New home tile problems

[rmckee84]

Besides aesthetics, you have larger issues unfortunately. I don't see any mesh tape in the corners or on the backer board seams. It also looks like there is a 2x4 on top of the knee wall that wasn't cover with backer board or tied into any type of waterproofing. Along with the other things mentioned you do not have a properly built shower. I wouldnt close on anything until these issues are resolved. If you get any push back ask them to prove to you that these installs were done per industry standards....

[mark999]

Jason,

I feel for your pain. Totally unacceptable. There are 3 kinds of tile setters. 1)slop jockeys,2)craftsmen, and 3) artisans. Unfortunatlely you got door #1. They did not follow standard building practices, TCNA guide lines and manufactures written instructions. And the skill set/quality is piss poor. You have a case to require them to tear them all down to studs and redo it the right way. Best thing to do is get informed about all asspects of the build and understand ALL the manuf. instructions.Then you will have to baby sit the installers to insure they understand the same and impliment all if it with NO deviation.

Sad you have to do that but they have proven to be incompetent. Showers should last as long as when you want to change it..Yours is not if but when they will fail. You are paying for a top quality job. So thats what you should get.

And your builder is an *** ****. He has insulted your inteligence by saying something so ignorant like you would of got straight walls if you had bought a 10,000Sq. foof house.

P.S. I set tile better than I spell.

Hope it all works out.

[Raymond S]

Can’t tell from my screen but it looks like ther might be some tape in the corner under the mud. Could it be drywall tape? Surely not.
Looks like a flip house instead of a high dollar custom home.
Sorry for your problems. A darn disgrace.

[rmckee84]

The tub walls look like drywall mud and tape, the shower corners have nothing

[Raymond S]

I see it now, thanks.

[tatumjonj]

Would have. Would have. Would have.

[cliftonite]

We have been in the house for about 4 months now and as you guys predicted the shower (master) has started leaking. The builder is blaming the shower door installation (we did our own frame less door via a reputable contractor).

I sent him pictures of the installation, pointing out all of the mistakes that you guys stated (didn't seal the seams, 2X4 on top of knee wall, using joint compound to seal the edges, etc) but he has replied to my message. What are my realistic options here if he continues arguing that it is not his fault? I will speak to an attorney but what kind of a contractor can I work with to use as an "expert" witness that will attest to this being a shitty job?

[Kman]

Let me ask you this: When you installed the shower door, did you install anything on the top of the curb, and if so, how was it installed?

[cliftonite]

There is a u-channel on top on the curb where the shower door sits on. There are two screws in this channel.

[ss3964spd]

Where are you seeing the water, Jason?

The screws through the channel are a potential issue if they penetrated the water proofing on the curb.

Pictures might be helpful.

[makethatkerdistick]

While the two screw penetrations would certainly contribute to the leak, I believe that your general lack of waterproofing might be the biggest problem.

[Kman]

I agree, but trying to prove that the leak is from the installer's crappy waterproofing job after the home owner has penetrated the curb with screws is going to be tough.

There may be multiple points of failure, but how do you prove which point is causing the leak?

[rmckee84]

The quickest way would be to start removing drywall on walls behind the shower but cuting into walls in a newly finished room is tough to hear....

[BelkTile]

I agree with Kman and rmckee84, it will be very tough to prove unless you tear into it. Was the pan a prefab pan like Kerdi or poured? It could be leaking around the drain area. It will be hard to track the water flow without digging into it.

[Davy]

If this shower is leaking thru the ceiling below, I would remove some sheetrock to get a better idea of where it might be leaking. The ceiling will have to be repaired anyway. You never know, it may be leaking at the drain or the opposite end from the curb/shower door.