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Bathrooms Design Dilemma

How bad is this tile mistake? worth fixing?

last year

last modified: last year

My bathroom remodel is complete but in my shower the edge of the bullnose sits out from my wall - not flush. It looks like the tile guy lined it up with my wall paneling and not the wall so above the beadboard it sits out. How bad is this? What can be done? I don’t know if this is bad enough that I care enough to fix it, or if I’m just so glad it is done and just tired of the multiple problems through this entire process that I'm apathetic! Also the ceramic tile has some small scratches throughout the shower. Not sure why and can’t buff them out. They are not that noticeable unless you are right up on them but it’s disappointing. Also wonder if that is normal! I've attached an pictures of the problem and the overall of the finished bathroom.

Comments (8)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
Have your tile man pay for a drywaller to float the wall flush, prime, and repaint. He won't pull that stunt again after he pays that bill.
ardthree thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
yeah, that was just laziness on the tile guy. it shouldn't come out that much from the wall.

(did he use grout in the vertical corners and the joints between floor and tub? if so, that's a no-no. should be a 100% silicone caulk. grout is not waterproof and those joints absorp the most water. plus, when the house moves and settle, grout does not. it will crack. Silcone caulk won't. 100% silcone. it has to say it)

here's a diagram

back to the edge, if he had used tile w/a bullnosed edge, it wouldn't have been as bad.

I used them on my shower

that is leftover grout on the tile that wasn't properly cleaned up. any other messy grout areas? have him do those too.

he can't polish the ceramic tile since it was glazed in a kiln. perhaps there is a product that can be buffed over the tile to make the scratches less noticeable? I'm not familiar w/anything. maybe a tile shop could advise you on that.
ardthree thanked Beth H. :
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OMG - what a horrible job cutting the tile. Looks like he used nippers to clip the tile or his snap cutter's cutting wheel is still the original one from the 80's. "...How and where did you hire the handyman claiming to be a tile setter, was price the deciding factor?..." - Tundra I think this is a fair question myself. If you are budgeting a job that is priced buy the square foot, some times the added skilled work is ommited. A skilled installer like myself or Tundra come with proper tools and experience. Check out Tundra's photos online and you can see he is a tile ninja.... I think a diamond Riffling File and some time might fix it but best to replace the cut tile with new better cut tile. Placing cut tile in the field of view is tricky unless the installer uses care and proper tools to make it look nice. And really the Dal Tile Home Depot stock is not really Top Shelf product anyway. Could be the tools where good but the glazing crap.
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Well, unfortunately, homeowners don't KNOW their tile person is inadequate (especially when there has been a credible referral) until the bad deed is done. It's too bad he's been paid, but that's also done. I'd probably have him back to see what he suggests (for no more $) then take lots of pictures and sue him in small claims court. If you don't give him the opportunity to fix it, it could affect your ability to get $$ in court, but if you are dissatisfied with what he says his "fix" would be, or if he refuses, then you could be covered because he doesn't know what the heck he is doing. Find someone better, get it fixed right, then take more pics for court as a "before" and "after".
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Sarah- I was going to suggest discussing the issue with your tile installer, and explaining that you will not accept the product. Some people use payment as recourse. Normally, the grouting is done with a rubber or plastic float, then sponged down. It would be unusual for any metal tools to be used. It really looks like it was cut, perhaps to try and correct something for straightness? It's plausible a metal tool was used to try to scrape down uneven grout after it was dry. In any case, if you leave it as is, you may want to place a bead of clear silicone at the countertop so it is a bit more watertight.
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Comments (13)
I really love that tile. A perfect choice for a small bath. I probably would have started at the door but I'm no professional. I don't see that it should be a problem. A wider threshold or if you are planning on replacing the carpet should take care of it. I would love to see the finished room when you are done. Please share.
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ardthree
Original Author
last year
Beth H, yes he did use caulk in the corners and near the tub. The spots on the tile are not grout, I can't scratch them off and I've tried to clean them off with Barkeepers friend. Not sure what happened! Thanks for your reply
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
so they're chipped? shame on him for not replacing it. he needs to call out a guy who does epoxy over ceramic tile and see if it can be spot treated. the tile guy pays for it.

have you paid in full already? I hope not
ryburns26
last year
I would run a thin trim board along that edge and be done with it
catbuilder
last year
Without specific direction from you (or your designer), your tile guy was damned no matter what he did. If he had made the bullnose flush with the upper wall, then it would not be flush with the lower wall and no doubt you would have complained about that. What was your (or your designer's) solution to this problem before the tiling started?
ardthree
Original Author
last year
catbuilder, he never asked me before he made the decision to set it this way, not did he point out it could be a problem. I'm not a complainer, my post here was to ask the experts if it's something that I should get fixed as I'm not a tile expert.
Jeanne Cardwell
last year
Maybe paint the dark edge with your wall paint using a small brush if it doesn’t get fixed. Your eye won’t go to it as much.

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