What to do about this backsplash!

8 years ago

Things have been going so smoothly on my remodel, but we’ve hit a snag. Using a very highly rated and recommended GC who uses his own guys, so this tile work was not subbed out. We researched him for months and have seen a lot of his work. This is a $150k high end remodel using very expensive and good rated glass subway tile. Also he’s already tiled a shower for me and it was fine. Just giving you the background.

So the backsplash was put up yesterday and today I finally got a chance to take a good look at it in the light. There are snags, places you can see the mortar and netting, especially where the tiles meet the edges by the cabinets. Obviously we’re not going to let it go, but wondering what my options are. A) Have then rip it all out, reorder special order tile (which took a week to come in), redo it and have my contractor eat the cost, but also set us back at least another week, probably more because we’re supposed to have the range delivered and installed this week so that will have to be rescheduled (and possibly damage the brand new quartz countertops (and custom cabinets) in the process) or B) Live with it, but maybe there is a way to make it look better along the edges, like a trim piece or something, and ask for a HUGE discount. The tile alone was $2200. So my question to you guys is, what would you do? And does anyone know if there are ways to make it look better without ripping it out? My husband is pretty sure we are going to have him redo it, but I figured I’d gather some opinions.

Featured Answer

hummingalong2

8 years ago

Looks OK from a distance ...

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Comments (14)

User
8 years ago
Dude didn’t have the proper $80 glass blade. Should have stopped after the first cut and run bought one.

How often are you going to be 6” from the surface, staring st it at an angle? And how often are you going to be at least 36” from it, and not staring at it specifically?
K R
Original Author
8 years ago
More photos showing it from 2 feet back in 2 different places (where the hood will go is the worst of it). My husband says he can see it from across the room, I can’t really. It’s reflective so I almost think it’s not noticeable to someone else who doesn’t know what to look for. We didn’t notice it yesterday when we came in and glanced.
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hummingalong2
8 years ago
Sad... just off the top of my head, and not ideal, but if you decide not to rip it out, could you use a couple of matching art pens and a straight edge to color in/disguise some of the wonky grout edges... of course you shouldn't have to do this on such an expensive tile job!!! Or perhaps they can only replace the cut edge tiles....after buying a new saw blade!!
PRO
Layla Weiss Designs
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sorry for your frustration. I can say, even with high end products, all pieces (even within the same lot) are not always created equally. But I can't say with 100% certainty, that this may be contractor error but possibly a flaw in the those particularly pieces of tile, especially if the rest of the area seems to be up to par. I would tend to advise, you request a discount in proportion with the sub-par areas of the backsplash, because at least from my perspective given in the photos is doesn't seem overly noticeable unless specifically pointed out. However, not to minimize your expectations if he feels this can be corrected with minimal evasiveness to the entire backsplash then go for it. I would just hate to see him re-install and have some of the pieces react the same way.

I hope you find a resonable resolution...Happy Decorating!
K R
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all. My husband was just inspecting again and found areas that looked pushed in/crooked as well. Just a sloppy, slop job. I’m starting to lean the direction my husband is, for this kind of screw up in the detail work they need to eat the cost and redo it. We are planning to live in the house for a few more years so we would have to live with it always bothering us, right? I’ve put in a call to my contractor, it’s Sunday so I’m not expecting a quick response but sent him pictures and basically said we’re very unhappy. Wish me luck, I’ll update later with what happens.
chispa
8 years ago
Is this a clear glass tile that has the color/pattern applied on the back side?

If it is, it looks like his cuts caused the applied color/pattern to chip of off the glass. A new glass blade should have been used, but it might also be that the tile is a bit chippy. In that case he might need to tape up the tile before he cuts them to minimize the chipping. The fact that the edge is chipped should have been pretty obvious after cutting and they should not have been installed. Lazy work.
Kate F
8 years ago
Not a chance I would live with it. I had a bathroom done and although I had picked out everything I HATED it once it was in. I had it all ripped out. I knew I would spike a rise in blood pressure every time I saw it. In this case you need to bring in the GC and show him the issue and have it corrected at his expense. They should have seen the problem and pointed it out to you immediately. definitely his issue.
gallagk
8 years ago
Same thing happened to me. I have more pattern/movement in my glass tile. I don’t notice it anymore and neither does anyone else.
Melissa R
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
If I could get it at a steep discount I would live with it. Saved money makes everything look better!!
K R
Original Author
8 years ago
The GC came to look first thing this morning, agreed the blade must have been dull or he used the wrong one. He apologized profusely and said he’d do whatever it took to make us happy. He suggested ripping out all of the end pieces and redoing those. He also suggested re-grouting using a sanded grout, to even a lot of it out. I’m fine with that solution as it only sets us back 2-3 days (he ordered the extra tile today) and doesn’t run any risks of ruining my countertops, which are perfect! We shall see. I’m glad he took the initiative to make it right. I honestly don’t think anyone else would ever notice it (as long as the end pieces are fixed) as it is very reflective tile.
K R
Original Author
8 years ago
He’s also doing some other items free of charge, like build me a quartz counter for my laundry room, replacing all my electrical boxes with charcoal gray ones, and putting rushes on our other line items. So we shall see how it all plays out, I’ll update as soon as I have any new info.
chispa
8 years ago
Make sure you protect everything else when the lazy tile guy comes back!

I would double check your tile specs to see what grout they recommend, before your GC touches it.
K R
Original Author
8 years ago
Update: he ripped most of it out (an entire wall and pieces of the range/hood wall). All on his dime and time. Moving on!