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Construction & Contractors/Uneven Travertine walls in shower

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Expert: - 1/21/2008


Question
Dear Tad,
We hired a contractor to remodel our bathroom.  He suggested using travertine in the shower on the walls and surrounding the bathtub.  He told us that the walls would be flush.  He has completed the job and we find uneven walls.  Can these be made flush?  Also is there any way to discern whether or not he put sealer on the walls?  Thank you.  Best regards, Shawn

Answer
Shawn,
I am sorry to hear you are having issues with your new shower. I am assuming when you say the tile are uneven that they are significantly out of plane? We call this lippage. When tiles are set with a tight 1/16" or less grout joint, anything out of plane or lipped more than 1/16" is not normally acceptable. If it is lipped more than this, I would not accept the job and require the contractor to repair this at his expense. There is no easy way to remedy this. If he tries to grind out and re-polish the lippage, it may distort the polish and look even worse. Can he tear out the worst tiles and replace them? Have you already paid him in full? Is this contractor licensed and insured? Did you get an insurance certificate? If you cannot resolve issues directly with your contractor, you can usually file a claim with your contractors license board.
Regarding the sealer, if you wet the tile, does the water bead up and run down the walls? If it was sealed with a quality sealer, it will react like a freshly waxed car when wet. The water should bead up and not soak into the tile. I suggest HMK S34 Silicone impregnating sealer. You can order at stonecareonline.org
Best of luck in getting these issues corrected.
Tad

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Torin Dixon

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Questions concerning Natural Stone Fabrication and Installation including: Marble, Granite, Limestone, Slate, Soapstone, Bluestone, and Travertine in Slabs and Tiles. Expert in natural stone cleaning, sealing, protection and restoration. Distributor of HMK Stone Care Products; Sealers, Cleaning Products, Stone Maintenance. Expert in stone and tile flooring, sealing and maintenance issues. Stain removal from stone. Importer and Distributor of slab stone for residential and commercial applications. Stone carving Stone restoration

Experience

I have worked in the Dimensional Stone Industry since 1977.
California Contractors License 1989
Former owner of Prestige Marble & Tile (So. Calif.)
Current owner of Elegance in Stone (Missoula, MT)
Current Owner of Montana Stone Gallery,LLC Missoula, MT
Owner of Stoncareonline.org Distributor of natural stone maintenance products

Organizations
Missoula Building Industry Association
Montana Building Industry Association
Flathead Building Association
National Association of Home Builders
Member of the Marble Institute of America
Former member of the National Tile Contractors Association

Publications
Slippery Rock Gazette-Stone Industry Publication

Education/Credentials
Journeyman Marble Mason, Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman Union #2
California Contractors License 1989-1997
Montana Contractors Registration #42969
Importer of natural stone slabs. Owner-Director of Montana Stone Gallery a regional Importing and Distribution company located in Missoula, MT

Past/Present Clients
Thousands of commercial and residential installations of stone slabs and tile in bathrooms, kitchens, showers, flooring, fireplaces over a 34 year professional career.

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