www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I had my kitchen tiled on Thursday. The next day (when I was cleaning) and moved the fridge over slightly I noticed that the tiler didn't put a trim down the tiles on that side. I don't think that it has been left very neat! I phoned the tiler to tell him this and he was quite gruff with me and said the way he had left it gave a better finish.

Can you please have a look and tell me if I'm being too fussy? Also, he removed the cornice from the cupboards and didn't put it back on properly. The wood doesn't meet at the corners and I've posted a photo to show how this has gone back on. I can't close the cupboard because of the screw!

He's agreed to come back and sort the cornice but I'm just not happy about the tiles. Should I be charged for him to fix this?

I'd be grateful for your advice. I live alone and don't have any men around that I can ask. Thanks.

Yet again I have removed the link and posted the actual images on the site.

I do not think he should charge for putting right what should have been done properly in the first place. The cornice is wrong as you have said but I would not be happy with the way that is finished in the corner either. Be firm and get it how you want it.

You are never alone here on UHM there are loads of us here willing to help

DWD

Lynseymac wrote:
Also, he removed the cornice from the cupboards and didn't put it back on properly. The wood doesn't meet at the corners and I've posted a photo to show how this has gone back on. I can't close the cupboard because of the screw!

He's agreed to come back and sort the cornice but I'm just not happy about the tiles. Should I be charged for him to fix this?



http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm86/loobs101/

I can't comment on the tiles other than to say there's some grout missing, (not sure where you want a trim).

The cornice is a disaster, the tiler needs to cut the ends off to allow for the thickness of the tiles he has put on the wall, that's why the original fixing screws are showing, personally I'd be happy if he didn't come back, but there's no way he should be charging you to sort out the cornice.

Thanks, any suggestion about how I should broach this with him? As I've already told him I'm not happy but then backed down when he said it was better the way he'd left it.

On the other side, the tile finish where the units and worktop end and the trim goes down between the unit and the worktop.

It's not a big job to fix the problems yourself.

I know the guy should come back and fix it for free, but then you might end up with some bad tempered bloke in your house that does not want to be there.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but why does the worktop not go to the wall?

From what Lynsey said that is not the wall it is the fridge side. In fairness to the tiler the end is covered by the fridge normally so it is unsighted, but how much trouble would it have been to finish it off nicely though. I feel it is the bodged cornice that is the big problem with this job and very unprofessional to leave it like that.

DWD

The cornice is crap and needs putting right. No doubt about that.

At the fridge end, is the side of the wall unit level with the end of the worktop? If it is then personally I would have left the cornice off the side of the wall unit altogether and cut the front cornice flush to the side. That way the fridge can butt up neatly to both the worktop and the wall unit - completely covering the end of the tile run - and without leaving an unsightly narrow vertical gap (which is only going to fill up with spiders anyway! )

Inky Pete wrote:The cornice is crap and needs putting right. No doubt about that.

At the fridge end, is the side of the wall unit level with the end of the worktop? If it is then personally I would have left the cornice off the side of the wall unit altogether and cut the front cornice flush to the side. That way the fridge can butt up neatly to both the worktop and the wall unit - completely covering the end of the tile run - and without leaving an unsightly narrow vertical gap (which is only going to fill up with spiders anyway! )

If the cornice on the side was left off then there would be a small gap between the unit and the fridge.

I called him again on Monday and he was quite crabbit with me. He said he's done tiles like that hundreds of times and never had any complaints. He said he'd come and sort it and I told him I'd be home after 4pm all week but I haven't heard from him since.

Things like this really stress me out - I just want it fixed. I've already had to deal with my wall units falling off the wall and breaking into pieces when I was getting my kitchen plastered a few weeks ago!

do not know what was done in the day but looks as though maybe needed more time to finish properly
he has tiled ,this has pushed the cornice out as he has not cut to allow for tile thickness

I do not think the two end tiles need a trim if behind fridge but should have been grouted in,again last finishing bits that are so important rushed ,the tiling looks good,he has lost a valuable recommendation for the sank of half an hour,silly thing to do

The guy has been fobbing me off all week and is no longer answering when I phone. I'm really annoyed and loathe to pay somebody else to fix his work.

Lynsey: the tiler needs to come back rectify the cornice and finish grouting the tiles, all tiles fixed must be grouted. where did you get his number, txt him and threaten to inform whoever is recommending him, as he has not completed the project but has been paid, give him a deadline, then carry out your threat if not adhered to.

I found him through an internet search. It is his own company and he has a website. Left a message earlier asking him to call me saying that if I had to pay somebody else to fix this then I would then pursue the cost of this through the small claims court. Somebody has told me I should send him a letter recorded delivery specifying what I need him to come back and do and give him 7 days.

you need to give him reasonable chance to finish the work before you do anything otherwise you will be in the wrong

Thanks for all your replies. Got him on the phone today and he is maintaining that the cornice is an improvement on the way he found it and denies doing any damage!! It is a complete lie. He also went on to tell me it was the worse fitted kitchen he had ever seen. : ( He's probably right there....my worktop seems to be at a slight angle, my switches on each end aren't the same height and my wall units collapsed last month. Got the kitchen put in 4 years ago and the guy turned out to be a complete cowboy who wasn't corgi registered and nearly killed me with a dodgy gas fitting. Still, I didn't know better and had nobody to help me at the time. Despite everything my cornice WAS fine before he messed with it. Am annoyed at the sheer arrogance of the man. Don't want him setting foot in my flat again. Tried to fix it myself but it needs trimmed so I'll be getting a handyman out of the phone book.

Hi Lynsey. If I were in your position - and I have been on a couple of occasions from the opposite side, dodgy customers - I would go down the small claims route. I have done this twice now and neither time has it reached court, I've been paid what I've been owed. I think you will undoubtedly win if you reached court. The tiler will know this too and won't want whatever reputation he has damaged. It is easy to do, you can do it online. Unfortunately there are some upfront costs but should be less than £100 in your case and this is added to your claim so you will get it back. Ideally, you should write a 'letter of intent' first, spelling out to him that you have given him the chance to fix the dodgy work, that you are now going to appoint a handyman to put it right, state the cost of the quote you have from the handyman, the cost of your claim etc, etc. Document everything and keep records of phone conversations. I know we're talking about relatively small amounts of money but why should you pay?