I ambuilding a house right now and just got prices for some tile work and wow they are insane. For a band 13" tall and 6 linear feet they want $1004 for 6x6 tiles and a 2 liners. Then in the master bath basically the same and they want $847.......should I just get standard tiles and tear out the small parts and do the accents myself? I am worried I will tear up the hardi backer and then what. Can I just cut a small peace and put it new? I know how to do tile and have all the equipment to do it myself but am I better off to just pay it or fight it after I move in?? I was thinking in the shower remove one row of 13" tile and put the band in there and the same in the bath.
New home, should I tear out standard and upgrade it myself?
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I'm not sure where you are on this project. Has the tiling been done yet?
I would not tear apart a shower that has already been tiled.
I would not tear apart a shower that has already been tiled.
No it hasnt been done yet but if I don't pay $1,800 they do standard tile and I will have no accents. Thats what I was asking, if I should just pay that amount or tear a row out and do the accents myself. I have to let them know what to do today.
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Personally, I would either tile the whole thing myself, or pay the money.
If installed properly, tearing a row out would:
A) be a pain in the butt (if possible at all).
B) look like crap if the accents don't measure out right.
C) possibly compromise the waterproofing depending on how the shower was built.
If installed properly, tearing a row out would:
A) be a pain in the butt (if possible at all).
B) look like crap if the accents don't measure out right.
C) possibly compromise the waterproofing depending on how the shower was built.
Is this a situation where the builder is forcing subcontractors and their pricing only on you, take it or leave it style? I would just push for an allowance for the tile work and do it yourself with what you want or with your own contractor. Won't the builder allow upgrades? Initial and update your contract for the house if needed to just provide the backer board for the tile if you want to do this yourself.
I also, would not lay down new tile with the plan to start chipping at it for accents in days or months.
How about this option. Go to the tile store and get the accent pieces you want if you are happy with the rest of the tile. Stop by the bank and get two or three crisp 20s, 50s, 100s depending on where you live. Hand the tile guys a sketch and a crisp bill each. Explain what you want, pointing at the pile of accent tile. Done deal. Unless you picked some exotic multi surface accent or something the tile guys will put it in for you. They don't care what they set and mortar in place.
And trust me, noone else has thought to "tip" them in cash so you will get a level of respect you may not believe.
I also, would not lay down new tile with the plan to start chipping at it for accents in days or months.
How about this option. Go to the tile store and get the accent pieces you want if you are happy with the rest of the tile. Stop by the bank and get two or three crisp 20s, 50s, 100s depending on where you live. Hand the tile guys a sketch and a crisp bill each. Explain what you want, pointing at the pile of accent tile. Done deal. Unless you picked some exotic multi surface accent or something the tile guys will put it in for you. They don't care what they set and mortar in place.
And trust me, noone else has thought to "tip" them in cash so you will get a level of respect you may not believe.
Yeah I don't know what do do. It's a custom builder but they foot the bill and I use their people so I guess same concept as a track home. Makes life way easier on me but they wont close on a house any less thsn 100% done. When we do our final walk through they make sure everything is complete then we go to closing. I hate to do it but I guess it's easier to just pay them.
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This is totally unprofessional and probably could result in these guys getting fired.
You must be kidding or Dorothy do you still live in Kansas?
The guy is paying for the material he wants and just adjusting the way it all gets tiled on the wall. Nothing changes in the amount of work or output the tilers put forth and I just bet their contract does not specify what specific tiles they put in place and mortar? The general contractor cannot fault them in any way.
Nasty customer showed up with his own paid for tile and asked them to put it in place, in places specified but in no way impacted their work performance?
And they get slipped a few bucks nobody sees for being helpful. Client gets what he wants instead of feeling he was unprofessionally raped by his building contractor that would not flex for a row of accent tiles? Come on.
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If anyone working for me accepted a proposal like that, they would get fired on the spot. This issue MUST be handled between the homeowner and the contractor.
You framers are always first on the job and quick to leave. You have limited understanding of what it takes to finish a house THE WAY THE OWNER and inhabitant wants it. This is not about people getting fired or whether ethics lean to the contractor or the new homeowner.
This guy just wants a row of accent tiles. The contractor is holding him hostage with his tiling sub-contractor and whatever price set. No options for even seeking competitive bids to have the tile done, in a brand new home, the way the home owner wants. Sinful.
I suggested the guy just go out and by the accent tiles he wants, at his own expense, and slip the guys putting in place a tip for helping him out?
Why would the contractor freak? His labor rate does not change and his material cost, with tile useable on another job goes down.
You have to push back and explain you are unhappy. You want an accent wall of custom tile in your new shower. Get what you want, especially in a brand new home I suspect you saved and dug deep to build.
Do you live in a real estate and title company or attorney closing state? If you live in the latter, do you have one sharp available? The seller has convinced you, you do not need one. Must I wake you up and send you roses to smell?
My ex was savage and I use to prepare all the closing documents for her. Every one of her clients walked out clean titled and with some discounts they did not expect to pay for paint and things.
The seller wants to close on your new house faster and perhaps for stronger financial reasons than you do. Right now, your new home is floating on construction loans. Of course the builder is applying extreme amounts of pressure on you to make quick decisions. The clock is ticking.
You don't have to own his clock or carry any bag of rocks unless you want to! Fire a shot across the bow. Your bank will not bail, trust me.
Be firm. It is easy for some of us who have been through this a fair number of times?
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Wow. Thanks for pretending to know me so well. I have been in the business for almost 30 years and have worked on every range of house from tract home to 20k sq ft customs. I have worked closely with many GC's and would like to think my understanding is a bit more than "limited". I have also been the GC on several commercial and residential jobs as well. His beef is lies exclusively with the GC. If he wants to present your solution to the GC, then I think that is acceptable. Doing it underhanded the way you originally described, makes him guilty of the same behavior that you accuse the GC of. I would make every attempt to handle this the right way.:thumbsup:
Bubba,
He did not have time. He had to decide today.
Every go out for breakfast, lunch, drinks or dinner? Ever tip the waitstaff? Come on be honest? Why?
And assuming the service was good and the food decent? How much of the bill did you leave is a tip. 15 percent is my guess. You drink? Unless you are a schmuck you leave $1 or more per drink if paying cash?
This guy just wants an accent course of tile. Of course he should work it out with the GC but the GC is uncooperative from what I gather. And prices tile work through the roof.
You are right and I didn't mean the wisecrack about first on the job knowing nothing about finishing one including landscaping. I guess it is just that you framers usually have limited client contact. Cowards.
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