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Contractor installed chipped tile in shower

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

The tile contractor our renovation company used installed chipped tile in not 1 but 2 showers. Our project manager said the company probably won't do anything about that, which is an unacceptable answer for me... I paid for new tile, not chipped! What options do I have? We still have about 20k left to pay, so I suppose we could withhold final payment until they address it? This is on top of chipped cabinets being installed in our kitchen, among a slew of other issues with what has otherwise been an impeccably-reviewed company.

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Comments (6)

Amy Ramage
Original Author
2 years ago
just_janni
2 years ago
Is this a single chipped tile or multiple chipped tiles in each bath? are the chips larger than that? Can you even see them from about 4-5 feet away?

this tile looks a bit tricky - and they did a nice job (from what I can see) matching the waves / texture.

If the shower is done well, waterproofed correctly, and this is all we're talking about here, then IMO it's not a hill worth dying on and something you won't even notice in a month.

Step back - deep breath and determine if this is a huge issue or not - because right now - in these pics - it isn't.
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you have the look of a mastic installation (tile installed directly to the drywall/green board) If this is what he's planning, get rid of him, immediately. and it mentions several times to use unmodified thinnest. When installing porcelain you must use a latex modified thinnest or the bond will break within 30 days and I myself have witnessed this happening. That was my concern before I first used it as well. Trust me when I tell you, the fears are unfounded. As for the thinset letting go within 30 days, sorry, but I've got several installations that have been down now for a few years, and haven't let go yet. One of them (the first one I did over Ditra, which also requires unmodified) had a 400 pound Wolfe gas stove wheeled over it a week later. If the tile was going to let go, that would've been the time. That was 4 years ago. As for the Hydroguard, I've never heard of it. You might ask him who the manufacturer is, so you can look them up on line and make sure it's both waterproof AND vapor proof, and if not, make sure he's planning on using a vapor barrier.
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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/
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Thanks everyone. I wouldn't say the extreme slope is irrelevant. It created a strange looking tile job around the drain and in the corners. Just to clarify, the solution of leaving a gap between the bottom row of tiles on the rear wall (8" x 24"), and the floor, and then filling the gap in with grout, the slope to the drain was reduced to not be so extreme. After they tried this approach it looks better than the first attempt. The only other solution is completely re-tiling the walls or re-tiling the bottom row of tiles with 2 rows using a different tile pattern. Regardless, I think I'll have them replace the grout with caulking based on what you and others are telling me. Thanks!
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Amy Ramage
Original Author
2 years ago
There are 3-4 chipped tiles in each shower. Some larger than others. I notice them from far away (first time I noticed them I was looking from outside the bathroom), but someone who didn't just shell out 250k for renovations might not, haha.
Verbo
2 years ago
Stand back 36” and take a pic. No closeups. No angled light. That is the industry standard for visible issues. Not 6” away. I bet it’s not bad when judged to industry standards. That soft bodied ceramic is even harder to install than it is to clean. And thats hard!

What waterproofing system did they use? You have pictures of the steps of what is underneath all of this, right right?
Amy Ramage
Original Author
2 years ago
I didn't think to take pictures of the waterproofing (we weren't living there duringthe reno), but the shower has been used with no issues so far, fingers crossed. The renovation company also has a 1 yr warranty on the work. The tile company did an excellent job on the master shower and we've had no issues with that yet so hopefully guest showers were the same. The chipped tiles are in our guest bathrooms and I will say our guests noticed them right away. I'm just upset at the combination of issues we've had with the finished project after spending an additional 10k in rent because they needed more time. I would definitely still be annoyed that they installed several chipped tiles in each shower, but that in combination with a terrible kitchen cabinet install makes me a little less forgiving of our renovation company for not being on top of it all.
User
2 years ago
When renovating our kitchen five years ago we ended up having some tiles with chipped edges. The contractor extended the warranty from 2 years to 5 years on the tile. I can still find the chips if I look for them but after a few months they did not stand out to me and I was able to enjoy an otherwise excellent tile install. Good luck and I hope you find a satisfactory resolution.

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