Need Expert Advice: Have Contractor Tear Out Tile or Leave As Is?

14 years ago

We are renovating and added a master bath. The tile went in and love it. The plumber (a subcontractor), when he attached the bar for the handshower didn't install it in the right spot, moved it and I ended up with two holes in the tile. Ironically, it still wasn't in the right spot. When my husband mentioned the holes to the plumber, he didn't admit his mistake and instead told my husband that the shower door would cover them (it won't it's a frame-less shower door). We found other things he ruined and he is not being allowed back in the house.

So the contractor had to remove the damaged tiles and put them back. It does not look as nice as it did originally. In addition, we noticed over the weekend that the tile that was replaced is chipped on the edges. My husband doesn't want them to remove it for fear that it is going to look even worse.

When I spoke with the contractor today, I showed him that the tile they installed was chipped on the edges. He said it was that way in the box. I am living on-site and would have been more than happy to drive to the tile store and get tile that wasn't chipped (I have made numerous runs to the tile store for additional tile).

While standing in the shower, I noticed that the el for the handshower was installed upside down. I asked if it could be fixed and I was told that they would not be able to cut the nipple to the right size and that the only options are to try to turn the el and hope it has enough give so that the el will be hanging down and not up, but if there isn't enough give, it could crack the tile. The other option is to turn it the opposite direction, but this would create a gap between the tile and the el and then it would have to be caulked and it would not look as nice.

I am so annoyed. What should I do? Forget about the chips and live with it (this tile wasn't cheap)? Have them try to turn the el and hope the tile doesn't crack. Turn the el the other way and let them caulk it? Have them remove the tile and do it right?

Thanks in advance - I really don't know which is the lesser of all evils....

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Comments (4)

bill_vincent
14 years ago
When I spoke with the contractor today, I showed him that the tile they installed was chipped on the edges. He said it was that way in the box. I am living on-site and would have been more than happy to drive to the tile store and get tile that wasn't chipped (I have made numerous runs to the tile store for additional tile).

While standing in the shower, I noticed that the el for the handshower was installed upside down. I asked if it could be fixed and I was told that they would not be able to cut the nipple to the right size and that the only options are to try to turn the el and hope it has enough give so that the el will be hanging down and not up, but if there isn't enough give, it could crack the tile. The other option is to turn it the opposite direction, but this would create a gap between the tile and the el and then it would have to be caulked and it would not look as nice.

THAT^^^^ is HIS problem, not yours. You're paying for the installation to be done RIGHT, not however he damn well feels like. I'd let him know that he's to make it right, and only then will he be paid for the work-- not until, and not a penny more. If he becomes more reasonable, then you can compromise with him. But at this point, I'd go for the jugular.
raenjapan
14 years ago
Personally, I'd fire the guy--hopefully you haven't paid him much yet--and find someone else. Clearly he can't get it done correctly. What an ass. Sorry you're having to deal with this.
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MongoCT
14 years ago
If he provided the tile, then it's up to him to QC the tile, and only top quality stuff gets installed.

If you supplied the tile, then legally I can see his argument...however, if it's "chipped" chipped, and the homeowner is on site, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the installer to point it out and ask "is this really okay for me to install this?"

As to the el being installed upside-down, handheld outlet els are usually installed so the water outflow is pointed down towards the floor. Yours is pointing up?

The argument that the nipple can't be cut to the right size is ludicrous! If needed I cut them to whatever length I need then thread the ends. If these guys used pre-threaded nipples from the supply house, then you install the dropear outlet fitting at a certain depth behind the face of the finished wall so the proper amount of nipple threading is available for the outlet el to thread onto.

Plumbing 101.

Now you wrote the plumber was a "subcontractor." If you have a "contratactor" or GC that is overseeing the project, bring these problems to him and let him hammer things out with the subs.

If you hired the subs directly, then it's up to you to wield the financial hammer over them until things are repaired to your satisfaction.

Best thing is to have a conversation. Then follow the conversation up with a letter. Rehash the conversation, the repairs needed, and a time frame to accomplish. Just the facts, no emotion. No mention of money paid or withheld at this time.

If further actions need be taken we'll go into those later.
kitchenredo2
Original Author
14 years ago
mongoct -- I went to the tile store to pick up and pay for the tile (they will be reimbursing me) because the plumber THEY hired screwed up and damaged the tile when he installed the rail for the hand shower.

As far as I see it, they shouldn't have installed the chipped tile - especially when I was on site and they could have asked me (perhaps they knew I would have said no, don't install it because it is damaged - but had that been the case I would have gone to the tile store to exchange it for them). Since I was having them fix damaged tile, did they really think I would be okay substituting one type of damaged tile for another? I guess the answer to that question is "yes".

Yes, my el is pointing up. I don't know the specifics of why the nipple can't be cut. The GC said something about it having to be cut within an 1/8 of an inch and that being difficult to do (what do I know - I'm only the client... though I apparently knew that the el wasn't installed correctly).

I will have a talk with the owner of the company and the GC tomorrow about this. I think it needs to be made right. I had another huge issue today that took up my time and energy -- the brackets holding up my soapstone countertop in the kitchen are bending so my countertop is heading the direction my el should be pointed.

I will be so glad when all of this is over.

Need Expert Advice: Have Contractor Tear Out Tile or Leave As Is?

Comments (4)

bill_vincent

raenjapan

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Need Expert Advice: Have Contractor Tear Out Tile or Leave As Is?

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