As long as you pay him to fix the issue that your instructions caused, sure, he will remove and re lay the floor.

Can you spell hack? No way that is even close to acceptable. I would not trust him to sweep that floor.

Get someone else to do it correctly.

What size grout line is recommended by the tile manufacturer?

I'm not a pro, but I completed laying 1000 square feet of 12 x 24 tile at a home we redid for my spouses parents earlier this year. I have a couple tiles that look like that. Mine were caused by amateur error. I could describe "what happened" but it's just an excuse.

Are the tiles bowed? When they lay on a flat surface (a table) can you see the ends curling up? Some lippage might be present in some tiles.

But that's not what it looks like to me.

Those aren't acceptable - so long as the installer followed the installation instructions. If a homeowner dictates new guidelines (in building Law in Canada, if there is no General Contractor, the Homeowner takes the roll of General Contractor) then the results are the results.

I would question the PREPARATION in this area. You stated that two rooms came out perfectly, yet another area has gone wonky. I wonder if the floor preparation (or lack thereof) differed between one area and the other.

Are the tiles rectified? It will say it on the box.

Bowed tiles are a reality. He should have told you your material sucked.

But the mismatch is in the wrong place for bowing to be the issue.

Thank you for all of your input. Just to clarify a few of the statements and questions that have been made:

1. I'm not sure what Sophie meant by mentioning "As long as you pay him to fix the issue that your instructions caused". I hired a custom home builder to build this house for me. During the design phase, we went to his showroom and picked out one of the tile options that his designer provided. We were asked what size grout line we wanted and I said that we wanted something smaller than the standard size so what are our options? I never provided any instructions to him as he is the expert. That would have been quite an insult, not to mention the fact that is not my expertise.

2. I'm not sure what the manufacturer recommended grout line is but I will check the box and see. I will also check to see if it says rectified anywhere on the box. I will be there later today.

3. I have already covered in point #1 that it was not my materials. I hired a custom home builder so I wouldn't have to worry about things like this.

4. Joseph's point was exactly my point to them. No one mentioned that this might be an issue with a small grout line. If they would have done that, I would not have went forward with that choice.

I appreciate everyone's input as I just want to confirm if this is standard and if I am being unreasonable in asking them to replace the ones that are sticking up.

I don't see anything wrong with giving a customer what they request, but it is in the contractor's best interest if they let them know the risk involved. I have big 24 inch tiles in my office with 1/16 inch grout spacing (my request, against manufacture's recommendations) and near zero lippage. That said, I couldn't blame the installer if lippage did occur as it was noted in the contract that it can happen when using grout joints smaller than recommended. I do have an excellent installer, but he was smart enough to inform me, in writing.

Chris Jordan, I'm wondering if more than one person worked on your install since two of your rooms are "perfect" and only one room has excessive lippage. I would definitely point out the differences in the two rooms and ask that the offending tiles be replaced. It could be that some of the tiles have excessive bowing but it could also be sloppy installation. I'd start by doing as jn334 suggested and check the tiles for bowing.

jellytoast:

You wouldn't make it as a contractor for very long. Customers want it both ways. They want you to go against manufacturer's instructions, then they want to blame you when it blows up in their face. You can have a disclaimer signed in blood; it doesn't matter to them.

My customers can have whatever they want as long as I approve. Nonnegotiable or get someone else. There is a reason I have nearly zero callbacks. This is a large part of it.

You need to re focus.

Moving fwd you should try to hire A professional tile installer you got the "sometimes" tiler at the right price

Tough way to get a fat lip. You to will learn to get better at the hiring process.

I think jellytoast is on to something - there might have been TWO different installers doing the job. First guy with first two rooms = excellent work. Second person (?possibly?) bungled the third room which is where all the problems are.

Find out the PROCESS of what happened so you can trouble shoot what went so wrong on the third room. Move forward from there.

Just an update on everything. It was the same installer that did the job for the whole house. He had several workers on the job so who knows if it was maybe one that didn't know what he was doing or perhaps got in a hurry. I didn't choose or hire the installer. I am having the home built by a premium custom home builder that has been around for over 20 years and has a very good reputation. I have always wanted to build a home with him but couldn't afford it until now. I have been dealing with the site supervisor with this issue and the builder himself finally came out this weekend. He determined that it is definitely an unacceptable tile job and is having the installer remove the affected sections, which is about 20% of the home, and reinstall it correctly. I appreciate all of your input.

are they qualified to fix it? legalities say you must give em a chance. Pay attention