Help - Tile surround in Master Bath

12 years ago

Hi,
We are building our home and we aren't too happy about the master bath surround. There is this gap between two different tiles that doesn't cover up the sheet rock. I would think that the tile professionals should have a way around this, but the builder is saying this is normal and they can't do anything since there are two different types of tiles. Nobody told us this at the design center otherwise we wouldn't have picked two different tiles. Is there anyway to fix this/cover this to make it look nice? Please help! Any and all advice is appreciated.

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PRO

Adrian J. Naquin Interior Design L.L.C.

12 years ago

I agree this sucks - the tile guy is right to push the metal trim ( what he typically does)
BUT since it is a master bath and won't endure much abuse you could elect ( note the word "normal" ) You could instruct the tile from the vanity to end just shy of wall corner ( OC) and have the shower tile form a butt joint covering over the vanity tile. edge it may be somewhat prone to chips if abused but not a big risk - His "he can't do anything about it " is BS - The tile co should have mentioned your options - and the tile installer and builder should have outlined your options - so it is their problem - You can expect the builder to give you grief but it is in your right to require this since he did not provide you the option prior to install - this will cause him to relay tile but he should have checked with you ( note the butt join used at the corner of the low wall ) I have done this butt detail on a number of my projects where abuse it not a problem.

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Comments (6)

m3459
12 years ago
Adrian said it much more professionally, but that tile transition is CRAP. Obviously a tile guy who doesn't have any pride in what he does. This is exactly what makes me so mad about contractors. They don't want to discuss anything with the people paying the bills, just want to do what they want and expect you to accept it. A conversation should have been had between the tile installer, the builder and you on the day of the tile install about this transition area. Options discussed, consensus arrived at, everyone happy. Why is this so hard to grasp??
ctran1212 thanked m3459
ctran1212
Original Author
12 years ago
Amazingly, we spent $13k for this bathroom not including the cabinets or granite. Unbelievable! At this point, we are tearing out the tile and the mosaic strip and tiling all around the columns with the 4x4 for another $3k. Nothing left uncovered! I hope nobody else has to go through this highway robbery.
PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
12 years ago
This is not normal and it is a shame that they are treating you like this.
A good builder would make sure that the work looks great and that the homeowner is happy.
PRO
Adrian J. Naquin Interior Design L.L.C.
12 years ago
Ctran1212
Agree with all comments above - at the very least the contractor is taking you to the cleaners - Again I would push him to correct the problem at his cost or at the very least heavily discount the replacement tile ( M&L) pose a question to him like " what is it worth to him to get a good review or referral of his work ? " If you let him walk over you on this and the project is still under construction he will most likely take this issue as license to heap some additional cost or change orders before it is finished . It is not too late to calmly explain to him what his actions cost you and what it would take to rectify how you feel about his services. Once you switched to the 4x4 he uses this to justify the change order cost but it is important to make him understand that his not communicating with you on what he saw as a potential installation problem was his failure not yours.
loves2read
12 years ago
Problem was that no one told you about this when you were choosing tile.
Don't know who did your plans--maybe you used the builder's and there was nothing about tile detail...Did you see any other homes he built for this same glitch...I am sure if he has built this plan there are the same issues in others...

Rounded corners which are common nowadays make problems like this pretty common also---tiles are normally linear/straight edges....round--straight----see the problem....