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Kitchens Design Dilemma Remodeling

bad backsplash job

4 years ago

Hello all! My husband and I recently hired a contractor/handyman to install a new backsplash in our kitchen. We are less than pleased, to say the least… The grout is uneven in places, the border is wonky, the tile was cut unevenly and it’s noticeable just by looking at it. We already have a cracked tile! We are trying to figure out how we can salvage any of this by maybe adding more grout or another substance. Honestly, we’re not going to tear all of this down and have someone redo it. But, we would like to clean this work up a little bit or even hire someone to clean it up a little bit if possible. Any insights on how to clean this up and fix the cracked tile are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

Home Art Tile Kitchen & Bath

4 years ago

Sorry, but I really don't see how can you make this look better. Tiling is a craft and I've seen many failures. I would save up and redo this when possible.

Comments (11)

millworkman
4 years ago
That's either a live with it or rip it out. You're not fixing any of that now, including the cracked tile.
Rae D
Original Author
4 years ago
Well, it wasn’t a $200 job...but thanks.
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This just happened to us in a guest bath. I was so distraught and just wanted the guy out of my house so I did pay him and told him how disappointed I was and asked him if he was proud of his work and he said no. I asked what he thought we should do about it and he said well if you hire me to do more work I could fix it then. At this time I considered I was dealing with an unreasonable incompetent, unprofessional and decided to cut my losses and move on. It was not easy as I don't have a money tree in the back yard but I couldn't even look at it. Like you, we had tile falling off and he poured grout and caulk into the places he didn't cut the tile to fit, it was crooked and the thresholds were metal strips he found somewhere that looked more like carpet tack strips. OY VEY. We hired someone else and I had to go and buy new tile because they said it could not be saved. They charged me extra to tear out the old. It makes me sick to think about it, but it looks nice now. Remodeling is not for the fainthearted and heartbreak is nearly always involved. Disappointment in people always included. It can be a little depressing both for the outlay of money and for the things you learn about people that sadden you. Good luck! Cut and run...
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Comments (10)
I would post in the bathroom forum where the tile guys hang out. It looks like there's too much grout so it's covering the edges. The edges look uneven and chipped. Something is taking the clean edge from your tiles. Tiling should start at the cabinet, not the counter. By bringing it out to the counter, he's created that awkward overhang at the wall cabinet.
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Comments (30)
meaning, it's not his fault the tiles were glued on the mesh incorrectly. everyone that commented up top said what a horrible job he did installing them because they were crooked. that's why I said, "Hang on". I was letting everyone know that these sheets of mosaics often come crooked. that's what I meant by not his fault. and for the fourth damn time, yes, the installer should have done a few of them by hand. However, should he have taken each and every tile off the sheet and done them one by one??? uh, no. That's the meaning of, "not his fault". Do you actually expect him to do that? Who is in charge of this project? Why didn't they pay attention to how screwed up the tiles were on the sheet? why didn't that person know enough to catch it, advise the homeowner or give instructions to the installer to do what needed to be done?? You're faulting the wrong person. OP hired a company to do the entire kitchen. they are using one of their 'tile guys' on staff. Sometimes you luck out and get someone who's good. Most times you get someone who doesn't speak English and only installs what they're given, without thinking outside the box. they just figure, "this is what boss gave me to put up, i put it up. not my fault if they were crooked". OP said this was a 25K job. how much of that went to the tile install, I do not know. I also think, overall, it's a decent job. there are a few tiles that are off and should be fixed, but if that's all there is, then I wouldn't do a tear out. The way everyone was acting about his install was a bit much. We've all seen horrible tile jobs on here and this is not one of them.
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Comments (25)
he hasn't been back to fix it. says he isn't sure when he will be back to finish it. the guy on his team who did the job the first time had a death in the family. what gets me is when he started my kitchen he left the first two days at noon to go finish a job. he even said "if it was you I would do it for you as well" now it's me and he isn't standing behind that. we have a huge family get together memorial day weekend and I would like my kitchen to be finished and cured by then! I'm tempted to just finish it myself and not pay him for this portion.
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Pam A
4 years ago
For the edges with the ragged cuts, could you use some Schluter trim as a border? If so, you would need to pop all the cut tiles off the wall and then install the trim with the tile. It is a metal channel that the tile is slid into, it covers the cut edges.

The other fix I can think of is to get some grout paint to lighten up the grout so it matches the tile. The less contrast you have between tile and grout, the better. Good luck, I hope you can salvage the work and make it more pleasing. On the bright side, at least it isn't a shower and you aren't thinking, "did he screw up the waterproofing while tiling? What if this leaks??"
formulaross20
4 years ago
Yep, bad job. I suggest you get John Bridge's book 'Tile Your World', tear it all out and redo it yourself.
lefty47
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
HI -- Sorry to say but your never going to be happy with this so...bite the bullet and have it re-done with a better quality tile and hire a better tile setter . It looks cheap and it's poorly done .
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
I agree but next time hire an actual tile setter not some handy man and if you are not willing to rip it out then not sure how much help you will get here . I would like to see this from further back to gat a feel for the whole area.
eam44
4 years ago
“We are trying to figure out how we can salvage any of this by maybe adding more grout or another substance. Honestly, we’re not going to tear all of this down and have someone redo it.“

You’ve precluded the only fix. If you’re not going to tear it out and start over, just don’t look at it. More grout is not going to help.

Why are you unwilling to start over?
kathleen MK
4 years ago
it is possible to chisel out cracked tile and replace if you have an extra tile but it is a PIA to do. There is paint for fixing chip sinks that might hide cracks. I used nail polish to color match a chip sink. The suggestion to paint grout was a good camouflage idea. Also could you glue tiny trim pieces over the bad edges? sure these are not a full re do but just a little camouflage.
st5330
4 years ago
since the edges of all of them are messed up almost in the exact same way it almost looks like this could be just a quirky tile, its so uniform!
PRO
TRC Renovations
4 years ago
No to mention the screws for electrical cover are wrong too:(

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