FB Marketplace handyman laid tile — cracking 5 months later. He won't answer my calls.

Hired a guy from Facebook Marketplace to lay 300 sqft of porcelain tile in the basement for $1,200. Looked okay at first but now cracking in multiple spots after 5 months. He won’t return calls or messages. Probably subfloor issue or bad thinset. Stuck with the mess and figuring out the fix. Avoid cheap Marketplace handymen for tile.

DATE: 2026-07-05 08:48
READS: 11

FB Marketplace handyman laid tile — cracking 5 months later. He won't answer my calls.

Hired a Facebook Marketplace Handyman for Basement Tile

— Now It’s Cracking Everywhere and He Ghosted Me

I needed to finish the basement floor. Concrete was ugly and cold. Found a guy on Facebook Marketplace who said he does tile work cheap. Quoted $1,200 for 300 square feet of porcelain tile including materials and labor. Seemed reasonable compared to big companies wanting $3k+. He showed up, worked a couple days, and it looked decent when done. Fast forward five months — cracks running through multiple tiles, grout crumbling in spots, some tiles even loose. Called and texted him dozens of times. No response. Classic ghost job. Now I’m stuck fixing someone else’s mess. Don’t make my mistake with these cheap Marketplace “handymen.”

What the Job Looked Like Initially

The guy seemed experienced. Had tools, worked fast, and cleaned up okay. He used standard thinset, laid the tile in a simple grid. I was happy at the walkthrough — no obvious lippage, grout looked clean. Paid him cash as agreed. Thought I got a deal.

Cracked porcelain basement floor tiles 5 months after installation

The Problems Started Showing

First month: A couple hairline cracks. I chalked it up to settling.

Month 3-4: More cracks, especially in high-traffic paths. Grout discoloring and popping out.

Month 5: Several tiles cracked diagonally, some sounding hollow when tapped. Clearly not bonded right or subfloor movement.

I suspect issues with:

Subfloor prep (maybe not leveled or primed correctly)
Wrong thinset for porcelain or basement moisture
Poor expansion gaps
Rushed installation

Cost and Current Fix Situation

Paid: $1,200
Expected lifespan: 10+ years
Reality: Failing at 5 months
Repair estimate from real pro: $800-1,500 to fix/replace affected areas

Might have to grind out bad sections or overlay. Expensive and disruptive again.

Why Marketplace “Deals” Often Backfire

These guys are usually uninsured, unlicensed, or cutting every corner. No warranty, no recourse when it fails. Real tile contractors charge more because they do it right — proper prep, materials, and stand behind work.

I should have:

Checked reviews/references more thoroughly
Got everything in writing with warranty
Had a licensed pro bid it
Researched common basement tile failures

Before and after photos of bad Marketplace tile installation

Lessons Learned the Expensive Way

Always verify credentials. Cash jobs with no contract are risky. For finishes like tile that are hard to redo, spend the money upfront for quality. Cheap now means expensive later.

Anyone else get burned by a Marketplace handyman on flooring or tile? What went wrong and how much did the fix cost? Share your stories so we can all avoid these traps. What red flags did you miss or what questions should I have asked? Looking for advice on fixing this mess too.