I recently had a handyman install a TV mount on my tile fireplace mantle, but he screwed up by drilling four holes that are too high. While the TV covers these holes when it's mounted up, they're clearly visible when it's down. He offered to replace the tiles for free, but I'm worried that his attempt might actually make things look worse. Should I let him replace the tiles, or would it be better to ask for a refund and just fill the holes with grout instead? Also, how can I tell if he's skilled enough to replace the tiles properly? For context, the tile is fairly new and seems to be from Home Depot. Here's a photo for reference: https://imgur.com/a/ujjKKAZ
3 Answers
Honestly, I'd just fill those holes with colored grout or filler and move on. When the TV's down, the cords and outlet are way more noticeable than the holes. If anyone asks about them, you can just say they were from an older mount. Fixing the tiles would just take way more time and effort.
Did the handyman know the proper height you wanted before he started? From the photo, it looks like it should have been mounted higher to avoid those issues. If the holes are going to be covered by the TV when it’s up, you might just leave it as it is. But if it bothers you, filling those holes with a color-matched epoxy could be a simpler alternative to replacing tiles. Honestly, that could be a huge hassle, and he might be just trying to avoid a bad review by offering tile replacement.
Maybe your handyman is a better tiler than he is at measuring! Before you ask him to replace the tiles, consider telling him that if you're not happy with the repair job, you want a partial refund. That might motivate him to do a good job with the tile replacement.