Wrong tile pattern??

[BemusedBrenda]

We are having our ensuite redone and the tiler has made a start today. Having gone in to take a look after he finished for the day he has used a straight grid pattern (see the pic) and not the offset patter I was expecting, as in the link below:

www.porcelainsuperstore.co.uk/products/harmony-stone?variant=39435395891390

Stupid of me not to discuss the tile pattern with him before he started :( I only told him what order to put the rows in. Now I'm not sure whether it looks ok in the grid pattern, or if I should tell him to take them off and start again tomorrow, which will mean I need to order more tiles...

Any opinions on whether the tiles look ok in this pattern or not please?

I think if it’s not how you imagined you should ask him to change it. Otherwise every time you look at the wall you’ll get the pang of regret/wishing you’d said something.

That doesn't look right at all. Those patterns really need to be offset to work. I'd ask him to start again.

I don’t often see bathroom tiles laid out in a brick laying pattern tbh, they do more commonly seem to be straight set. Maybe that’s why he automatically did it that way. What colour grout are you having? That may make a difference how you view it. Maybe you could get him to grout a small patch tomorrow and see how you feel?

They look okay to me but if you had your mind set on the brick set then you won’t ever be happy with it.

Grid pattern won't achieve the look you're going for, the slightly boho mismatched aesthetic. You need the subway tile pattern.

Look like it's around the toilet so far, so probably not too many tiles to reorder. Do it, otherwise you'll think about it every time you use the loo. Not worth it. Lesson learned.

It's a personal thing and I don't think there's a right or wrong answer.

But - I think they look all wrong as they are and would look much better in a brick bond layout. If it was me I'd get him to re-do it and suck up a bit of extra expense. Brick bond is often used in bathrooms now, particularly with oblong tiles laid landscape.

We've gone for a grey coloured grout. I think it's the fact I never even considered the pattern and just imagined it as it looked on the tile shop website that has completely thrown me. A quick google tells me that this straight pattern is considered more modern for rectangular tiles, but I'm not sure if that is just for block colour tiles?

This ensuite refurb has been one disaster after another and I just can't tell if I will like this when it's all done or if it will look terrible We've already had some many delays and I think it will add an extra day at least if he has to rip these tiles off and replace them.

@OMGItsEarly

I don’t often see bathroom tiles laid out in a brick laying pattern tbh, they do more commonly seem to be straight set. Maybe that’s why he automatically did it that way. What colour grout are you having? That may make a difference how you view it. Maybe you could get him to grout a small patch tomorrow and see how you feel?

They look okay to me but if you had your mind set on the brick set then you won’t ever be happy with it.

Really? Even rectangular/brick/metro shaped ones like the OP’s?

OP he should’ve clarified the tiling pattern with you before starting. Definitely get him to start them again.

I think the offset pattern looks nicer.

What’s the difference between subway and grid @givethatbabyaname?

I agree they need changed. Things like this are so annoying. Do they need their hands held?

I'm going to be in the minority but I much prefer the way he's done it. Brick layout is so over done. We did it in our kitchen and it's coming down as I can't stand it. Our bathroom has much bigger tiles but they're a grid layout and I much prefer that.

Take the momentary discomfort of requesting it redone over years of staring at it in regret, OP

subway tiles are laid like bricks, so grout/cement always meets a tile edge. it's just aesthetics, there's not need for it in interior tiling. for a brick wall it builds strength.

grid has grout meeting grout. totally fine internally, useless for a garden wall.

look at the link in the OP's opening post. that's the subway layout.

I hate to be negative but I think it will be very difficult to get the tiles off cleanly. By tomorrow they will be set hard, they may be most of the way there already.

You are probably looking at breaking the tiles off (so you’d need new tiles) and then sanding away any leftover mortar, not a small job and if he’s used waterproof tiling board that may need to be replaced too.

I think they look fine as they are. Straight set is more of a modern look. If you had a period style bathroom then brick bond might be better but judging from the loo style that’s not the case so I think the more modern layout is fine. It will also be less obvious once grouted.

Ohh that’s interesting thanks @givethatbabyaname!

Sorry just saw you already know you’d need new tiles!

I like them as they are. Offset is a trend that will fade like they all do.

I had floor tiles laid a few years ago.. I came home from work to find them laid in the wrong pattern. I was LIVID. I was expecting a right palaver but the next morning he just lifted them up and relaid them. No problem 😳

Thanks all for your thoughts, it is really helpful to have other people's perspectives.

It is just the new bulkhead for the loo that has been tiled at the moment (had to be done to put the new loo on today as like IDIOTS we are having our main bathroom done at the same time and it is an empty shell right now). We've not gone for a traditional look so I'm not opposed to a modern pattern but I genuinely can't figure out what I think about it. Guess I'll have to sleep on it and put on my big girl pants to tell him in the morning if I decide I really don't like it :(

I’d ask him to redo it, I don’t think it works as well.

Lovely tiles but I think I’d ask him to redo it. I don’t think the vertical bond works with those sorts of patterned tiles.

I'd get it redone. The tiles are lovely and the pattern doesn't do them justice.

I would definitely get them re-done. They don't look right at all how they've been laid.

I like the grid pattern, much more on trend then brick set. If you look at the original photo from the tile shop, there has been careful consideration of the proportion of number of rows of the light/pattern/dark tiles and that pattern that suits the shape of the wall. OP's wall seems shorter in proportion and brick bond is not going to have the same effect, especially as tiled behind the loo.

The link you’ve posted only has 1 row of patterned tiles, whereas you have a few rows. Personally, I think having an offset patter plus random patterned tile might be too much.

I think he has made a mistake.. I also don't think the brick style is going out of style any time soon... but I love art deco retro style so it would always look great to me!!

I'd definitely ask to change it, not least because some of the tiles aren't perfectly in line with the others in the row / column and this will show up badly when grouted.