Im having my bathroom remodeled. I chose square tile for the floor and an ebbe square drain (thinking that this would eliminate any cuts around drain for a clean finish). After the tile guy left I looked at the tiles around the drain and was suprised he didnt use full tiles around at least two sides. I played with the extra mats of tile and sure enough they dont make it around this drain without some tiles having to be cut?! I believe the tile guy made the perimeter tiles (full) the priority as you can see in the pic.
For those out there who are tile guys was this a good job and/or having the perimeter tiles should be the priority???? The cut/nipped tile around the drain look a little rough and not the same size (the grout will be a light color) and I am concerned every time I look down at the drain and see this, I will question if this was done right!
Thanks in advance
Replies
Given that there was no way to avoid cutting the tiles around the drain, it makes sense to minimize the cuts along the edges.
it is difficult to lay into the poor tile guy who doesnt have a say in what was done.
for starters the drain does not look square to the walls (that is if the rest of the tile is square to the walls). that in and of itself makes for a difficult situation for the best tile installer.
secondly, is the tile installer the cheapest guy on the list? this is a common denominator with complaints about things like this. a home owner bids out a job, goes with the cheapest guy and expects the quality of the guy who was twice as much. Im not implying this is your situation but I am asking.
yes he could have laid out the tile so that two sides are full tiles.
live and learn
We use the Schluter shower system which offers a square drain trim as well. The drian assembly is set in conjection with the tile layout rather than plumbing or wall (see 17:23 of video). This does not mean you can always set full tiles at shower perimeter and at the drain, but this system (and a little attention to detail) allows you to do better than what you have shown here
http://www.schluter.com/videos.aspx
Thanks for the replies, here in is the problem, He wasnt the cheapest tile guy. Im sinking quite a sum of money in the remodel and I expect any job I pay for to be better than I could tackle. I have knowledge and some experience in construction, but due to the bathroom being out of service for a lot longer ( family) if I did it, made me go with a contractor with a crew. Real journeymen can resolve most issues as best as possible. Im not a journeyman tile guy. Ive had a shower floor with a terrible tile job, and every time I rinsed my hair in the shower I looked down at the floor and relized the guy must have been drunk or on meth. I replaced it for my sanity. Like most folks I always look at the flaw and it eats me up.
Im just looking for an opinion from tile guys if Im out of line with the area around the drain.
Next time I might go with a round or drain channel.
Any other opinions are welcome. Thnx
here's more opinion fer ya
willyx2 wrote:
Real journeymen can resolve most issues as best as possible.
Then It's up to you to do your due diligence and make sure your hiring real journeymen (whatever that means in residential construction anymore). Either you failed at your due dilegence here (i.e. visually checking references, tile certifications from manufacturers like Schluter) or you aren't up to holding them to task contracturally for what you apparenlty feel is a breach.
Otherwise, you can take responsiblity for apparently not being around to review the critical step of layout* and live what what you have. Further, can resolve what really " eats you" with a do over by remodeling the remodel.
*You could have reviewed a dry layout on the floor (in advance of actual installtion) with your tile mechanic and discuss resolution of any areas you feel were going to be critical to you. You could have also digitally photograph this dry layout with sticky notes for posterity. This extra step might have takeen, what, 2 hrs of everybody's time? Looks like it would have been welll worth it.
It's a very sloppy tiling job. In my opinion. Although the tiler may not have had control over the layout, the drain size or location, or the tile size, he had control over the tile cuts and the grout lines. They look quite bad in the vicinity of the drain.
Sloppy work.
I agree. The line up of the 12 x 12 sheets sucks. The drain is another issue, but, the drain size and the tiles dont naturally line up. If that was a critical concern, the layout should have been done dry to explore the final look.
IT's something I do ahead of time, and bring up with clients. Some care, some don't notice.
Thanks for the constructive opinions
Thanks guys/gals for your constructive opions on the tile job, I have contacted the general and he to agrees with issues with the job, and will remedy. This is why I went with this (not cheapest) contractor, he stands behind his work.
Interesting reply from deadnuts, It was MY fault for a bad tile job? It is my responsibility to confirm the tile guy does a good job---producing even grout lines, no lapping, grout lines offset, irregular cut tiles, dont dump thinset in the toilet, etc...??? there are some Journeymen out there you dont have to tell them to do a good job, most take extreme pride in their work. The other trades:electrician, plumber, cabinet guy, drywall guy, etc.... did a good job. With those other trades, I did not review my expectations......while sweating pipe, dont catch the house on fire, review to plumber some pipes are for waste and some are for potable water, all pipes are to be hidden behind the walls, the electrical outlets dont have an open ground, the light switch is not located in the shower, cabinets dont have exposed nails in drawers, the cabs are not made of reused lumber from a garage door, painter does not use a sock to apply paint etc... and when they park their trucks in front of my house they are not selling drivers licenses. deadnuts obviously sides with the "mechanics" when their work is sloppy, blind loyalty is a messy virtue, and doesnt lead to a successful business. This job was not complicated as you can see. Making excuses for a bad job doesnt sell in my world.
Thanks again
'do over' M.O.
That's because your world involves remedies. It's much easier and cost effective to do it right the first time. For you, that appears to be a crap shoot.
Who Chose & Supplied The Tile?
Did you hire the guy 'for the job,' or for labor only? Did you decide to provide the materials?
There's no way for those tiles to match up with the size of the drain. In oder to get clean seams around the drain, you need either different size tiles, or for the installer to make a border around the drain.
It also appears that the tiles line up quite well with the rear wall, suggesting that the work started there. A more common practice is to lay tiles around the drain first, then expand outward.
Tile is a fine example of why these are called SKILLED trades. It amazes how many folks fail to appreciate the time and effort that goes into mastering any trade. The irony is that the best jobs are never noticed; it's the flaws that stand out.
I can get quite depressed, if I let myself think of the hack work that folks hide behind a fancy finish. For tile work, I shudder at the inadequate / damaged / improperly sloped sub-floors, the rotted joists, and other things that are often found under fancy tile jobs.
With that in mind .... if you're unhappy, it's best to get it re-done sooner rather than later. There's no telling what damage has already begun. For the re-work, I'd hire someone else. Make sure you hire a real contractactor- and not some guy who works for a real outfit, but is doing your place as a 'side job.' The best way to hire a contractor is to find a good job, learn who did it, and find that firm.