ᐅ Wood-look tiles grouted with the wrong color – should the entire job be redone?
Created on: 18 Jul 2025 06:27
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Mina 1983
Hello everyone,
In our newly built apartment, we had wood-look tiles installed throughout the entire living area except for the bathroom, with 2mm (0.08 inch) grout lines. When ordering the tiles through the builder, we chose and confirmed a matching grout color in writing—a nice brown shade, exactly like the tiles. Despite a further discussion with the tiling foreman, the gray grout color we selected for the bathroom was used throughout the whole apartment.
The mistake was admitted in writing yesterday, along with the statement that nothing can be done about it now. I am absolutely not satisfied with the color and would prefer to have everything redone completely.
Do I have the right to demand this in this situation?
In our newly built apartment, we had wood-look tiles installed throughout the entire living area except for the bathroom, with 2mm (0.08 inch) grout lines. When ordering the tiles through the builder, we chose and confirmed a matching grout color in writing—a nice brown shade, exactly like the tiles. Despite a further discussion with the tiling foreman, the gray grout color we selected for the bathroom was used throughout the whole apartment.
The mistake was admitted in writing yesterday, along with the statement that nothing can be done about it now. I am absolutely not satisfied with the color and would prefer to have everything redone completely.
Do I have the right to demand this in this situation?
H
hanghaus202318 Jul 2025 17:35Jesse Custer schrieb:
Ouch – difficult.
Okay, you have it in writing – but with 2mm (0.08 inch) wide joints and a judge who is sympathetic to the trades, I would be cautious about taking preemptive replacement action yourself. It could backfire.
Brown permanent marker? (Just kidding…) Yes, difficult.
That’s why my first advice is to consult a specialist lawyer.
Replacement action, of course, should be the last step—only if you really cannot accept the gray color.
@Mina 1983, please show a photo.
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Mina 198318 Jul 2025 18:03First of all, thanks for your replies. Unfortunately, I’m afraid you’re right. Completely replacing the floor is probably really disproportionate. It doesn’t actually look “wrong” or “not allowed.” However, it does not meet my own expectations or the vision I had for how the floor should look.
The manager was on site himself today, apologized but didn’t offer any solution for now. The payment for the additional tile costs to the developer is now due; we informed them today. The additional costs amount to almost 5000€ (about $5,400), with total installation costs close to 9000€ (about $9,700).
The manager was on site himself today, apologized but didn’t offer any solution for now. The payment for the additional tile costs to the developer is now due; we informed them today. The additional costs amount to almost 5000€ (about $5,400), with total installation costs close to 9000€ (about $9,700).
Hi,
first, talk to a lawyer, but if he does not make any proposal, mine would be:
The additional costs will not be paid. He did not deliver what was ordered and is unwilling to make any changes. So what exactly is he invoicing for?
Best regards,
Andreas
first, talk to a lawyer, but if he does not make any proposal, mine would be:
Mina 1983 schrieb:
The additional costs amount to nearly 5000€,
The additional costs will not be paid. He did not deliver what was ordered and is unwilling to make any changes. So what exactly is he invoicing for?
Best regards,
Andreas
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Mina 198318 Jul 2025 18:33That was my initial idea as well.
Let's see how the developer responds to this topic; so far, they have been very accommodating when it comes to addressing defects.
Let's see how the developer responds to this topic; so far, they have been very accommodating when it comes to addressing defects.
Mina 1983 schrieb:
DeveloperThen the tile installer is definitely not the right contact for complaints.Hmm, it doesn’t matter that I personally like it very much and wouldn’t have noticed the flaw if you hadn’t mentioned it.
It also doesn’t matter that after one or two years the brown and gray colors even out at the joints. In other words, no one will know what the original joint color was.
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They set conditions. After all, brown was your preference. They should accommodate you with the invoice so that you can afford something nice.
It also doesn’t matter that after one or two years the brown and gray colors even out at the joints. In other words, no one will know what the original joint color was.
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Tolentino schrieb:
It remains a defect subject to compensation nonetheless.
They set conditions. After all, brown was your preference. They should accommodate you with the invoice so that you can afford something nice.
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