Grout doesn't stop leaks--are you sure he meant what he said?

Is that his finished grout job?

Post more pictures of the in progress construction.

Yes, post more in between the cement board going up and the tile going on phase. Also, the preslope being built phase. And framing. That framing. SMH. What material is that window?

The window is acrylic not wood. I don't have any more in between pics I can find. I wasn't home while he was working and my husband didn't want to bug him taking pics at every phase....

The only problem you're having is that the grout is falling out in the spots where the pebbles are too close together? Is it impossible to just replace a few pebbles instead of redoing it all?

What is going on with the grout around the drain and around the edges of the pebble flooring? It looks like it is all piled up there.

Might be the guy's first time with pebbles--the rest of the tile job looks quite neatly done. Clearly a guy who lays out his tile and plans the cuts ahead of time.

How ARE you supposed to do the edges on a pebble floor? Do you cut individual pebbles?

Sorry, but no. The walls are not done correctly. And nether is the floor. This is not gonna last long term. It needs to be redone. All of it.

It looks nice (maybe not the floor). The tiles are even and the layout is thoughtful. I don't know if it's mechanically okay but it looks fine.

Perhaps you could share the flaws you see. It might help the OP more than just implying it will explode at some point.

Could you please tell me the name of the pebbles you used? I love the color. is that Toemi Taipei Green, sliced and polished?

I got them from the Pebble Tile shop. They are sliced sea green https://www.pebbletileshop.com/products/Sliced-Sea-Green-Pebble-Tile.html#.WWwG94jyvcc

Sophie Wheeler - I'm curious as to why you think the walls are wrong? I get the pebble tile isn't - and I'm grateful our contractor is willing to re-do it all for free. I know there was a lot of cutting the wall tile and that was partly my fault for my choice of tile and the amount of space he had to work with. I think he did an amazing job matching all his tile cuts all around the shower walls....

What waterproofing system did your tiler use? Is the tile just ontop of cement board, if so is that a vapor barrier covering the window in your progress picture behind the board now? Is that red guard or a membrane on the corners? How was the shower pan installed, looks like maybe Kerdi . I think Sophie may be concerned with what happened under the tile rather than the cosmetic laying of it. Tile is for looks not structure and water protection.

Michellemack: Thanks for the info on the tiles.

roarah - I will look thru my notes again on his bid for labor and materials etc. I'm sure he waterproofed everything as required and we spoke about the need for the correct slop when using pebble tile and he was aware and agreed with me.

The density of that foam preslope requires 2x2 tiles. These rocks where they meet the foam is a much smaller point load, anytime a heavy person leans into the center of a rock you can have foam compression issues and cracked grout and debonding. While some turkeynuts do it id use either a concrete shower preslope or a flat 2x2 tile material.

That helps explain why the grout is popping out.

So perhaps it would be better since the contractor is willing to re-do the floor for us to start over with 2x2 floor tile?

Yeah and if they were out to lunch enough to install that material in the first place id take a real bi focal look at how the entire job was waterproofed and how the waterproofing "gets" damaged in their attempt to remove the rock. You have a real candidate for full tear out on your hands or Live with an investment that may fail at any time or in the least be problematic long term. Wrong material for the foam preslope = novice move. Next we will find they used redgard on the foam . I would also google leak/flood testing and question who you hired. Theres a few pros on here that explain flood testing and how its almost always skipped even by many supposed pros.

Looking thru the bid and material list he used the Prova custom shower kit for offset drains. I am not worried about his work waterproofing the shower. If the Prova system requires a specific type of shower floor tile it would be nice if that was stated in the product info.

This is how it should look.

Hire Creative Tile!

Why do people insist on using these pebble floors? Now 5 people will say ho great they are but if you look there is about one complaint a day posted in regards to issues. With all the tile choices I have zero idea why someone would want to increase the material (grout) that fails???? There will always be puddling vs using tiles.

The grout was over washed. Stone can suck moisture out of grout if not damp during install.

By the way using a waterproofing system and also running a vapor barrier is not correct, one or the other not both.

Pick a tile that mimics pebbles or a different tile and be done. Otherwise be ready for increased maintenance and repairs. If you must have research non cement based grouts.

Thank you everyone for your help and comments. I have chosen a different 2x2 tile that will be installed in the next couple of weeks. I think I will be much happier with it over the long term...

What material is that tumbled tile? Some type of marble? I think marble is awful for showers.

It's marble. What is wrong with having marble?

Marble is soft, stains easily, is really picky with cleaning agents, and looks worse and worse over time in wet environments.

Porcelain is a better choice IMO. It is cheap, nearly indestructible, easy to clean, and comes in a billion colors/styles, including marble.

Thanks - I'm about to give up in my choices here....I should have done more research...getting very discouraged.

Michelle, being suprised to learn about foam shower preslopes and the perils of rock, you chose a 2x2 marble and now are learning about that being yet another problematic decision.

You may consider next time , hiring a qualified tile professional. You have hired someone that knows not what theyre doing, and certainly unable to educate you of the how and why of tile installations. Mix and matching products in a shoddy approach to building.

My point, be careful and take a lot of pictures when the handyman takes apart your shower and attempts to reninstall. Id hope you have documentation and Passed an initial flood test and will also do a second flood test.

You could be tearing the whole

mess out in No time. $$,$$$$.$$

Went with a 2x2 porcelain. I actually like it better than the pebbles. Live and learn.

Different look, but good!

Thanks - it goes with the turquoise vanity and medicine cabinet

Pretty tile! Looks like you didn't remove any of the existing wall tile? How did he integrate the new floor tile and new floor waterproofing with the existing wall waterproofing? Did he do a flood test?

He was able to get the pebble tiles up with no damage to the current pan. I did notice that he had to take a couple of the wall tiles out when he was setting the new tiles. And he did do a flood test after taking off the pebbles and all was good.

Now believe it or not, the brand new toilet is cracking! The tank by the flush handle and the bowl down the left side. Not leaking as far as we can tell. Mansfield is replacing the entire thing for us (appreciate that they stand behind their product) and no, the toilet wasn't cracked when it was installed.