Terrible contractors...what to do?????

Question

We had our home remodeled in Dec. 07. We had new tile installed in both bathrooms. From the time they finished the tiles have been coming loose and the grout is cracking. They have tried 3 times to fix the problem with no success. The bathrooms are on the 2nd story, the original tile was set on top of a 3/4 inch plywood board. So when they did the new installation they had to literally cut the board out which took them down to the sub floor. When they put the floor back together they used 1/4 hardy board (think thats what it is called) and 1/2 cement board. The hardy board was VERY flimbsy, if you picked it up it would bend! I have asked them many times to take the tile up, the cement board and hardy board and replace the hardy board with 3/4 inch plyboard like they took out, they REFUSE and say that is not the problem...but yet they can't fix it? Now they want to back out of their contract with us that guarantees their workmanship for ONE year. What options am I left with? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

u have to give them a WRITTEN NOTICE that u r giving them 30 days from today to correct the problem...no matter what the problem is sounds like they caused it...they should have went back with 1/4 duro rock and then 1/2 duro rock over it.....u dont want plywood right under the tile will get a moisture problem in wet areas.....then u tell them in the letter that u will be filling with the small claims court to recover ur cost to get it fixed......then hire a tile company that u check out first and have them give u a bid to remove and to install......dont let up, its companys like this that give contractors like me a bad rap.........

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 2

I set tile for 30 years. And on a wooden floor you need a minimum if 1 1/4 Inch thick backing. Or sub floor . Anything less the floor flexes and tiles pop and grout flys out. If you don't believe me go to lowes or home depot and ask them.

Small claims court is your only option. Or hire someone else to do it and save the headaches. If you hire someone else , still take the contractor to court. See if he is really licensed and also if he has insurance. This is really normal for American Contractors. Or so called contractors.Good luck my friend. If I figured right you only have a 3/4 inch sub floor.

No wonder.

Ps I think lowes and home depot have brochures that state the needed thickness of a sub floor before installing tile.

Answer 3

Tell them you will report them to your Trading Standards Officer...

Most Local Councils offer advice on the subject.

As a last option threaten them with legal action and if they dont do anything...sue them.

Answer 4

Someone informed them they had to put down a layer of cement board.   To keep from raising the floor height they put down that hardy board.

Anything with a thickness of 1/4" has NO reason to be installed on a floor.   I believe that the cement board is now available in 3/8" thickness.

They should step up to the plate, and remove the floor, put down two layers of 3/8" cement board, and then re-tile.

I've installed alot of tile on 1/2" plywood, over 3/4" subflooring for years, and haven't had any problems.

What did the professionals do before the "cement board" was invented? As long as the 1/2" plywood is securely screwed about every 4 to 5 inches, the floor won't flex and you won't have any trouble.

Now the hard part.  You're going to have to try and negotiate with them (I agree you shouldn't have to) as to what they are willing to do.  Good Luck,  The ball (unfortunately) is in their hands, and I hope they do right by you.

Tell them you will report them to the Better Business Bureau if they fail again.

Answer 5

I m not defending them they d better stand behind their work I  have for the last 20 years but the hardi backer (like the 1/2 inch cement board) is not structural untill installed properly. Some things you need to find out.. Did they install it properly?Install it both w/ a bed of thinset? Nailed properly? That meaning every 6 inches..Tape all joints? Use proper sized trowel for the tile installed? Basically 1/4 notched trowel for 4x4 and 6x6 soft bodied tile? 3/8 trowel  notched trowel for 6x6 and larger hardbodied tile?  A few things you need to find out .. Or maybe it just a few little things all adding up to causing your loose tiles.. Maybe to thin or to thick thinset.. All things that need factoring in.. I hope your able to settle this I HATE shoddy workmanship..  Also I d never use a wood product in a wet area as mentioned

Answer 6

"SHOOT the b******s"..........