I agree that the gaps between the sheets on the straight steps will be less noticeable once plaster is on so I’m not too worried about that but I really cannot stand the way the tile goes from being staggered to being stacked directly on top of each other in the same tile line on the rounded steps! That’s just too sloppy for me and I believe that I will be able to see and notice it since the tile has that reflective, iridescent quality and we are going with Aqua Cool Stonescape so it is very light blue water color.
Sorry, I meant to address that. That's happening because of the curve. The inside row is shorter than the outside row, so left unchecked, the "frequency" of the tiles will have to meet together somewhere. This is the difference between someone that cares about his work and someone that doesn't. The work-around for that is to vary the end-to-end grout gap for each row, such that the outside row has a larger grout gap between its tiles. So you can't have a perfect stagger AND identical grout lines. You have to compromise one or the other. Well, you can, but it would mean cutting each tile of the inner row a very small amount. That'd be rough, but doable with some skill, I think. Or maybe slipping in a 3/4 tile every so often, to keep the tiles from lining up. There are a few ways to do it. He might complain about those other solutions, but they're possible. Of the many possible layout solutions, he chose the easiest one (shocker).
The other thing is that if this “25 year experience “ guy can’t cut the 6x6 for the spa top without having the sides all chipped like the sample he left (and he says that’s the best anyone can do because I specifically asked) then I just don’t know how it’s going to come out but I guess we have to let him try. I’m just afraid if we let him redo it, then have a bunch of chipped tiles and are still unhappy but they think it’s perfectly acceptable and then I just end up having to live with it. Is it so much to ask that they have the proper tools to cut tile with? I’m pretty sure he was using some kind of little hand saw hand-held type of thing and they didn’t even have the hose over there so if he was using water I’m not sure from where.
If he's not using a table saw with water (I think a diamond blade is the best), then you've definitely got the wrong tile guy. There are many different kinds, but they're big. Something like this:
If he's able to hold it in his hand, then that's a hand saw and not appropriate for your particular job. It might work on some types of tile, but obviously isn't working on the kind you've chosen. So no, it is not too much to ask that your tile guy be using the right tools.
Remember, I suggested you take your cut sample to a tile store and ask them to weigh in on this issue. If they say that cut is the best that can be done, then you'll know. But if they say it's bogus, then you'll have some professional-backed "ammo" to discuss with the builder when you have your meeting.
Your tile guy reminds me of the pool guy that installed some of my equipment. I watched him work, and while I knew little about pool gear at the time, I certainly knew what good electrical work looked like, and his wasn't it! I could tell, he was lazy and just burned out. While "doing it for 25 years" might get you an incredible craftsman, it just as likely will get you a guy that was done 10 years ago, but can't make a living any other way, so begrudgingly plods along. Sorry, I'm projecting, and a bit jaded when it comes to contractors, but I used to be licensed, and good at what I did, and I get peeved when I hear of guys that just don't want to do the work, but still want to get paid for it.
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