how bad did contractor mess up the backsplash? advice needed!

4 years ago

I made the mistake of putting expensive thin glass backsplash mosaic tile in the hands of a contractor whose tiler has a lot of experience, but with builder-grade materials.

In several areas the tile edges are not flat, some of the grout lines are off, some of the edges are touching (no spacers), there are a few visible fractures and most pieces that needed to be small were far from precision cut. From a few steps back it’s not bad looking. But once you really look, there are numerous imperfections.

Now I will admit that this thin glass tile is not easy to work with. But it’s not my trade and hard for me to know if it’s as hard as the contractor says to cut corners from glass tile.

This stuff wasn’t cheap and the thought of a tear-out makes me a little queasy. What would you do?

Featured Answer

Linda Dornan

4 years ago

In the picture that’s further back and shows the whole backsplash with the stovetop, it actually really looks good. I think the tile is beautiful. Instead of viewing the tile from just inches away, step back and see it as your family and friends will. Very nice.

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Comments (7)

lucky998877
4 years ago
That must have been a very difficult tile to install. Lots of movement, the pattern wasn't easy to keep straight, and a grout that doesn't blend but highlights the edges of the tile. I would learn to love it, looks good in your last picture.
L A
4 years ago
grout color not the best but overall it looks good, lucky it is pretty busy so the small imperfections probably wont be noticed.
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artemis78
4 years ago
Not sure what it was supposed to look like, but it looks lovely to me. Agreed that I might have chosen a different grout color, but I assume (?) that decision was yours or a designer's and not the contractor's. It is hard to cut small tile pieces in general, glass or otherwise, but the only issues I see here have to do with spacing and alignment (and what looks like grout where the tile meets the counter, where it should be caulked), which probably are more about the tile than the cuts.
olychick
4 years ago
I would get some grout colorant, carefully apply it and change the grout to a color as close to the tile as possible. The imperfections will disappear and you'll have a completely beautiful backsplash. Have the contractor remove the grout at the counter and put in caulk that matches the tile and new grout color.
eam44
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Their guy didnt even use spacers. It is hard to work with glass. You need a diamond blade for the tile saw. And you still have to use spacers! Were it mine, I’d ask them to remove it and make the wall ready for tile at no cost to me and call it even - it’s a terrible, hazardous demo. Then I’d pick a tile that would be a better match for the counter material.
Melanie Chambers
4 years ago
It looks nice in the last pic. I’d live with it and move forward with whatever other things you’re doing and see how you like it later on, you pull be very picky at first but not so much later