Porcelain Tile Flooring - Sharp Edges after install?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
aquabliss

aquabliss

Well-known member
Since flooring is not my forte, need your opinion on whether this is a normal, acceptable with a degree of error or just a bad install.  I?m purchasing a new home and had the builder do the flooring (yes I know, but separate discussion).  Anyhow, I?m getting 8x24 wood (looking) plank tile (actually porcelain tile).  And they used 3/16? spacers (yes I know again, but also a separate discussion).

They just finished the install this weekend and seems that there?s a lot of places that aren?t level, and the tile is quite sharp on the sides.  Meaning that if you run your hand across the floor, you?ll hit a number of ?edges? that feel a bit sharp.  The tile is already grouted and the installer is done.  I?m not sure if they set it unlevel or if this is normal but should have done a better job grouting to smooth things out. 

Just to clarify this is not in relationship to where the tiles were cut, this is in the middle of the floor where they used the full tiles in a large area (no cutting). 

Will try to take a picture if I can capture it in a picture even ? but welcome any feedback beforehand.
 
i had 20x20 inch porcelain tiles installed by the builder downstairs, one thing we did with Steve from biltrite is run our hands across the floor, in particular where the four tiles meet to check that all the tiles were level. Also, i read somewhere (maybe here on TI/IHB) that you should push a quarter across the floor to make sure it doesnt get cuaght on tiles that are not level.  luckily we had no uneven tiles (or that we have found at least).  FWIW, the owner from groutzilla said they did a really good job laying down the tile. good luck. they will probably tell you some BS why it is normal the way it is.
 
Thanks qwerty... ya I think they will say the same thing (that's normal), or say that the tiles themselves are not level or something like that... very unlikely they'll re-do it. 

The tile does have some texturing to it which will give them reason to give that response - but honestly some of the feeling of this tile just doesn't feel right, feels too sharp on the edges especially the long edges. 
 
aquabliss said:
Thanks qwerty... ya I think they will say the same thing (that's normal), or say that the tiles themselves are not level or something like that... very unlikely they'll re-do it. 

The tile does have some texturing to it which will give them reason to give that response - but honestly some of the feeling of this tile just doesn't feel right, feels too sharp on the edges especially the long edges. 
Click to expand...

have you done your home inspection/final walkthrough yet? if you have not closed you still have some leverage man, use it while you can. a home inspection report with this as a finding should give you some good leverage. a lot of times they will fix a lot of things since the builder just makes the sub eat the cost and fix it.
 
my wife was concerned about some coloring on our island, i told her it was in her head, there was nothing wrong, and there wasnt, but william lyon was going to have the sub rip it up, and put a new slab on our island and make them eat the cost, not sure what that would have cost, but our kitchen island is huge.  if they care about customer service they will fix it.  they told us, "if you are not happy, we are not happy"
 
qwerty said:
aquabliss said:
Thanks qwerty... ya I think they will say the same thing (that's normal), or say that the tiles themselves are not level or something like that... very unlikely they'll re-do it. 

The tile does have some texturing to it which will give them reason to give that response - but honestly some of the feeling of this tile just doesn't feel right, feels too sharp on the edges especially the long edges. 
Click to expand...

have you done your home inspection/final walkthrough yet? if you have not closed you still have some leverage man, use it while you can. a home inspection report with this as a finding should give you some good leverage. a lot of times they will fix a lot of things since the builder just makes the sub eat the cost and fix it.
Click to expand...

Nope, haven't done the final walkthrough yet.  However the final walthrough is only 4 days before escrow closes so I'm thinking I should bring it up now in case they do agree to re-do it. 

I've already complained about a couple things so I have a bad feeling they have me red tagged as the guy that can't be pleased. 
 
aquabliss said:
qwerty said:
aquabliss said:
Thanks qwerty... ya I think they will say the same thing (that's normal), or say that the tiles themselves are not level or something like that... very unlikely they'll re-do it. 

The tile does have some texturing to it which will give them reason to give that response - but honestly some of the feeling of this tile just doesn't feel right, feels too sharp on the edges especially the long edges. 
Click to expand...

have you done your home inspection/final walkthrough yet? if you have not closed you still have some leverage man, use it while you can. a home inspection report with this as a finding should give you some good leverage. a lot of times they will fix a lot of things since the builder just makes the sub eat the cost and fix it.
Click to expand...

Nope, haven't done the final walkthrough yet.  However the final walthrough is only 4 days before escrow closes so I'm thinking I should bring it up now in case they do agree to re-do it. 

I've already complained about a couple things so I have a bad feeling they have me red tagged as the guy that can't be pleased. 
Click to expand...

remind them why you have to complain, because they keep fucking up!
 
@aqua:

No complaint is too small for the money you are spending at a new build.

I would show them those sharp edges if they are noticeable enough for you to post about them.
 
After my initial post I went back and spoke to the construction manager and took a couple pics. 

I've posted them here but it's hard to tell in the pictures.  They do have brown paper over most of the floor (to keep it clean since other trades are still working in there), so these are the parts I could see.  Even feeling with my hand through the paper I felt like there are a lot of these sharp long edges but I suppose in all fairness I should wait until they remove the paper entirely and walk the floor a bit just to see. 

It may just be that they didn't add enough grout.  In a couple of the pictures it looks like the grout line just isn't high enough and leaves the side / edge exposed.  Though they say they are done grouting.
 

Attachments

  • floor1.JPG
    floor1.JPG
    68.8 KB · Views: 508
  • floor2.JPG
    floor2.JPG
    75.1 KB · Views: 512
qwerty said:
That doesn't look right. Should be pretty flush
Click to expand...

Agreed... the construction manager said it seems pretty normal to her.  She's been doing this awhile and I'm sure she's delivered hundreds of homes with tile floors installed... so either she's stretching the truth or i'm overthinking it and being too picky.
 
To me, the problem is those tiles are probably rectified which means that they should be installed with minimal grout lines.

With that type of installation, you won't notice the sharp edges because they'll be so close together.

Instead they used standard tile grout, but standard tiles usually have a bit more rounded edges specifically because they account for the grout spacing.

That's why cut stone like travertine, if not tumbled, requires very thing grout lines because it is sharp like that on the edges too.

I would fight this. Maybe their tile contractors don't do thin grout lines or don't have the spacers for them but with that kind of tile, I would demand it. You should ask her what type of grout lines do they do for cut travertine as that should have been what they did here.

The big problem is that's a big chunk of money to tear out and redo. You might be okay if they regrouted and filled in higher but over time, those edges may come back.
 
Yeah I would not close on with the tiles in their current condition.  If the sales office gave any BS, I would back out and get my money back in full. If I really wanted the house fixed and they wouldn't do it I would lawyer up. I'm guessing this falls under some sort of construction defect
 
When the guy installed my porcelain tiles, he had to rip out 10% of them after I walked it and said some were uneven. 
 
Ya I really want the house, and prefer not to spend money on a lawyer only to potentially be held up in litigation and lose in the end after all then I'm out my deposit + legal fees.

Good thing I have agent representation.  USC, you there?  :)
 
Aquabliss, what kind of grout did they use? My hunch is grout shrinkage. I've seen both sanded and non-sanded grout shrink.
 
aquabliss said:
Ya I really want the house, and prefer not to spend money on a lawyer only to potentially be held up in litigation and lose in the end after all then I'm out my deposit + legal fees.

Good thing I have agent representation.  USC, you there?  :)
Click to expand...

I hear ya but if they refuse to fix it it may be worth it to spend an hour with a lawyer and see if you have a case.  If you do then you sue for legal fees as well. I'm guessing even a threatening letter from an attorney may get the job done. Hopefully your builder has good customer service but it doesn't sound like it since they are already giving you the everything looks normal speech. Good luck and keep us posted
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top