New tile install issues, am I being too picky??

[Sledhead00]

Just after the new yr i had new porcelain tile floor installed in my kitchen and hallway leading to my bedroom. The company doing this did a phenomenal job on my cedar siding last yr so I gave them a call for this job to. I will admit I am stickler when its comes to home projects and the guy who did the siding, his attention to detail was right on par with me. This was a different guy FWIW.
I stubbed my toe on a tile the other night so when the owner contacted my today about coming tmw to take care of a different minor detail I mentioned to him that it seem a couple tiles were out of whack.. I work odd ball hrs so I'm long gone before they get here and gone before I get back and I told him I would place tape on the tiles I was concerned with...
Well I just got done going over the floor and I found a lot more than a couple. I'm up to about 25 tiles that have what I consider an unacceptable lip along an edge. My determining factor is where or not I could slide my roll of tape across the floor with out issue. There doesnt appear to be any pattern to what ones are out of whack, like they were rushing to finish up one day or something they are all over..
I dont expect it to be perfectly level in every direction but this seems terribly unacceptable. Am I expecting too much??? Give me a few minutes and Ill get a few photos put up...

 

[Sledhead00]

Pics

 

[heat seeker]

Definitely unacceptable. If the subfloor is to blame, it should have been repaired as part of the job.

 

[Sledhead00]

I found 4 or 5 more pieces after these photos.

 

[HeavyMetalHippy]

I have been setting tile (and all other hard floor coverings) for 15 years, and someone with absolutely no flooring experience at all could tell you that is jacked up.
If it was natural slate, some unevenness is expected but not with a porcelain tile. Heat Seeker is right, if subfloor was wack it should have been addressed but either way not acceptable.
Concrete subfloor or wood if you don't mind?

 

[Sledhead00]

Sub floor is plywood 3/4" I believe, with adequate spacing framing underneath that.
We had discussed before hand that there seem to be a slight roll in the floor basically right where the cabinet door is open in the last pic, yet there was no issues there.
I'm thinking I need to call the owner first thing and getting him to see it himself now that there is so many.

 

[Sledhead00]

As I said in my original post, there doesn't seem to be any pattern to the uneven tiles as to think the subfloor would really be subject.
.I did mention to the owner when we talk prior that it really seemed like there was more thin set under the few high ones I thought I had intially

 

[greg13]

Use a tile puck.
http://www.ronhazelton.com/projects/how_to_lay_ceramic_tile_over_plywood

 

[Sledhead00]

I was on the right track with my tape roll then...

 

[drz1050]

It's damn hard to find a good contractor who actually takes pride in their work... They all talk a good game, then when you hire them they sub the work out and some bum shows up.

I've been working on my place for the past few years. Have gone through 4 contractors so far.

To answer your question: No, you're not being too picky. That tile looks like it was laid by someone who's never done it before.

 

[semipro]

Poor craftsmanship - unacceptable.
FWIW, just because someone can hang siding doesn't mean they can handle the work of other trades.

 

[DougA]

That's very poor workmanship. I'd be upset too.

 

[Wooden Head]

Sub floor is plywood 3/4" I believe, with adequate spacing framing underneath that.
We had discussed before hand that there seem to be a slight roll in the floor basically right where the cabinet door is open in the last pic, yet there was no issues there.
I'm thinking I need to call the owner first thing and getting him to see it himself now that there is so many.

You say that the subfloor is plywood. Did the installer install the tile directly to the plywood?

 

[Sledhead00]

You say that the subfloor is plywood. Did the installer install the tile directly to the plywood?

No there was backer/ cement board put down. I can't recall at the moment the thickness but I think 1/4"

 

[Sledhead00]

Poor craftsmanship - unacceptable.
FWIW, just because someone can hang siding doesn't mean they can handle the work of other trades.

Agreed, I guess I felt that the attn to detail would be company wide after the siding work... Will see hopefully meeting with owner later this afternoon

 

[Wooden Head]

No there was backer/ cement board put down. I can't recall at the moment the thickness but I think 1/4"

If they applied tile to plywood you should have them pull the complete floor out. I spent 20 yrs. in the tile install industry and have seen this type of install fail 99.9% of the time. Find a real tile contractor.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Here is to betting that only you notice it.
I have 2 tiles that my contractor set that tend to catch my feet a bit...out of the 390 sqft he laid down, I'll let it go. The lines are wonderful and did a great job on detail in other spots. I also got a great price on it. If I had been raked over the coals on price, I would be less lenient.

What did you pay installed per sqft with backer? Only labor.

 

[Bobbin]

Unhuh! not OK. Tile work begins with the subfloor and relies on mortar (right term?) to support them properly. My first (so far my only) experience with tile was the hearth under the Classic in my shop. I was too dumb to realize you didn't have to put the mortar over then entire area before you began laying the tiles (duh) and one of the tiles settled and cracked (a complex cut that abuts the chimney, naturally). Live and learn; but every other one is level and supports a nearly 600lb. stove with no signs of failure.

Grouting along the chimney is not so great, though. I believe there are compounds more specifically designed for areas with greater tolerance to heat/cool factors but haven't researched them. Again, live and learn.

 

[DougA]

Here is to betting that only you notice it.

I just don't agree. I think the photos show a very inferior job. I'd be a whole lot more mad than the OP is. That's why I do most everything myself. Hard to find good people these days.

 

[jb6l6gc]

I was on the right track with my tape roll then...

seen many a tile guys use the old roll of painters tape! That is not a very good job, oddball one here or there happens, I think Ive got two and not even close to that severe on my whole main floor. I would not be happy! Hope they make it right for ya

 

[claydogg84]

That's a bummer. I'd certainly ask for it to be fixed, which is going to be an even bigger bummer for the contractor. For some things, such as tile work, you should consider hiring someone that solely works in that field. Let us know how you make out.

 

[vinny11950]

How would the contractor fix it? Pull the offending tiles out (hopefully they come out without damaging tiles around them), somehow remove the leftover thinset on the subfloor, and then do over?

 

[claydogg84]

How would the contractor fix it? Pull the offending tiles out (hopefully they come out without damaging tiles around them), somehow remove the leftover thinset on the subfloor, and then do over?

The grout needs to be separated around offending tiles and then the bad tile/thinset removed. It's a pain in the arse.

 

[DougA]

How would the contractor fix it? Pull the offending tiles out (hopefully they come out without damaging tiles around them), somehow remove the leftover thinset on the subfloor, and then do over?

Freshly laid tiles on wood are not super difficult. Getting them up without breaking is a real challenge. If I were the contractor, I'd pull the whole job and start over but if most of them are acceptable, you would only pull out the bad ones. Assuming there are more replacement tiles, you cut out the grout, lift or smash out the tile and replace.
My son had 3 tiles that were cracked in a new house. The contractor did a completely perfect job. Totally invisible. I was impressed.

 

[sportbikerider78]

They said cement board was put down. If it was done right you have plywood, thin coat of mortar/thinset, backer board, mortar/thinset and then tile.

Good luck getting that up. You'll have to grind out the grout. Break out the tile. Cut out the backer board. Scrape the plywood clean. Cut a section of new backer board. Mortar it down. Screw it down. More mortar. New tile. New grout.

It can be done. Just lots of work.