Bad Tile Install?

8 years ago

We've been concerned about the manner in which our contractors have been putting in a 4x12 subway tile on a tub wall surround (so a vertical install). at the top of every row there seemed to be a bit of missing thinset, and this was explained that the next day/for the next row, more thinset would get pushed in. seemed reasonable, I guess, but it still made us worry. now I see the same voids in thinset along the edge of the bullnose and along the edge where the medicine cabinet will get installed. I was told the voids along the bullnose edge get filled with grout and are made to hold grout. no answer about the voids along the edges of the medicine cabinet (I guess it get caulked?). It sounds questionable to say the least. is this normal? or is this a substandard tile install? do we make them redo the whole thing?

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Creative Tile Eastern CT

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

It appears in your photo that the tile is installed on drywall. If that is correct have it all removed to the studs as this product has not been allowed in wet areas since 2006.

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Comments (8)

User
8 years ago
Ouch. Tile on green board. NO.
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Sammy
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
What is behind the tile in the tub surround area - is that green board (drywall), too?
Olga & Adam B
Original Author
8 years ago
no. the tub surround is durock with redgard. the green wall is only behind dry areas. we wanted 3 walls tiled completely.
Olga & Adam B
Original Author
8 years ago
the greenboard drywall was used im dry areas only so I am not concerned about waterproofing. the wet areas are fine, my question and focus was on the actual tile install itself and the voids that. any thoughts on that issue?
Olga & Adam B
Original Author
7 years ago
bump? I guess my initial description was not clear. I showed a shot of the cavity where the medicine cabinet will go and the wall that is next to the toilet. I wanted input about the quality of the tile installation and potential thinset issues. are we going to see any problems in these dry areas from the way these tiles were set?
Sammy
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
are we going to see any problems in these dry areas from the way these tiles were set?

Have you looked at the tile manufacturer’s installation materials? I assume you have not since the only way to know for sure whether or not the adhesive was applied properly and/or adequately is to have seen it while it was happening, which none of us has.
ci_lantro
7 years ago
are we going to see any problems in these dry areas from the way these tiles were set?

While the cavity is open, try tugging on the end of tile with your fingertips and see if it just pops off. If you want to get crazy, wedge a flat bladed screwdriver in there and test just how much force it will take. My bet is that the tile will break before the bond fails.

Keep in mind that thin-set goes on the wall with a notched trowel in the first place. The voids are by design so the tile can be nestled into place to compensate for substrate irregularities. I would not be worried about this installation at all if the tile stays put with the tug test.