Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Well, my record stands! Hired a contractor, got burnt again! (SCREAM!)
In the process of remodeling my master bath, decided to hire out the tile work in the shower. Hired a contractor that I had personally seen some of his finished work, looked good, came recommended.
Waited 3 weeks for him to start, started one week late.
I had done all the demo, removed the water damaged, moldy drywall, insulation, rotten wood. Squared everything best I could, did the rough in plumbing. He comes in, puts in the PVC pan liner, cement board, starts tiling...
I came home that evening... What a horrid mess!!! Everything he did that morning looked good, but as the day wore on the quality went down!
I met with him the next morning, very tactfully explained that he hadn't followed my directions and the quality was unacceptable. He refused to accept any responsibility, would not do it over, quit the job. I gave him $300 to cover his material and time spent.
So, I start removing tile before the adhesive dried. I left one wall, the first wall he did because it was straight and looked acceptable. Upon further investigation, I discovered:
No plastic liner behind the cement board.
No sealer on the joints.
Cement board ran too low, almost touching the pan liner.
I know what I should do, tear it all out and start over... But any opinions on how bad this is? Will the grout be enough seal to keep water out from the unsealed joints in the cement board? What about epoxy grout? How important is the plastic behind the cement board? Can I form the pan mortar up against the cement board?
What would you do?
Thanks!
In the process of remodeling my master bath, decided to hire out the tile work in the shower. Hired a contractor that I had personally seen some of his finished work, looked good, came recommended.
Waited 3 weeks for him to start, started one week late.
I had done all the demo, removed the water damaged, moldy drywall, insulation, rotten wood. Squared everything best I could, did the rough in plumbing. He comes in, puts in the PVC pan liner, cement board, starts tiling...
I came home that evening... What a horrid mess!!! Everything he did that morning looked good, but as the day wore on the quality went down!
I met with him the next morning, very tactfully explained that he hadn't followed my directions and the quality was unacceptable. He refused to accept any responsibility, would not do it over, quit the job. I gave him $300 to cover his material and time spent.
So, I start removing tile before the adhesive dried. I left one wall, the first wall he did because it was straight and looked acceptable. Upon further investigation, I discovered:
No plastic liner behind the cement board.
No sealer on the joints.
Cement board ran too low, almost touching the pan liner.
I know what I should do, tear it all out and start over... But any opinions on how bad this is? Will the grout be enough seal to keep water out from the unsealed joints in the cement board? What about epoxy grout? How important is the plastic behind the cement board? Can I form the pan mortar up against the cement board?
What would you do?
Thanks!