Bad tiling job

8/10/2012 at 6:35:54 AM

Asif.

The best you can do is to get experts to do the job always. Unfortunately your back ground check on the so called tiler was poor, Consequently the outcome is equally bad.

Now you are faced with the decision to redo the job properly, or not. On one hand is done and looks like crap, cheap and badly executed. You can stop right there and live with your mistakes. On the other hand redo the job with an expert and pay accordantly.

When people choose the first option cheap contractors, they get what they paid for. No simpaty here. Get it done right the first time out to be your lesson!

8/10/2012 at 7:19:34 AM

Unfortunatley your going to have rip out the drywall and start again. I don't know of any way to take tile off without damage to the wall. Use concrete board, Kerdi wall system and then the tiles.

Check out the tiler a little better and don't go with the cheapest price, ever. Quality takes time and the proper materials to get a finish that will last.

8/10/2012 at 8:48:18 AM

Hi There,

There is not much You can do at this point, eider live with-it or re-do it.

This is the problem I come across very often, people want to save money and end up hiring inexperience contractors, so on the end it cost them much more money.

Good luck.

8/10/2012 at 11:00:01 AM

Hi Asif,

I sympathize with your problem. Sadly, in this troubled economy many people suddenly become. Expertsv inthe home renovation market.

Have you tried to remove a tile or two? If the guy who did the work was as unprofessional as is seems. He my not have used the proper adhesive. If you intented is to repair the walls. Try and remove the tile carefully and if they come off with little effort you may be able to minimize the collateral damage. You may have to re-apply the kerdI membrane and then reapply the tiles.

8/10/2012 at 4:50:21 PM

Hi, sorry to hear about your situation. Its terrible to have someone in your house for days, interrupting your life, paying good money, and not get what you wanted.

There is no way to save the tiles but you might be able to save the expensive drywall and waterproofing membrane. I have had great success tiling over old kitchen tile backsplashes and know some other contractors who have tiled over shower tiles if they know there is no previous water damage.

Good luck, and get references!

Dennis

8/11/2012 at 5:03:06 AM

Hello asif,

Yes it is possible to tile over existing tiles and I have done this many times in the past. However the "old" tiles have to be installed properly otherwise your "new" tile job is sentenced to fail!

Furthermore you need the right thinset! Only certain thinsets are suitable!

Here is an example for tiling over existing tiles. I did this already 1998 in Germany. This practice is very common in Germany.

Regards,

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch

Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)

8/11/2012 at 11:38:02 PM

The tiles themselves will have to be taken down and replaced again, if the grout lines are as bad as you say. If it seems their are only a couple of tiles that appear uneven you can probably get away with popping out some of the tiles and replacing them plus having a contractor that is experienced and can provide you with proof of his experience.

I have done quite a bit of tiling and some pretty ritzy tiling renovations especially bathrooms. There are ways to save yourself money here in some of the tiles can be salvaged, it just takes more time is all, depending on which you prefer to spend on labour or material. I dont see any reason to tear off drywall if everything behind the tile is on properly and even.

I do suggest if it is a wall we are talking of that rockboard should be used if it already hasnt been, that way you know your walls are 100percent straight that you are tiling too because that can sometimes effect the appearance of your finished tiles.

I am sad to hear you have been taken advantage of by a jack of all trades it seems.

8/12/2012 at 6:17:30 PM

Hello Asif,

You wrote:

"so I got someone through handy canadian to complete it---well it turned out to be a complete joker and had no clue what he was doing- after a week the tiles set up looks like s****- not even grount space are huge and not consistent."

Don't forget do rate and review this guy and attach some pictures if possible.

Regards,

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch

Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)

@ Handycanadian:

I attached a picture in my post before, but it's not there. May I ask why?

8/13/2012 at 11:28:48 AM

The only solution here is to remove the tile and replace it . You should have used cement board behind your tile and there is a chance that the tile can be chipped off of this board. if you used drywall, green board then the board and tile will have to be removed.

Even some of the full time tile setters do some pretty poor workmanship sometimes. Usually fast but sloppy. Because of this we do our own tile installation now...takes us longer but looks great when finished.

Paul justice

Justice Construction.

8/21/2012 at 1:18:00 PM

Mold resistant cement board is the best choice for this purpose there was no need of that orange sheet from homedepot. You have to remove the tiles and redo the whole thing including the cement board installation.

9/15/2012 at 11:32:14 AM

First Of All, If You Are A Reputable Cobtractor You Will Remove All Old Tile And Replace It New!

Are You Kidding Me?? You Say It's Ok To Tile Over Existing??

You Need To Get Out Of This Industry! It Is Contractors Like You Who Give The Highly Respectable And Reputable Ones A Bad Name!!!

How Dare You Give Such Advise!!!!

11/27/2012 at 10:46:13 AM

HI:

I would start by removing the tile and if everything else comes with then you may as well start over. If only the tile comes off, due to being installed improperly, then you might be able to save the walls. However if any tile is damaging the wall then rip it all down and start over. I wouldn't go ripping everything out without at least having a look first. In the end though you'll probably be ripping everything down.

Do it right the first time.

Good luck

1/19/2013 at 12:51:43 PM

I would suspect that the installer used a ready mix mastic and tiled over the KErdi with the wrong setting material.

Can you remove one of the tiles up top off to inspect the type of setting material that was used.

All homeowners, builders and designers should specify in their email and agreements with a tile crew that all work conform to the latest edition of the TTMAC Specifications. By sighting this in your agreement the owner or builder has recourse to go after poor installs that do not comply with the specifications guidelines of the TTMAC.

If you ask your tile setter what TTMAC stands for and they say "What? TT what?"

Ask yourself if you have the right person for the job.

Insisting that your shower's be flood tested as well for three days is key to checking the quality of the shower build. Not 10 minutes. Not just before the inspector shows up but for three days.

Demand more on your builds. Specify properly what you want. This will give you the results you are hoping for and a chance to go after your crew for damages if you do not.

If you pay a man to tile your shower and he does. There is no harm done. There is no Canadian Building code that says MAstic can not be used over Kerdi. There is no Canadian Building code that says 1/8" lippage is not acceptible. However the TTMAC does cover all this. Look up a member in your area on your next tiling project.

You can find TTMAC members here; http://www.ttmac.com/membership-directory.html

JW John Whipple By Any Design Ltd. (604) 506 6792