In my case, the GC's laborers did the tile installation.

I had seen work done by this crew before, but they treated my project like they didn't care.

I paid a high price for my tile and they argued about every detail of layout and took shortcuts.

The GC's people ruined my tile.

They chopped it up and threw it up so fast, I couldn't keep up with the mistakes.

We should have fired them on the first sign of trouble.

I'd never let a GC use his choice of people ever again.

I'd go with a licensed tile person whose work I had seen.

If your tile is expensive and/or unique or hard to lay, you should be doubly concerned.

Remember, if the GC is paying for the tile work, the tile workers will defer to the GC to make decisions about design. If you are paying an independent artisan, the artisan will, theoretically, work harder to please you.

My gut says to hire a tile guy. A GC who can install tile...well, you know the expression "jack of all trades, master of none". Backspash tile is not cheap. It's really not. And if he does a crappy job, it will cost you even more to get it torn out and redone. That being said, he might be perfectly capable! I did my own BS tile and it is perfect. I'd trust your own judgment. You know the GC better than any of us.

Thanks...I'll have their referrals out for a quote. I've been very concerned, especially because the guy who put in the pulls did a lousy job.

Tracy

Yes, get someone else to do it. My contractor hired his cousin who he said was a tile installer. I still have my doubts. He did a lousy job, but I have to live with it, because we have lathe and plaster walls. If we try to remove it, the whole wall may fall down.

Your backsplash is what everyone notices - make sure it's done right.

It's been bothering me for awhile. I'm hoping he won't get sensitive about it but agree it's probably the best course of action. Our design is a bit complicated and I'm realizing the "little" mistakes bother me a lot. He still needs to finish up a few things...lower molding, the floors and a new front door so I'm hoping he'll get over it quickly.

I really appreciate all of you responding so quickly.

Tracy

I made the mistake of being impatient and hired my client to do my tile floors with him telling me he has been doing it for years despite not being in the business. I ended up having to take a few days to remove the sloppily cut up tiles, buy two new boxes of the beautiful expensive (for my budget)Porcelain tile, buy new grout and new thin-set. I had to interview all over again and hire someone else. I had not realized how difficult tile was to install. I feel either you do it yourself and be a perfectionist about it taking your time and have the right cutting equipment or you hire a professional whose work you have seen and loved. Anyone else may not care so much and their standards of acceptance will be upsetting to you. Also they may not clean the tile right and you will be stuck with the job like I was.

Just my humble opinion from my bad experiences of tiling two of my two small foyer floors.

Tracy, go with your gut. If you have even the slightest doubt that he will do an excellent job, get a professional. Don't worry about it if he gets sensitive about it (he probably will). YOU are the customer and it's your tile. You have the right to hire any one you want. Do not get the least bit concerned about what the GC thinks about it.

ccoombs1...Thanks for the advice. I think you're right. I'll need to ensure I communicate clearly that I'm firm in my decision. With all of the second guessing I've done I think I may have lost a little bit of credibility.

I'm also wondering if any of you have had your towns come in to inspect the work so far. I'd like to know if they have any issues with our vent or outlets prior to the install.

Again, thanks to all of you for your help!

Tracy

It depends. My GC had someone who just does tile. When I remodeled a bathroom, I had one person who did almost everything himself and he did a very good job with the tiling. Do you know anyone else who has used your GC and for whom he has tiled? What kind of tile/ design are you getting? If it's a simple tile and pattern that's one thing. If it's glass or another tile that may be more difficult to work with, or if you have a complex pattern or design, I'd be more inclined to look elsewhere.

My design is a bit complicated in that in addition to some bronze tiles that will be patterned over the rangetop there will also be bronze buttons that will need to be inserted all along the border. The cuts and alignment of the tile will be very important.

Tracy

I ended up having my backsplash installed by a tile guy who was recommended by the tile shop where I bought my tile. I did it that way because I could not decide on my backsplash. I was all decisioned out, and couldn't make any more decisions. So I postponed choosing my backsplash tile until some months after my kitchen was complete. Anyway, I took the backsplash off my GC's Scope of Work, and I think my GC was actually relieved! I really liked him, and he was great at installing cabinets, appliances, sink, etc. But a backsplash installation can be painstaking, and, depending on your tile, can be very exacting. I guess he was a different personality from your GC, cause he seemed to be fine, even happy, with me telling him I'm taking the backsplash off his to-do list.

I ended up choosing handmade tile which is a more difficult install. The guy that was recommended by the tile store was wonderful. He just did tile. That's all he did for umpteen years. Tile. So he knew what he was doing. He worked alone, and did a beautiful job. His labor cost me more than what the GC's guy would have been, but was well worth it IMHO.

Just an aside, and to veer somewhat OT though not completely - if you decide to hire a tile guy to do your backsplash, make sure you have your electric boxes for your backsplash outlets already laid out and installed by your GC or electrician. The tile guy will want nothing to do with electrical work, and will expect those boxes to be already in place when he starts his tile work. If you are unsure about outlet placement, do a search on this forum, as backsplash outlets have been discussed before. (Mine are placed horizontally and 4" from counter to center of outlet, which is the lowest my local Code would allow.)

We had our GC do tile in 2 bathrooms years ago. It was 'ok'. Then, we had professional tile guys do tile in our master bath and new mudroom... it's perfect. Like night and day. Guests comment on the installation in the mudroom. I will never let a GC do tile work for me again.

We had the same exact experience as shoregirl_veggie.
GC tiled 2 bathrooms and did ok (we supervised alot, argued etc). Later had a professional tile guy do the 3rd bathroom and it is definitely like night and day.

If it were something elementary, I'd say go ahead and let him do it. But if there's anything at all complicated to it that's going to take a little time (IOW, he's not going to be able to blow through it and have it come out nice), get someone who knows what they're doing.

The thing about a backsplash is it's right up closer to eye level than most tile work. Additionally, it's usually a focal point of the room, especially when you start getting really "designy" (technical term) with it, which means everyone's going to see it, up close and personal, and "close" won't be "close enough". If it's not perfect, it won't be good enough.

You'll see what I mean when it goes in.

Bill, thanks, so much, for weighing in on this.

I think it's a very clear decision for me now and, again, my sincere thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

Tracy

I let my GC install the backsplash but he had a very good tile installer that did the work. I also saw his work beforehand so I knew that it was good. I have to say that he did an excellent job with the install and I'm very happy with it. But when I did my bathrooms a few years ago, the GC did the tile work and it really was not a good job. So if you can see samples of your GC's work and you like it, then go with him. Otherwise, if you are not sure, hire a tile person. You won't regret it.

Our GC for a remodel many years ago was a better tile guy than the "tile guy" we hired for another job later on. I'm not thrilled with the way my current backsplash was done but had a relative do it and don't want to rock the family harmony boat by complaining. Unfortunately EVERY DAY I see that backsplash and wish I'd hired someone else do it.

I think you've already made your decision to
go with a specialist, and if I knew then what
I know now, I would have as well.

My GC's father, who is a retired contractor, did ours.
I wasn't completely satisfied with it and
didn't quite know why, until I read here
about something called "lippage".
I'm thinking that's what we might have.
My DH, who's very particular, isn't bothered
at all by it, and nobody who wasn't TKO
would notice it. It's marble and
expensive and it doesn't bother me
enough to do anything about it, but
lippage is just something for me to
keep keep in the back of my mind
if I ever do another reno.

On the other hand, the guy who tiled
the floors in the front hall and
bathroom was a real master, slow as
anything, but it's perfect.

So really, I can confirm what
you've already heard here. You're
paying a lot of money, and it should
be done right the first time.

Good luck, and that's one more
decision off the table for you!

Of course go with your gut, however, my "Jack of All Trades" contractor laid all of our slate tile in our master (and will be installing our backsplash) and he did a fabulous job. Slate is not an easy stone to work with, and we have a wall feature as well as a niche. I think the difference is, he has a small but busy company and he guaranteed he would do all of the work himself w/help of one laborer. So I don't necessarily agree that good contractors who can lay tile don't exist.

Can I see what bronze tile you are going for? i am looking at MPM products.

My GC did my tile job and I regret it. It's not that it came out bad, per se. I doubt that most who see my kitchen notice the things that trouble me. Even my ID told me that my expectations were not very realistic. (Which I'm increasingly coming to believe were comments offered more for the purpose of defending himself than the GC on the project!) Still, I expect perfection - or something damn near close to it -- and I did not get it.

I agree with everyone else. Go with your gut. Get a tile expert for this job.

Peytonroad...Here is the link to the bronze buttons and tiles will be using (not all of them, of course:-) Hope it is helpful to you.

http://www.walkerzanger.com/catalog/series.php?mat=Metal&coll=Raven+Hill+Forge

It's pretty clear what the decision is, but just wanted to beat a dead horse.

Like the others, my GC did an OK tile job with the hall bath, so I let him do the backsplash. Biggest mistake of the whole remodel. Since it took me a few weeks to decide on it after the remodel, he moved on to other jobs, but he said he could fit my "two day job" in. Since he forgot the spacers whe he was set to begin, he used pennies (from my son's piggy bank no less). When he pulled them out it chipped a TON of my crackle glaze tiles. So those all had to be popped put. His cuts were horrible because he really didn't know how to cut the specialty tile, AND he cut my liner pieces when I specifically told him not to. Stopped him so I could re-order those pieces even though he said it wouldn't show with the grout. I saw lots of lippage issues along the way-some he fixed. Now I don't dare turn on my under cabinets lights because it looks SO bad. And did I mention this whole horrible process took 7 WEEKS?! He didn't even seal it. I just paid him to get out of my life.

So, yeah, get a pro.