Tiler left half finished job and hasnt returned

Fire_Fox

Pssst wrote: »

As Andy B says,the correct way to fix tiles is to ensure a smooth prepared base wall surface,you then trowel the adhesive onto the wall using a combed spreader with the right gauge teeth for the type of tiles your fixing and you work a planned row at a time.

"buttering" the backs of tiles with adhesive is truly a bodge and a recipe for disaster...rubbish.

My mum and I have tiled several bathrooms and kitchens, it always looks really neat and we never had a tile loose/ fall off/ leak behind. IMHO you need a fairly even wall but it doesn't need to be smooth. The wall does need to be free of loose bits of plaster and dirt.

We always butter the tiles as we work very slowly and the wall would dry out - but you need to put the right amount of adhesive on with a comb and give the tile a good wiggle as you press it onto the wall. I've never grouted as we went along, maybe this 'professional' tiler didn't mix his adhesive properly or maybe he didn't let the tiles set before grouting??

narabanekeater

ok guys some more info for you
He put a blob of adhesive in each corner of the tiles. These are quite large tiles30x25cm I think. After fitting around 15 he grouted them in. No time was given (well half as hour if that) for drying time
The guy was reccomened to me by a friend (I used to work with his wife) He was in the house for id say 12 hours in total and has still left some of his stuff here (nothing expensive that couldnt be replaced easily)
I have nothing in writing. He did seam very proffesional turned up with his portfolio.
I dont want him back no. I have took photos. All of the tiles have now had grout all smeared over them since the edn of June. We have tried water and fairy liquid to get it off but a lot of it isnt moving.
We do have some spare tiles but not enough to redo the whole lot as these were end of line. We would have to choose new tiles.
Someone has suggested the small claims court. What would I have to do for this? Im 100% sure I will not see this guy or my money for materials again. I do have an independant whitness that watched me pay him. I really cannot stress how bad this job is. It really does like the ones you see on tv shows.
This guy was not in any way the cheapest quote we had. I more went for him as I knew his wife.

Fire_Fox

You have to butter the whole tile or the whole wall with a comb - blobs on the corner is obviously a money [strike]saving[/strike] wasting bodge as tile adhesive is relatively expensive. It's probably the weight of the tiles that pulled them off the wall as they weren't stuck down properly in the first place. The tiler may even grouted early to try to get them to stay on the wall - I did once take tiles off a wall that were only held in place with the grout!! :rolleyes:

I would price up some new tiles/ dig out the receipt for the wasted tiles, and get a written quote from another tiler for making good - i.e. taking off what is there, cleaning up and retiling. Write to this guy recorded delivery (keep the PO slip) stating that you want all your money back plus damages for replacing tiles - basically the right amount of money to mean you are not out of pocket. Note that you have photographs, are willing to go to the small claims court and give him two weeks to pay you in full by banker's draft or cash. It may well be that you will scare him into paying up.

Careful_ly

If you want to reuse the tiles you can get the adhesive off by soaking the whole tile in hot water and washing up liquid, then scrape with a blade.
We had to do this, as tiles popped behind a freestanding gas cooker.

This is not something you should have to do when you have paid to have them fitted, but may help if the job has to be redone and there is a tile shortage.

Pssst

No one would grout until the whole job was finished and the tiling prepared fo grouting. The reason why you spread the wall is that you can then lay larger areas of tiles and the most important bit is that becuase the depth of the adhesive is the same comb depth all over,this ensures that all the tiles sit on the wall neatly so that if you look sideways on along the spread of tiles,they look smooth and even and not higgldy piggldy..! I do though have a bucket of water handy and i tend to moisten the back of each tile just before fixing to give it some slide. Also its vital to rake out the gaps betwen tiles before they dry to ensure a clean space for the grout and prevent adhesive bonding to tile edges when it will be tricky to remove.

andyhop

dot and dabbing tiles is a bodge

BS state that you must have atleast 70% coverage of adhesive on wall and tile

You may be able to remove the tiles and soak in water to remove the glue, but this depends on adhesives, all cement based powered adhesives should come of fine, It is was something like Bals white star then you have no chance, we have been known to use a grinder with flap disc to remove

We use cement based adhesives only now due to the rapid setting, some days 20sqm can be easily achieved fixed and grouted in a day....Work clean

Wetting the back of the tiles is not a ideal, Natural stones may require a quick sponge to get any excess dust off but must be dried before fitting

missile

You got a cowboy tiler and unless you have a receipt from a professional tradesman your chances of getting your money back are slim. You could dob him in to the TAX man

I suggest you ask your builder freind to recomended a competent tiler.

narabanekeater

Morning to all and thanks very much for all yuor posts
Im about to phone consumer direct for advice