First of all - I would say fire your tile guy! Find someone who knows what they're doing.

Oh no! I'm so sorry; that's a real amateur hack job. (In fact, worse, since I'm a true amateur and the subway backsplash I did looks way better than that.)

The rule of thumb is: start from the room's focal point and work out -- but measure it all out before tiling. You can make a layout stick with a long piece of wood or cardboard that has your exact tile sizes with groutlines included. Use this to lay out various ideas from the focal corner on outwards. Try to hit the corners with half tiles if possible, so that you don't wind up with any cuts under half a tile there. If you wind up needing slivers, they are much more tolerable when they're against a doorframe, window, etc (provided that's not the focal viewpoint) -- although you never really want slivers as small as the ones Bozo gave you, if possible.

Here's a corner of mine right after laying the tile, if this helps:

Surely your GC will hire a real tile person after this fiasco - don't despair, help is on the way!

Imagine two oversized showers with the same hack job but your GC says "oh, no. That's how subways are supposed to look." Then you give the "professional tile setters" a lesson in how to lay out tiles. They are "given permission" to fix the master bathroom shower, do a half a$$ed repair in the second shower. And then, when it comes time to tile the third shower...well, you guessed it. The lesson was completely forgotten and what's best in this shower is that it has a brick pattern mosaic floor and the have it 1/8" to 1/4" over 3' out of square with glass tiles that cost $10/sq ft.

I swear. Seeing tiles butchered like that makes me sick. At least your GC agrees it needs to be redone. Stand up that you aren't replacing the materials OR the labor. My GC got me for *both* because I'm an idiot.

I'm going to map this whole thing out and figure it out. It is maddening. It looks like if we start in the center of the big wall, we'll end up with 5-inch cut tiles on either side at the ends. And then 2-inch tiles on top of that, then 5 then 2 etc. I don't know yet if there's a better solution than that, but it seems like it's better than all the little slivers that are less than 1 inch! Gonna go throw up now.

Ugggh!!! What an awful job of installing those beauitful tiles :(

I want subway for my kithcen backsplash and am lucky in that I have no corners in my kitchen .... just straight walls .... please post new pix when fixed and beautiful :)

Just remember that the center line is an artificial construct. You need to layout your tiles so that they fall out the best for your space. For example, in my shower, my cut tiles are 2 5/8" Not quite in half, but they look fine. Subways are pleasing because of their proportions, so try to stay as close to "in half" as you can. You can also fudge grout lines a bit in the corners and then tidy them up with caulk. Although be clear and have them "dry fit" them before they cut a darn thing when they fix them. And make sure your GC is clear about who is paying for what. When I had the tiles in my bath fixed, the "professional tile setter" (who did what yours did) walked off the job because he said I had no clue what I was talking about. I said, "let him go." There's no way I was having a bitter guy reset them. And I just had cheap Dal TIle subways.

I am so sorry for you. Cyber huggs. It truly is sad, hopefully your GC was able to save most of the tile for a real professional to install.

Or maybe you could hire Circuspeanut. That tile job is very nice, as is the tile.

Keep positive that everything will work out fine.
norma

Circuspeanut is SOOOO hired. It makes me weep even more for my hideous slivers.

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry to see this. I can't believe the tile dude would even begin to haphazardly cut such fine tile without a plan. It makes me sick for you. What was he smoking?!

I am glad to hear your GC was so reasonable, as he should have been. Did he provide this sorry a.. person? I iterated and reiterated that I needed my GC's best tile guy who knew what to do with handmade tiles. And even with that I was holding my breath that he would do the right thing. (Measure twice and cut once, right?)

It sounds like the installer you had did not have a clue. I am hoping you get this all sorted out. How stressful! (Hug)

calypso -- hope you email Bill V. maybe he can give you advice or even do a rescue? IME this is not something you should need/want to figure out. There are technical issues there, serious ones.

(((((((((calypsochick)))))))

What do you mean? So it's not just a matter of mapping the layout with my tiles???

I don't know what the technical issues are that rococogurl mentioned, but I agree that the tile installer is the one who should come out with the proper layout. A good tile person should have the expertise to lay it out correctly. That is part of what they are being paid for. Though, if I were in your position I would totally lay it out myself - or get Circuspeanut to do it for me! That is a beautiful job that Circus did.

You should be standing there like a princess admiring it! A good tilesetter knows exactly what to do, where to start, how to make the corners turn perfectly etc.

I had a complex job in my kitchen with 4 color tiles and a special geometric pattern and they knew just how to proceed. They recut every single tile to make them fit and look handmade, matched corners, edges etc.

If it were me, I'd start by seeking Bill V's advice.

i am very sorry to hear about your tile disaster. i would have a heart to heart with the GC - did he hire this tile guy??? that is very worrisome if the answer is yes.

i would request credit for the additional tile required to fix the job, credit on the bill due to the hack job and timeline delays to have it redone and credit from the GC PM fees as he clearly was not monitoring this sub. it would also make me very wary to trust any of the other subs he hires.

send us an update as you know more.

I had problems with a previous install in a bathroom and had to repurchase the expensive glass tile that was totally butchered so I know how you feel. For my kitchen the tile installer (a new one!)spent some time the day before the install surveying the job and discussing layout options and his recommendations with me and my KD. I recall that his biggest concern was that I not end up with small slivers at the ends or corners. Yes, the right tile guy will get you to the right place.

I learned everything I know about tiling from Bill V! :-) Also from his buddies over at the John Bridge Tile Advice Forum. Like a gardenweb kitchens forum just for tile:

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile Forum

We have a new tiler coming on Wednesday. I will let you all know how this saga turns out!! I fear I won't be able to sleep until then.

i am trying to plan my subway tile backsplash in my kitchen and i need help understanding the concept. how do i plan 2 walls that form inside corners? once i start one wall then do i carry the tiles over to the next? or do i center each wall and work to the corners?