Beware of this contractor who states as per his website that he specializes in custom cabinetry but decided to try installing my porcelain tile floor and backsplash after telling me he has subcontractors do this work. Why do contractors insist on doing jobs that they are not qualified to do? Im told it happens constantly. In the past 1 1/2 years the porcelain tile floor has cracked each time it comes under a very light blow, a wine glass, a knife, an iPad mini and a butter plate. I have two other porcelain tile floors in my home installed by actual tile setters that have come under much harder blows and never cracked or chipped. I was told by numerous tiling professionals including TTMAC that if installed correctly tiles can come under extreme blows and should not crack. I was told that tiles cracking so easily isnt normal. The tiles were found by Centura Tiles to have voids underneath so contractor did have a tile setter replace the cracked and hollow tiles over a period of 18 mths but after he deemed that hed corrected all of the cracking issues and everything had been resolved two more tiles cracked. I decided to have an inspection performed by Schluter Systems to determine why the tiles were still cracking so easily. Through removing tiles they determined that the tiles were deficient of mortar and it was a failed installation. After presenting the contractor with the inspection report he chose to ignore the results and claimed that the floor was properly installed and he would no longer replace anymore cracked tiles. My question..if the floor was properly installed as he claims, why did he have an experienced tiler come in and replace the cracked tiles for 18 mths? This implies guilt. It isnt logical to replace tiles that you state were installed properly. All tolled the contractor has had an experienced tiler replace 24 tiles either due to being unkevel or cracking but unfortunately because the mortar was mixed too dry and inadequate this caused minimal adhesion so there is no support under the tiles. This error involves the entire kitchen floor. For this reason, the tiles will continue to crack where they have not yet been replaced correctly. The kitchen renovation cost me $42,000 and nowhere in the contract did I sign up for a poorly installed floor that will cost me thousands of $$$$ to replace tiles in the future. In addition to the failed floor installation he also had to replace every wooden cabinet door because he overtightened the hinge screws so it split the wood. He tells me he doesnt install wooden doors often. What? Assuming I knew nothing about renovations and a single woman, this contractor attempted to cut corners to save money but in the end I turned out to be his worst nightmare.
The inspection report letter is attached.
Schluter Systems
November 21, 2022
- Approximate cost of services:
- $42,000.00