# New tile job in bathroom cracking **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364 "2019-05-22T18:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/1 "2019-05-22T18:42:31Z")
It is a crack separating down the corners between the walls. Maybe this is common. The work is a week old. Does it mean a very bad thing, or it is a common repair that they need to do? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/2 "2019-05-22T18:46:36Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s not good. Call in the tile guy and express deep concern. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/3 "2019-05-22T18:55:30Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > It is a crack separating down the corners between the walls. Maybe this is common. The work is a week old. Does it mean a very bad thing, or it is a common repair that they need to do? I thought they are supposed to use caulk in the corners instead of grout for just this reason. I guess check and see what they used. If so, it shouldn’t be too terrible to fix. Use some sort of tool to remove the corner grout and caulk instead. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/4 "2019-05-22T18:56:15Z")
Sounds like they didn’t reinforce the corner with fiberglass tape. Call them back, and have them fix it. And the other corners, too - if they skipped those also. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/5 "2019-05-22T19:32:53Z")
Hmm. Did they do all this work in one day? You usually wait at least 24 hours after setting the tiles before grouting for the cement or adhesive to thoroughly cure, and that would apply to any glass tape they set in place as well, if they did install it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/6 "2019-05-22T20:01:34Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I thought they are supposed to use caulk in the corners instead of grout for just this reason. I guess check and see what they used. If so, it shouldn’t be too terrible to fix. Use some sort of tool to remove the corner grout and caulk instead. This is my understanding as well. And the “some sort of tool” in question is a grout saw. ETA: but _they_ should do this repair, if they screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/7 "2019-05-22T20:05:45Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > ETA: but _they_ should do this repair, if they screwed up. Yes, that’s right. I should have mentioned this. Do not make any modification/repair to their work or else they may say you are the one who messed it up and they won’t fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/8 "2019-05-22T20:51:16Z")
Is this the same wall where the contractor swore the the little ripples in the tiles were perfectly normal? Sorry, bro. Your tile guy sucks. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/9 "2019-05-22T21:11:47Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Is this the same wall where the contractor swore the the little ripples in the tiles were perfectly normal? > > Sorry, bro. Your tile guy sucks. It’s a nightmare. But I paid for it already. (I made a mistake in paying the balance too soon) I’m just trying to keep up with this. They havent put on the shower rod yet, or a washcloth bar, and keep rescheduling. Maybe they know this job will need repair anyway. They have lied to me in the past, so I am not enthusiastic about talking to them about it unless I know how bad it is and can judge the truth of their words. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/10 "2019-05-22T21:29:31Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Sounds like they didn’t reinforce the corner with fiberglass tape. > Call them back, and have them fix it. And the other corners, too - if they skipped those also. If they didn’t use reinforcing tape, isn’t the fix going to involve removing tile and re-tiling? It doesn’t sound cheap or easy to fix. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/11 "2019-05-22T21:34:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If they didn’t use reinforcing tape, isn’t the fix going to involve removing tile and re-tiling? It doesn’t sound cheap or easy to fix. Yes. They should redo the entire shower. They won’t. The OP needs to take pictures and go to small claims court to get his money back so he can hire a competent contractor to redo it. **drad dog** , find a competent tiler, get a quote from them for re-doing the shower to take to court. Check their references, if they say it can be repaired go with that I guess, but I wouldn’t accept having all those tiles pulled out, replaced and regrouted. You paid for a complete job to be done correctly. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/12 "2019-05-22T21:37:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yes. They should redo the entire shower. They won’t. The OP needs to take pictures and go to small claims court to get his money back so he can hire a competent contractor to redo it. Concur, given the info that payment has already been made. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/13 "2019-05-22T21:41:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yes. They should redo the entire shower. They won’t. The OP needs to take pictures and go to small claims court to get his money back so he can hire a competent contractor to redo it. > > **drad dog** , find a competent tiler, get a quote from them for re-doing the shower to take to court. Check their references, if they say it can be repaired go with that I guess, but I wouldn’t accept having all those tiles pulled out, replaced and regrouted. You paid for a complete job to be done correctly. This is the main point. In your opinion cracks in the corners mean the entire thing should be redone in all cases? Do you know if this is common or how rare it might be for a new job to crack? I’m just new to this. If it’s redone it will be new tiles I assume, won’t it? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/14 "2019-05-22T21:43:17Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Concur, given the info that payment has already been made. When they tell me they can fix it what can I cite to make them do it again? ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/15 "2019-05-22T21:51:26Z")
As said already, call in some other contractors for quotes. Ask them about what is wrong with it. Make sure you are dealing with reputable, licensed and bonded contractors. Depending on what they say about what is wrong, you will have more information to decide whether to let contractor #1 try to repair it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/16 "2019-05-22T21:55:53Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > As said already, call in some other contractors for quotes. Ask them about what is wrong with it. Make sure you are dealing with reputable, licensed and bonded contractors. Depending on what they say about what is wrong, you will have more information to decide whether to let contractor #1 try to repair it. It will take some time to do that. Is there a clock running on me? I have to use the shower. I wonder if it will do damage in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/17 "2019-05-22T22:48:01Z")
You shouldn’t get the crack wet since you don’t want water to seep in and get behind the title Go to the hardware store and get a plastic drop cloth and tape it over the shower wall so you can shower without the tile getting wet. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/18 "2019-05-22T23:10:00Z")
It’s a complete redo I think. Stand your ground and take them to court. Don’t use it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/19 "2019-05-22T23:11:00Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > They have lied to me in the past, so I am not enthusiastic about talking to them about it unless I know how bad it is and can judge the truth of their words. Get a brand new contractor to give you an estimate to tear the whole thing out and redo it correctly. Then call your current contractor. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t call back. Then sue. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t show up. Then take your default judgment decree, go to the sheriff and get a lien put on anything he owns. Don’t be surprised if he’s an LLC or everything is in his wife’s name. Ask me how I know this. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364/20 "2019-05-22T23:22:52Z")
Oh, take pictures. Lots of pictures. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tile-job-in-bathroom-cracking/834364.md?page=2)