ᐅ Surcharge now also applied to small tiles?

Created on: 2 May 2018 20:10
C
Crustulum
Crustulum2 May 2018 20:10
We want to renovate our bathroom and have chosen 2.5cm (1 inch) mosaic tiles for the entire bathroom (walls and floor, about 30m² (322 ft²)).
The quote from the tiler has become significantly more expensive as a result.
“Because it requires cleaner work and more effort.”
The laying cost alone has increased by $1200, and the preparatory work by $2500 – all plus VAT.
The preparatory work also includes machine costs, which have risen from $1000 to $2500.

We cannot understand this, as we assumed that smaller tiles on mesh backing would be easier and faster to install. It is even recommended for beginners to do it themselves because it is supposedly easier.

You often read that there are surcharges for large tiles, also “because cleaner work is required… see above,” and now also for small tiles?
Basically, we always expect work to be done carefully.

It raises the suspicion that a surcharge is now generally charged whenever the tile size differs from the one that nobody wants to install anyway.

Question: Is the surcharge justified? If not, what would be acceptable?
C
Caspar2020
2 May 2018 22:21
The question is not about the additional cost, but how much you will have to pay in total.

Have you obtained comparative quotes?
Crustulum schrieb:
Bathroom with 2.5cm (1 inch) mosaic tiles chosen (walls + floor approx. 30m² (320 ft²)).

These are large surfaces. Any unevenness will be noticeable quickly.
Crustulum2 May 2018 22:40
It is now about 12,000 for a small bathroom.
The tiles themselves cost about 70 per square meter (7 per square foot).
H
HilfeHilfe
3 May 2018 06:57
What does the tiler say?

We also had mosaic tiles installed in some areas (niches, etc.). The guys struggled and had a lot of material waste because these mats tend to tear.

The installer said he prefers the large tiles much more, as they are quicker to install. The smaller ones take longer but have the advantage for the average DIYer who can lay them themselves.
Crustulum3 May 2018 08:08
Well, that’s what was mentioned above—effort, and so on.
I just have the feeling that there’s always an additional charge added. Large tiles, small tiles, no matter what, there’s a surcharge. Simply because they can.

But of course, it’s possible to see it differently. In that case, I would be interested in whether the numbers and additional costs mentioned above are justified.
K
kbt09
3 May 2018 08:23
Laying mosaic sheets isn’t that simple either. Especially for larger areas, you need to make sure that straight grout lines are maintained within the sheet. Also, you will need considerably more grout.