Tiling - Tiler Charging More than Quoted

S

Suzy

Registered User
Messages
219
Hi All,

Just wondering can anyone please offer me some advice on the following:

A tiler is currently in the process of completing a tiling job in my house. However today gave us the total cost which is €300 more than he quoted us. Unfortunately I didn't get the quote in writing. I tryed talking to him about the increase and he is now denying that he said the original price.

Any advice please? What do I do?
 
Re: Advice Please

did he quote per sq yard originally... did this price increase?
did the area to be tiled increase from what was originally agreed eg.. splash backs, etc.
Did the type of tile change?? ie from ceramic to porcelain etc

what percentage of the final price is the increase ie 10% over... 50% over??

I would certainly hold out until this is resolved, try not to create a polarisation of arguments..... get him to work out exactly what sq yardage is tiled and work out the
 
Re: Advice Please

wait till he is finished then pay him what he quoted unless he has good reason to increase the quote ie you asked for extra work to be done.
 
Re: Advice Please

He quoted a set price for the tiling, which has not changed. He then quoted approx €150 for the grout & adhesive etc. he is now saying the cost of these materials is €400. I went down the route of I'm paying what he quoted originally and he is not having it. I asked for no extra work at all done!
 
Re: Advice Please

he did not spend €400 on grout and adhesive. I know from a friend thats a tiler they always have extra grout and adhesive left over from previous jobs, and they use these while charging for new. But i wouldnt even challenge him on this.
If he originally quoted to little then thats his problem.... he should be more careful in the future.

Im sure theres tilers who post on this forum who can tell you exactly how much sq yardage €150 of grout and adhesive would cover.
 
Re: Advice Please

I've done this a few times - I've made sure I've had another job (or the possibility of another) dangling so that the tradesman I've employed treats me fairly on the current job. I get them to quote on another job about the house, making it clear that if I'm happy with the current work and the price then they will have more work coming. This might help you in future?

With regards to your current position - €150 is far too much for grout and adhesive. Obviously your tiler regrets the price that he originally quoted and is trying to inflate the cost elsewhere.
 
I have asked him for the receipts of the items he bought and he is going to try find them. I have tried reasoning with him but he is adamant on the price he is now quoting. I just don't know where to go from here seeing as he wont reason with me. Some of the tiles are loosing on the floor and I also had to take that up with him he said it was because it was a new house. However the house is built with about 6-9 months so I doubt it could be dampness.......
 
Suzy said:
I have asked him for the receipts of the items he bought and he is going to try find them. I have tried reasoning with him but he is adamant on the price he is now quoting. I just don't know where to go from here seeing as he wont reason with me. Some of the tiles are loosing on the floor and I also had to take that up with him he said it was because it was a new house. However the house is built with about 6-9 months so I doubt it could be dampness.......
Click to expand...
If there are problems like this, don't pay him at all until the work is finished to your satisfaction. Tell him to fix the problems you point out, then pay him what he quoted.
 
Without a written quote and having done the work, he is in a much worse position than yourself. I know a couple of otherwise very nice people who use this to their advantage - driving the price down when the job is done. I don't agree with that, but if there is no written contract, then he can pretty much whistle for it.
 
mathepac said:
If there are problems like this, don't pay him at all until the work is finished to your satisfaction. Tell him to fix the problems you point out, then pay him what he quoted.
Click to expand...

Agree. And only pay him what he quote for originally.
 
If the tiles are lifting ....... they are not going to bed back down on their own. Going by what you've already said, the guy is not very experienced. As regards the house 'being new'? Pull the other one. Adhesive is extremely sticky ...... the background has got to be suitable. If not, then it should have been prepared. Again, he should have known this and advised accordingly.
 
ireland is just full of dodgy tilers. tell this guy to get lost
 
I rang him querying the lifting tiles again and he is now saying the adhesive must have set too quick. Could this be the problem with the lifting tiles or is he just tryint fob me off.
 
Re: Advice Please

sydthebeat said:
Im sure theres tilers who post on this forum who can tell you exactly how much sq yardage €150 of grout and adhesive would cover.
Click to expand...

BoTact Flexible Adhesive for floor: €38 for 25kg (should do approx 10sqm)

Larsen Flexible Grout: €50 for 18kg.
Coverage about 0.25kg per sqm (assuming tiles 250mm * 365mm * 8 mm tick & 2mm joint)

Adhesive for wall tiles: €30 for 10kg (should do approx 5 sqm)

Above should give you an idea for material
 
Last edited:
He said he had to use 8 bags of adhesive for the kitchen floor and splash back approx 25 sq yards in total
 
Suzy said:
I rang him querying the lifting tiles again and he is now saying the adhesive must have set too quick. Could this be the problem with the lifting tiles or is he just tryint fob me off.
Click to expand...
A qualified tiler will know his capabilities as regards how much adhesive to spread before laying ........ if he misjudged this and remixed, it will have a bearing on the 'bite'. On your second point, if he does not know how to assess quantities, perhaps he should be working for a firm. Preferably on horseback!
 
thats a serious lot of adhesive. the only way he would need is is if the floor was really unlevel and he had to use adhesive to "bring up the tiles". this is common enough in houses. irish builders dont have a clue how to level a floor like. he shud have told u though that he was using so much adhesive for a reason and the extra cost etc
 
I think 18kg bags...He is now moaning on that he had 6 days work doing the tiling work and so on. So I just said to him that the price is per sq yard not hours worked. I still don't seem to be getting anywhere...........
 
Wall & Floor Tile Adhesive coverage (though depends on nature of surface) with 2.5kg per sqm with 3mm notched as per a datasheet i found on http://www.larsen.ie

8bags @ 18kg = 144kgs of adhesive. Enough for almost 60sqm (67)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top