No, the edging isn't supposed to come over the edge of the tile. It buts up to it, and depending on the size of your tile, there's actually a piece of metal in there to ensure there's space for grout between the tile and the edge. However, it looks like either the edging was too small for the tile, or the tile in the top photo has way too much mortar under it.

Also, those are terrible cuts. And I'm not a pro. But you're supposed to rub a stone over the edge to smooth it out. Or, if it gets badly chipped by the score cutter or the saw, you throw it out and cut a new one. Same if you mis-measured and cut it too small.

I am paranoid about getting grout off immediately, but you might try a soft bristled scouring pad and water? Not steel wool, but the plastic kind. I'm sure there's also a chemical for removing grout.

Thank you. I've tried water and a soft scouring pad but once it dries, you can still see the white grout on the tiles. I'll try and find a chemical. Thank you.

Thank you. I am very upset as it wasn't cheap.. Thought a second opinion would help as they're telling me this is the best they can do and they're blaming the tiles. Thank you for your responses.

I'm not a pro, but it looks like their grout lines aren't even uniform. They can't blame the tile for that!

This is why my husband usually prefers to DIY. Fortunately, there isn't much he can't do in home improvements.

its just so annoying as I think we could have done better and done it for free. My husband isn't a pro but can do a lot of DIY but working late nights and weekends at the moment so we thought we'd treat ourselves and get in the pro's :-(

" Should a larger bead have been used?"

I don't use edging very often. As a matter of fact, hardly at all. but the bead can be sized to the thickness of the tile.

Even with a properly sized bead, outside corners can be buggered up depending on how the installation is detailed.

Your installation? Yes, it's fairly ugly. They either have a dull blade, a poorly set up saw, or they score and snapped textured tile that really should have been cut with a wet saw. Especially when the cut edges are show edges and won't be buried in the installation.

And the lack of cleanup with the grout? Pretty sad.

"They're blaming the tiles..."

How courageous of them. If they are that bright, then they should have warned you ahead of time that the tiles would cause trouble. An installer has to adjust his or her methods to the materials on hand.

If it's a basic portland cement based grout, you can clean it off but it'll require some effort. There are grout removal products that might help with the light grout-on-tile haze.

For the heavier build-ups, especially on the stone in the last photo? Personally I'd attack that with a dilute acid solution and Q-tips in one hand, and with a spray bottle of a baking soda solution to neutralize the acid in the other hand.

I don't normally recommend acid cleanups on this forum, especially muriatic acid, because acid will easily dissolve grout. When not used properly, it can burn skin. It can burn eyes. it can eat holes in your clothing. Vapors can burn your lungs. It's not a "toss it on and watch it work" type of remediation. It's a slow and steady wins the race type of thing. Do a little. Take a break.

Regarding acids. Vinegar (acetic acid) is a mild acid that really won't hurt YOU. Being a weak acid it'll take more effort and repeated applications to remove the heavy buildups. But still, if you slosh it everywhere, it can run down the wall and dissolve grout where you don't want grout dissolved.

Stronger than vinegar would be a dilute muriatic acid solution. You can truly hurt yourself and your installation with muriatic acid when it's used in an uneducated or uninformed way. It's always best to start with a very weak solution and move stronger.

Educate yourself before proceeding should you choose that path.

Sorry for your troubles.

Did you pay them already? If not, DON'T! LOL.

If this is the best they can do on the tile I would be even more concerned about the waterproofing below the tile! Sorry but I hope you didn't pay them.

Thank you for the advice. I'll see what I can get tomorrow and make a start. I haven't paid yet. We now have a leak under the bath so they're coming back tomorrow and am hoping they'll help with the big clean up too. Thanks again.

I am so glad you haven't paid for this yet! There is no way I'd accept this job :( I don't understand how people can get away with this kind workmanship. If my husband were to lay someone's carpet with seams showing, mismatched cuts and the baseboard beat all the pieces he'd be run out of town! I understand your frustration knowing your husband could have done better. DH has done all our (extensive) tile work and does impeccable work. He's really busy right now and would like to hire it done by a tile setter he says is the best in town but I'm willing to wait. I know what kind of job I'll get with DH's install. I'm sure "Cisco" is as good as my husband says he is but I don't want to chance it. I hope your tile job can be fixed vs having to rip it out and start over again. I'd consider paying a fraction of what the job pays and then hire someone else to fix it.

Thank you. He's agreed to come and meet with my husband tomorrow to go through the problems (there are a couple of other issues too) so I'm hoping we can come to some arrangement. I'm going to get some white vinegar today and see if it works on the bigger tiles and just hope they can do something with our feature tiles. Thank you for all your suggestions.

The chipped edges, uneven cuts, grout in corners instead of caulk and the grout job are all unacceptable. Is this tile in a wet area? (shower, tub surround, etc.) I suggest not reaching a payment agreement with your contractor immediately. Have an actual tile professional give you a price first to fix or replace this. This way you will have the real cost to work with. If it requires replacing you need money for the rip-out, new material including substrate and the labor to have it done correctly. Chances are if this is the level of workmanship now you will not be happy with the repair. Hope all works out for you.

I agree with Creative Tile. In all likelihood, the repairs will not be acceptable either. Anyone who could pass that off as a professional job clearly doesn't have the skills or knowledge to do it correctly. And, he makes another critical point, what kind of waterproofing/materials are under the tile? Did you inspect it as the work was progressing? Hopefully he used a good cement board with either plastic sheeting underneath or a topical Redguard type product. Seeing this kind of work is what makes my DH do most of our repairs/renovations himself.

Thank you creative tile. Yes, these feature tiles are at the end of the bath in the main shower area. I don't believe he put anything behind the tiles. I'm sure he just stuck them to the plasterboard as he did with all the others. He did treat the tiles with Lithofin as these are stone but then I believe he just grouted them. He's been this morning and can't see where the leak under the bath is coming from (please see picture) and he's added some more sylicon around the taps but I wonder if this has anything to do with the tiles too if you say he should have put something behind them but the plasterboard was bone dry so hopefully it isn't. What a nightmare. Thank you for the advice. We'll have to see what the boss says tomorrow but I'd like to give them the opportunity to rectify it first and I'm so glad I posted this else I'd have been scrubbing at the tiles for weeks but now I know I need to get them back in Thank you again for all your help.

Doesn't Aqua Mix make a grout haze cleaner?

I've found a few different solutions to help remove the haze so will be giving that a try. Just need the company to sort the thick grout on the feature tiles as this will not shift :-(

https://tile-assn.site-ym.com/store/ViewProduct.aspx?id=3484938

This is a link for the TCNA Handbook (Tile council of North America) also it will put you on the NTCA site. (National Tile Contractors Assoc.) I suggest to have this book in hand as all the answers to your questions most likely will be in it. It allows you to ask the contractor politely which detail he or she used so that they may put your mind at ease. Yep. That puts them on the spot. The NTCA site will also link you to certified installers. CTEF (Ceramic Tile Education Foundation)

I only see what appears to be drywall in your photo. Drywall in a wet area is a failure but you need to ask the questions about the substrate & waterproofing. Don't open your wallet until you are satisfied. I still suggest having a pro look at this. Good luck.

I know you asked for cleaning techniques. But don't clean it yourself yet! 1) It's the contractor's responsibility and the job is incomplete. 2) If you want to discuss quality problems, then it should be about his work, not his+your work. The actions you take may even hinder a contractor's repair, depending on the product and technique you use. Good luck

Thank u for all your advise. They've been tonight and have agreed to come next week and fix our chipped tiles and do a full clean. They're going to get back to us about the feature tiles but fingers crossed we'll get it sorted and the feature tiles will finally look like a nice feature. Thanks again as I would have ended up tidying the best I can and having to live with it.

One theme I've seen repeatedly here is "I (or my spouse) could've done better myself. Jacklegs like this give those of us who actually care about what we do a bad name as a whole. I don't understand how contractors like this stay in business, but they do, and they're everywhere, sadly.

I would definitely not let them strong arm you on payment until all your concerns are adequately addressed. If possible, I'd try to be home when they remove the offending tiles to see what, if any waterproofing is under them. Aesthetics aside, that'd be my greatest concern.