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How to address issues after tiling job?

A tradesperson came to install a shower above a bath tub and messed up tiling.

1. New tiles are of wrong color, it is more glossy and more blue than the previous shade of white, is it easy to get new tile of more matching color?

2. Should they have requested my confirmation before starting the tiling?

3. Are scattered around in a disorganized pattern. Can I request the tradie to replace four additional tiles, as part of the job, to at least make something resembling a rectangle of a different color.

4. The tiler claims my old tiles are painted over; is this even a thing?

5. One of new tiles is not even with rest of surface. Can i ask them to re-tile it as part of the job? There was villa board behind these rows, it was flat, I am not sure why that one tile even managed to not be flush with rest of surface.

6. Corner tiles were rounded, yet for new tiles they are sharp corners. 🙁

7. They scratched the bath tub in the process, exposing the steel. Solution: tiler adds grout on top of the affected spot. Is this acceptable?

Please see attached photos:

Not even tile:

Different color. And visible that some tiles are not even/flat positioned:

tiles which I think could be good to replace to at least have a rectangle of the other color:

20251216_194157(1).jpg

bath tub damage photo, during the job,

Villa board,

more villa board, at the top half,

I am not fully happy, did not expect any of these issues with the shower install. Confused what is expected of them to tidy up and what is not. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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st22

uneven tiles

Sharp corners:

EricL

Hello @st22

Thank you for sharing your question about your tiled wall. If the tiled wall has only been recently installed, I propose contacting your tiler and discussing with them your concerns about the tiled wall. My best advice is to leave the tiled wall alone and not modify or change it in any manner while it is still under warranty.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

st22

Hi @EricL thank you for your reply.

My question is to what extent could I request the tiler to do a better job.

Some of the items on the list look like significant issues.

I am not going to modify the wall, only asking for an opinion on the above.

One of the questions is about finding better matching tiles, which is not quite related to quality of the job, but more like quality of the product.

Thank you.

Nailbag

Hi @st22

Answer below

1. New tiles are of wrong color, it is more glossy and more blue than the previous shade of white, is it easy to get new tile of more matching color?

A: Comes down to who supplied the tiles or provided the information and to who? If you provided a brand/style/product code information to the tiler and what was provided is different, then this can be checked against his paperwork and you would be in the right. Batch numbers are very important here too as they can vary in finish. The tile supplier will know this and an experienced tiler would check. Did you check the tiles before they were laid?

2. Should they have requested my confirmation before starting the tiling?

No necessarily. It depends on the conversation of who ordered etc as per A1

3. Are scattered around in a disorganized pattern. Can I request the tradie to replace four additional tiles, as part of the job, to at least make something

resembling a rectangle of a different color.

A: If by what you term as "scattered" that the grout lines don't match up, then thats a sign of a very poor quality job cosmeticly wise.

4. The tiler claims my old tiles are painted over; is this even a thing?

A: Yes absolutely. This will explain why there is a difference matching new against old. Old painted tiles used poorer quality product which also was a lot matter in finis. Todays tiles paint is very good and can provide a very realistic finish.

A: If the tiles used are essentially dead flat with no textured uneven finish as part of its design, then yes they all should be dead flat (within un-noticeable reason). Another sign of a very poor installation.

6. Corner tiles were rounded, yet for new tiles they are sharp corners.

A: The tiler should have installed or asked you about installing a rounded edge trim. There are many styles one type attached below.

Nailbag

7. They

Jason

@st22,

Great to see you get quality advice from an experienced tradesperson like @Nailbag. I trust his advice his very helpful.

Other members might also like to share their thoughts, but I'd just like to reiterate Eric's comments that unfortunately the Bunnings team can only suggest that you take these issues up with your tradesperson.

All the best,

Jason

Dave-1

Good Morning @st22

My first step wouyld be to talk to the tradespeople who have doen the job. The discussion you had with them before they started work outlining what you wanted is the base of the work.

The steps/answers that @Nailbag has put down are exactly the same as my responses would be.

I also agree that it looks to be poor quality. Replacing indervidual tiles will be a headach as to waterproofing the area as it will be damaged if a tile is removed.

First step - talk to trades person.

Second talk to their boss (If they are different)

Thirds step is talk to Department of Fair trading if you are unhappy with the result.

I find the best solution is to talk, work out exactly what you want (minimun spec of the job you would be happy with worse case) and keep it calm as much as possible. Anytime The department of fair trading is involved then it just makes the issue bigger.

Dave

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