Do you have a picture? It's hard to say if you're being "too picky" without seeing the facts.

I uploaded a couple of photos to show what I'm talking about:

Here is a link that might be useful: backsplash pictures

I think they did a poor job - I wouldn't be happy.

You are NOT being picky. I think they need to re-do it.

Incompetent.

I agree - redo. poor job.

That's a terrible job. I had mosaic tile put in too. My contractor use spacers between sheets that matched the space between tiles within the sheet. Granted, my tiles didn't have a coversheet, but you don't need to remove the coversheet to check the spacing.

I 100% agree with others - he installed in incorrectly and should have used a spacer that was the same size as that on the sheets. Did he use a spacer at all or just "eyeball" it?

No spacers were used. I saw him wedge some pieces of cardboard horizontally (presumably to help hold the pieces up). The vertical aspect was eyeballed.

I did email the contractor (with photos). My poor DH is so ready to be done with this whole process. We thought they'd be through within the next couple of weeks (start date was August 2). Sigh.

Bummer. Eyeballing should provide better results. Good luck--and don't wimp out on getting it fixed! :)

that's the kind of result I might end up with if I did it myself and didn't know any better.

Otherwise it is bad.

I would make him redo it!

Another vote for make him redo it. I did better the very first time I did tile. There's no excuse for that.

Wow, and sorry. How dissapointing. That is definitely a poor job. I hope it makes the finished product that more rewarding!

Bummer! Such pretty tile but so obviously poorly done (insert shaking fist at tiler here). You aren't being too picky since you'll see it every time you look at the backsplash if you don't get it fixed. It's not something you'll gradually grow to love, and it is something other people will notice too. For me it would be worth a delay in the finish date. Hope it doesn't delay you too long.

I understand that queasy feeling - been thru it too many times. So the big question - did you already pay for it? Or is this thru your contractor?

Definitely a redo. I'd rather be queasy and get this done right than have to look at it everyday. You are not being picky, you paid to have a job done right.

Hate to have to agree about something not done right, but this was a poor installation. The tile is not at fault, but the install took lovely materials and ruined them. I'd make it get all redone.
We have a bathroom floor from the p.o.s and it was done in a similar fashion. The tile would have been just fine, but the bad installation is all that I see, every day. It will need to be ripped out and redone and sadly, it would have been the one part of the bathroom that was a keeper.

Was this there first job????????????

I had the same thing happen. My installer said he had a hard time with it because of the paper and that you can't use spacers. I have since learned that to do it correctly they need to put it on the mortar let it sit 15 min., and pull the paper off and adjust. The tile person I talked to said it should take a day to a day and half to do if they do it correctly. Long story short, mine is all coming down and being paid for by my installer to do it again. I have a thread on here where you can see it -messed up backsplash...re-doing it! Help! Good luck!

I called my husband over to look at your photos without telling him what your post was about. His first comment was, "That's a terrible job." So I asked him what made him say that. He pointed out exactly the things you stated as your concerns in your original post. So, no, it's not you, and one doesn't need coaching to see exactly what you see.

Thanks so much everyone. You've been very helpful...I will certainly insist on having the backsplash redone.

@sophie123: Yes we bought/paid for the tile from a separate source with which the GC has a preferred relationship/discount. Maybe they'll furnish more tile at wholesale, since they get a lot of business through him. We've otherwise been happy with this GC and I really hate to see this happen all around (times are tough and this is a big hit to his bottom line).

@renorman: Your installer followed the enclosed directions. Mine did not: they left the tile overnight before the paper was pulled off. So it was too late to do any adjusting. I did check your thread: WOW that is one beautiful kitchen and yes, the bump does really stand out. I did see that you're supposed to take a 2x4 or similar item and push on the tiles to even them up depth-wise. Wonder if he did that.

I really hope your GC comes through for you on this one. I'm new here, haven't looked at many small tile backsplashes, but I saw that IMMEDIATELY. If an untrained eye can see it, redo!