Design Challenges: Workmanship: Walls & Floor

Workmanship Series
1 Good Workmanship
2 Workmanship: Dispute Resolution
3 Workmanship: Walls & Floor
4 Workmanship: Laminated Floor
5 Workmanship: Electrical Work
6 Workmanship: Air-Conditioner
7 Workmanship: Doors & Architrave
8 Workmanship: Gas Piping & Gas Dryer
9 Workmanship: Kitchen Works
10 Workmanship: Hide Ugly Pipes
11 Workmanship: Windows
12 Workmanship: Plumbing

"Good design cannot hide poor and slipshod workmanship. On the contrary, good workmanship will make a simple design truly outstanding."

Give me good workmanship over design any time, as I cannot tolerate poor quality of work!

I was fortunate my ID had access to a pool of skillful workers and tradesmen, and heaved a sigh of relief when the tilers commenced work. Despite having visited two job sites

and having seen for myself the quality of work done, I still harbored some apprehension. Perhaps the workers assigned to my home reno may be a different group? One with not much experience?

My fears were groundless.

For once the tilers started work, it was immediately apparent these people, under Mr Yeau the team leader, took pride in their work. They used sharp knives to cut the tiles. And made effort and time to measure and ensure lines were straight and level, before they commenced tiling. They told me the team allowed only experienced workers to do the tiling. And pointed out a young man who had joined the team recently and was still learning on-the-job. His duties were to help carry the tiles, soak them in water, clean the floor, and other menial jobs. But not do the tiling nor the measurement!

You can imagine my respect for these people shot up several notches. I would be none the wiser had they simply asked the trainee to do the tiling. Of course the outcome would not be what I've seen, maybe even shoddy - as readers have complained on forums.

During the preparatory stage they pointed out my flat had several inherent defects: walls not straight, some

slanted, wall corner edges not true so that plastering had to be carried out first. And uneven floor level.

These tilers were really professional - I saluted them. See their excellent workmanship in these photos!

Beautifully tiled wall, with straight vertical edging, clean lines, thin grouting:

Clean and not jagged abutment of the tile with the wood frame:

Even the tile behind the pipe was beautifully placed:

Cleanly cut hole for unhindered water flow in toilet floor. Also, notice the red thin plastic strip sticking out near the bottom between the tiles? That's how meticulous the tiler was to ensure thin, even grouting!