Pictures? Not a shower I hope?

Hackorama. I hope you have pictures of the in progress construction. It’s going to be yet another total fail from someone unqualified to set tile or build a wet space.

https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer

Hackorama according to tileapedia - (If what is visible on the surface is bad odds are very high the more important waterproofing and proper setting techniques that are not visible will be equally poor and cost $$$ down the road.) Note most grouts need to be removed then regrouted. There are a few that will bond to themselves. You will need to identify exactly which product was used. Photos of the issues would be helpful.

They used waterproof paper, Hardibacker, and then thinset (or mortar?), then he tiled using 3x6 daltile, which does look like there is a bit of lip. And yes install is in shower.

Gawdawful do over. Read the link. The average wet area costs 5-9K for a reason.

Also, i did see him tape the seams. He used mapei unsanded grout with maximizer ( sealant) added in the mix.

So, I’m needing total reinstall? I guess it’s better to do now and try to ask him to redo properly?

i see the post about third party opinion and taking to small claims from link sent from Sophie. Thanks.

So, my contractor had the foreman do the tiling to probably save costs on hiring a real professional. I know my contractor has specialist tilers. I’m going to push for this now. Ugh, I dislike conflict.

if I hire another professional ruler to inspect, is it an obvious tile failure? He already failed, but now they came back and grouted over so it looks okay now. I just need to prove my case to get it redone.

Everything starts with A smart hiring decision. Hire wisely America

So I’m at fault for a bad tile install because I hired a general contractor to renovate my entire condo? Not very supportive and not helpful. I am left with a poor install and I don’t need to be raked over the coals for something that was unknown to me.

If you hired a GC, it’s up to him to make it right. But, since he hired the hack, and doesnt seem to have a clue, you may want to educate yourself a lot more on how to properly waterproof and tile a wet area before you talk to him about the second tile guy he is gonna need to hire. Buy an industry bible and read it. Carry it with you prominently when you talk to the GC.

https://www.tcnatile.com/products-and-services/publications/218-english-publications/188-handbook/957-2018-tcna-handbook-for-ceramic-glass-and-stone-tile-installation.html

I have zero trust that a waterproofing system was installed correctly if someone does such a butcherous job on the pretty stuff that homeowners see. If they’re a visible hack where it shows, they are a worse hack where it’s hidden.

Quality level of the job received has a 90% correlation with the price paid for the job. It should be a giant red flag to any homeowner when something sounds too good to be true. Especially since the information about average renovation costs is readily available. If someone is promising you a 20K job for 5K, that’s a big clue that you’re getting a 5K job. Don’t let personal greed over getting a “deal” make you start believing in the Easter Bunny. TANSTAAFL

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2018/

So I’m at fault for a bad tile install because I hired a general contractor

yes

So, my contractor had the foreman do the tiling to probably save costs on hiring a real professional

Tough way to learn and totally unfair Id agree.

Wow, why are we putting fault on the owner for a professional doing a shoddy job? I understand that the homeowner should be doing due diligence before hiring any contractor, but the whole point of hiring a general contractor is that the GC is capable of hiring good sub-contractors. If not, why would anyone pay a GC in the first place? Not every homeowner can be an expert in all of the trades that go into a remodel.

When you say "my contractor had the foreman do the tiling to probably save costs", did it save you cost? Did you ask to reduce cost? A qualified professional is going to be more expensive than a hack, but if you didn't ask the GC to cut corners I am confused why he would have an inexperienced tradesman do work he wasn't qualified for.

I'm sorry I am not familiar with small claims process so I can't advise there. I can say that some tile has built in spacers.

But as some of the professionals already commented, corners and where tile meets up with a tub should always be caulked not grouted. Otherwise you will definitely experience cracking. However I also see some chunks of missing grout between tiles and not related to a corner cracking. What's going on there? Were there gaps originally or did the grout fall out?

Thank you pricklypearcactus. I did an entire house remodel. We had to stop and start a few times due to condo neighbors upstairs — it’s a long story. My GC has been saying that he is not making money because of the delays. its probably still not a valid reason to cut corners and not outsource to qualified professionals. I should’ve pushed back and now, I have to.

i don’t know if the gaps are there because the grout fell out, or simply because he forgot to apply grout in those areas? I do notice some grout areas with bubbles?

What was the total project costs?

$26K was the allocation for 2 bathrooms, labor only. Did not include fixtures or toilets, tile, etc.

If that is just for the bathroom, in a condo, it’s a bit light given the hassles that condos have. But condo baths are small, so that offsets that somewhat. It’s not an immediate red flag, unless the rest of the project was $1.98.

A well organized contractor familiar with working in a condo should have been able to make that work. He for sure needs to pay some expensive tuition here. You’re providing him with a proper education if you make him rebuild it properly.

And you need to post pics of he second bath. It isn’t likely to be better underneath than the first.