What size are the tiles? Anything with at least one side over 15” is considered a large format tile (LFT), (but in my book, 12” is the magic number) and thus special care needs to be taken when installing. This usually means offsetting the tiles by no more than 33% or 1/3 (yours are 50% or 1/2).

What size are your tiles? If they’re long usually the tile instructions will say to install with no more than a 1/3 offset and it looks like you have a 1/2 offset. Long tiles are often bowed in the middle, and the 1/2 offset will create more lippage because the bowed part will be sitting right next to the ends of the adjacent tiles.

The last time I had long tiles installed the tile pro did a 1/3 offset and he used a lippage control kit to help with that problem.

So, I’m not a pro. Hopefully a pro on here will respond. Inevitably, they will ask if you know what waterproofing materials are under the tiles, what your contract says, and if you have in-progress pictures from when it was being built, post them here so the pros can see.

These tiles are 4"x13". The tile guy we used said 1/2 offset was acceptable for this size but I feel like maybe based on what you said it was not
I think the waterproofing materials they used was Schluter

Thanks for your response!

It’s very pretty tile, though! What‘s the source, if I may ask?

Btw, if you have a couple leftover tiles, put them back to back, one on top of the other, and you’ll probably see the deflection.

I think it was manufactured by Daltile
We bought it at a store in PA called Avalon Flooring
It was part of the Ontario collection

"some" lippage? Looks like half the tiles. What was his reasoning for the lippage? Does he think it looks good?

He blamed the wall....but the bathrooms were completely gutted

"He blamed the wall....but the bathrooms were completely gutted"

Then this is on him as his excuse was his own doing. Unless of course the tile you furnished is not flat then he owed you a discussion at the very least. I would not except this and unfortunately to correct this would be a gut job again.

Is that grout in the corners and the floor / wall tile intersection?

These are porcelain tiles and we inspected almost all of them...there was no bowing in the tile
I'm sick over this....this contractor came highly recommended and was not cheap....I think he subs out to less than quality people. Also he rushed this as it seems he overlaps jobs to make money.
My husband is trying to tell me it doesn't look that bad...but I think it's because he knows it does

Yes I think it's grout? Why what should it be?

All changes of plane need to be 100% Silicone.

Is epoxy grout silicone?

Or does that mean caulk

Also could that be a reason why sometimes the shower tiles take a long time to look uniform again after they are wet? Sometimes there is shadowing of wetness in different spots

not acceptable

Silicone Caulk. What appears to change color, walls or floor? Porcelain tile should not do that unless there happens to be standing water.

I'm sorry I meant to clarify my shower walls are porcelain but the floor is a marble mosaic in a hexagon shape

It's only the floor sometimes changing color

Kelly, Change the bulb to Daylight LED made for shower use. Can you post a picture of the light fixture?

I think it is a daylight LED

The light went in a week or 2 after the tile
That's what accentuated the imperfections
We didn't notice it as much before

It seems like a light issue. Visit a lighting store with your sample tiles. Lowe's and HD has light boxes with lights that you can turn off and on, that will help too.

At least the lippage is consistent and prolific, almost to the point of looking intentional. You could call it “Subtle Basketweave“ effect. 😬 😕

You know I was actually thinking it did look almost uniform in its awfulness 😩

I’m glad you’re able to laugh(?) about the situation. Honestly, it probably looks worse in the photos than in real life.

Your installer should have inspected the tile and advised you before you decided on it. And that includes the impact of lighting on the imperfections. You have flatness and lippage issues, but you also have what is a known impact: lighting. It's on page 34 of the 2020 TCNA Handbook. We actually show our clients examples of lighting impact, even for perfectly flat and properly installed tiles, and we work with them and the electrician regarding light placement, etc. And yes to everything else Milworkman said. The install does not look bad otherwise (but yes, caulk, not grout at changes of plane), but to blame the lippage on the walls is not a good sign. Did the flooring distributor refer you to the tile contractor? Did you see the specifications from the actual tile manufacturer?

I did see the manufacturers recommendation and it said a 1/2 offset was acceptable for this size(4x13). For the floor tiles which is the same color but larger format (13x26) we did a 1/3 offset as recommended by manufacturer and our installer
Our installer was a subcontractor hired by our GC
He did this floor fine but not the wall
We had a second bathroom done at the same time, all 12x24 porcelain on walls and main floor and again no issues
I almost feel like he just rushed this shower or isn't as good with smaller tile

Technically, the offset is OK for this size, BUT, why didn't the walls get corrected prior to install if that is the excuse for the lippage, and again, there is the lighting consideration I mentioned.

Well we have the GC saying the walls were fine and then the sub blaming the walls for the lippage after the fact; so we don't know who to believe
But the GC also is acting like this lippage is acceptable
The lighting was NEVER mentioned to us that it could be/cause an issue
So that's another thing I'll have to address with them

It's fine. Y'all are seeing things.