Right in the middle of a major pool remodel with new coping, tile, pavers, etc. This is my first pool and I have some concerns about the workmanship quality. They just put in the new tile and the coping. I didn't get a choice on grout color which is a tad frustrating and the tile in the spa doesn't look perfect to me (to be fair the pool has lots of angles), but what is with this huge grout line on the spillway tile? Does this look right to those of you with knowledge of how things should look? Should tile also be perfect? My pool was originally built in the 90s, so I'm sure over time things are not perfectly plumb, but to me the tile and the grout doesn't seem perfectly straight, etc. Should I tamper my expectations? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Pics attached.
Major pool remodel: Does this look right?
- Thread starter flaversaver
- Start date
Hi and welcome to TFP. That is not the worst tile job I have seen. They did a pretty good job with their cuts and such. For the grout line under the overspill the only thing they could have done is cut tiny slivers of tile to put there instead. I don't think there are many that have that kind of skill set. Another idea is to get them to use a stain to darken up the grout there so it will not stand out as much.
Are you confirming its not a very good job? To me it looks below avg and I'm completely untrained when it comes to pools. I've only ever done interior home remodels.
Tiling is an art, and perfect is an illusion. You could just as easily say your tile job has 'character.'
There is nothing else to focus on at the moment so the tile is like a giant neon sign. Once the pool is full, it will still look how it looks, but most the time you won't see it. Nobody else will ever notice. Like, ever.
Only you can decide the balance between what you can live with, and what you believe you can make them rip out and redo.
I advise my customers, that if something doesn’t look right to you, it’s probably not right.
Nope just saying it is an "okay" job. Like @Newdude said it will not be notice by anyone enjoying the pool when it is done and water is in it.
I just went out there for the first time to really examine up close. I think the tile around the pool looks fine. In the spa however it's not very good and again, huge grout lines. I'm not a fan of the large grout lines in the coping either and not sure why they would do this unless its just lazy. Thin grout lines look way better. If you are in the pool you can see huge grout lines between the top of the tile and the coping. Is this normal? I get there needs to be a buffer and I think the reason it stands out so much is they used this sand color grout which doesn't go with my pool style at all. Its a complete clash. Very annoyed...
Also at the end of the job do they go around and clean up the tile? Its got misc grout and other stuff on it from construction so it doesn't look all that clean at the moment.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The tile work is sloppy and on a par for 2020’s quality.
Width of tile lines should have been discussed before the work started. That is a subjective preference and if not specified you are leaving it to the tile guys judgement.
I would not accept the wide grout in the space below the spillover. it was poor planning and design of that area that left them needing small cuts. If you have extra tiles then have them cut pieces to fill the space.
Cleanup was sloppy.
Overall they get a C grade for your project.
Width of tile lines should have been discussed before the work started. That is a subjective preference and if not specified you are leaving it to the tile guys judgement.
I would not accept the wide grout in the space below the spillover. it was poor planning and design of that area that left them needing small cuts. If you have extra tiles then have them cut pieces to fill the space.
Cleanup was sloppy.
Overall they get a C grade for your project.
I've uploaded more pictures. One you can see the gap between the top of the pool tile and the coping and its nice and straight and pretty consistent all around until you get to the spa area. Then it gets larger randomly. What size should that spacing be? I've also included a strange vertical gap area near one of the skimmers. Then in another pic you can see the grout line isn't even between coping tile. Did you not use spacers? I'm ****** and not afraid to fire them and go the legal route if I have to.
Attachments
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I cannot correlate between your words and the pictures. If you want specific comments you need to highlight on the pictures the areas you are discussing.
Do you have or can you get more tile to tell them to rip out areas and redo it?
You need to inspect areas when tile is laid before grouting abd and a cert it or reject it.
I doubt the legal route will accomplish anything. Have you discussed this with the builder?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Thank you, I will highlight in the pics when I get a second.
Yes, I can get more tile.
They asked for more money on Friday end of day and I replied right away with my concerns. No response as of yet. I did request to have a meeting with my project manager to review and I don't think that person has even been here since day 1 or 2. They certainly haven't been here since the tile / coping were being installed over the last two weeks. I'll probably find out tomorrow how accommodating they will be, but I'm going to ask them to redo the coping and use spacers with a 1/8 grout line. Plus fix the pool tile where it looks like Crud and redo the spillway so we can put tile over the top vs a paver tile.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Consider you offering to supply more tile and they do all labor for removal and replacement to your satisfaction.
I will see how this meeting goes and then consider that option. Not a terrible idea if we can't find common ground.