Hi All
(im a general contractor with some but not alot of tile experience) I have a client who would like a scratch coat (wire lath) put down before 'his buddy' an oldschool tilesetter puts the actual tile down. a few things bother me about this. who warrants the tile job? me for putting the scratch coat down or his tilesetter who is requesting the wire mesh as opposed to a more modern and accepted standard practice. I dont want to turn the work away as i need all i can get.

Also, what would be a reasonable charge for the labour only portion of the scratch coat in a 1600 SF house?( im in toronto canada).

im sorry for multiple questions in one post, but your rsponses are much appreciated.

Doubt you'll find anyone here that will condone that method.

It'll be especially problematic if there's a failure in the installation, as you and the installer stand there pointing fingers at each other and trying to shift the blame.

http://www.ontariotile.com/scratchcoat.html

If you are the general contractor for this job and you are billing the client for the tile work, then you are responsible for any implied warranties. If the homeowner hires "buddy" then "buddy" will have to supply any warranty, if there even is one. As long as you don't touch any part of the tile job or tell "buddy" how to do the prep or install you'll be fine.

Unfortunately scratch/wire is still very prevalent in the Toronto area. And it is still garbage and always will be garbage.
Just ask anyone over at the TTMAC association in Toronto about scratch coat testing. www.ttmac.com

I'd tell "buddy" to prep the floor. If he wants the wire and scratch coat, and he really knows what he's talking about, he can do it and warranty it. If you don't feel comfortable about doing it then stay away from it. You can work on another job while he's doing the floor so you don't loose any money.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am under the understanding that once the Tile Setter accepts the floor and begins to put the tile down, it becomes his responsibility. It is up to the Tile Setter to look the prepared floor over to deem it appropriate and ready for tile or tell the customer outright that he can't offer any warranty (and why) or refuse to begin.