Bad tiling job ?

[Lilneenz]

Hi all,
I’d appreciate some professional opinions on a recently completed kitchen wall tiling job.

I hired a tiler who was highly recommended, but due to unforeseen circumstances the actual tiling was carried out by another tiler working on his behalf.

I removed the old tiles and had the wall bonded and levelled by my plasterer. Before the job, I asked if the walls should be skimmed and was told skimming would be ideal but that tiling onto bonding would be fine. The day before tiling, the walls were checked and approved.

On the day, the tiles went up very quickly. Spacers were used but nothing else. The tiles were due to be grouted the following day and  I noticed noticeable lippage and raised this, but was reassured it was normal and would look fine once grouted amd that the walls were to blame. When they left in the daylight the tiles looked ok ish. But now the unevenness is noticeable and very visible under lighting. Is this acceptable ?? What could have caused this ? What should I be saying to the tiler ? 

[Thorfun]

1 hour ago, Lilneenz said:

Is this acceptable ??

No

1 hour ago, Lilneenz said:

What could have caused this ?

Bad tiling

1 hour ago, Lilneenz said:

What should I be saying to the tiler ?

“I’m not paying for that” and then go and find a new tiler to do it properly 

[Gone West]

2 hours ago, Lilneenz said:

I hired a tiler who was highly recommended, but due to unforeseen circumstances the actual tiling was carried out by another tiler working on his behalf.

I would go back to the tiler you originally hired and ask his opinion. If he accepts the other tiler was working on his behalf, then it may encourage him to sort it out.

[Mr Punter]

Are the pics you took with your under cupboard lights? Can you do a photo in normal daylight?

[Conor]

Where did you get the tiles from? We had similar format tiles years ago, cheap from B&Q. Tiler immediately showed us how uneven and warped they were and that he wouldn't be able to do a perfect job. But this looks more than irregular tiles 

[MortarThePoint]

I was thinking the other day that a poor tiler can make expensive tiles look cheap, a good tiler can make expensive tiles look expensive but a great tiler can make cheap tiles look expensive.

 

Hard to be sure, but from the picture the tiles themselves look fine.

[Nestor]

24 minutes ago, Conor said:

Where did you get the tiles from? We had similar format tiles years ago, cheap from B&Q. Tiler immediately showed us how uneven and warped they were and that he wouldn't be able to do a perfect job. But this looks more than irregular tiles 

As @Conor

Can you confirm the quality of the tile, even thickness at either end and centre. Perfectly flat or any bowing?

Can you run a straight edge across the vertical surface for a photo.

Edited Wednesday at 10:23 by Nestor

[torre]

Not a professional tiler but an amateur who would be unhappy if my own tiling looked like that, even though the lighting is probably amplifying faults a bit.

 

Bad tiling, but do you have a few leftover tiles so you can prove to your original tiler that the tiles themselves are pretty flat? Plus ideally a picture of the wall before it was tiled onto. 

 

If you pointed out the lippage was that to your original tiler or the guy on site? They had the chance to get the tiles and adhesive off before it was fully set and it's a shame they didn't take it.

 

I'd suggest to the original tiler that they need to come off - that you'll bear the cost of replacement tiles as needed but they need to redo the work at no extra charge. Hopefully you've not paid him and he's not paid the guy he subbed out the job to.

[Alan Ambrose]

+1 with the exception of crazy wall or dodgy tiles. Even then, a good tiler will warn you in advance and give you the option. 

[Onoff]

Makes my tiling look good!

[Thorfun]

21 minutes ago, Onoff said:

Makes my tiling look good!

I showed the photos to swmbo and told her the bar has been set for my upcoming tiling in the utility room. 
 

 

 

she wasn’t laughing. 😆 

[Onoff]

6 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

I showed the photos to swmbo and told her the bar has been set for my upcoming tiling in the utility room. 
 

 

 

she wasn’t laughing. 😆 

 

Joking aside the worst thing I did was not use a tile levelling system. 

[Thorfun]

3 minutes ago, Onoff said:

 

Joking aside the worst thing I did was not use a tile levelling system. 

Even @Pocster used one of those!

 

I will definitely be purchasing one, don’t worry. 

[Spinny]

17 hours ago, Lilneenz said:

I hired a tiler who was highly recommended, but due to unforeseen circumstances the actual tiling was carried out by another tiler working on his behalf.

Yes, another sharp practice in the black arts of the tradesman. I thought I was getting a landscaper with 15 years experience - what I actually got was a 20 year old with negligble experience and a mobile phone.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

[marshian]

17 hours ago, Lilneenz said:

 

Hi all,
I’d appreciate some professional opinions on a recently completed kitchen wall tiling job.

I hired a tiler who was highly recommended, but due to unforeseen circumstances the actual tiling was carried out by another tiler working on his behalf.

I removed the old tiles and had the wall bonded and levelled by my plasterer. Before the job, I asked if the walls should be skimmed and was told skimming would be ideal but that tiling onto bonding would be fine. The day before tiling, the walls were checked and approved.

On the day, the tiles went up very quickly. Spacers were used but nothing else. The tiles were due to be grouted the following day and  I noticed noticeable lippage and raised this, but was reassured it was normal and would look fine once grouted amd that the walls were to blame. When they left in the daylight the tiles looked ok ish. But now the unevenness is noticeable and very visible under lighting. Is this acceptable ?? What could have caused this ? What should I be saying to the tiler ? 

 

If that was my first time tiling - I'd look at that and say 

 

1. Well I learnt a lot

2. It's not "trade quality" but it was my first time and I saved a few quid (which I spent on tools)

3. Next tiling I do will be much better

 

I did - next time was much better (because not first time) and I learnt some more and got better tools..........

 

Then work got busy and I paid a tiler to do a floor - it was only down for 2 years before I pulled it up and re did it - that was the last time I paid a professional (been tiling 20 years etc etc) to tile anything.

 

Think about it the first floor tiling I ever did 29 years ago is actually still there...........

 

The second floor I tiled is also still there.........

 

No pictures