You will get many more helpful comments and I am no expert but that lippage is NOT ok. It also looks like the thinset has oozed out between the penny tiles which means there is no way they will be able to grout that correctly--the grout will not go into those joints and if it does, the thinset will peek through.

I think you'll hear it's a do over, I don't know what recourse you have other than withholding payment, especially if there's no contract.

Not acceptable.

Is he an actual licensed GC? You checked his status on the state database? And verified his insurance? What are his qualifications to do tile? That’s a highly skilled specialty. Most GC’s should stick to project manage to and framing. And hire a real tile specialist as their subcontractor.

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

@User Haven't looked into licensing, but he is insured. I found his crew thru the Nextdoor app. They have tons of positive reviews from people in the community, and they post lots of their finished projects with pics. I really thought I had picked the right people. Tile and everything else always looked good, and he mentioned tile was his specialty, so I'm left scratching my head on this. Any idea what the issue could be and the best way to fix it?

How did your flood test drain and what did the plumbing inspector say about redgard?

Any homeowners reading along?

The TCNA sets the standards for tiling, lippage and all.. the best thing any homeowner can do is get a written contract with A detailed scope in writing.

"All tile and tile related work to meet current TCNA, ANSI, UPC, and IRC standards and all MFG installation instructions."

Now you have a way to fight the tile lippage imposters, hacky GC's that make poor sub decisions and you will scare 90% of the fake tilers right out your front door quickly.

You will know when youve found a tile pro when they cite TCNA method numbers in their estimates.

Hire wisely America

Recently had a whole house of tile installed and the contractor used something called a lippage control kit.

@AJCN He used the spinning tile levelers on all the tiles. I think that's essentially what that kit is you're describing. It didn't seem to work.

He’s not up to the project. At all. He needs to remove all of that, and learn that lesson by hiring a more qualified individual. He won’t forget the lesson you force him to learn here. https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/find-certified-tile-installers

Just remember that neighbor recommendations to the positive come from—your neighbors. (Or shills, paid for reviews.) Your neighbors have different standards of acceptability. My neighbor, half blind Uncle Grandpa, sitting in his lawn chair with a case of beer, watching the cars go by, might pop in and look at just about anything and call it good. My tax attorney client, in the most expensive suburb in the area, uses a magnifying glass. She needs to chill, but Uncle Grandpa needs to put on his glasses and stop the beer before he looks.

Don’t take neighbor’s recommendations without verifying things for yourself. Don’t trust pretty pictures, unless you can visit that installation and look yourself. Way too many of the skilled guys in tile groups find their pictures posted on Craigslist ads.

How was the shower waterproofed? Do you have pictures showing the steps?

Ugh - Just ugh. I am sure there was paperwork with the tile stating that is has to be a 1/3 brick pattern or smaller with larger tiles. The shower floor doesn't seem right either. You should not be able to "see" the sheets of the penny tile.

There are some excellent tile folks on Houzz... hopefully they will jump in!

@User I recently moved from Chicago to Savannah, GA and I've had the hardest time finding qualified tradesmen that do quality work. Sure enough I looked up tile installers from the link you gave me, and the closest one is an hour and a half drive from here in a much smaller town.

This is 'contractor' work. It is NOT a PROFESSIONAL TILE SETTER. You have hired a 'company' based on reviews....but that company CHEAPS OUT on TILE INSTALLATION.

The GC 'thought' to please you by doing what you asked for with tile YOU purchased/provided to him/her (I'm guessing...please correct me if I'm wrong).

The 'customer is always right' is what MOST of these 'guys' work with. If Jill Smith asks for 50% off-set for her large format tiles then THAT is what Jill will get...come hell or high water.

A PROFESSIONAL TILE setter would have said, 'Sorry Jill but you will need 30% off set'.

It can be very hard to find qualified people in my area too; near Houston. It's like the wild west. No permits, not inspections, no required flood test, no nothing. The only way any inspection or flood test would be required is if the homeowner knows enough to put all that into the contract. Like knowing how to do your own surgery and putting it into the paperwork that you sign with the hospital. Ridiculous.

The excellent tile pro I hired was on this site:

https://www.tile-assn.com

I also tried the other one posted above and didn't have luck in my area, but others have told me they have had luck. That site also has lots of info on it that is educational. Here's the link for the TCNA handbook everyone is referencing. You can buy an download version for about $40. It's about 600 pages, but you only have to read the introduction (about 50 pages) and the shower sections to get a good education. You can skip all the other chapters such as swimming pools, etc.

https://www.tcnatile.com/products-and-services/publications/218-english-publications/188-handbook.html

Think that looks bad now? Here's a peek into your future if you accept that job:

Another observation. Fact - Minimum mortar coverage required in a wet area is 95%.

Notice in your 5th photo with the vertical tile edge on pony wall. ZERO coverage is visible. You actually see a gap between the tile and substrate. Similar scenario on top edge of the seat. Also the substrate waterproofing is clean from mortar. Again clearly visible on the left edge of vertical penny rounds. Showing that the required keying in of the mortar (as stated on every bag) was not done to achieve a proper bond. The points I make are tile basics.

How there is so much lippage on the 3rd attempt using a lippage tuning system is beyond comprehension.

"Said that my floor just wasn't level"

The maximum allowable variation for setting large format tile is 1/8" in 10'. That would be addressed prior and billed accordingly. Note; Flatness is what you are addressing here not level.

I suggest you take up Hallett & Co.'s generous offer to assist you.

Good luck.

Ballet is a long time member here. i would definitely take his advice

So to start this tile cannot be done in 50% offset and IMO any decent tile setter would know that , The tile size is abit odd but I would have done a stacked pattern . Those penny tiles ? Any DIYer would have done better and I would be curious about the proper waterproofing too. BTW when all those are ripped out all the waterproofing will pobablt need to be redone. by an actual liscensed pro.

Print out the instruction from the tile manufacturer before you meet with your contractor. The work is not acceptable, and no amount of grout is going to fix it - including the shower floor and penny tile!