I don't see a huge prob w/what you're referring to. are you talking about the offset on the grout line? rather than 1/2 he's 1.5" short of that?

(see below for proper offset)

so, lets talk about prep.

math should be taken into account when you have a niche. first off, it's too small. once it gets tiled youre going to lose another 2 inches or so. the niche should fit squarely between tiles so that you don't have all those chaotic joint lines.

Since he built this, he should have known where all of the tiles were going to line up and cut the niche between these tiles

not the best drawing, but you see how the blue lines fall on the tile lines so there are no cuts?

The way your guy did is an inexperienced tile setter who doesn't understand math and placement. It's way easier just to put the niche in the center of the wall, and tile around it. there's no planning, no math, no dry layout. (this niche workup usually takes a few hours to get it just right. time is money)

see how they did this one?

fits perfectly between the tiles w/no thin sliver cuts.

this is the size you want. w/a little shelf 1/3 up for razors or soap

No excuse for a tile guy not planning for this if he is the one building the shower.

Plus, the niches need to be waterproofed properly

After this taping, they get mortared and the waterproofed w/Redgard.

So now back to your tiles. What does the manufacturer recommend for tile layouts? THEY will tell you what the offset should be. Normally with anything longer than 12", 1/3 offset is the largest. your guy has 1/2.

this is a proper 1/3 offset (Step offset. see the 3 tiles how they make a step?) w/a perfectly placed niche running between full tiles. beautiful job on this shower. look at the corners how they wrap around.

Personally I prefer this type of layout w/the stack set. (and this niche could have been better, but at least there are no skinny cuts

another 1/3 offset. this niche could have been so much better if they brought it up to the top joint line. A simple thing to plan out.

Also,, why didn't he lay the floor tile first, and then place the wall tile on top of it? this way it will hide the cut ends on that hex tile. How is he going to manage the cut edges of that floor tile w/the wall tile in place?

this is mine. I did a hex floor first. the white tile goes on top, creating a nice finish (because you won't see any cut pieces) Plus, water flows down the wall, to the floor and the drain.

when you butt up the floor tile to the wall tile, water flows and will likely go in the joint between wall/floor, more risk for leaks

I'm not an expert, but it's my understanding that for large rectangular tile like yours, manufacturers may recommend a 1/3 offset, rather than 50%:

https://www.tileoutlets.com/blog/managing-lippage-why-offsets-matter-when-installing-tile/

The specs on your tile should discuss this, although a skilled tile person can probably make any pattern work.

In any event, I think ot looks fine and in tje absense of lippage, wouldn’t think of doing it over to change the offset.

For the life of me, I’m not seeing the problem. It looks very pretty to me. Maybe I don’t understand what you’re looking at. I assume you mean the vertical grout lines are not exactly even, one above the other. It is not noticeable in the pictures - at least to me. Assuming he did water proof everything before tiling and he has an acceptable plan for the floor tile (as per Beth above), I wouldn’t worry about it.

I’m sorry, Yes. The vertical grout lines match up perfectly; every other row. The tiles are approximately 24 inches wide. The alternate row of tiles should be set approximately 12 inches to one side. The tiles are approximately 1.5 inches off from the edge of the tile below. (I’m not sure I’m explaining it properly). I just know that the vertical grout line from the row above or below do not lay dead center of a full 24” tile from below/above it.

Can you post a pic and circle in blue - the potential issue.

I think I understand what you’re saying now: he’s not doing a 1/2 (50%) offset, rather more of a 1/3 offset. That is perfectly acceptable and may even be preferred and what the tile manufacturer recommended. It looks very nice to me.

This is the grout line where it should be centered against the (24”approx ) wide tile below. The grout line isn’t centered with that tile. Instead it is at approximately13 5/8 inches.

It really took me a while to see what you were getting at. I didn't notice it at all at first. There is so much great movement with the veining of your tile that the groutlines really don't catch your eye at all. I personally would leave it as is, especially if he did a great installation job.

Place the niche on the shower head wall. And use a smaller marble-type tile inside.
Do you really want to look at assorted shampoo bottles, etc in the middle of your new beautiful tile?
Be careful about the grout color—it can make or break a tile project.
What is happening in the rest of the space?

And install and 8” wide—-18” high tiled area along the back wall so you have a raised space to place your foot when you shave your legs. Or a triangular space in each back

I meant to type—“triangular tiled area in each back corner”.

I think you have your answer. Even describing what the problem is, most people can't even see it in a photo. Some of us see it immediately. However, I think it might have been something I would have authorized if he had asked me. Like you, I don't like surprises so I understand.

Also, if you're anything like me I didn't have my tile picked when the shampoo niches were framed out. I think they are fine.

Paul, yes they are fine. My comment was, they could be a lot better. Plus, the niche is too small. once it's tiled, it's going to get a lot smaller.

I see she has one on the back wall too. which is odd. No reason to do one visible on the main wall if the back wall is getting one.

If you're going to have a niche on the center wall, then make it like this one. this is perfectly placed and perfectly done. (or, do this on the far back wall)

or he could have stacked to two on the far wall instead of one on both walls

or something like this.

the guy did a nice job. But people don't know what they don't know.

there's a better way to do it.

There was plenty of room to go larger. (and if she hired this guy to do the shower, then I'm pretty sure she would have picked out her tile already. Even if she knew she was going to do a 12x24 size tile, he still could have planned properly. all he did was pluck it in the middle of the wall and call it a day.

To All of you,

I truly appreciate all of your comments and suggestions! You all have helped me to make my decision. I’m keeping the tile as is.
When I initially looked at it, all I could focus on was how the installer made those veins come together. It’s a beautiful focal point!
I will continue to post the progress since I am remodeling the whole bathroom. It’s got extremely high ceilings that are slanted higher over the shower and lower at the entrance. I am looking for suggestions as to how to give the appearance of that ceiling looking lower. Over the back wall of the shower where the drywall butts together there’s a slight but noticeable bulge. That’s another blemish that needs to be corrected in some way.

With a picture as far back as possible it will be easier to make suggestions for the high ceilings …if the style of the bath is elegant …..a pretty hanging light fixture is an option

In regard to the niches, due to stairs being back to back with the back wall, he did not want to mess with all of the reinforcements to elongate that niche. I have been looking at brushed nickel bottles for my bath products. I asked for that second niche on the left hand side for my husband’s toiletries.

Your tile looks great. I'm glad you decided to leave it as-is. Some people on these forums hate niches, but I have never walked into a friend's bathroom and thought, "Their shower looks amazing...but wait, they use shampoo?? And body wash??!" Of course we all do, and products look just fine in a niche.

Maybe a flaw in the drywall

I don't think anyone but pros have their tile truly picked before the bathroom niches are framed. I may be wrong.

Yes, downward lighting on the drywall shows every flaw. I paid for level 5 drywall finishing and straight lining to make sure that that doesn't happen. I didn't realize that level 5 is unusual for a residential project. I get to prime the walls and then call them back to address problems like you are seeing. Worth every penny.

The pattern of the tile is what draws my eyes, so I see nothing wrong with the walls. The shower looks really pretty.

The bulge in the wall above would definitely be my concern.

I think it looks good. The tile pattern helps with drawing the eye to it!

IMO the niche was not planned for at the beginning so that is what threw off the lines and IMO one more reason for no niche I am sorry but shampoo bottles IMO are no decor items . I never have a niche unless I am doing a whole acrylic surrounf with no chance of leaking. To rip this out now will require a complete new shower all new waterproffing basically a new shower and no gauarantee it will look perfect either since it is being done for free you will have no recourse . If everything else is what is done right IMO move on.

It’s a shower that people use to, you know, shower. If I went to someone’s home, and they had a beautiful tiled shower with nary a shampoo bottle, soap, shower gel, washcloth, or pouf in sight, I would be concerned about their hygiene. So, let’s quit acting like we shouldn’t have a place for them in the shower.

I noticed the not quite 1/2, yet not 1/3 offset, but since they are such large tiles and the veins match up, it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t think it is worth a redo. The wall bulge is more noticeable. Would a skim coat help hide it? I would also use flat paint.

Yes, skim coat and sanding. The two walls were not ready for painting. I even see screw heads divots and protrusions.

In regard to the bulge in the wall and screw heads, when the bathroom is complete, I will have a drywall/painter come in.
This is where we are at presently with the remodel. And I do like my niches.

How much time do you spend measuring the tiles in your shower? Whether master, guest or family bath, it hardly matters because the shower, as a whole, looks very good.

Lol. Among other trades/ professions that requires measurements, I have a tape measure in my purse in the event I need a measurement for something. I’m glad that the focal point in that shower are the veins.

angela, is it the photo angle or is that niche sloped back? the bottom shelf/ledge should be slightly angled toward the drain to allow water run off. If not, water will sit in the niche. put a small level from front to back and see what it reads.

also, I like the tile. not sure about all of the thinset I see in the hex grooves.

I will check that out. Thanks for alerting me to that.

Good morning Beth H, I had the tile guy put a level on both niches. They are both are set on a slight pitch. Thank you!