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Should I stop the tile work now or wait...

16 years ago

Help folks. The floor in the bathroom is layed, but is not grouted or cleaned. It has destinct areas that are higher and lower (I can feel them easily when I run my hand over them). Some of the grout lines are also filled with thinset. 100% filled. Is that something that's cleaned off? (It feels awfully solid and the tile is travertine so I'm wondering if it can be scrubbed enough to get it out). And some of the lines aren't even (bad cuts I think). Do I wait a day and see how he finishes when it's cleaned up or is it time to call the boss?????

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Comments (4)

maredog
16 years ago
Ask about it now! We had problems with the glass tile in our bath and of course we discovered it on Friday night. We called right away and got the reassurance that it could still be fixed on Monday without a huge hassle. Better make noise now than later and find out it's too late or there is more bad work to be undone!
igloochic
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm sitting here reading and I'm getting more heart broken by the second. I am thinking that I shouldn't have even considered tile again. The last install sucked and this one seems to be going down the same path.

So here's the other issues I'm wondering about...

He started a diagnal pattern at the entry door to the bathroom and is crawling on the newly installed travertine to get into the nooks and cranny's of the room (there are many 3' wide areas like where the toilet is tucked back). So while he installs that, he's crawling on newly installed tile...this seems contrary to what I'm reading should be done...is it?

He's also planning on doing the shower install and the tub surround tomorrow, which will necessitate him walking on the new tile again and yet we aren't to let anyone walk on it...should the shower and tub have been done before the floor so that the floor wouldn't be walked on during install?

I'm reading that I need to enhance and seal the travertine before it's grouted...no one's mentioned this. Is that correct? (I see many different answers on the net and it's confusing).

Tell me again why I spent $10,000 on tiles that are causing me about a million in stress? WHY WON'T BILL OR MONGO MOVE TO ALASKA RIGHT NOW!!! I love the look of tile, and I love the fabulous pieces I've chosen, but I absolutely hate this process!!! And as soon as we get through this nightmare we start on the marble tile, then the mosaics...shoot me now.

I just want to cry or drink...and I might do both if the baby will go to sleep.
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igloochic
Original Author
16 years ago
I decided if he could go crawl on it so could I and was happy to have done so. It's worse as I moved into the room. I'd post pictures but photobucket is doing maintenance so that will have to wait until tomorrow.

There is a tile in the middle of the toilet area that is completely broken, but frankly I guess it's "safe" since it's covered with thinset to "protect it?". The spacers "leave in" are at every level, down on the subfloor level and some up to the top of the tile, but with a little space above for a skim of grout maybe? Some are higher than the tile (not in a "pull them out way") but flat against all four sides and covered with a skim of thinset.

Then theres the grout lines, and the huge gaps in cuts by the wall. They are too big to be covered by the baseboard tiles.

It's a disaster and will all have to be ripped up. Thank god they hadn't started on the Italian tile. And god forbid they'd touched the mosaics and the hand made tiles in the kitchen...e gads I guess a thousand in ruined travertine is a "good thing" really.

I'm going to go drink a lot of wine and whine. I'll post pictures for grins and giggles tomorrow if I feel like grinning and giggling.

Interesting side note...the installer (who works for our GC) showed up at 8:30 and took his tools tonight to "fix his mother in law's tile", then he told me her vanity "melted". Since he'd scared me (I was giving the baby a bath in our area and he didn't announce himself so I grabbed the baby and headed outside only to find him...so I didn't think to say anything else. Maybe he knows it's a bad job...

Oh well, DRINK UP! Bill, Mongo...one of you...Fishing is really good now! I'll buy you a boat if you come and do the tile job...
bill_vincent
16 years ago
Careful, lady. This job could really end up costing you!!

:-)

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