Dodgy tiling, need advice

[user1494849703]

Hi folks, I'm getting my bathroom done and stupidly went with the cheapest price...I know, huge mistake. I've had him rectify lots of things I wasn't happy with but left with two issues. He took the additional facings off from round my window And said he could make it nicer and have been left with a mess. Also it looks to me like there will be a gap between the tiles and the bath panel when it arrives. Any advice?

It’s not very clear what you are talking about from the photos

You’re not in Lancashire are you. Know the feeling. Guy who had done previous work for us completely did us over on our bathroom and did a bunk. Had to sort it ourselves as nobody else would touch it. What was the window originally like? And re the bath and tiles you should be ok with grout maybe or cork has definitely been our friend.. but it’s hard to see x

Is the frame wood or plastic?

Hi Folks, so sorry for not getting back to you. Things have been hectic. I really do appreciate the responses. So the bathroom is almost finished and I have asked him not to come back and held back £50 of payment as I now need to buy a blind for my window which I wasn't planning on doing as I am in an upper cottage flat and its a small window and I need to get a joiner to make and replace the door facings he said he had that were brand new.

Below are some better photos of the tiling. Its hard to get a good pic of the uneven-ness if that makes sense. I just want a sanity check that I am right that its not a good finish as he is not happy and threatened me with legal action for Libel......

Basically with the window, he took most of the UPVC facings that the glaziers used to make the window look better (previous dodgy tiling) off and said he could make it better then couldn't and there was a gap at the top of the window he said was too small to tile. He said he bought new facings and they are uneven and he is saying its my Glaziers fault.

Rest of pics

Sorry for duplicates will try to get them taken down.

I'm not sure what you aren't happy with - it looks ok. I can only see one tile being very slightly off. And the gap between tiles and bath panel will presumably get sealed?

I agree that the tiling isn't very professional. Your photos show the issues clearly. I can't tell what the issues are with the window to be honest. If the window isn't true then there are limits to what can be achieved and it may be that that's the best result possible.

I would contact another tiler and get a quote for putting things right. Then send the original tiler a letter before action with photos showing the problem and ask him for your money back or you'll pursue him for the cost of putting it right. Don't forget the cost of replacement tiles and you'll need to see if you can match the batch number or potentially the whole lot will need to be replaced.

Try your bank and card company to see if you can recall payments made due to the issues.

Shuggas, I am sorry you had a bad experience too. It's gutting after spending all that money and the time it takes. I hope you have got yours how you want it now. Dx

Hi Jojo, it is very difficult to see from the photo's but there is a lip on maybe a quarter of the tiles as they sit further out. Grout line thickness differs and the + sections are all off. Also the window he has made the tiles sit at an angle so on one side of the window frame the plastic face sticks out further than the original and on the other side its not as far as the original one. I can cover that with a blind which will solve it.

Thanks wowfudge, he doesn't have a company as such he works in B&Q and does the jobs as homers. He keeps telling me that his work is excellent and that I am just using it as an excuse to keep £50. I will need to live with it as I can't afford to have it re-done. He's offered to come back up and look at it but I've said no. I honestly don't want him back in my house. He's already had 3 attempts to make things right and I just want to move on. I am terrible for complaining and then feeling really guilty so wanted someone elses opinion as I live on my own.
Thanks,

What does it matter that he doesn't have a company and he works in B&Q? Irrelevant to you pursuing your money back from him, whether through the courts or via your bank. Your letter before action will threaten to take him to the small claims court. The fact you have given him the opportunity to rectify his errors and he hasn't fixed it to your satisfaction goes in your favour.

I think because I've said in a text today that I don't want him to come back again even when he's offering to look at them means I can't do that? He kept texting quoting conversations saying that I said it was excellent work. I continually replied stating that I did not say that and wouldn't as it not. He said he now has my texts stating that I won't allow him to try to rectify. Its all making my head hurt I've always rented before this place and didn't have to deal with this stuff.

I really appreciate your advice.

Thanks,

Dx

I actually think he's a bit delusional. He said he hadn't made a mess of my house and I sent him pictures of uncovered saws lying in the middle of my living room floor along with piles of tools I had to climb over to get into my bedroom. Following that debacle he left another uncovered saw in the hall the next night. And I have a cat. Then I told him I wasn't happy with the overall finish and he chose not to hear that and asked if I would recommend him as I was pleased with his work....

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I'd be furious.

To have tiles flush and level with even consistent spacing is a basic expected standard.

If you want to draw a line under it then send an email or letter and point out the faults supported by photographs. If you can't get a photo of the bevelled tiles, you could hold a spirit level along them and that will show how much they're out by.

See if you can get a recommendation for a good experienced handy man. They maybe able to fix the window frame area and use filler/mastics/caulk to neaten up any gaps.

Don't let the tiler bully you as he's obviously done a rubbish job. His threats of libel are just that and it's not libel if what you are saying is actually true.

He works in B&Q and has done your job as a homer? What does that mean? The finish you should expect depends on whether you've paid for a professional tiler or a cash in hand tax dodging cowboy doing a homer.

Thanks Deux.

Weallhavewings. I just meant that I didn't have the usual comeback as it was a homer. I totally have learned my lesson not to get a homer again. I made a mistake and went for the cheapest and got a cheap finish. I wanted to make my money go further and regret it now.

Deux I think I will send the email once I get some better photos with a level as you suggested, thanks for that. Disappointed and licking my wounds a bit but once all the other bits are done it will be nice.

Thanks for confirming he's being a bully cos I was doubting myself.

You were expecting a professional finish and were lead to believe he could deliver on that. Not all tradesmen doing homers are bodgers but I think the mistake here was that he wasn't a professional doing some extra work, just a rubbish amateur. I think that's evident in that he didn't know how to deal with the window.

Don't beat yourself up and just use it as a lesson for the future. Once you get the gaps filled and finished off it won't be so bad and you can enjoy your bathroom. I'm sure no one else will notice.

Chin up.

Thanks Deux. I really appreciate you being so gentle with your advice as I am feeling like an idiot. Although the straightalking responses were very true.

Chin is up and I am buying some new nice things for my bathroom. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read and respond.

Dx