Consider caulk to be nothing more than a cosmetic.

Cosmetics cover blemishes, discolorations, flaws in the skin. Cosmetics don't make the skin blemishes go away. Cosmetics simply cover them up, disguise, and hide them.

Caulk is the same.

Caulk is not a cure for improper construction. It does not assure waterproofing. Caulk simply covers up flaws in the structure so you don't see them. But they are there.

You can have the lousiest tile installation and a crappy grout job. But if there is proper waterproofing behind that lousy tile and crappy grout, you can have a water-tight, but unattractive shower.

My concern is that because the tile work is less than top notch that the installer might not have put much effort into proper waterproofing. It's not a definitive statement. Just an observation and a concern.

I recommend you find out what waterproofing is behind that installation.

Improperly detailed niches and benches can ruin a house with long-term, unnoticed water damage.

Thanks Mongo. They did put 2 coats of black very stinky tarry stuff on the floor and one coat of grey stuff on walls around the wet areas. My concern is also the waterproofing when the niche tiles are removed and replaced. The tiler is coming back to redo the one niche.

If you are doing a bathroom ask about the silver edge! I hate ours as it is 10mm wide and very obvious on all areas it has been used ( apparently there is a smaller one available) windows, around bath and around niches. I see it is not flush with the tiles also. :( I guess I just have to live with it now. :( . Not so happy ...... I do not think the niches have a good fall either. The silver strip is not flush and will allow water to sit.

The whole reason we are redoing the bathrooms is the previous bathrooms leaked everywhere. There was a lot of rotted wood that had to be replaced in the walls. I hope this will not be the same. Next time I will do it myself !

Did you take pictures of how they waterproofed?

No unfortunately. I think this was all rushed as they are going away on holidays so we got a rushed job :(

This is the finished product.

I sure hope you haven't paid these yokels... what they have left you with, it's totally unacceptable.

They will be back to redo but it has made me sad as I feel it is not up to the standard I would have liked. I will be slaving to pay this off for the next few years. I will put up more pics as they are saying the work is totally acceptable. They are booked to do our downstairs area next month. :(

The first picture is the bath. The tiles should be flush but there is a ridge in places between the tiles and strip. The last three pictures are of the best done niche! However you can see a shadow falling between the strip (second picture)and the tiles this will trap water I am sure. They say this niche is ok and I am just a "clean freak".

None of the silver strips meet properly in the corners!

Where are you located? If I were you, I'd go over to John Bridge's "Tile Forum" and start a thread there about this disaster. Plenty of professionals from all over the country there who will be able to guide you as to how to best proceed and what your rights are.

Wow, not only are they sloppy unprofessional hacks, they're bullies too. Do not let them get away with this, they're trying to intimidate you. I most certainly wouldn't pay them. Not a penny. They ruined your bathroom and then call you the "freak"? They're scum. I wouldn't let them in my house again.

I urge you to post these pics on the Tile Forum and tell your sad tale. There are minimal and maximal tolerances professional tile setters have to meet for work to pass as acceptable.

I'm on the Northern Beaches Sydney.

Oh, you're from down under, welcome!

Hmm, the Tile forum is a US site, but...I know there are professionals from Europe and Canada posting too. Who knows, Australian tile setters might visit the site as well. I would still urge you to post a thread there, asking for help. It'll help if you take photos placing a ruler next to the offending grout lines and sloppy caulking jobs, etc.

Not sure what you mean by "they are booked to do our downstairs area next month." Uh, you plan to have them enter your house, do some more crappy work, then you're going to give them more money? No, no, no.

Dont let them come back, unless it is to explain their well thought out plan to repair what they did, show you the actual products, measurements, and agree with you on what an acceptable outcome is, that meets your building code.

Please find someone else to do your other work.

Am I within my rights to get the whole tiling job done again? I will need to work for the next couple of years just to pay this off. I am beside myself.

Northern Beaches Sydney

Yes you are within your rights. I don't know what your options are in Sydney, but I would not let them near your house and whatever you have for options, I'd do it.

Please do not let them do any work in any other area of your house! Cancel that other project immediately. This is unacceptable. When they come back to fix have a very detailed discussion of what you expect to see and for them to tell you what they can deliver - get the expectations set between the both of you before moving forward with anything.

Good luck!

I am currently arguing with my husband about letting them do more work downstairs!( We have paid for the fittings for there already). He says now they know what we expect ...(do it once...do it again is my guess) I'm not going to let them do anymore. (This was a once in a lifetime thing so sad to have it ruined). They have begun to pull off some of the tiling but they want to take short cuts and cover up with silicon. I am arguing with hubby over this. The builders don't want to remove a recessed cabinet to get those white tiles with the fractures along the edges out and I don't want extra cuts so that they don't have to take it out (liquid nailed in). Hubby says lets wait and see.(This could end in divorce!) I have also found a big gap ..more than 10mm in the tiling beside the mirror which is squeezed close to the window. You can see the gyprock of the closet behind.. there are no tiles or anything....great in a wet room! I wonder how long before we get mould in the wall cavity and then on my clothes? I'm also unhappy with the placement of the lights I purchased at quite an expense. They are too far above the shaving cabinets to be any good for applying make up. I don't know what to do about this as the tiles were cut for the electrical wiring and it's all been put up. I hate this ....I'm going to do the downstairs myself as it couldn't be worse than what we have paid a lot of money for. This has been done with zero care.

Are you an absentee owner? How were the lights installed in a location you don't like? I know it's too late now, but when you have people working in your house, don't just hand over money and expect it to come out like you want. There has to be communication. You can mark an "X" and a sticky note where you want a light to go; discuss it all beforehand. Discuss HOW the shower is going to be made waterproof. I would ask about which products/system they use for waterproofing--how the tiler will plan for the edges and niches, and many more details before even hiring such people. I know that it doesn't help for me to preach now, but the problem is really that this contractor doesn't feel it's important to do quality work; and that's not going to change. He is already not ashamed at his shoddy work and is trying to cobble together a semi-fix with his goal being to get out of there and not have you catch him or see how it's being done. What would possibly change downstairs?

Here's how to deal with the DH: get information from your contractor about the products used in your current shower. Show us all the pictures. Then experts here will tell you what's wrong, and give you info as to what questions you SHOULD be asking before a project. Even your DH, a trusting person, will see that you've been ripped off and taken advantage of. Also, maybe it's daunting to find another contractor--a lot of effort. Why dont you go find that person and save your DH the hassle, and then introduce the other contractor who may impress your DH enough that he agrees with your plan.

I'm sorry but openings you can see the gypsum through and using liquid nails on a tile install! No no no.... tell your husband you love him but this needs to be done right otherwise it could cost you a ton of money to repair water damage or even worse black mold.... hopefully it won't come to that extreme....

Good luck and keep us posted....

The week and a half this all came together happened to coincide with me being on call 24/7 in an emergency department and I was called every night so I worked pretty much 24hours a day. We got people in to do the work who said they didnt use subbies and had lots of experience we even went to look at their showroom. We handed over the reins to them as this is why we got builders who would take the responsibility for all stages. I have never done anything like this before so how would I know what I should ask.

I am happy that the waterproofing was done correctly. My issues are with the finish of the tiling and the attention to detail or lack thereof. The senior tiler has taken over and blamed himself for letting the juniors work unsupervised.They have agreed to redo a lot of the tiles and have begun to remove the offending tiles today. My husband has requested that they do another coat of waterproof in the niches before the new tiles go on. They will use single tile cuts inside the niches (except the ensuite ). They will remove the shaving cabinet in the ensuite and fix the hole beside the cabinet. The light over the vanity will be lowered and I have requested an extra strip of LEDs under the shaving cabinet to give some up light. Lets see what happens.

Good luck and please post once they finish

Here are some pictures of the tiles that have been removed. I am a bit anxious about the holes in the gyp rock and the loss of integrity of the waterproofing.

Now, while it is open stop the work, bring in your local building inspector also I would have another professional tile company see this and provide you with a evaluation and estimate to correctly repair or replace in writing. (you may need to pay for this estimate). That would be your starting point for negotiations. If the waterproofing products are on site contact the manufacturers and provide photo's. They will happily provide you with proper procedures for a acceptable substrate to be used with their product. Get a e-mail response so you have this in writing also. Not sure of the standards down under so my advice is limited. Sorry