"One more question-I was going to see if the builder could get another tile guy in for a consult-to come up with the plan and then this guy can follow that - is this reasonable? Somehow, I'd like someone involved that knows exactly what they're doing. this is so frustrating!! " I'm a builder, but I also do everything from framing to finish work. So I've seen this from both sides of the issue. Now I don't know your tiler, but after years of seeing pretty much all there is to see, and hearing all there is to hear, I'm more concerned with end results rather than assuaging tender personalities. The problem is not that he's working with tricky materials or with a tricky layout. You have a basic layout and a basic tile. The problem is not that "something just doesn't look right" and it's so minute, so buried within the overall aesthetic that we just cant pick it out. It's not a proportion that could have been tweaked. It's not that the golden rectangle could have been honored and it wasn't. Your installation has repeated flaws. They are all obvious. The layout is bad. Grout lines are uneven. Tiles were cut without being measured for the individual space they will fill. That's why having your builder bring in another tiler as a consultant probably won't help. This guy is ether having a rough go of life at this time, or he's simply ignorant and apathetic. His inadequacies are now a part of your house. In your bathroom. Is this what you want to wake up to and go to bed to each day? If you want to nurse him along and offer him yet another chance at redemption, it's up to you and your builder. Honestly? I'd cut the guy loose and bring in a competent tiler. From the builder's point of view, unless he's enamored with this tiler for some reason, the builder wants to get the job done in as few hours as possible. He wants to pay for the job once. Not twice, or four times. I'd put it on your builder. Simply tell your builder that based upon what you've seen, for whatever reasons, the current tiler is not up snuff for executing this job. If your builder insists that this guy be given a second chance, hey it's on your builder. But then when an outside guy needs to be brought in, that'll be on your builder too. Your concern is that the job be done properly. It's up to the builder to bring in people that do competent work. Your mantra that you need to repeat to the builder is that you want it done right; to industry standards and in a workmanlike manner. If you agree to give this guy another chance, legally you've seen the level of his work and you're accepting it. That's why your sole concern is to demand a certain quality of work, and it's up to the builder, not you, to bring in a technician capable of producing. When you agree to a certain person doing the work, you're accepting that person's ability. If they have a good day, you're fine. If they have a bad day, you're stuck. If you agree that the work be done to a certain quality level, then that's what the builder has to provide, whether it take him one try or forty tries. There's a bit of subtlety in that language, and I hate to bring it up, but I've done construction arbitration, I've been a witness in legal cases, and sometimes the minutiae is important. Not that you;re headed in that direction, but I'm tossing that out for consideration. I highly recommend that these things be put in writing. email is fine. Just get written communication going so you have a record of your concerns. The builder will probably drop the "well you know, getting someone else to come in and do the work might cost us a couple of weeks on the timeline" to try to scare you. Just give him a deadpan reply of "well you better get on the phone and start dialing now". Two day, two weeks, it seems like an eternal stoppage at the moment. But when the job is done properly, it'll have been worth it. Remember, this is business. It's not your job to coddle the incompetent. Or pay them YOUR money for work that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck for the next 20 years. If you plan on selling in a few years, it's more important. Do you want potential buyers seeing this bathroom and saying oooooohhhhhhh! or do you want them saying Ugh. You'll make money with oooohhhh. With "Ugh" you'll pay for this tile again when you have to drop your selling price. Brevity is not my strong point, Mongo

What StoneTech says. The total system is so important, not just the esthetics. PICTURES. Always take pictures of the process. I am a DIYer in several areas of my remodels and I take a million pictures of my progress. IT IS SO HELPFUL :) The "top couple feet" of drywall you mention, is that in a shower? With shower surounds there are a couple of feet above the unit that is drywall, so I don't think that is an issue unless it is in the actual splash zone. The ventilation and the paint must be first rate to prevent moisture condensation damage. In my current bathroom project, I will be tiling to the ceiling but not the ceiling. I have a vent fan in my shower, approved for wet areas, to control the moisture. And I will be using paint specifically designed for bathroom use.

A lot of your photos show mistakes made by a beginner in tile *layout*. This doesn't necessarily mean your person is a beginner at laying or grouting tile. At any rate, I would post these photos over at the John Bridges Tile Forum - I'm sure they'd be glad to provide professional, constructive criticism! Here is a link that might be useful: John Bridges Tile Forum

Hire a professional painter who takes pride in his work! Believe me, that's a rare breed! We finally found one, but not before enduring the GC's so-called professionals. The guy we hired is re-doing what wasn't done right in the first place. I've learned not to assume just because someone's a painter that they automatically do all the prep that's necessary for a good paint job.