Oh, I'm sorry. That looks pretty bad.

Sloppy

I’m sorry, it looks awful.

Your pictures are good enough to show what a substandard and unacceptable job was done. Have they no pride in their workmanship? There must be someone who can make this right. So sorry that you have to deal with this.

Waiting for someone to say, if the tiling is substandard, better question the waterproofing.

@floppsycat1 You win. You're the first to point it out this time:)

"The builder seemed adamant that this would be the best they can do." Probably true.

On the other hand anyone who took pride in their work would have done a much better job.

Lordy, is that grout in the corners?!?!

Shame on these builders/contractors. Seriously, does anyone have pride in the job they do anymore?? Is no one qualified?? And don't give me the; "you get what you paid for" spiel....the OP is buying a $500,000 house....they should at least be able to handle a shower niche...Christ on a cracker

I'm guessing it's too late to walk away from the deal?

"if the tiling is substandard, better question the waterproofing."

Not only that but I am sure the "waterproofing" that was there was more than likely compromised during the alleged "repair".

"The builder seemed adamant that this would be the best they can do."

And I do not doubt that for a second.

But if this is a tract or developer home your options will be limited and you may have 2 options, close on the home or walk away and lose your deposit and any upgrades you paid for.

If you wanted it changed because of size or shape, I can understand it might not be in spec, but unacceptable workmanship is another story. Review your contract and see what the terms and timeframe are to make a complaint and have repaired.

You could have a licensed tiler provide you with an assessment. Perhaps consult with Better Business Bureau for your options. Advise builder you are going to make a formal complaint and if nothing happens, provde BBB with the third party assessment on the work and copy builder.

"Unhappy with shower niche. Is it just me?"

I can safely say I am more unhappy with the shower niche than I am with you.

First, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I agree that this would not be a acceptable to me. Since this is a new build - how does this compare with the model homes you looked at from this builder? In my experience I was referred back to the model homes to assess and compare quality in my home vs model. In other words, my builder wasn’t obligated to make my home better quality than the model. Luckily my builder was amazing and generous; but my kids were less fortunate. Their builder stayed exactly same as model. They didn’t compare “everything” and how things are finished off, so they repaired on their own dime. Lesson learned. For you, I’d certainly go back to the model (unless there aren’t any models) and inspect and compare. I would not accept this and would fight for repairs. If I lost, I’d fix it at my own expense. Good luck! I hope you have a good outcome.

It's not bad. Move on please.

Thank you I’m still frustrated but nice to feel validated. To answer some questions I would probably still close but woyldn’t be thrilled. It’s not the just the shower niche for me. There are othe things too that bother me but felt like i could live with it but man! the shower niche I look at it and get mad haha If this isn’t rectified in some way and just chalked up to minor cosmetic flaws i will lose trust in the builder and their services they employ and will have to take it as a loss. I do have same worries though of whether the waterproofing was done correctly if they couldnt get the tiling right. @melissa r Yes I believe that is grout in the corners and a whole lot of it. i just looked into why thats a bad idea-is this something that could be considered out of spec and something that would give them more cause to redo it? @maureen yes i’m considering getting a tile specialist as i’m anticipating not being able to count on the builder. @r tallman it looks clean! but I’m a novice. you can take it-i’d rather no niche than mine haha

If that's the best the builder can do, perhaps he should replace it with a pre-formed shower niche.

The shower niche craftsmanship is awful and looks like a child completed it. That definately needs to be redone and, find out what steps and materials were taken to waterproof the shower.
I dont think you should “ have to live with” poor workmanship on a new build.
Write down all the houses issues, take lots of pictures, see if the builder can credit you with their shoddy work.
Then hire some quality craftsmen to fix the botched areas. Get recommendatios of good craftsmen, interview them, and review picturses of their projects, make sure they are licensed in their field of expertice.
Do you have an attorney in nvolved in this new build? If not, consult one.

I think what looks bad is the cr**ppy looking metal edge pieces. I've personally built several niches in the three houses we've built and I always used bullnose pieces for the tile on the sides, top and bottom of the niche. It looks a whole lot cleaner than that metal piece.

Another reason to never have shower niches . That is a mess and honestly without seeing what was speced I have no clue about that but these are usually where leaks are most often and really why do people want to high light shampoo bottles .IMO if this is the best you get from this builder god help you . What kind of warranty do you get on new homes where you live and with that builder you better hope for at least 5 yrs.

It isn’t acceptable, you aren’t being picky, and I’m sorry you’re having to deal with it.

Just because it’s in a tract development or whatever, you do not automatically have to accept it or lose your money. I used to be in that industry, and although getting volume builders to fix things can be like pulling teeth, it CAN be done. We didn’t want bad word of mouth, and wanted happy homeowners, so this would’ve been a priority to get right.

The BBB will do nothing, don’t waste your time, and especially don’t start this by threatening the builder in any way. If you do, game over before it begins.

Most likely, this will not be fixed again before you move in.

If they still won’t fix this after you’ve moved in, and you want to fight it, read further. I understand if you decide it’s not worth it, everyone has to make that decision for themselves. As stated already, the biggest potential concern is not as much the visual aspect, but structural (correct waterproofing, leaking). So ….

If repeated calls to get this fixed don’t work, send them a certified letter stating the problem and how you expect it to be resolved. Don’t threaten or get emotional, keep it succint. I don’t know what your specific warranty states, but tile issues were one of the first groups to expire in ours, so don’t put it off. Read yours thoroughly because unscrupulous companies will sure enough try to hide little stipulations to protect themselves. If letters don’t work, have a reputable tile company look at it and give an estimate for repair. Contact your local homebuilders association to see if they provide mediation or have advice. If you know a local realtor, they may be able to advise, too … not get involved directly, but have useful info. Just like with contacting the builder — stay unemotional and on point in all of your dealings. Don’t go scorched earth ever (you don’t seem like you would).

If none of the above help, it’ll be time to contact an attorney … if you want to take it that far. If you don’t, which is perfectly understandable, you’ll unfortunately have to eat the repair cost yourself and hope everything behind the tile is ok. After all warranties have expired, and everything is off the table with the builder, that’s when I’d consider expressing my dissatisfaction on every public outlet available. Just be careful of exactly what you say, though — if you sell someday, a future buyer might see bad things you’ve listed about the house/community and use it to their advantage. Only discuss specific things that were wrong and you successfully had fixed. Don’t libel the company. Repeating: no scorched earth behavior.

In the meantime, document everything: every letter, e-mail, phone call. Take good pictures and video.

Again, this may not be a hill you want to die on, and I can completely understand that. It can be time-consuming, frustrating, and still result in an unsatisfactory outcome.

Good luck. I hope other than this, everything goes smoothly and that you’re very happy with your new home.

No, it doesn't meet industry standards for workmanship. No, grout is not acceptable at change of planes. @Patricia Colwell Consulting, you have consistently shared your opinion about niches however it is not consistent with market preferences in that niches have, and will continue to be a choice made by consumers in the majority of shower builds. Also, while a niche "can" be a location where a leak occurs, it is NOT where "leaks are most often". The following, while lengthy, can be used to guide the homeowner in choosing a tile installer (or assessing the GC's hiring). Note that licensing is not required in all states).

LOOKING FOR A QUALIFIED TILE INSTALLER?

14 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK TO FIND A GOOD MATCH FOR YOUR PROJECT.

1. Do they have liability insurance and if they have employees, are they covered with Worker’s Compensation Insurance?

· Make sure you can verify appropriate insurance coverage.

2. Are they licensed (if required in your area)?

· Verify. Some states do not require tile contractor’s to be licensed.

3. How many years have they been working exclusively as tile installers?

· It takes many years to become proficient as a dedicated, qualified tile professional. Five years or more would be an expected minimum.

4. How was the installer trained? Do they participate in on-going professional industry training from organizations and or manufactures, and specifically what?

· Installers who have completed an apprenticeship under a Qualified Tile Installer and participate in industry training are generally more likely to follow standards and recommendations and stay current with products, materials, and industry updates.

5. Are they familiar with the TCNA Handbook and ANSI Standards and do they follow these industry recommendations?

· The TCNA Handbook coupled with ANSI Standards are the industry recognized guidelines for the installation of tile for a wide range of applications. A qualified tile professional will be familiar with and know how to specify and use these reference tools.

6. If wet areas (showers/baths) are to be included in the work performed, what approved system/methods will they use to assure a long-lasting installation?

· Tile installations in wet areas require some very important preparation to avoid leaks and unwanted moisture problems. Hybrid or unapproved methods, and the use of materials inappropriate for this application can contribute to a very costly and unwanted result that too often requires complete removal and replacement by a qualified professional. A quality installation should last decades or longer.

7. What manufacturer’s products do they use and do they comply with manufacturer’s instructions?

· There are many manufacturers of quality tile setting materials. Most perform well with use of approved methods and adherence to manufacturer specifications. Qualified tile installers will be well-versed on the materials and systems they prefer and should be able to answer your questions about the process and materials and their associated warranties.

8. Do they have a company website or social media page with photos of their work?

· Professionals will have a public presence that is available to consumers so you can review their work and customer reviews. Lack of a traceable, legitimate, and committed business should be a deterrent to hiring.

9. Can you speak with recent customers and see photos of those projects?

· Qualified, experienced tile contractors will have a loyal client base that is happy to recommend them and share their experience.

10. Do they have experience working with the type of tile you plan to use?

· There are different methods, materials and considerations when installing various tile products… ceramic, porcelain, large format tile, handmade tile, natural stone, glass. Verify their experience and training with the tile product you have chosen.

11. Talk to them about positives and challenges of past projects

· Get to know the tile professional as part of your project team. Do they take pride in their work? If your General Contractor is hiring the tile installer, it may make sense to request meeting with the GC and tile installer in advance of the installation.

12. What has been their greatest challenge as a tile installer?

· Listen carefully to understand the installer’s limitations and ability to meet your expectations.

13. Do they or their team belong to a professional organization like NTCA (National Tile Contractor’s Association)?

· Industry involvement is one indication of a tile installation company’s commitment to their craft. It gives them access to education, technical information, and other resources to assist them in professionally serving you.

14. Are they, or do they have Certified Tile Installer’s (Certified Tile Education Foundation, CTI) on their team?

· The certification of tile installers is an important step forward for the consumer. The industry has established a process to certify tile installers. Certification identifies an installer as being a dedicated and knowledgeable professional whose competence in installing tile has been verified to meet specific tile industry standards. Search Certified Tile Education Foundation for a CTI near you.

@Jilly and the necessity of 4000k lighting.

I would think shower niches are more for function rather than showing off the bottles??

So sorry. That doesn't look good. Is there any way they can change it to have solid stone or quartz pieces as a frame instead? This is how we do all our niches - it's easy to slope it and is less of a fight with grout lines:

Hope you get a fair resolve

I am assuming you are working with a production builder and not a custom builder right? Unfortunately, working with a production builder is tough. Unless you get a home inspector to say that there is a serious issue with the workmanship I don't think the builder is going to fix it. As the others have said, I would be more concerned about the waterproofing. You could have a serious water/mold issue in that shower if the rest of their work was as bad as that niche. Out of curiosity what type of shower floor did you get? Is it tiled or a pan?

Joe says its not bad , move on 😎

Patricia’s friend: What do you want for dinner?

Patricia: Definitely not a shower niche.

In spec? Oh, I will translate for the builder: he wasn't sure of success but had hoped of success.

Builder failed, miserably.

I am hoping "walk through" means you can get out of the transaction. Horrors to think of what else is messed up in the build that you can't see.

Maybe Joe is the builder?

@Lisa hm actually not entirely clear tbh they overlap? i.e. my house model is not the only one in the neighborhood but they accomodated certain adjustments and enhancements to the house. It’s a tiled flooar. TBH I think overall the builder is reputable, but I just happened to get unlucky with their subcontractor that does the tiling. So I’m keeping fingers crossed that the non visible important things like the waterproofing was actually done well.

@Debbi Washburn I wish mine looked like that. I’m guessing it’ll be a lot of work to do that, otherwise I’m wondering if they would have already suggested this option.

honestly, what bothers me is that the tile stands out beyond the trim, so that the edge is revealed. hope that got a ton of, um, caulk!

DBY:

You're getting some awful advice here. The idea of contacting an attorney over the subjective quality of a niche installation is laughable. Builders and others love the nasty attorney letter because it's proof that you aren't going to sue.

You've got to pick which hill to die on. This ain't it.

I haven't read all the replies but I agree with Joe that the idea of contacting an attorney, if someone mentioned that above, is a poor one. The litigation results aside, you'll blow through more money going that route then simply ripping the niche out and doing a "do over". I disagree that "It's not bad".

That said, in the past I've complied an annual quote list from the forum posters and one of them by a homeowner you might find of interest. He wrote:

"During our first build, we noticed that one of the newly-installed master bathroom windows was both inoperable and off-center. Weary of the process and eager to get into the house, we didn't raise the ruckus we should have. That damn window has been driving me bonkers for fifteen years. Fifteen years, people. Fifteen years... age 36 to 51, every day, the window has been there...”

Unless you get it fixed one way or the other, every time you take a shower that niche will be there.

I think my advice was excellent, Joseph, for this OP and any others dealing with volume home builders who may (or may not — we can only respond to what info we’re given) be taking advantage of them. It’s a lot of money, we’re not talking a pair of jeans. I stand by every word I said, as someone with extensive related experience. I presented good step-by-step advice, for IF they decide not to accept shoddy work …. if it doesn’t apply here, it might for someone else reading.

I had a homebuyer threaten to sue us over a percieved misplaced electrical outlet. One outlet, an inch from where they thought it was going to be. THAT is laughable. Potential water damage behind tile is not.

(ETA: We did move the outlet.)

I am not any sort of tile expert but maybe they can pullout the trim and sides , top and bottom of the niche and do solid material... You can show them the picture of the niche above and see if they can do it without compromising the waterproofing. I do not know if that is possible.

So sorry

That's terrible. I doubt you will get a favorable outcome given that they are not as disgusted as they should be. Please be sure to follow up.

This is shoddy.