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

Woods Creeper said:
Sounds to me he is not much of a contractor.

You can just look at most bathrooms and know the extent of any issues.
Plus once one is gutted ... you pretty much have a blank canvas to work on.
Most states have HOME IMPROVEMENT LAWS ... might want to make sure all is legal etc.
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I should make it clear that the NEW person does not know what is UNDERNEATH the crappy job, and neither do we, which is why we are starting over. He stated that he is not sure/qualified to determine how the window was installed by merely viewing the window with the tile removed, the perimeter of the window is out of view. (this sounds reasonable to me, since he can't know how it was fastened, or prepared) and he doesn't do window installations. Therefore, what can be determined/done short of having the window reinstalled...?
 
Fix the outside first! If your going thru the effort of redoing all the tile you need to properly install the window first, whether you take it out or not flash it properly.

Your pictures prove nothing was done to waterproof the window. You can see wood and gaps there ain't any water proofing/flashing there.

As far as caulking and taping only under limited circumstances does a good caulker need tape. It is better to learn to properly run a bead.
 
Unless the rest of the tile job is worse than what's pictured, you may only want to spend the money to remove the cut pieces around the window and re'do that part as was discussed earlier.
 
st8yd said:
Unless the rest of the tile job is worse than what's pictured, you may only want to spend the money to remove the cut pieces around the window and re'do that part as was discussed earlier.
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It seemed that every time we started with the assumption of a repair, it always turned to a re-do. The the deal breaker is that I don't think the existing job included any water barrier other than the backerboard, tile and grout. Also, it seemed to me that for a professional tiler to work around the tile that is in place it would be tough, everything is so uneven. Since the wall wasn't tiled from the center outward, I imagine removing the casing will only bring out the asymetry.

The tiler that we met with was pretty decent, he offered to finish the job for what we owe the first contractor and we would supply the materials. Here is his website if you are curious. Most of that work is in the exclusive zip codes.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Wes-OConnor/1617942521
http://www.sandwtile.com/

The problem is that he doesn't do windows.

BTW I finally figured out what the 'old construction' is all about. The old windows included separate storm windows, so the components that were removed were about 1" thicker (deeper) than the replacement window, leaving a 1" gap between the tiled wall and the wall of the house. This is what is hidden behind the vinyl jambs and header. (or maybe this was obvious?)

So when are you coming to Boston?;)
 
The only thing that would get additional waterproofing is the sill of the window.

The depth of the window would have been an issue if you were not replacing the tile. But since you were replacing the tile it became a non issue. Install the window properly and run the tile to it. Not Hard. (yes I remember he didn't do it this way).

I'm rather positive you could get this fixed a lot cheaper then gett'n me to Boston.;) As it really isn't a big deal (Well its not supposed to be):D

So I guess the original "so-called" contractor is out of the deal now?
 
st8yd said:
The only thing that would get additional waterproofing is the sill of the window.

The depth of the window would have been an issue if you were not replacing the tile. But since you were replacing the tile it became a non issue. Install the window properly and run the tile to it. Not Hard. (yes I remember he didn't do it this way).

I'm rather positive you could get this fixed a lot cheaper then gett'n me to Boston.;) As it really isn't a big deal (Well its not supposed to be):D

So I guess the original "so-called" contractor is out of the deal now?
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That was what really got me started with the thread, I didn't think that the window depth should be such an issue, just my layman impression. Yes, the "so-called" guy is in the background at this point, and by his own availability.

I had a professional home designer to the house. His impression is that I have multiple problems, one of them being that this is a small job, another that this involves window installation, tile and possibly plumbing. He's right: I just got turned down by a guy who is doing a $350,000 job and so it goes. Last week I tell another tiler, "I'll be here til 5:15pm." No call. No show. He calls at 5:30, no message.....it sounds like I'm dragging my feet.... Another guy will only fix the exterior of the window if I buy some other windows from him.:( (and I sharpened his knife, too).

Re: Boston, not as dumb as it sounds. How much is my time worth? and the aggravation/anxiety (pain and suffering:D)? This has been going on since late Feb.( but I know that you wouldn't have the tools).
 
annr said:
.... Another guy will only fix the exterior of the window if I buy some other windows from him.:( (and I sharpened his knife, too).

Re: Boston, not as dumb as it sounds. How much is my time worth? and the aggravation/anxiety (pain and suffering:D)? This has been going on since late Feb.( but I know that you wouldn't have the tools).
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Give me a break its a new window, why replace it. I don't think you would benefit that much to having it sized a little better.

If you are at all handy I don't mind walking you thru the details on the window via email. However I'm sure there are plenty of tutorials on the web. Find one of those you like and I'll review it for you. Actually the manufacturer of your window probably has a recomended installation detail.
You should be able to do it in a few hours.

Then let the tile guy do his thing.
 
st8yd said:
Give me a break its a new window, why replace it. I don't think you would benefit that much to having it sized a little better.

If you are at all handy I don't mind walking you thru the details on the window via email. However I'm sure there are plenty of tutorials on the web. Find one of those you like and I'll review it for you. Actually the manufacturer of your window probably has a recomended installation detail.
You should be able to do it in a few hours.

Then let the tile guy do his thing.
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Thanks. Very generous. You make a good point, one could learn to do this before receiving a return phone call from the majority of contractors I've called/emailed. I will look on the web, to at least see what is supposed to be going on, but I doubt that I would be the right person for this ( The guy who wants to sell me windows said that one would need a "bend" to do this job. ) If you want to PM me, while we count our frequent flier miles:D.

BTW I'm still laughing at the notion, not a ridiculous suggestion, but very funny, esp. in light of how much I have spent, and I feel like I hired the Three Stooges (no insult to them).
 
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.
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He is licensed and insured but not bonded. To date he has not been back in the house, nor have the contractors panned out (no-shows, no call back, job too small, etc.). I've noticed that very few contractors are bonded, in fact I've only seen one so far. This State has a graduated- complaint resolution process that begins with arbitration and ends with the collection of overdue court-ordered judgements. Contractors are part of a guaranty fund that settles claims (takes up to a year, capped at about $10,000 at a cost to the homeowner of about $500).

Where does "bonded" fall in the scheme of things, or are these options comparable to having a bonded contractor? (Also, I'm not sure of the difference between bonded and insured.) I'm not sure I would want to try arbitration with this guy...
 
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In my experience, the only time a contractor needs bonding is on government and some commercial jobs. Most residential contractors I know of are not bonded, its just another expense that gets passed on to the customer making the job more expensive.
 
I want to report that we reached a settlement with the contractor. In the end, we will be out about 1/2 of contracted fee. (He dismissed our final payment and gave us a partial refund.) Thanks to all; it made it much easier to make a convincing case against him. I'll add that we parted friends and he offered to help us at any time with any thing.
 
My brother works for a premium window installation company. He told me that very often the estimator chooses a window that is not appropriate for the climate, room, direction of exposure and usage. The windows have so many options and if they are not all right you will have early failure of the installation.
Bathrooms should NEVER have wooden windows in the 21st century.
 
Noah.J.Revoy said:
My brother works for a premium window installation company. He told me that very often the estimator chooses a window that is not appropriate for the climate, room, direction of exposure and usage. The windows have so many options and if they are not all right you will have early failure of the installation.
Bathrooms should NEVER have wooden windows in the 21st century.
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That's interesting that you mention this. The room became like an oven with this new window; the sunlight has made it a hot zone for sure, and the heat leaks to the other rooms, miserable. Come to find out the window was never screwed, or nailed, into the house. So this was an all-around failure.

Thanks, WAM, this has been a big pain for sure. We may have finally found someone. It seems that unless one is willing to spend $15,000-35,000 there is not a contractor to be found, not one running a legal, reputable operation. If it were just the tile, that would be another story but throw in the window and suddenly the talent pool shrinks. I guess the economy is not so bad.:) One guy came out, spent 1.5 hours, he and his son. We couldn't even get a bid from him.....or a refusal.:confused:
 
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