Can you share your inspiration photo here?

If your contract is with the builder and the mason's contract is with him/her, you should be talking to the builder to get any issues resolved. It is pretty common in custom home construction to execute details from inspiration photos and sometimes there's some "learning" as a consequence. The builder and mason's continuing education expense shouldn't be on your dime.

"but was a no show until our builder hired this guy."

Then you should be dealing ONLY with the builder. You tell the builder you are not happy with the work and want what you wanted from the beginning. Your contract is with the builder, not the mason, unless there is more to the story.

Few projects look good before they are completed.

I need to see the inspiration photo to comment. Is this even a functional FP?

"herringbone is extremely common"

Yes, it has always been a popular style, but that doesn't mean that the math is intuitive and everyone can install it properly.

While herringbone is "common", good execution of it requires advanced skills, additional time, and higher labor fees. The original in demand guy who quoted you double probably took that into account, and this guy, probably did not. The difference in price between the two is a reasonable upgrade for him to charge, if he can get the pattern "right". To get the pattern right, requires the right sized materials as the base for the pattern. That appears to be a standard firebrick, done in a standard herringbone. Yet, you wanted something different? Do you have pictures of your inspiration? Because the options have to fit within the available size of the available materials. That standard size brick, and standard sized herringbone, appear to do just that. So, what isn't "right" about that?

@Patricia Colwell Consulting,

The OP notes:

"Firerock is the insert and it’s a ventless gas."

Ventless gas so not good and where I live totally not allowed Sorry missed that part.

I agree with you, Patricia, about ventless gas appliances.

My mom almost died from CO poisoning from one of those unvented gas space heaters in a rental where she was living many years ago. My grandad found her in just the nick of time.

I'm a bit surprised that anyone would even consider installing them in this day & age what with all the emphasis on low VOC finishes/ building materials, etc.

Why would you want ventless which is a health hazard?

the guy has no clue how to do a herringone pattern. at all.

I've done many of these layouts and it takes a minute to plan the layout.

there is a trick to doing it so that symmetry is on both sides.

you have to snap two chalk lines and measure out the corner of the brick/tile to know where to start on you chalk lines (it's hard to explain in writing)

This involves using a speed sqaure so that you get a perfect 45 angle.

I was doing this on my shower wall but spent an hour outside laying it out so that the math would all work out for the design.

People who don't know anything about a herringbone layout think you just take the point of the tile and start in the middle. wrong.

I mean, the bottom row is just horrible. The sides are off. I bet this isn't even level. (obviously it's not because the bottom cuts are all different)

no way I'd pay for this

in any case, if he didn't know how to do it, he should have said something.He should have done a dry layout, plain and simple.)

I know those bricks are expensive. he ruined them, he pays for them.

these are all perfectly cut and perfectly symmetrical.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor @Beth H. : I am no professional but took two seconds to google and see he should of laid it out prior and measure to ensure symmetry and the 45 degrees. I am beyond disapointed in the result this guy did. He has the nerve to drop an inovice for $3000 and it’s not even done or correct. And my builder is the one who emailed us his invoice. And told us ”not sure what the game plan is”. I even sent brochures to our builder so they could help get it done right. Somehow we are to blame for this guys incompetence. And our builder is the one who hired him. We had a cheaper guy that we wanted to use but he kept no showing. .now I have to find some else.

And yes, it’s not laid straight or evenly laid for that matter. Inconsistent cuts and just bad. I paid a lot of money in materials in hopes of getting my dream fireplace. We are left to basically figure it out and by the way pay up. How can we not pay? He will put a lien on us. And we need to get moved in.

This non-mason doesn't get paid.

Builder needs a change of attitude & better eyes.

A case to terminate the builder.

Did the same 'mason' build the sides as well? They look like they were built by a kindergartner with mortar randomly smeared everywhere

Incompetent people will try to blame someone else. It's the easiest step for them. Ignore anything they say in that regard. The requirements of a herringbone installation are specific. And they haven't been met. No work. No pay. I'd get another person.

You owe him nothing. Find someone competent who will agree that this is a hack job.

As has been stated above, your recourse should be through your builder. Did you provide the “inspiration photos with specific instructions“ to the builder (who then was responsible for providing the same to the contractor?

Every state has enacted specific statutes that address issues with new builds and renovations. Based upon the ones I’ve reviewed for other on Houzz, they are usually pretty protective of the homeowner.

Hopefully, you won’t need to resort to using a statute to get this resolved. However, if you don’t get anywhere with your builder, let me know where you’re located and I can take a quick look for you in order to point you in the right direction.

Have a polite (but firm) conversation with your builder - it seems like most builders are reasonable and want their customers to be happy. Good luck!