Terrible tile job.. what to do

faerielight

My fitter has done a horrendous tile job in my bathroom. they are linear marble mosaics and they are not straight, some tiles are sticking out some in, it looks really bad. He's a nice guy but has just had a baby and other things on his plate, and a lot has gone wrong with this bathroom renovations, so it's prob been stressful for him at times, but I can't have my main 2 walls loook this bad. what should I do? I don't really want him to try again as it's hard to tell whether he's . bad tiler or just not well, but I paid £650 for tiles and his labour was £300 for this. I don't want to fall out with him as there's still a lot to do, but I feel like I'd rather get someone else to finish the job. I'm paying him weekly not per job so it's been really costly,
it hasn't been grouited yet, but I don't think that will make it look much better TBH.

FreeBear

Now that the tiles are stuck on the wall, you are going to have to go out and buy some more. Your call as to whether you get him to pay for them or not.. At the end of the day, I think you are going to have to have a falling out and/or lose a sizable chunk of money in the process.

As for grouting wonky tiles - You are correct, it won't make the job look any better.

missile

Hm...….. if he has done a poor job he will know it. Do you really want him continuing, if his work is substandard.
Cut your losses and get someone else to rectify his bodged tiling and finish the work.
+++++++++++++++++
Always best to agree a price for the job. Contracting on an hourly / day rate is risky.

Mr.Generous

Mosaics are really difficult - get him to remove them and use backing sheets before sticking any more, mosaics slow the tiler up because they cant be tiled above until they have set, they wont support next course. I hate mosaics.

faerielight

Thanks for the advice, I know, they must be a nightmare to tile, but this looks like I tiled it myself. He will know it when he sees it, I’m sure. he’s a really decent guy, which in a way is harder, as I don’t want to upset him, and I’m not very assertive. Do I refuse to pay for his tiling labour? I won’t be able to afford to buy those tiles again, what a waste of money. Since he had the baby though, h Es been really distracted and fatigued. I understand but I asked him before he started the renovation whether he would be competent to proceed, but he assured me he was. I’m with you on mosaics, all I won’t be buying them again!

StumpyPumpy

I think the first step should be to let him see the work and tell him you are not happy with it. Then get him to suggest what the next step is. Any decent workman will acknowledge the problem and come up with a solution - you don't need to accept this solution but it might stop you thinking that you are somehow the bad guy in all this if it sounds reasonable.

If he is not up to the job he needs to realise it as much as you do: it is not your fault that he has a baby and you shouldn't be made to suffer because of it.

SP

faerielight

Thanks Stumpy, it’s true, it’s not my fault.. He is calling me tomorrow so I shall tell him tactfully. I took lots of photos so I can send him them, and he can see it on mon.

TuppenceWorth

You need to ask yourself if you are being taken for a ride here.Are you naturally a trusting person and too fair? Yes, that is possible.

Charging per week is the first red flag. He has an incentive to slow things down and make them as complicated as possible. If he was to carry on (a big if in my view), need to price for the job and not for time.

Is it a baby, or is he tired because he is fitting in other jobs? It's a nice story to obtain sympathy. How do you know that the cute pictures he is showing you are not of him holding his nephew? Maybe he gets these out for every job. Funny how it's the bad builders who have all the bad luck (Baby is a blessing but you know what I mean). Even if true, it's not your problem.

Personally, I would speak to him about the tiles and see what solution he suggests. If they need to come off, clearly don't pay for the time it takes him. Let him remedy the situation before you let him know his services are no longer required for future work. He sounds useless IMO.

faerielight

Thanks tuppence. Panic over.. he has seen them and he agreed it’s a mess and has agreed to redo it.. phew!