exposed? Don’t worry about him returning to do the work, and him being arsey. He’s not a friend, just someone you’re paying to do a job. Once the work is done you will never have to see him again.

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