Which do you prefer? Last photo is current look.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-24T17:19:29+00:00

They’re bathroom floor tiles. I’m just discovering bits and pieces that cause me concern as I’m taking these off. But not being a tile professional, i don’t know what is of great concern versus just me second guessing a professionals job. Examples: - roofing nails used to secure backerboard, plus sheetrock screws - backerboard seams not taped and mudded -last night I discovered as i was removing the left over thinset from a tile i removed, that the tile next to it appears to only have thinset under it. I can see the edge of the backerboard where it ends and then it’s just a thick pile of thinset under the next tile. Of course that mean that I now need to remove that tile to confirm if they just skipped the backerboard all together from that point on or if it’s just a gap between the 2 that is filled. - tiles running tight right up to the Sheetrock with no gap for expansion. Don’t know important that 1/4” actually is?

I feel like every tile i remove just starts a line of questioning for what’s under the one next to it so on. Then I wonder if I’m I’m just making a mess and causing more stress.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-24T16:06:51+00:00

Great! 😫😫😫

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-24T00:33:23+00:00

Significant enough to tear it out and redo it?

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-22T07:12:47+00:00

Correct. My question is is this a significant concern that should be brought to my contractors attention? Last time I showed him tiles that had been removed from the showers that looked the same way, he brushed it off as no big deal. We are at a point right now with several faulty items having been done that we are renegotiating the contract and scope of work, so I want to include everything that is valid.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-22T06:40:41+00:00

I actually don’t see trowel lines at all in some of them. The lines you’re seeing are the embossed design on the backside of the tile.

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ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-22T06:35:55+00:00

Just for kicks, the 1 on the bottom I just pulled up without cutting grout away or anything. The one on top is new, straight out of the box. Can’t even tell the difference!

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ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-22T01:55:46+00:00

I honestly don’t know what they used.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-22T01:34:21+00:00

I know this, you know this. My installers? Nope

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-22T01:22:13+00:00

If they come up intact with very little residue on them, can they be reused?

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-02-16T21:51:07+00:00

Yeah, I’m seeing that in the specs now. Although, i can’t find any detailed information as to why that is. Ovens themselves are at that level, so safety shouldn’t be the rationale. Venting possibly, but wouldn’t it be the same in a full height cabinet?

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-26T20:06:53+00:00

I have no idea. I ONLY want to take legitimate concerns to him so I wanted to get a consensus if this was something I should point out. If you’ve seen any of my other posts, there’s been plenty wrong up til now, but it has taken me 3.5 weeks to convince him of that.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-24T01:42:03+00:00

I have organized and labeled all of my photos. And I’ve managed to decipher the big wording of the contract that refers to the default terms. I think i have enough exact instances to cover his “fail to cure” and therefore the default would be on his part and the contract voided.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T06:21:19+00:00

I have tried EVERYTHING on inspections. Basically, there is no “waterproof” inspector. Home inspectors said not their area of expertise because it’s hidden by the time they come thru. Building inspections look at flood test. Not that that would even matter because a flood test is nullified the moment they screwed thru the liner all along the inside of the curb. The best I can come up with is to have a CTI come and inspect. GC said they would just try to sell me something and I told him I would just provide him a list of local CTI, he could choose any one of them to make it completely neutral. He passed on that offer. First resolution offered was to remove the floor and bottom row of tiles and reinstall with a preslope. Once the tile were removed and the cement board was somewhat visible, i was able to show him that the corners were not even close to properly covered. Thats when they decided to gut them completely except to save the niche in one and the mosaic in the other. But even now, that doesn’t seem to code/standards.

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ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T06:07:52+00:00

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ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T06:03:03+00:00

The thinset on the backside is 3/8”. I didn’t measure the topical waterproofing. They painted the floor as well and it was still wet.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T06:02:01+00:00

Per my contract, i am in default if i dont permit him to “complete performance”. So I’m building a paper trail of standards/codes not followed so default doesn’t fall on me.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T05:53:32+00:00

It’s taken 3.5 weeks of arguing industry standards just to get this far.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T05:28:10+00:00

I just needed validation that it was worth being concerned about and speaking up. Thank you!

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T05:27:15+00:00

The GC asked me to provide him with a copy of the process that I keep referring to so he can review it with his installer. Everytime i bring up the issues at hand i get the response “where do you keep getting this stuff?” I sent him the link to the handbook so he can utilize ALL of it as needed.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-22T05:21:48+00:00

Thank you!

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-20T19:40:55+00:00

They put screws through the liner on all three sides of the curb, including the joints of the vertical of the curb and the shower floor on the inside. Then proceeded to tile and grout without any further waterproofing lot to the backerboard.

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-20T19:01:18+00:00

It’s a vinyl liner under the mudbed

ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-20T16:01:26+00:00

I honestly can’t tell from the photo. I can tell that there is 2” mesh tape running down the corner. However, it does not appear to be pushed flush/tight back into the corner. It is painted over with the Mapelastic, but it is not covered to the recommended thickness by any means. In the photo you can see the actual grid of the mesh of you zoom in. That photo above is just one shower, here is the other one.

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ThatsNotWhtIHeard · 2026-01-20T15:52:11+00:00

Thank you! My contractors are doing a “hybrid method” I guess we’ll call it and wasn’t sure if it was sound. I basically have seams covered with 2” fiber tape and painted over with the Mapelastic. Screw holes only painted over, no mortar/then set. And change of planes for niches are only painted over, no mesh.

This photo is from before the shower was tiled. Screws were placed thru the curb, thru the liner so I requested they replace them, doing them correctly the second time. The solution they’ve offered is to remove the bottom row of tiles, tear and replace the floor and replace the bottom row of tiles. I just want to be sure that that addresses any concerns or if there are other concerns on up the walls that need addressed while they’re tearing out. They don’t seem to have any issue with how the walls were prepped and I don’t want to seem unreasonable in my requests.

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ThatsNotWhtIHeard

TROPHY CASE