Bathroom tiles - big problem.

rachell325

Monday 1st October bathroom fitter came, stripped out old bathroom and started fitting new as planned. I bought 605x605 porcelain tiles from Wickes some months ago and they have been stored here since. Delays on the job as often happen and two days ago fitter/tiler tells me there's a problem with the tiles being warped (bathroom is now fully tiled). Rang Wickes, spoke to manager. Sent many photos and a summary email. Manager agreed that tiles are 'shocking'. He's passed it to their supplier and apparently the technical team are looking at it now.

So, my problem is that I'm stuck with a bathroom with loads of uneven tiles dotted around the room. Fitter tells me that he only noticed once he started grouting and putting the trim on around the window (trim is perfectly straight). He tells me that there will be a considerably cost to take them all off and start again with new tiles. Fitter uses a tile leveling system called Raimondi so I know it's not the way he's laid them.

What can I do, where do I stand? I bought the tiles in good faith and paid someone to put them up.

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.

phil_b_2

How long is 'some months ago'? Do you still have a receipt or payment record?

All you can do for now is wait and see what Wickes come back with. At least you bought from a large scale retailer, which usually gives a better chance than if you'd bought from a small indy.

Jonesya

If the tiles are faulty, then like any faulty product I expect you should be able to push for a refund for the product. Clearly the tricky bit will be the labour costs, as you supplied the tiles to the tile fitter, so he won't want to cover labour costs if its the tiles which are faulty.

But when you say uneven, how do you mean? It's normally pretty obvious if the sides of something aren't straight, or if they're misshapen or not flat because they stand out when you open the box, or lay uneven.

rachell325

Hi, thanks for the replies. Bathroom fitter quoted in March, so I started shopping in April. Tiles were delivered in May (was trying to be well prepared). I have both the receipt and delivery note.

Tiles are still available to buy on the website, and they're still in stock in the store. A couple of recent reviews on the website say that they're not straight. The manager checked the stock and he said that they seem to have the same fault as mine here. It's as if they droop back at the corners. Tried to upload photos but can't.

I'm surprised too that the tiler didn't spot it sooner, but to be fair to him it's much more obvious when grouted, and when he saw the edge of the tile against the trim at the window.

Hopeful that Wickes, or their supplier will come to my rescue. As the customer I can't be expected to inspect every tile to ensure that it's OK. Drop in the ocean too for Wickes considering their turnover, but I know that doesn't mean anything.

Thanks again

sevenhills

Tiles can warp after firing if they are not cooled correctly, as with fitting any faulty part, the fitter noticed too late.

Brummie85

Wckes may be more helpful then some people expect.

My bathroom suite is from them and it was part of a set called Avalon. The underside of the seat discoloured quite a lot and a hinge cracked, so I went looking to find the item on it's own.

Wickes had completely stopped the whole line. But when I got in touch with them, they sent out a free replacement of a similar style. When that one was damaged in the post, without question they sent me another replacement.

You may have to argue your case and they may state that as the product was faulty on delivery, the responsibility to spot it falls to the customer or fitter to notice it before using the product.

missile

I would blame the tile fitter. He ought to have checked the tiles.

I had an experience when a fitter laying some floor tiles which he said were no good as they were not square. Sure enough they were all 1-2 mm longer on one edge than the other.

I told him to lay them so that the longer edge of each tile was in one direction ……… problem solved.