I guess my first question is why did you tile where you will be putting cabinets you might have more than grout to worry about once they start installing cabinets. If you are not happy get them to remove the grout and start again this will only get worse.

Numerous contractors I got quotes from said its better to tile the entire area for the kitchen these days, that way if there is a leak the water wont run into the subfloor (its a 3rd floor condo). After some discussion with the people that did this we are most likely getting a grout saw and removing and redoing the problem areas. Hopefully this solves the problems. Anyone else ever experience this? Any tile installers have some thoughts on if this solution will work?

THEY need to fix this. It is not your place to find the fix.

If they bugger up the tile, it is on them...not you.

Is this company licensed?? Insured?? They screwed it up. Period. If they don't fix it, hold their money & file in small claims court. This is unacceptable.

Removing young grout is doable...and has been done many times in the past and will happen many times in the future. This is up to the contractor to fix. Allow them to try one more time. If you see more cracks forming (especially in the same areas) then I would sugggest you look into the viability of the subfloor.

I don't want to jump the gun...so lets start with regrouting and see if that fixes it. If the grout cracks again, it might have more to do with the subfloor than grouting too early. If this is a subfloor "not flat enough issue" the installer has a WHOLE LOT MORE to do than just grout.

Are you in a wooden building/condo...or is it a concrete high rise?

Thanks everyone. I took a grout saw to one of the cracked grout lines and discovered the grout was only 1/8 deep on the top. I have asked if they are licensed and they responded that you don't need a license for tile. Is that true for California? I kind of doubt it.

Its a wooden building with a concrete subfloor and they did not float it, which they refused to do (saying they never do that) and I'm pretty sure thats some of the problem as well.

Since its a kitchen and 1/2 of the tile is under cabinets and I most likely wont live there more than 10 years I can live with the tile spacing as its not awful. I'm definitely making them redo the accessible grout (although it was fusion pro and I don't think they know how to use it even still, ugh). However I am looking for a new company to do the glass tile backsplash. Any one have a recommendation for that in the LA area?

Yes DB, you tile the whole kitchen, that is the best way to go...

With that said, by the look of that grout joint, it looks like there is movement in the floor and this what caused the crack.

Well if they laid the floor and then went right to grout I am sure more then one issue has occurred. First unless fast setting thin set was used (which I doubt with a limestone floor) the thin set was not fully set and the tiles moved around when they were on it to grout.

I am not saying impossible to do in one day but you have to know what you are doing and use the right products.

Take the handle of a screwdriver and tap it on each tile. You will hear the sound change if a tile is not set properly. Laying tile on cement is harder then most think. That said if they all sound solid reground and go on with life. Otherwise be ready to rip them up and start over.

The white spots is because they either did not use the who bag of grout or did not mix properly. Welcome to CA where cheap labor produces cheap repairs. Everything looks good from 10 feet away.

Good luck!!

Yeah I yelled at them that they shouldn't do it the same day and even called the boss, but everyone assured me it was fine to grout the same day and it was fast set thin set. However that's not limestone its porcelain, I wanted a natural look but not the maintenance. That's the probably the one thing that kills me the most I spent so long selecting the tile and researching grout (went with the Fusion Pro epoxy) and to see it come out like this. My guess on the white is its thinset, as I hit with the grout saw and it was a bit harder than the grout and even gray powder as I went deeper.

Yeah the cheap labor is ridiculous especially when they claim to know what they are doing and look at you like your crazy for wanting to waiting a day to grout. They also convinced me that they never float floors and that wasn't needed.

Any good backsplash tilers out there? I have about ~30sq ft of glass subway tiles I want to put up. I have one highly recommended guy for 1000 but is that too high? its about double what I was going to pay but knowing the quality of subs this place hires maybe that's what I should be paying...

I suspect that since they didn't feel the need to wait for the thinset to cure fully, they were probably very conservative about pressing too hard while grouting so you ended up with grouting that is just filling the upper surface instead of filling the whole void. Unfortunately there is no way to know if the whole area is like that or if it just happened in a few spots. The only real remedy is to remove all grout and do it over.

Sorry for your troubles. Unfortunately a common story. By getting on the tiles to soon the bond between the tile and substrate gets sheared leaving the tiles just resting on the top of the thinset. which allows for the movement to cause cracking grout. Regrouting will only be a temporary fix as the movement remains. It may be costly to repair now but much more after the cabinets are installed. You have legal options in your favor now. ( just my opinion ) As for the glass splash you must check with the glass manufacturer for correct adhesive. Some do not allow thinset. The correct technique for installing glass would be to apply adhesive notched and then with the flat side of the trowel knock the ridges flat this leaves a thin bed without ridges. Trowel ridges will show through glass. Ask installers how they would do the install to see what kind of answers you get. suggest going online to NTCA (National Tile Contractors Assoc.) look under CTEF for a certified installer in your area. It should help with the odds of finding someone qualified. As for cost $1,000 would be a minimum but I'm not in Ca. As Leslie above mentioned test the grout. Hope this helped.

Small update: I have removed a lot of the grout where the appliances go (tiles seem solid) and discovered there is a mix of things that happened with the grout causing the cracking and discoloration.

Some areas the grout is only about 1/16" deep, as the grout saw basically punched straight down to the thinset, which would explain why a lot if it is cracked.

The discolored areas seems to be from the grout mixing with the thinset since the installers insisted on grouting (20-30 min) after laying the tiles down.

Some of the other cracks could be from the spacers they left in and grouted right over as I have pulled a number of those out.

To anyone reading this, don't let them grout the same day and save yourself this headache! I knew this from doing grout on a jacuzzi years ago but thought maybe in 20 years there was fast set grout as they assured it was fine. Either way I will be re-grouting the first half tonight where the appliances go as they come tomorrow.

The company told me that they could send new people to fix it but I went to look at their work and its just as bad! Time to do it myself I think.

Hopefully they don't expect you to pay the full price of the install given that you have to undo portions of their less than stellar work. Sounds like good news (sort of) that the only thing you deal with is the grouting. Hope it goes well for you.

Like Kivi stated. Don't pay the full price and be sure to get labor warranty in writing. Usually one year. Ask to have that extended for two year as a partial compensation for your aggravation. If there is a hidden problem it will show itself. Watch the grout joints they don't lie.

They want to fix it with a new person but I still don't trust them, should I let them instead of doing it myself and if its still messed up have them remove again and then I will do? I keep telling them the fusion pro epoxy grout is different and they don't listen/understand what I'm talking about saying that grouting is very easy... yeah maybe the way seem to do it.

Good idea on the warranty. My thought is they may not do it unless I let them repair the grout. I just know deep down they aren't going to the high quality job I'm looking for and think I could do myself.

People outside of CA do not understand how it works here. There are so many illegals working that good luck finding anyone that even speaks english let alone knows what they are doing. If you can't read the instructions or understand codes or Industry Standards how do you expect a quality repair???

The bigger problem is the guy who come to your house to sell the job under an American sounding name and go on and on about themselves only to drop these guys off at your house once you sign a contract. You have no idea who is even in your house. Just went through this with a pool remodel.

It was so bad that I was trying to pay them and they didn't understand a word I said.

People defend these workers not understanding other countries have very different quality standards and building codes. Mixing thin set is not the same on every job but they treat every one the same. It is such an insult to quality US worker who goes to school to learn a trade to be out bid on every job. To be in Local 3 in NYC it is 4-6 years of school and apprenticeship. No the guy on the corner does not know how to do the work the same way.

Do it yourself or find a qualified professional. In other words don't look on Craigslist.

I suggest calling Custom Tech support 800-282-8786 Ask if their local rep can look at your job. If not get the contact info for the rep as he will know who is familiar with the product and would provide the best lead to finding someone qualified. My point with the extended warranty is to cover you in case the tiles themselves are loose. Hairline cracks in the grout are the first indication. A trick I use is to bounce a golf ball around the floor and listen for hollow sounds. Hope this helps.

I can't imagine someone working in my home that doesn't speak English. I guess there needs to be a new clause added to future contracts!!

Fusion Pro is an Acrylic/silicone grout. I have used it extensively on many of my tile installation jobs. Some installers try to treat it like the typical cementitious grout install and that won't work. The installation directions must be followed exactly. It is time consuming make them realize that and do it again. One of Fusion Pro's best attributes is unlike cementitious grout it can be and will adhere to itself making re-grout easy and very successful. This should be the first and hopefully only attempt to save this project. Don't get all freaky and threaten to have it pulled up and redone. Tell them to come re-grout, follow the directions and take the extra time now to fix it before they have to spend days starting over. That will be a disaster for everyone including you the home owner.

Davenpdx - pls check dates of posts.

Since the original post is over two years old, just wondering how @DB's tile is holding up?