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Is this tile job acceptable?

7 years ago

We are having our kidney shaped mid-1980's pool re-plastered and re-tiled. Having a bit of a disagreement with the PB as to whether this tile installation is acceptable or not. (I, as you can imagine, don't think it is a very good job). Tell me the truth now, am I being difficult or should I expect a better job? The PB says it is a matter of taste.

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Comments (5)

OneLuckyGirl
7 years ago
I do not think so. It looks like it was done in 1970. I don't like the
wide grout lines. My guess is they did it so they didn't have to make
as many cuts. I had the same issue with our pool tile. Our PB said
that that is the industry standard, but did agree it looked bad.
"Luckily" (saying that sarcastically) they used the wrong color grout so
our PB had to remove all the tile and start over. I used 3/16 grout lines and made them bevel the edges and corners. I had a very similar post on here with what our pictures looked like. I LOVE how it looks
now.
cpartist
7 years ago
That's a redo.
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Definitely not an acceptable tile installation. When choosing a material that requires a slightly higher skill level and knowledge of that material to install, you really should make sure the installer knows, from experience, what they're doing. As far as expansion/contraction spaces.... that's not something you have to worry about with tile. But in one of the pics, it looked like the subfloor might be plywood... That's an entirely different problem all together. Tile is never supposed to be installed over a material that expands and contracts, (ex: wood) The tile and mortar/thinset, don't expand/contract, while the wood subfloor does, causing the two materials to pull apart from each other, causing your tile to crack and come loose. Either wire-mesh and a self-leveling cement or gypsum, or cement board need to be used on top of the plywood subfloor to ensure the longevity of the tile. (That is, if your subfloor is actually plywood) Here are some links with more info; http://www.thecouturefloorcompany.com/tile-flooring-where-it-makes-sense.html http://www.thecouturefloorcompany.com/the-importance-of-a-sound-subfloor-.html The Couture Floor Company
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Quality? Its on par with builder grade lowest denominator sub contracted tile installation work. Theres also Custom professional master tile installation crews out there. "But builder said the other subs they use would grout and then cover with clear caulk. " As CTEC stated builder is wrong and you dont want his other sub either. What you want is a detailed scope in your next tile contract refrencing industry standards to be met and followed as well as details of layout expected only then will you have written documentation to debate upon.
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Comments (6)
Looks a lot better than most tile jobs seen on here. Bullnose tile is different sized than field tile. They didn’t “give up” on doing the staggered joint pattern. It is not physically possible to maintain a staggered joint with the bullnose sizing offered with your tile. The different sized tiles surrounding the niche are a function of niche size and again, bullnose size. Of course they had to cut tile to make it fit. No, the corner is not perfect. But the corner gaps are not at all “large”, and will be properly filled with silicone caulk. The tile cuts wrap the corner properly, and everything looks plumb. That’s pretty good. The tiny tiles above the bench are a function of the bench height. They will be hidden when the builder retroactively installs the stone top, which he should do without fuss. Chipped tile in a corner that will be covered by caulk is fine, unless it is excessively jagged. No cut tile should be an exposed edge. It should covered with bullnose, pencil, or Schluter trim. If it’s exposed, that should be popped off and changed If that shower is properly waterproofed, this is very much a passing grade. Especially so since this is a builder project. They are notorious cheapskates who won’t even pay the lowest going rate for a “tile guy”, much less paying a professional tiler. You are pretty off base with the majority of your concerns. There is certainly zero reason for a tearout and redo. Unless you just want to pay for that.
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Is this tile Job acceptable.
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Comments (26)
We charge about that much for the shower of this size alone and that's not a bragging point as to savings in this case as we cant see the mess below the tile. If ther'es one thing I know is how long it takes to build a shower "properly" to industry standards with professional materials and how that equates to time/labor/materials. Forget about permits and inspections i guess ! Based on the one redgard photo you've not got a MFG nor industry compliant build here, and thats usually an indicator of more debauchery below the tile almost always in the curb and pan area. Tile itself and the tile craftsman are a LUXURY item not a necessity, many people today are getting roped into tile and handyman rates when they should be looking at Prefab surrounds and luxury vinyl paired with a competant contractor in that field.. Hire and SHOP wisely America.
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ncrealestateguy
7 years ago
Teribble job, by even having low standards. And the tile that has edges exposed should be tiles that are bull nosed or rounded off in some way. You never want to see an unfinished edge of a tile.
tj starkey
7 years ago
This job, makes my incompetent pool builder look competent. This guy should not be paid a dime...I hope you have not paid him at all..going to cost a lot just to demo what needs to be re-do - any decent judge that is not blind will go w you on this one.
PRO
www.SwimmingPoolSteve.com
7 years ago
This looks like a pretty good tile job for a person who is not a tile setter. As far as paying for this tile work, I would think that your builder has some explaining to do. The reality is that this tile work is substandard. They could have used bullnose tile to marry the transition edges, and they clearly did not worry too much about the tile placement or grout line consistency. This is the problem with things like tile work...the tiles are on the wall, so what is the problem? The old world artisans that I learned how to set tile from would, for sure, call that work garbage.

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