Condo Owner's Renovation Nightmare........fixed by Ceramictec

[ceramictec]

about 9 months ago I got a call from a Custom Builder I do work for. he asked me to take a look at someones work a handyman/painter/tileguy did in a condo unit in Daytona Beach. I agreed to look at it.

once the appointment was set up I met with the lady. she was a very nice, a hard working single woman that relocated from up North. well the floor was horrible with about 15 visual things I could see wrong with it not counting other installation errors.

she was so upset at how the tile was installed and turned out and how the guy treated her at the end she had no clue what to do. since she bought the tile/material, she didn't pay him the labor since it was disgusting.

the handyman then threatened to take her to court and put a lien on her condo if she didn't pay in cash. at that point I was furious and disgusted someone could do this so I agreed to help her out.

I talked to a friend of mine in the area that sits on the county construction codes board and he told me to have her take him to small claims court. from there I compiled a list of problems with pictures. the court date came, she went with her list compiled from me and pictures backing up the bad work.

needless to say she won the case in about 5 minutes after the judge looked at it. he (handyman) needed to pay for removal of the tile and replacement of tile lost. he didn't need to pay for the labor since she didn't pay him that.

the handyman also didn't have his Occupational License or Insurance that he told the condo management he did have.

below you will see my list of problems with pictures.
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to whom it may concern,

after my Inspection of your tile job you had done by a Handyman
it is in my Professional experience I see the following mistakes that make
the job look less then professional and not acceptable.

1) Floor was laid out incorrectly and not square to the walls in your house. he did not know how to square a floor or layout tile work.
2) this therefore made all cuts throughout your place cut at angles gaining in size and incorrect.
2) the main room of your place walls are square. he should have laid out off this area.
4) cuts "in the U shape" at doors and corners are pieced together are not professionally cut.
5) cuts at door jambs are too wide and not cut correctly.
6) floor is not flat and has many dips and high tiles
7) tile is set crooked /not straight with various size joints from 3/16" to a 1/2" (unacceptable joint variances)
8) grout was not properly grouted and joints have a lot of divots and low spots.
9) grout residual not cleaned off of the tile.
10) thinset sticking up through grout in some area's
11) your wood baseboard will not cover several short cut tile along the wall.
12) cuts along wall and other places vary in sizes. they should be all the same. this is due to (his) the crooked floor.
13) tile in bathroom set on gloss tile did not bond and it is a 1/2" higher then main floor.
14) bathroom floor tile should have been removed prior to tiling. this created an elevated tile area.
15) Improper thinset was used to set porcelain tile.
16) I have taken (18) pictures to prove these statements.
17) the whole job is unacceptable and should be removed and done correctly with a Qualified Tile Contractor

[ceramictec]

I recently received pictures and an email telling me how happy
she was now with her tile and how everything turned out.

makes you feel good.

[irish tileguy in michigan]

Amazeing what some people try and get away with.
Was it you Brian that got the new install job?

[Scottish Tile and Stone]

You sure your not the first tile guy?? Just sayin..LOL

[ceramictec]

yes I did the job. once she received the check from him for the tile and material she re ordered the same tile and I installed it.
I was a bit more then the other guy, but she was willing to pay it now after seeing what paying a low price will get ya. plus I made out on the rip out.

* he also cut on the balcony so wet saw mist was on the wall and red water drippings down the outside wall of the condo. maintinence had to powerwash it off.


Scott,

was it thee that built that shower bench debacle you just ripped out?
I think not...... installers like us have knowledge, skill and a concience.

[MudGuy]

Well done Brian.
Be sure the original installer gets some photos, too.

[dbol]

nice job, Brian.
You deserve a medal for such a nice job!!!!!!

[Chad Deiter Company]

Sometimes you can try to explain that someone's price is too low to do the job correctly until your blue in the face. Most of the time it costs a lot more to fix someone elses mess up then just a little more the first time.

Good work Brian as always your Karma is good too.

[K_Tile]

Self promotion will get you everywhere!!!

[Bellsfloors]

Vast difference between contractor and hack. Nice Job Brian!

[johntrent]

Nice Brian - thats gotta make you feel good. Is that your new wet saw stand in that 2nd set of pics - middle one?

[Mountain Tile]

Way to go Brian, your work both on and off this forum is exceptional to say the least. Good job!

[HS345]

Good work Brian!

You're like the super hero of tile.

[gueuzeman]

As always brisan- well done. Thanks for making the industry look good in the face of the onslaught of hackerdom.

LOL @ HS527 (or whatever)- You're like the super hero of tile.

Cue music- na na na na nsa na n an a
na na na na n an ana na

TILEMAN!



Song link- Batman TV theme
Can't find the old version by the Who, B-side of a 45 I have.

gueuze

Old jazzy version

[Splinter]

The Who does Batman....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoiXTrjiM2s