Shower subway tile dilemma.. Pros, please chime in.
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Shower wall subway tile dilemma.. Pros, please chime in.
webuser_473076233AJ
21 minutes ago
last modified: 17 minutes ago
Hired a general contractor (jack of many trades, master of none as it appears) off home services site "Thumbtack" to tile two full baths, half bath, laundry floor, kitchen backsplash and install whole house LVP and baseboards in addition to misc work. He had dozens of five star reviews and seemed honest and detail oriented, so gave him a shot. I've had several bath remodels done prior to this and have used both licensed and unlicensed tile specific contractors. Permits were pulled, waterproofing (and shower floor pan flood test) done and passed. Prior to hiring, and repeatedly since, I emphasized that all walls (and floors) should be made plumb and level, no compromise in waterproofing, grout lines consistent and preferably at 1/16" where possible, and lippage avoided. Tile quality is good with minimal variations. Wall prep included DensShield 5/8,kerdi-band to tape seams, Mapei Mapelastic AquaDefense waterproofing membrane (RedGard comparable), Schluter Kerdi-Board niche, Schluter Kerdi "waterproof sloped shower tray with center drain" for the walk-in shower pan, and Kerdi-Drain Flange. So far, so good.The tile over tub job (6x18 polished ceramic tile) is the first catastrophe. The plumbing/leveling walls and 1/16" grout line discussion was completely dismissed. As one gets close, the wavy/unlevel tile becomes clear, grout lines are inconsistent (and large; 1/8"- 1/6", and lippage throughout. An admission of fault/apology/re-do was offered. To get this bath demo'd and re-done.. Your thoughts?Issues:1. Walls still unlevel. Rather than deal with this at the studs, he leveled by adding 1/4" sheet of hardibacker over previously waterproofed DensShield in center section of both of side walls; floated other areas, then re-applied the AquaDefense. Remaining slight variations -1/4" to be compensated with "backbuttering" and thinset. Thoughts on this? Workable or hackish?2. The Kerdi wrapped curb (built with 2x4's) was slightly over 3.5" in width and a length of 41.5". He cut to size the 6"x74" marble curb top. However, contractor expanded width of the curb to be flush with the 6" curb, rather than leave a 1/4"-1/2" overhang. He did make the 1/8" curb slope. Other than losing 1.5" of combined space, inside/outside of shower, and lack of an overhang, any other considerations to bring up here? Will need to clarify materials used to expand width of curb, but he mentioned hardibacker. Seems inadequate unless floated with cement?? Suggestions on having the curb narrowed to 5"-5.5" with an overhang?3. Emphasized repeatedly (including about 12 sample photos) that the wall tile (3x12 polished marble) be installed in a 50% offset, unless limited to a 1/3 offset due to tile considerations. The attached photos contractor sent today are of a 1/3 offset. He stated he chose this layout to avoid "smaller cuts" with the 50% offset. Moreover, the small tile cuts on each side of the center wall with the 1/3 offset have a size variation. The size difference between the smallest cut tile is 1/4". According to this contractor, this is due to the unlevel walls and to avoid the tile on the finish end of one of the side walls from overlapping the marble pencil liner (bullnose) and creating a disproportionate look between the two walls. Even if true, it's refuted by the fact that he failed to level the walls as originally agreed. He again admitted fault and re-do in the requested 50% offset layout, with him covering cost of wasted tile. Your thoughts? Continue with the 1/3 offset, or remove and move forward with 50% offset? 1/16" grout line ok for this layout? Possible to keep small cuts consistent in size on both sides of center and side walls in spite of the 1/4" wall level variation? Or demo walls and start fresh at stud to square/level/plumb walls and re-do?Some other points, although irrelevant here is bathroom floor tiles (12x24 in staggered pattern) in both full baths was installed prior to shower wall tiles. Against common practice, the shower floor pan tile was also installed prior to wall tiles, but covered. Apologies for the long read and patience. All input appreciated, especially the Pros
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