My sympathies! We noticed that the subs on our build had no respect whatsoever for another's work. Our building supervisor visited the house maybe a couple of times the 2nd month 2 x the 3rd month and after that we had to schedule appointments with him to look at work done or not done! We bought builders paper and painters tape to cover the floors in our house, after repeated requests to the supervisor and builder. We had to do the same for the light fixtures, sinks and toilets (taping them closed). I don't know if these subs treat their own homes the same way they treated ours but SLOVENLY is too kind a word!

If he provided the tile, then it's up to him to QC the tile, and only top quality stuff gets installed. If you supplied the tile, then legally I can see his argument...however, if it's "chipped" chipped, and the homeowner is on site, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the installer to point it out and ask "is this really okay for me to install this?" As to the el being installed upside-down, handheld outlet els are usually installed so the water outflow is pointed down towards the floor. Yours is pointing up? The argument that the nipple can't be cut to the right size is ludicrous! If needed I cut them to whatever length I need then thread the ends. If these guys used pre-threaded nipples from the supply house, then you install the dropear outlet fitting at a certain depth behind the face of the finished wall so the proper amount of nipple threading is available for the outlet el to thread onto. Plumbing 101. Now you wrote the plumber was a "subcontractor." If you have a "contratactor" or GC that is overseeing the project, bring these problems to him and let him hammer things out with the subs. If you hired the subs directly, then it's up to you to wield the financial hammer over them until things are repaired to your satisfaction. Best thing is to have a conversation. Then follow the conversation up with a letter. Rehash the conversation, the repairs needed, and a time frame to accomplish. Just the facts, no emotion. No mention of money paid or withheld at this time. If further actions need be taken we'll go into those later.

If it is reclaimed old pine, it could be very, very hard. We have 75-year-old pine in our home and it is as hard as rock - you just can't dent it at all. When we sanded it, my DH had to STAND ON THE SANDER while I pushed it around to have any effect at all on the wood.

Any local brick and mortar flooring retailer will carry it. It is also available online by googling: slate flooring. Here is a link that might be useful: Online resources for