Do not INSTALL substandard tile – and keep clients informed of the progress of the job These two tips are also related. So you discover – on the job – that the tile you are working with is defective and is not going to fly. Now what? Is it something you can work around? Or do you need to order new material? Contractors agree on letting cli- ents know immediately if a prob- lem arises. “As a general rule in every job I do, I am always diligent with keeping my clients informed throughout the entire process, whether good or bad,” Waldorf said. “I let them know the challeng- es I’m up against and how I plan to solve them. I also let them know when it’s an issue I can’t solve.” Denny said, “Depending on the actual defective or unsatisfactory aspect of the material, we would outline the issues and discuss it with the client before proceeding, which could result in a new mate- rial being selected.” Dave Karp, of Tile Fusion in Shakopee, Minn., said on some jobs where he has to deal with sizing or minor warping, he can open joints up more. “Worst case I’ll completely reject the tile,” he added, saying, “I also avoid certain distributors knowing there’s a high risk of [bad] tile.” Be wary of homeowner-purchased product from big box stores Though you may escape respon- sibility for bad product if you are not the one ordering it, if the homeowner orders the tile, other issues may arise. “As a small two-man company, I run into some homeowners try- ing to ‘save a buck’ by going to big box stores when looking for tile samples,” said Phil Green, owner of P.G.C. Construction, Remodeling and Design in Gilberts, Ill. “In many cases, the tiles that are purchased from these stores have their share of issues. The worst of these are the 2” x 2” mosaics on mesh back- ing. Sometimes the way they were shipped and stored, the sheets are deformed and tiles twisted on the sheet. We as the professionals are supposed to not only be the tile setter, but part magi- cian as well.” Problems Green has encountered HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– This substandard tile that Tom Habelt, of Habelt Construction and Remodel in Albany, Oregon, encountered made a recent job a challenge. 52 TileLetter | April 2018