Those pebble floors...we hope they lose their popularity soon (already are), especially when they aren't flat stones. It's been a little trendy thing that tricked a lot of consumers into buying. That being said, appears no proper slope to drain. Many other questions but would need to be onsite with more information about prep methods and materials to responsibly advise. To answer your final question, wouldn't move forward with another bath with same contractor. If this is helpful: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.tile-assn.com/resource/resmgr/docs/13_questions_to_find_a_tile_.pdf

Ho wawas tthe shower waterproofed?

Dragonfly Tile, appreciate the feedback and link. We definitely won't have them move forward with the second bath until they fix this one -- if they can or will. From everything I'm reading, it doesn't seem like it's an easy fix.

cpartist, the shower was hotmopped (standard in CA).

How were the walls waterproofed? Walls and floors need to tie into one another.

No.......... I wouldn't start another bath with them. We can't speak to their process, no clue how waterproof, or if they pitched to a drain, or if those pebbles were sealed.

I'd review your materials for the next baths as well.......all of them.

I see a lack of finesse, all regards. Sorry. Things could be a lot "more perfect" , but not without a big step up in skill set.

Oh and I wouldn't let this guy touch my other baths.

I'm just worried you have a future leak in the one that's done because if he took so many shortcuts on what you see, what did he not do on what you can't see?

IMO you do not get them to fix this one either . Since you have no idea what was used for waterproofing or how the floor tiles were installed there are myriad of issues that can be causing what you are experiencing.. To get the same contractor to try to fix this will not be the answer. My sdvice is to take pictures the next time another bathroom is done. You want proof of proper waterproofing and also proper install of shower floor before tiling. No more stones for the shower floor either . I actually use preformed shower pans a lot so maybe check that out next time.

Unfortunately, I think by law in CA we have to give them an opportunity to fix the issue in order to legally break the contract that we have to do the second bath and other things.

If I ask them to try to fix this, my understanding is that the shower floor can't be fixed without compromising the waterproofing of the shower as a whole (meaning, basically, the entire shower would need to be started over from scratch). However, If we decided to go with an acrylic shower base instead of a tile floor in the shower, would it be possible to just replace the floor and not re-do the entire shower? Or would that still compromise the waterproofing of the tiled walls?

It's not the look we wanted, but I worry about them fixing a slope they didn't do right the first time, and if we have to pay someone else to start over from scratch, we just don't have the money.

Thanks again.

Again, how was the whole shower waterproofed? Do you have pictures. The problem is NOT just the floor based on how the walls look.

We're in California so it was hot mopped. Unfortuantely, I don't have any photos until the tile started going in (learned my lesson) but here's a further away view of that. I think it does look nice from afar, and I can live with some of the up close aesthetic issues, but of course, a floor that's not sloped properly and has water pooling underneath, isn't acceptable.

Thanks for the input @Mint tile Minneapolis. I will be asking them to re-do it -- we'll see how that goes next week. I'm just hoping that removing the mud down to the hot mop won't compromise the waterproofing of the shower as a whole. And appreciate the homeowner advice as well -- I wish I had known that the first time. Best believe I will be following that advice on this unfortunate second round.

Do yourself a favor and ask the GC how he waterproofed the walls

@ Dragonfly

Heck, based on my reading experiences here at GW, I think no-slope shower pans have been the #1 trend over the past 25 years!

Yes, will do when they're here next week @cpartist. I've also since noticed another issue: Is it normal that the (cement) grout around a decent amount of the pebbles is already cracking? To note, the shower was only completed about two weeks ago. In fact, one of the pebbles even came out with little effort. This may explain how some of the water is getting in, though even if getting in through grout cracks, my understanding is it should still go into the pan/weep holes/drain. I think this may signify just more poor workmanship. @Mint tile Minneapolis

Grout is NOT waterproof. You could have no tile at all in a properly waterproofed shower and not have a problem. Meaning what goes under the tile is what is most important to waterproof the shower.

Movement in the pan is probably causing the pebbles to shift and the grout to crack.

Pebbles are tricky to install well- typically you have more of a preslope so they drain better and some or all of the pebbles get hand set to hide the joints. In this case the rapidly failing pebble install is just underscoring their lack of skill. Ugh.

!00 % correct

"and some or all of the pebbles get hand set to hide the joints."

Don't be fooled because they come on a foot square sheet of mesh.........or be miserable post install.

Appreciate all the responses (sorry for being slow to respond, but been pretty down about this and tried not thinking about it over the weekend, which didn't work anyways). I'm emailing the contractor this morning, and will follow up with his response. In the meantime, we've also noticed that there are dark sort of beads allover the floor. I've circled one in red below. When you put your nail in it, it's rubbery sort of like silicone. I wonder if these are tiny cracks and whatever is underneath is pushing through (though it seems odd that what's under the grout would be silicone or something soft?). More seem to be appearing every day. Thanks again.

Gotta say......... the entire thing is looking like a big do OVER.

So sorry you're going through this.

Thank you @cpartist. Definitely not the best way to start the new year. In doing a bit more reserach online, it seems those rubbery spots may be latex migrating because the grout either wasn't mixed correctly or wasn't allowed enough time to cure. Will add it to the list.