The tile patterns

The tile patterns are fairly simple 33 x 33 cm tiles laid in simple rows but with an inlaid border of herring bone effect tiles of 15 x 33 cm. The three larger areas of the ground floor would have a central panel surrounded by the border tile. The inset panels would also be offset to the main body of tiles thereby giving a variation to the rest of the rooms.

One step forward two steps back

Our expert ‘instal:lador’ has worked his magic and everything within the bathroom is in position. The expert is looking vacant again, something he is very expert at!

When he was measuring the walls for the placement of the pipes, he had removed from the bathroom the very cabinet that was now causing the problem, and put it in an adjoining room. Despite advice from myself and his colleagues that he should simply draw around the cabinet carcass making a template on the wall. He told us this was his work and that he knew what he was doing. Our expert then walked backwards and forwards between the bathroom and bedroom taking measurements from the cabinet and transferring them to the wall where the cabinet would be fitted.

On examination of the situation he has identified the problem, that the cabinet case obstructs the connection to the water supply for the taps. His solution is that he will cut out a large hole in the cabinet, thereby weakening the cabinet but allowing him to connect to the water supply. In order to get this proposal past me he tells me about the situation, but does so by speaking German to me.

It is often said that the most powerful word in any language is ‘No!’

And so it was. I had to say ‘nein!’

Now I was insisting that he corrected the pipe work, retiled the wall and fitted the cabinet as it should be. As usual the extra work he caused was done by others, this is how one often recognises the expert.

A little light but a long tunnel!

The bathroom fittings were all on site and ready for installation. The fitter ‘istal:lador’ looked over them

“Do you have a crane?” he asked.

“No, why do we need a crane? There are three of us here”.

“But they are very heavy!” he complained.

And so it was that, I ended up carrying everything that was required for the following days work up the stairs. I placed everything in position so that the placement of the sanitary ware and cabinets could not be confused.

Slow progress

Arrived 10pm to find that the two bathrooms have not been installed, and that the tiling on the first floor is only partially completed.

Rather than removing the door architrave the tiler has cut round them by nibbling at the tile with pliers, the black grout and the broken edges look awful. Tommorow he will have to refit those tiles, come what may.

Had to put a make shift bed in the lounge; this will be my room for the next couple of weeks. There is a toilet down in the underbuild which is also the garage, what luxury! To make matters worse I will have to battle with those creatures of the night which inhabit that space, despite my best efforts to remove them.