Tell if A Contractor Is Truthful About His Installation Of Bathroom Tile & Window

I'm a remodeling contractor, licensed, insured, beein doing this for a living for 15 years, I have a stellar reputation and most of my business is referals.
It seems to me your installer took the cheap/fast way out. When we do a window in tub, the entire window frame right up to the sills/jambs is tiled. Backerboard is run as tight as possible(somegap for expansion is ok) then tile covers the gap between the backerboard and vynil, then it's grouted, then it's caulked-It's nonsense about your house being old, maybe it needed shims or extension jambs- all that can be done. additionally the window should have been insulated and the outside of the window flashed and caulked as well It's a huge amount of cutting tile and or bullnose to wrap the inside of a window fram in tile- it can take half a day for that alone, so alot of guys try to just use the vinyl-- it could be ok if addiotal waterproofing steps were taken-- like the window to stud connection being wrapped in a WP membrane-- but the tiling solution always looks best..

BTW a standard size bathroom with a window in the tub/ and tile floor and enclosure should run 5000-6000 for the labor only-- New Jersey prices..

best,

Drew
 
gunknifenut said:
Hello,
I am in the trades, not that far from you...around 40 minutes actually. It doesnt look good Bro! First of all, your pictures are terrible, put some light on the subject for those here that know what they are looking at.
When he tiled the walls, what did he adhere the tile too? I wonder if he used mudboard at all? It looks BAD...get someone else.
Sorry, I am all booked up, or I would come take a look at it....LOL.
Click to expand...

Thanks gunknifenut,
I appologize for the pictures. Obviously I don't know anything about this subject:confused: But I think you are on point...how can HE fix this? He's either incompetent or thinks that we are stupid is how I feel. When he said that this is the way it is supposed to look I added other names to the list.
 
netjamer said:
I'm a remodeling contractor, licensed, insured, beein doing this for a living for 15 years, I have a stellar reputation and most of my business is referals.
It seems to me your installer took the cheap/fast way out. When we do a window in tub, the entire window frame right up to the sills/jambs is tiled. Backerboard is run as tight as possible(somegap for expansion is ok) then tile covers the gap between the backerboard and vynil, then it's grouted, then it's caulked-It's nonsense about your house being old, maybe it needed shims or extension jambs- all that can be done. additionally the window should have been insulated and the outside of the window flashed and caulked as well It's a huge amount of cutting tile and or bullnose to wrap the inside of a window fram in tile- it can take half a day for that alone, so alot of guys try to just use the vinyl-- it could be ok if addiotal waterproofing steps were taken-- like the window to stud connection being wrapped in a WP membrane-- but the tiling solution always looks best..

BTW a standard size bathroom with a window in the tub/ and tile floor and enclosure should run 5000-6000 for the labor only-- New Jersey prices..

best,

Drew
Click to expand...
Thank you. This is the kind of thing I need to know. I suspect that he failed to do all of the above to the extent you describe. I don't think he ran the backerboard up to the window as he was probably planning to hide it with the casing.

At this point, to have it done right, do I need to get someone in here to rip all of this out and re-do it? It sounds that way to me. What should that run? (He charged about $6,000 for this work plus fixing a bit of the wall and ceiling and repainting and replacing handles and faucet, etc.---it did not include the tile outside shower, or floor or the sink...) We owe him $1800. Would it be fair to refuse to pay that?
 
Last edited:
At this point your better off if you can get him to fix it properly to your satisfaction. I wouldn't pay until then.

It can be fixed and done right without having to tear everything out. Since it's new assuming more of the same can be bought. The cut tiles around the window need to be removed, then start from there.

It doesn't matter that the window was done after the tile it's just not the way it is typically done.
 
annr said:
He installed the window AFTER the tile. Maybe that is why he is in trouble.

Re 1959. He said that the house was not built with the window opening in the same or correct plane as the shower wall and that the tile would not meet the window the way it should. And he mentioned that the size of the opening for the window was such that he could not install something needed to compensate for the shrinkage and swelling of the window during the changes in temp, etc. He mentioned that the grout would not give and that there would be hairline cracks that would let the moisture in. (BTW this was all said after he put in the tile, then window, then casing.
Click to expand...

He's full of BS.
 
annr said:
We owe him $1800. Would it be fair to refuse to pay that?
Click to expand...

Was it fair that he charged you top (reputable) contractor prices for a job he didnt really know how to do and in the end provided sub standard work?
Not only should you refuse to pay the remainder, you should refuse to let him in/near your house again, then check angies list to get a reputable contractor in there to fix it properly and after that take this lousy contractor to court for damages done.
 
Karda said:
Was it fair that he charged you top (reputable) contractor prices for a job he didnt really know how to do and in the end provided sub standard work?
Not only should you refuse to pay the remainder, you should refuse to let him in/near your house again, then check angies list to get a reputable contractor in there to fix it properly and after that take this lousy contractor to court for damages done.
Click to expand...

Thanks, The thought crossed my mind that he owes us at this point.
 
Thanks st8yd,
My concern is that (a) he doesn't know how to do this; (b) he lies, so I couldn't trust anything that he says or does. What other mistakes will he hide? and corners will he cut? Good to know that the window isn't by definition unworkable.

While we're at it: is Earthwise a decent brand of window?

(sidebar: we had used this guy 3 times for jobs ranging from $3,000-10,000, and were very happy with the results. The difference seems to be that he subcontracted the other work, as apparently he should have done in this case. Argh!)
 
Last edited:
I'm not familiar with Earthwise windows

Whether he subs out or not he should've known the right way to do it.
 
We are looking for someone to put things right and resolve things with the man who did the shabby work. I am wondering: when I hire a contractor am I supposed to know the parameters of the job? For example, if I tell him that I would like the tile and window ripped out and replaced, am I supposed to tell him that I need the exterior work done on the window as well? Or is he to mention that I need that and he won't be doing this? (so I will need to hire someone else?)

I assumed that that I was paying a global fee that would put the house back to the condition it was in before he tore it apart (unless specified). The old window had no exposed wood on the exterior and he obviously tore down exterior components to install the new window and did not replace them.
 
annr said:
I am wondering: when I hire a contractor am I supposed to know the parameters of the job? For example, if I tell him that I would like the tile and window ripped out and replaced, am I supposed to tell him that I need the exterior work done on the window as well? Or is he to mention that I need that and he won't be doing this? (so I will need to hire someone else?)

I assumed that that I was paying a global fee that would put the house back to the condition it was in before he tore it apart (unless specified). The old window had no exposed wood on the exterior and he obviously tore down exterior components to install the new window and did not replace them.
Click to expand...

No, your not supposed to know, (unless your a general contractor)

In remodeling there are some unknowns, which is typically addressed in the contract. If you wanted a window replaced in a house that is over 50yrs old, he should know that more likely than not a new window won't be an exact fit and will require some type of alteration wether it be enlarging or decreasing the size of the opening.

If there was something that involved replacing the window that he couldn't/wouldn't do it should've been made known to you. Otherwise it should be complete.
 
Ridiculous. He fixes it and and then he gets his money. End of story. If you give him the money, you may never see him again.
 
st8yd said:
No, your not supposed to know, (unless your a general contractor)

In remodeling there are some unknowns, which is typically addressed in the contract. If you wanted a window replaced in a house that is over 50yrs old, he should know that more likely than not a new window won't be an exact fit and will require some type of alteration wether it be enlarging or decreasing the size of the opening.

If there was something that involved replacing the window that he couldn't/wouldn't do it should've been made known to you. Otherwise it should be complete.
Click to expand...

Thanks again. This man started calling us today to come over and put in more caulking:thumbdn:. Soon there will be a moment of truth and I can add this to the list: he never finished the job OR told us it was unfinished.

BTW: you were right (and I know you know this;))we spoke with a prospective contractor yesterday: "The window is always installed first." He wouldn't even take the job until we had a window in place. Based on our description he thought that he would term the job a 'repair,' and not uncommon (when someone attempts this kind of thing and doesn't know how to do the job).
 
One question, Is he licensed, bonded and insured? I would be checking that before you let him back in the house and yes I would rip it out and replaced the backer around the window and go after his bond to pay someone else to do the work.
 
woodysone said:
One question, Is he licensed, bonded and insured? I would be checking that before you let him back in the house and yes I would rip it out and replaced the backer around the window and go after his bond to pay someone else to do the work.
Click to expand...

Will investigate, good suggestions. I decided that he is done here. He doesn't even acknowledge a problem of his own creation.

The tiles are about 7.75" x 9.75". There are 10 tiles adjacent to the casing that would certainly come out. How large an area should I insist be removed? I ask because someone may suggest removing minimal tile and 'patching' the backerboard. In theory, can the cement board be extended in toward the window, rather than torn out to insert larger pieces?
 
Yes you can remove smaller sections of the cement /backer board and put in smaller pieces and his completion bond would be used to pay for another contractor to do the job right.
 
woodysone said:
Yes you can remove smaller sections of the cement /backer board and put in smaller pieces and his completion bond would be used to pay for another contractor to do the job right.
Click to expand...

Bingo. Thanks.
Some of you guys are clearly in the trade or well versed. That akward moment is coming---letting him know that he is relieved of his duties and we will not be making that final payment--including the fact that he could take us to court for his $1800. I haven't figured out if I should notify him in writing (which can come back to haunt), by phone, or through a third party AND what is the best thing to say. I suppose I would pay him the difference if the completion of the job were under $1800.

Also, do we notify him before or after we have the repair?
 
annr said:
The tiles are about 7.75" x 9.75". There are 10 tiles adjacent to the casing that would certainly come out. How large an area should I insist be removed? I ask because someone may suggest removing minimal tile and 'patching' the backerboard. In theory, can the cement board be extended in toward the window, rather than torn out to insert larger pieces?
Click to expand...

If the tile can be removed without extensive damage to the backerboard, that will be best.
Then just cut backerboard for the window jambs. and tile it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top