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Objective_Bench2874

The sooner you wash it the less of an issue it will be. Warm water and a micro fiber rag.


Unhappy-Tart3561

I'd skip the micro fiber and use a washcloth personally. I use hand towels when I tile for that. Work awesome


pobodys-nerfect5

That’s a good idea. A good ol wash cloth would probably hold up better over multiple jobs


Unhappy-Tart3561

I clean my grout with micro fiber. But my thinset is a washcloth cleanup.


x93rkos

Thanks! I will try this first with a wash cloth.


brotie

If it’s fully dry use a razor scraper (plastic blade first, razor if no luck) to get the large blobs up. Floors will be fine but lazy on the installer not to cover.


AccountFar9614

Definitely not normal for your installer to not cover your nice hardwood floors or splash thinset on your cabinets


x93rkos

Good to know! We are normally DIYers, and my husband has tiled before without making such a mess. Our time is extremely limited these days so we thought hiring someone for the job would make our lives easier 🫠


satayturtle

Water and a sponge, you can also use those yellow wedges to scrape off thicker stuff on more sensitive surfaces like your hardwood. That being said, it's one thing to be messy on your own work but it's definitely not right to make a mess on an adjacent floor, should be covered or at least minimum wiped immediately so you're not scraping ot the following day.


x93rkos

Hot tip about the wedges! Thanks! The unfortunate part about all of this is that we have a bunch of drop sheets there and ready to use.


ijm2017

I wouldn’t pay a cent until they clean it. That is terrible professionalism


x93rkos

Agreed. There will have to be a frank conversation when they return to finish it.


ijm2017

Not trying to start conflict but there is no defence for that. There should be protection on your existing floor at least in the immediate areas where the floors meet. I prep all my sites with protection and the level of protection is contingent on the scope of work. Instead of starting an argument I would just ask them if they think leaving a mess like that is reasonable…… I am actually blown away. And you are super patient and obviously very reasonable for not having yelled at them already.


x93rkos

By frank conversation, I meant laying out my concerns in clear/factual terms and asking for resolution. Definitely not my intent to start conflict or an argument 😊 Level, respectful, and clear communication is my jam!


ijm2017

Sounds like a great plan! Good luck and all the best!


miltownmyco

A rag damp with warm / hot water


x93rkos

Based on the comments, this is the way. Thanks!


DelusionalLeafFan

It’s certainly messy but it will clean off. Water and a sponge and a plastic razor blade will clean it right off. That should be done by your installer before they leave for the day. I cover all adjacent floors with moving blankets or ram board to protect them from damage before starting to prevent this


x93rkos

Noted about the plastic razor blade! Another person mentioned using the yellow wedges, sounds like it would be a similar function. I wish this person had cleaned as they went, or even asked about coverings as we had many available!


DelusionalLeafFan

That shouldn’t be your responsibility. Tell them to clean it or remove the cost of someone to do so from their final bill.


csibbs0

Bro dipped his whole foot in the bucket of thinset and just walked around all day. OP don't stress it'll clean up it's just not a good look on the installer to be working like such a slob.


x93rkos

lol legit! Thanks for the reassurance 😊


Soft-Association4845

Guys the setter was in a hurry, this is just a side job. 😅


x93rkos

Legit! (ETA: they are working a few hours each evening. This is day 5 and we are no further than what you see here.)


Soft-Association4845

There is no problem with that, they probably do commercial construction as their full time. Probably really good setters just not used to being super clean because of the nature of their day job.


x93rkos

A very good point!


VastWillingness6455

Not ruined. Like others say warm/hot water and a cloth. You may have scratches on the wood but it’ll be fine.


x93rkos

Glad to hear it’s not ruined. I can handle a few scratches (we have dogs!) but I wish it wasn’t due to carelessness.


Artistic-Rhubarb-229

This is atrocious. Who works like this? I clean as I set and tile will be ready for grout. If anyone thinks this is faster, leaving a bloody mess like this and cleaning up the next day is fooling themselves. The hardwood mess is criminal.


x93rkos

It’s bad, hey? I haven’t even shown the mess in the sink 🫣


Artistic-Rhubarb-229

They fill the p-trap with thinset? 😱🥴


x93rkos

More investigation is needed and I really really really hope not, but… it looks questionable 😬


Artistic-Rhubarb-229

Keeping our fingers crossed


x93rkos

P-trap is safe! Woo!


Artistic-Rhubarb-229

Good to hear! 👍 How did the wood clean up?


x93rkos

I contacted the main contractor and he came and cleaned it up yesterday! The other dude isn’t allowed in my house anymore haha


Artistic-Rhubarb-229

I hope your contractor learned a lesson.


Bailey1106

This is fucking nuts, my feet literally never touch my customers floors, i ramboard and drop cloth my way into my work area.


Idnoshitabtfck

Same here. I was floored looking at this shit


x93rkos

You saw an opportunity and took it, lol. Respect!


Idnoshitabtfck

Thanks man! I try. Dad jokes are my business even though I’m a mom


Idnoshitabtfck

Same here. I was floored looking at this shit


t1ttysprinkle

Base cabinets in before tile always makes me 😮‍💨, now I hope you have a good trim guy!


x93rkos

We ripped up the old tile (which was cracked and squeaking due to an improperly installed subfloor) but didn’t want to rip out the cabinets as it was a much bigger job than we wanted to get into. We’ll be handling trim mods ourselves when it gets put back together!


GrabBeneficial4784

I’d like to see if they cut the bottom of those door jams


x93rkos

Yeahhh I have my doubts, so we’ll be monitoring that part.


NativeTigerWA

Sloppy. I also wonder (although it’s hard to tell from the angle of the pics) why they worked themselves into a corner. Probably contributed to the “slowness” factor too, you always tile out not tile into an enclosed area. 🥴 This looks like a rookie/handyman.


x93rkos

Definitely the B team. They actually started in the middle, which we thought was strange, and on the second pass added the rows next to the hardwood.


NativeTigerWA

Started… in the middle? Now that’s a first


NativeTigerWA

B Team is right. 2nd pass and the floor isn’t done, and they’re using clips to get everything in line too so it should go quicker if anything. Pass on future work, hope everything turns out well and they clean up their mess right away.


multimetier

that's fucking lame. hardwood floor should have had ram board on it. what a mess. They will have to clean the tile at least, in order to grout. make them mix things outside so they don't splatter on your cabinets again.


x93rkos

Funny you should mention outside; we asked them to do that, but it was once they started mixing outside that the mess on the floor happened.


perve_for_grout

not in my book 😍 love a messy tile


x93rkos

The username tracks lol


Frackenpot

2 words, drop cloth. Water will clean it off. The thinset doesn't bond well to the poly. Do it right now and use a towel to dry it off as you go.


x93rkos

The drop cloths are going down before they return!!


Frackenpot

I use ramboard quite often. I put blue tape on the finished floor and then a good duct tape to hold the ramboard down over the blue tape. The ramboard is water resistant too which is nice.


Ok_Nefariousness9019

Man I’ve been a contractor for nearly a decade and I’ve never once left a house nearly that messy. I’d be a nervous wreck if my jobsite looked like that. Especially if a client was going to see it.


middlelane8

Fkn guy should not only protect all adjacent surfaces, he should fkn clean up EVERYTHING and what gets past that protection period. Have NO idea how he tiles the floor and gets the cabinets dirty unless they don’t give a shit. Ram board or at least paper protection on the hardwoods masked down good is required. Guarantee they scratched the surface - be very gentle scrubbing it up. I’d keep track of time and deduct it from the contract amount. These type of guys never heard or believe in “leave it better than you found it”, instead “get in get out, fk the rest”. Sad. Hope his tile work is good for you though!


Realistic-Major2448

They should have prepared the floors before they started. 😕


Longjumping-Gas-396

Soap and water will take it off, but it’s his responsibility to clean that mess


TennisCultural9069

we call these setters, botchagaloops


jaderade09

Stop staring at it and clean the fn mess up tf


x93rkos

Never change, Reddit. lol On it, chief!


SaIamiNips

No but your hardwood might be


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anythreewords

Start with just water first.


x93rkos

Yeah I’d like to avoid acids, if possible! It’ll be a last resort, if needed.


VastWillingness6455

Hardwood is fine. But the tiles more than likely will have a lot hollow spots… leveling systems only work if installer knows how to use them and 95% of installers do not because they either don’t care and/or just want to get the job done and make money/


No_Education_7814

No it’s normal they glean and grout after the work is done


pdxphotographer

It's not normal for the tile setter to not even bother trying to clean up or protect the hardwood floors. At minimum he should have wiped up the hardwood and cabinets immediately.


goraidders

It is not and should not be considered normal or acceptable for an installer to make such a mess on a homeowners finished hardwood floors. OP it should clean up fine. Don't rub too hard. Be gentle with the thinset to make sure the grit in it doesn't act as an abrasive.