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Original poster

Please help me tell my lovely builder that he has got the tiles wrong.

40 replies

loveka · 23/12/2018 13:38

My builder tiled the floor in my annexe (It will be a holiday let) wrong. When I showed him the tiles initially he said the tiles would be uneven to walk on because they are chipped edge slate.

I said that they shouldn't be, and showed him the picture.

He then said he knew what to do. I went to work and came back 5 days later and they are a mess. He has got them lying evenly, but the grouting is too wide and very bumpy. They look a mess.

The whole project has cost an absolute bomb.

I mentioned it to him on the phone and he said "I did tell you it would be uneven".

I am happy with everything else, and he has done loads of work for us in the past, all great. He is starting on our (dream) kitchen in January.

I just don't know how to approach it. We live in a tiny village. He is a great builder.

But he clearly didn't know how to lay these tiles.

How do I approach it? Any advice welcome. Thanks.

OP posts:

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 23/12/2018 20:44

It sounds like he tried to tell you it might be a problem and you instructed him to forge ahead. To be honest after that advice from him you could/should not have gone away for a week without a progressive report, pictures etc. If you work away you can’t help it but it does really seem like he tried to forewarn you it might not work out. I don’t think he’s in the wrong here .... you may just need to suck up and pay for the changes if you need them.

Original poster

loveka · 23/12/2018 21:12

Yes, he did warn me but that was because he thought he couldn't get them to sit flat on the ground.

He then said he realised how to do it, after I sent him pictures.

This is what gets me about builders. I can't instruct him how to do his job. I have no understanding of how to tile, or grout or anything. But then when things go wrong the client always gets the blame, in my experience.

I mean surely these tiles wouldn't be made if it is impossible for them to look like the picture?

My kitchen design is based on using the same tiles which I can't now.

OP posts:

SeaSandLandSky · 23/12/2018 21:12

I wouldn't grout on top of grout, as there needs to be a 'key' for it to grip. Without it the top layer would easily work loose as it's walked on over time.

The other reason I forgot to mention re the 'channel' in the grout. This can be caused by too much water added into the mix when making it up.
If the ratio of water to grout isn't correct thus making the mix not firm enough, as the water evaporates during drying, the grout will sink creating a channel.

Oh, and if there are lumps in the grout then it's not been mixed correctly.

SeaSandLandSky · 23/12/2018 21:15

Yes, he did warn me but that was because he thought he couldn't get them to sit flat on the ground

He then said he realised how to do it, after I sent him pictures

Red flags waved for me when I read that OP - he's a builder you say, not a tiler.

pepperjack · 23/12/2018 22:50

The grout is wider
They don't look bad
You could find a darker grout and it wouldn't be as obvious

RCohle · 23/12/2018 23:53

Other than the grout being wider, they look the same to me OP. I think it would be helpful to post a better quality photo of your titles so we can see more clearly what your concerns are.

I have learnt from bitter experience that if a builder etc says they aren't really sure how to do something or they appear anything less than totally familiar with the task , don't ever let them go ahead. There were some huge red flags here.

sbplanet · 24/12/2018 11:02

Show pictures and speak to the 'tile shop' see if they have any advice that you can pass on to the builder?

Is the new kitchen going over the new tiles? If so then if you want it changed you better just say so, maybe get a different tiler in and suck up the cost. If they're not under the new kitchen then leave it until that's done and then get it 'fixed'?

A real dilemma for you but I think you have to discuss it with your builder face to face.

Mummy0ftwo12 · 24/12/2018 18:05

So there does appear to be one heck of a gap between your tiles OP, and obviously different finish tiles to the one in your second picture.

I think taking photos to the tile supplier and asking them what they think might be useful, otherwise i think accept that your kitchen fitter / builder is not also a full time specialist at tiling.

Kitchens are expensive, i would think carefully about this

FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 24/12/2018 19:25

It looks like the tiles are much further apart in your version than in your second photo. Has he said why that is?
I’ve had tiling done by a general builder and we always discuss spacing and grout colour beforehand.

Bluesheep8 · 27/12/2018 08:20

As pps have asked, why is the grout so very wide? It seems to be at least double the width it should be. I hate to see wide grout like that to be honest as it always gets filthy and marked.

MillyMolly123 · 27/12/2018 21:51

OP, you pic is rather blurry, but from what I can make out, they don’t look too bad (IMO).

If you hadn’t mentioned anything I don’t think I’d have noticed. The gaps are somewhat wider than the norm, but I quite like it (and I’m a notorious perfectionist).

I tend to find that I micro scrutinise all works carried out by tradesmen for the first few weeks, spotting every flaw and letting them all magnify in my mind. After a few weeks that all dies down and I start to appreciate how lovely it all looks. So, my bet is that you’ll stop noticing soon and grow to appreciate the fab new floor you have.

pinkdelight · 27/12/2018 23:41

I'd also get a second opinion from a tiler. When a builder did our kitchen he got a tiler in to do the tiling. As you're spending so much on it, I would've expected some expertise not a generalist who needed you to give him pointers. I think when he was warning you about it that's when you should have gone another route but as it stands I'd not take it further with him - see what a tiler can do or live with it if you can. It doesn't look bad, just not what you wanted.

FingerlingUnderling · 29/12/2018 12:42

If he could not get the tiles to sit evenly, did you discuss putting down a self levelling compound first? We also put down stabiliser then stuck down anti-fracture matting before putting the tiles down. To help keep the tiles level, we used a T Level system which is expensive but really worth it. He should also have discussed with you what width grouting you wanted and colour. As an aside, are the tiles the right way up? We had a builder at our last house put down the patio and the slabs had very uneven edges. Turns out they were upside down.

MrsFezziwig · 29/12/2018 13:59

In the perfect photo, the grout appears recesssed (i.e. not up to the level of the tile surface) so it doesn’t fill in all the uneven edges. Also it looks like your tiles have been laid wider apart hence more grout.

Did you see the perfectly laid tiles actually in the shop or just in a photo?

Cocobana · 29/12/2018 14:16

I think it looks fine apart from fact he has used wider tile spacers which gives a different effect than the one you were hoping for. I’d approach by saying you’ve noticed the tiles are a lot further apart than the ones in the picture you showed him and ask him if there is a reason why he had to do them that far apart. See what he says and then ask him if something can be done to create an effect of a smaller distance such as darkening the grout etc

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