At Mrs Smith's insistence they fix tile backer board to the shower area (well she did do a bit of research about bathrooms), but the other wall backgrounds of plaster and plasterboard remain untouched.

The tilers begin work and start fixing the tiles to the shower enclosure with five blobs of adhesive. They continue to fix the tiles with blobs of adhesive on the plaster and plasterboard, leaving large gaps behind the tiles.

Mrs Smith starts to be a little concerned about what she sees and begins to do some further research on the internet. She finds the TTA website and quickly learns about weight restrictions to plaster and plasterboard, information about solid bed fixing and how to tile a bathroom.

A call comes into the TTA office from the worried Mrs Smith who describes the tiling in their bathroom, and it quickly becomes apparent that there is a real problem with the project. The advice offered from the TTA website is reconfirmed and the she is advised to take urgent legal advice on how to deal with the contractor who is still working on site.

Mrs Smith bitterly regrets not using a TTA contractor and faces increased costs in getting the problem sorted out and the bathrooms of her dreams.

TTA contractors are thoroughly vetted when they apply to join The Tile Association both on their technical ability and their financial status. TTA contractors can offer an insurance backed warranty scheme and there is a complaints procedure in place, just in case.

For all you need to know about tiles and tiling go to our website at www.tiles.org.uk