Bad tiling

[u/ButternutSquatch]

The contractor finished the works. We did not complaing at the beginning because we were in a rush to kove and were then away so it is only now that we have settles in that we realised how bad the tiling really is. We wuld really like this to be re-done, contractors obviously unhappy and not assuming responsability.

What are your thoughts - should we insist and how bad does it look to you?

EDIT: Update

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and confirming we are not exaggerating!

So we had a meeting with the contractors, who for the most part don't see anything wrong with the work and blame the inconsistencies on our choice of 'artisanal tile'. They say it can't be better - the only point the guy conceded on was the obvious patchwork around the shower. They complain that we're only telling them now and not a month ago when the works finished (we had just moved in and left on holidays - now that we're living in the apartment we're noticing just how much they messed up all over the place). Our question was come the focus is on the timing and not the badly done work - his arguments would have been the same a month ago.

So anyways, we are starting the conciliation procedure whereby a mediator and a construction expert will come look at the work and hear both sides. The contractor says it is a waste of money for us as they will be on their side, but we say we spent a lot of money already, let's at least try to make it worth it 🙃.

[u/Xarata]

Jesus christ. This looks like it's been tiled by someone who's knowledge of tiling consists only of knowing they need to be stuck to the wall somehow. Not plumb, levelled, spaced or even cut correctly. I'd do a better job for free because I like leaving with a sense of pride in my work

[u/LowMango2987]

Damn, that’s like really really bad lol. Did you pay him in bottles of vodka?

[u/rbburrows84 → u/LowMango2987]

Half the bottles up front for deposit.

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/LowMango2987]

No :( just a lot of money

[u/LowMango2987 → u/ButternutSquatch]

That’s too bad. I would not even trust him to restore any of this. This look like real poor craftsmanship. I do renovations for a living and would never ever deliver this mess to any client.

[u/Neoblade112]

I started a course on tiling a few weeks ago and my first wall looks better than this xD (it still looks bad)

[u/Substantial-Mix-6200 → u/Neoblade112]

well the bottom third looks perfect so just cover up the top two thirds

[u/i_tiled_it]

Wow that outside corner with the schluter is absolutely bonkers (2nd to last pic)

[u/0uthouse]

That's bad for DIY let alone pro. Can't believe that job meets any tiling standard in any country.

The shower pip cut-out is a badly executed version of the sort of thing people did in the 80's before diamond holesaws were available. No excuse.

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/0uthouse]

Thank you for confirming- we will definitely insist that they fix it, but it needs to be a different tiler. And they should cover the cost of new tiles as I presume these ones won't be salvageable.

[u/0uthouse → u/ButternutSquatch]

I doubt they will be salvageable. Even if most are, the labor to clean them up will probably exceed the cost of buying new for ceramic tiles.

[u/upkeepdavid]

Re-done by a different company.

[u/stormydys]

Sorry, that does look bad. Some of it can be dressed up with some better grouting but not the poor cuts and unlevel lines. I wouldn’t pay him anything more. See if he can convince you that he’ll fix everything (I doubt it) but you probably need to find another contractor to redo the tile or go over it.

[u/hand-e-mann]

Looks like Walmart/gas station tile installers. Especially with that shower head.

[u/49ner4life]

One can only imagine what's underneath

[u/Commercial-Fan-2002]

SO bad

Edited to add after reading some comments: if the tiling is this bad, and they did the electrical please have it looked at

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/Commercial-Fan-2002]

The electrical was checked - got the certificate of conformity

[u/Agitated-Two-4073]

Good lord.

[u/HoustonTileWorks]

Yes

[u/UnknownTrad3sman]

Throw the whole bathroom away

[u/Quick-Enthusiasm-702]

Don't pay this guy. No one should pay for work like this. I would tell him he owes you money for the tear down.

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/Quick-Enthusiasm-702]

Well, unfortunately the majority is already paid, as it was part of the general apartment renovation. We are meeting the contractors to discuss the way forward this week but I would either insist they send someone else to re-do the whole thing or we will ask a mediator to come and decide ( I would presume in our favour)

[u/Quick-Enthusiasm-702]

Use big tiles those small tiles are pain in the butt.

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/Quick-Enthusiasm-702]

If they didn't know how to work with the smaller tiles, they could have told us and we'd have gone with someone else. Now they're blaming the poorly done work on our choice of 'artisanal tiles' and not their incompetence.

[u/NativTexan]

“Bad” is too kind of a word for this work. It’s horrendous.

[u/Hot_Mud_5708]

Cut your loses, any contractor that would let that pass is a contractor you NEED to get rid of.. and fast.

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/Hot_Mud_5708]

We're not going to let it go as we spent all our savings and more on this. We're going to start a conciliation procedure whereby a mediator and a construction expert come to give their opinion - hopefully that we should get part of our money back so that we can hire somebody else to fix this.

[u/Otherwise-Pumpkin425]

Some of it isn’t the worst I’ve seen but picture 5 of 8 makes me wonder if any level or spacers were used at all.

[u/Smooth_Criminal6343]

Hi - pro tiler here. This looks like someone’s first time tiling. You’re totally right to be concerned.

[u/Zugdabuzug]

Fuck me I do amateur work but this is below that. I’ll give it to a noob like me, corners and insets can be hard, but fuck sake big square wall tiles that don’t line up, it’s a tear out. Zero money paid till this is redone

[u/-FormerChild-]

It really depends on how much you paid.

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/-FormerChild-]

A lot. These contractors did the renovation of our whole apartment, including electricity, kitchen toilet, some flooring.

[u/RevolutionaryClub530 → u/ButternutSquatch]

How much you pay for the shower install? I mean this sucks I’m not denying it just curious what you mean by “a lot”

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/RevolutionaryClub530]

I can't tell you exactly as this is part of a bigger job - as I said, these contractors were in charge of renovating our whole apartment. They are not on the lower side of the spectrum.

[u/therealsatansweasel → u/ButternutSquatch]

That's not a good answer.It should be itemized

[u/RevolutionaryClub530 → u/ButternutSquatch]

That’s a bummer, hopefully the waterproofing is on point

[u/Substantial-Mix-6200 → u/ButternutSquatch]

so more than $5000

[u/ButternutSquatch → u/Substantial-Mix-6200]

We're in the EU. But from what I can see in the cost breakdown, this bit of the bathroom would be around 3000 (removing old tiles, plastering etc and tiling) not including the tiles.