Tiler who won't silicone?

bear2015 · 1 Jan 2018

As the title really!

I subcontract work to a tiler who refuses to silicone anything eg the corners of a shower, around the bath when he finishes stating its the plumbers job. Plumber says its the tilers job which I would agree with. Plumber does the basin, shower and everything else and makes sure the bath is fitted for the tiler and its all secure and even if the customer asks for coloured grout and silicone to match he still refuses to do it stating its the plumbers job and will buy the grout and leave the silicone for the plumber to purchase!

Obviously running a business its getting a bit tense between them both and something I want to get sorted!

Who is in the right here?

gasbanni · 1 Jan 2018

Tilers job.

Say a shower tray has been put in I would silicone the vertical faces of the tray where it buts up to the hardie backer board.

The tiler then does his tiling and should finish with a bead of silicone where the tiles meet the right angle formed with the tray. It's the tilers job to provide a good finish
I suspect he can't do a good job as it's only a few minutes work ......He should bloody well learn how to do it !

He who pays the piper picks the tune !!!!

Doggit · 2 Jan 2018

Definitely the tilers job. It's finishing off the junction between the shower tray, and the tiles, and providing a more secure joint than if he were to grout between the tray and the tiles - now would he call that the plumbers job, no, so why's he such an awkward Shyte.

Gasbanis right, you're paying the tiler to do a job, and you can specify what the job is, right down to the joints that he supposed to silicone. If he won't do it the way that you want him to, then don't give him the work.

Get a pair of balls, and get tough with him - or be a wimp, and do the joints yourself.

Mottie · 2 Jan 2018

Had a tiler do some masticking on our bathroom many years ago. Said he'd 'have a go' at it which I thought was strange. He was a good tiler. Make a right balls up of the masticking though. Since then one of my mates has fitted and tiled a few bathrooms and kitchens but he uses a bloke called 'The mastic man' who carries every type and colour of mastic and who’s only job seems to be going round to jobs like that for other trades and doing a real pukker job of masticking bathrooms, kitchens, windows etc.

bear2015 · 2 Jan 2018

gasbanni said:
Tilers job.

Say a shower tray has been put in I would silicone the vertical faces of the tray where it buts up to the hardie backer board.

The tiler then does his tiling and should finish with a bead of silicone where the tiles meet the right angle formed with the tray. It's the tilers job to provide a good finish
I suspect he can't do a good job as it's only a few minutes work ......He should bloody well learn how to do it !

He who pays the piper picks the tune !!!!

Thats what I have said he should be doing it and had no end of arguments with him!

bear2015 · 2 Jan 2018

Doggit said:
Definitely the tilers job. It's finishing off the junction between the shower tray, and the tiles, and providing a more secure joint than if he were to grout between the tray and the tiles - now would he call that the plumbers job, no, so why's he such an awkward Shyte.

Gasbanis right, you're paying the tiler to do a job, and you can specify what the job is, right down to the joints that he supposed to silicone. If he won't do it the way that you want him to, then don't give him the work.

Get a pair of balls, and get tough with him - or be a wimp, and do the joints yourself.

I have been doing the bloody joints as both refuse to do it. Hence coming on here making sure I'm right in what I am saying so I can say do it or no more work.

bear2015 · 2 Jan 2018

Motman said:
Had a tiler do some masticking on our bathroom many years ago. Said he'd 'have a go' at it which I thought was strange. He was a good tiler. Make a right balls up of the masticking though. Since then one of my mates has fitted and tiled a few bathrooms and kitchens but he uses a bloke called 'The mastic man' who carries every type and colour of mastic and who’s only job seems to be going round to jobs like that for other trades and doing a real pukker job of masticking bathrooms, kitchens, windows etc.

Really? I'm speechless! lol

Notch7 · 2 Jan 2018

bear2015 said:
As the title really!

I subcontract work to a tiler who refuses to silicone anything eg the corners of a shower, around the bath when he finishes stating its the plumbers job. Plumber says its the tilers job which I would agree with. Plumber does the basin, shower and everything else and makes sure the bath is fitted for the tiler and its all secure and even if the customer asks for coloured grout and silicone to match he still refuses to do it stating its the plumbers job and will buy the grout and leave the silicone for the plumber to purchase!

Obviously running a business its getting a bit tense between them both and something I want to get sorted!

Who is in the right here?

Tilers job.

Its logical because the plumber will have fitted his work and be gone.

The tiler comes in and tiles down to the bath etc, he is the person on site staring at the joint he has just created, that needs siliconing

If the tiler did a job for a customer with an existing bath, would he tile down to the bath and say to the customer: "I'm all done, you just need to ring a plumber to do the siliconing"...."Oh and while you are at it, call the electrician to do the grouting"

CortinaV8 · 2 Jan 2018

I used to hate it, recently bought a decent kit (Fugi) and have achieved some kind of silicone god level ability.

It's 100% the tilers job though, if you are in that trade you would think he would make the effort over the years to learn/progress.

bear2015 · 2 Jan 2018

After a lengthy email exchange it would appear I have the only tiler who does not think it is his job nor does he think it should be his job and has never been asked to do it before.

Think I'll be looking for a new subby to tile

bear2015 · 2 Jan 2018

CortinaV8 said:
I used to hate it, recently bought a decent kit (Fugi) and have achieved some kind of silicone god level ability.

It's 100% the tilers job though, if you are in that trade you would think he would make the effort over the years to learn/progress.

I use the Fugi kit its simple and effortless and leaves a decent profile and finish.

MikeyGas · 2 Jan 2018

Your tiler has a real “Can’t do” attitude and sounds like a really negative and unflexible subbie.

I can’t stand to be around people like this as their attitude will rub off onto others and drag people down.

To not even offer to have a go at siliconing just sums him up.

Hope you find a good new tiler!

lostinthelight · 3 Jan 2018

Maybe method in his madness, no sealy, no responsible for leaky?
litl

BigSnoopy01 · 8 Jan 2018

Why not get a quote from a mastic man, deduct the cost of the Labour for tiling and plumbing. If you do it yourself then you get the extra money.

Seafarer1966 · 9 Jan 2018

Classic demarcation of labour dispute. This is what finished off the British shipyards. The platers and the rivetters couldn't stand each other and the act of bringing together two plates to be held together with rivets became a convoluted act because both sides were arguing whose job was whose. Rivetters having their tea breaks at different times to the platers etc. so building the ship took forever. At one time every ship being built in a British shipyard was behind schedule.

Korean and Japanese shipyards encouraged workers to work side by side and help each other, thereby getting the job done quicker and more efficiently. No surprise that the customers avoided the UK.

Tiler who won't silicone?

Doggit

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