Do I call the installer back for one dented tile?

[phylny]

I went through a designer, because I couldn't figure out what sort of backsplash I wanted for the kitchen, and she helped me pick a very nice brushed aluminum (I assume? It's metal attached to ceramic) subway tile. When I arrived home, everything looked great except for one, possibly two, things.

The first is that one of the tiles has a small dent. I don't know if I should call and ask for it to be replaced or if that's going to cause a whole lot of problems. It's not as if it's in a very visible place, but I'm sure the installer saw it and ignored it. I know if it was a cracked tile, I'd want it to be replaced, but am I being too picky, or wanting things I pay for to be finished right.

The other is that they didn't start the tile where I thought they should. I thought they'd line it up with the upper cabinet, but they lined it up about 1" to the left, at the end of the granite. Is that usual?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Warpy]

1. First the dented tile

Is it visible to anyone standing in the kitchen? Is it only visible when you're working on something? How much is it going to bug you over the course of the next 5 years or so?

If you can say "aw screw it" and ignore it, there's your answer. If it's visible and you can't park the coffee maker or food processor in front of it and it's going to make you annoyed at the contractor every time you see it, then get it replaced.

As for where the tile starts, it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. I agree with the contractor that it would look weirder if it missed the last inch of the countertop but YMMV. It was going to be off kilter no matter what he did. What you can do is get some milled lumber, stain it to match the cabinet, and tack it up so everything looks more even. Some fixes are cheap and dirty, this one is.

[phylny]

3. It's not that visible, but I don't know how much more difficult it would be to

replace it versus live with it. If it's easy to replace, then I'd like it done.

Thanks for the info about where to start the backsplash

[edgineered]

2. The first thing to ask is

Are there any whole pieces of tile from the original batch left? On things like aluminum, and particularly brushed aluminum, any replaced pieces often stand out more glaringly than a small dent. Our eyes will always look at the largest imperfection first; fix that and then there is another largest imperfection. Being this is special and familiar to you (I don't mean this negatively), you will see details that no one else will notice. Guys in trades like this might tell you to squint your eyes when you look at it because that is closer to how others will see it.

As far as where the tiles line up and where they started - not enough information. It is normal to start with a whole tile at a corner and then work toward the open end, finishing with a bullnosed piece or cap of some type.

[phylny]

5. Yes, I'm sure there are leftover tiles, but they didn't leave any with me,

which I'm going to rectify because I paid for them. Thanks for the info

[PoliticAverse]

4. BTW: make sure you have a few spare (uninstalled) tiles just in case you need to replace a couple

a few years down the road.

[phylny]

6. Yes, thanks.

The installer must have taken them, I'll rectify that tomorrow.

Thank you!

[Phentex]

7. I would call them back to replace it...

otherwise I would always "see" it and regret I didn't do something about it. Who cares if they think you are picky?

I have too many stories of where I wish I had been more picky.

[phylny]

8. Thanks, that's what I decided to do,

and they're coming back.

Thanks for all the advice