[SaltySailor]

I hired a guy off of Thumbtack that has over 40 5-Star reviews and is a licensed tile setter. I had him replace the Life Deck flooring from my small (4.5' x 10') balcony and install tile. And this is what I got. Now I know that I'm a perfectionist and I understand that I can be overly critical at times but this just seems like terrible work to me. I don't think there's one intersection where the the tiles line up perfectly and the corners are all at the same height. I've never set tile before but I'm half convinced I could do a better job.

I'm about to do a full remodel of my house and I was going to have him do all 3 of my bathrooms but now I'm reconsidering. Is there a reasonable excuse as to why this looks so bad? Is this type of tile supposed to be set in a haphazard manner? I'm going to confront him when he comes back next week to set that last tile and wondering if I'm just being obtuse.

Thanks for any advice. Sorry, for some reason the pics uploaded upside down...

 

[SaltySailor]

Oh and he cut the tiles for the drain twice because he wasn't happy with the fitment the first time. Why I now have to order another box of tile as we're one tile short. Originally ordered 55 sqft for 45 sqft of deck.

 

[chandler48]

Tell him there is a new tool out there called tile spacers. I would never allow it on my job. I had a young tile layer and he did a deck/porch once. I still don't know how he made all the smaller border tiles fit perfectly without a single cut. He was just that good.

 

[SaltySailor]

Funny thing, he did use spacers. Red plastic ones that snap off and set the height I think? Four way silicone type at the intersections but they were smashed and bent. I watched him set one tile and my OCD kicked in and I walked away just hoping that he'd adjust it after I left...

 

[de-nagorg]

I'm with Larry here, Lack of spacers, and sloppy craftsmanship.

That's good enough for a prison, or other Gov't work, but in public life, he is a rank amateur, no matter how many years he says that he has.

I'm no pro, and half blind, but I do better than that.


ED

 

[udraft]

Yes, that looks bad. I only wonder if the tiles were all the same size. Otherwise it just looks sloppy.
"I was going to have him do all 3 of my bathrooms but now I'm reconsidering." Yes, reconsider, find a pro.
Thumbtack is a referral service, similar to Angies List, can be hit or miss. You might look at a remodeling contractors or a straight up tile contractor.

 

[SPS-1]

Yes, that looks bad. I only wonder if the tiles were all the same size. Otherwise it just looks sloppy.

Thats what I was looking for. I can see some possible evidence, but hard to tell from the photos provided.

 

[SaltySailor]

When he was done I asked him about the quality of the tile since I ordered it through Home Depot. He said that he really liked them, no complaints. I measured them and they're all 9 3/4", maybe 1/32" off here and there but hard to get an accurate measurement after they've been grouted.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Merola-...Wall-Tile-11-11-sq-ft-case-FCD10EVC/301312295

 

[ront02769]

That is pure crap. Don’t pay him. Don’t use him. Give him a bad rating on whatever site you got him from.

 

[Old Thomas]

There are always very small variations in tile. That is not the case here, this is sloppy work. I would not pay, it should be replaced at his expense.

 

[Nealtw]

If that is a shower floor, those are big tile??

 

[de-nagorg]

If that is a shower floor, those are big tile??

Post#1 says an outdoor Balcony.

ED

 

[Nealtw]

Post#1 says an outdoor Balcony.

ED

Thank you, I failed reading skills. :biggrin2:

 

[HandyAndyInNC]

I would not pay for that kind of lack of attention to detail. I am like you, I want it perfect. That is what I pay for, perfection. I give it and that is what I expect. I never mind paying for top quality. I will never pay for sloppy, cheap looking work.

I hired a tile setter, and he was shocked when I filed suit against him after he said he would not come back and correct a vertical line that was not plumb. He paid me what I paid him, plus legal fees to stay out of court. And then I did the work myself for the one wall. I cannot stand the lack of attention to detail or someone that uses cheap products. This is why I hire out very little work. Things like the grass on the property will grow back the next week if it does not look good. But mow-blow-and-go guys know I want it looking great all the time. They are here sometimes twice a week.

 

[MTN REMODEL LLC]

Agree with everyone above....

Just wonder if "THUMBTACK" is like HOME ADVISOR which collects from the tradesman when they send him a lead. That would make me extreemly skeptical about any rateing....as there is a very clear conflict of interest....

Basically, a tradesman is paying for a referral and a rateing. Good tradesman do not have to pay for a job or a rateing.

 

[SaltySailor]

Thanks all! I appreciate all the feedback and reinforcement. I don't like to jump to conclusions in areas that I don't have expertise in and always like to get a second opinion before I start accusing someone of shoddy work. Thank you!

 

[SaltySailor]

Agree with everyone above....

Just wonder if "THUMBTACK" is like HOME ADVISOR which collects from the tradesman when they send him a lead. That would make me extreemly skeptical about any rateing....as there is a very clear conflict of interest....

Basically, a tradesman is paying for a referral and a rateing. Good tradesman do not have to pay for a job or a rateing.

No, Thumbtack is like Yelp where former customers upload a review and post pics of the work completed. He has multiple bathroom projects reviewed which makes me wonder if they're legitimate reviews if he can't appear to set a straight and level tile. 🤔

 

[jeffnc]

It seems like what you're talking about might be tile levelers, which is a bit odd because who would use levelers if they can't even get the tile straight? Sometimes tiles come in non-perfect sizes, but I haven't seen anything that bad. Looks like standard bad tile setting. Could be those are reviews for work other than tile, could be old reviews and now he's using some cheap labor, who knows?

 

[SaltySailor]

It seems like what you're talking about might be tile levelers, which is a bit odd because who would use levelers if they can't even get the tile straight? Sometimes tiles come in non-perfect sizes, but I haven't seen anything that bad. Looks like standard bad tile setting. Could be those are reviews for work other than tile, could be old reviews and now he's using some cheap labor, who knows?

You got me to look into what he used and found them. Tuscan Seam Clips, Red. They were installed halfway down the length of every tile. And he used tile spacers as well but they seemed to be silicone and were cocked and squished.

 

[chandler48]

I couldn't imagine using seam clips on such small tile on a fairly smooth surface. Gee, it must have cost a kazillion dollars in clips since your tiles are so small. I've never had to use tile levelers, as it seems the right amount of thinset will provide overall levelness in general.