Arrington McCoy

UPDATE 10/7/26: I wanted to follow up on my original review now that TileBar has completed the return of our NewTech Bianco White 12x24 porcelain tile.

As described in my original review, our professional tile installers found the tiles sufficiently bowed that they could not achieve an acceptably flat installation. Work on our bathroom had to stop, resulting in a significant disruption to our renovation schedule as well as additional contractor time and costs.

TileBar’s initial response was that, based on the video we provided, the warpage appeared typical for large-format porcelain and did not appear to exceed allowable ANSI tolerances. They suggested that our installers consider increasing the grout-joint width and positioning leveling clips near the areas of greatest curvature.

Our professional installers were not comfortable proceeding with the material, and we were not willing to alter the intended installation in an effort to compensate for the bowing.

Because our contractors were already scheduled and the bathroom renovation was at a standstill, we could not risk waiting for another shipment from TileBar and potentially extending the delay further. We therefore had to quickly locate a different tile that was available locally and could be picked up immediately so that our contractors could resume work and we could minimize further disruption to the project.

After further communication, TileBar ultimately moved away from the discussion about acceptable warpage and agreed to take back all 22 remaining boxes, waive the 15% restocking fee, and pay the return freight. I appreciate that they ultimately accepted the return rather than requiring us to accept replacement material.

However, TileBar refunded only the purchase price of the returned tile. They did not refund the approximately $200 in original freight charges we paid to have the tile delivered. I do not believe a customer should be responsible for the cost of having material delivered when that material ultimately has to be returned because of a product-quality issue. We would not have incurred that expense had the tile been suitable for installation.

TileBar also did not reimburse us for contractor costs, project downtime, or other expenses associated with the delay. Although I disagreed with that resolution, I ultimately chose not to continue pursuing reimbursement for the original freight charge or our additional costs. By that point, the return process had already required a considerable amount of our time and effort, and I concluded that continuing to negotiate over these expenses would only prolong an already difficult process. Our priority became completing the return and getting our renovation moving again.

The return itself required additional effort on our part. TileBar required all 22 boxes to be palletized, wrapped, and securely strapped for freight shipment. Our contractor assisted us in preparing the very heavy pallet for collection.

TileBar then scheduled a day for its freight carrier to pick up the material. I rearranged my schedule to remain home and available for the pickup, but the carrier did not arrive on the scheduled day. The pallet remained outside while TileBar investigated the missed pickup, with a significant storm approaching.

TileBar ultimately collected the material and refunded the purchase price of the 22 boxes, and I appreciate that portion of the resolution. However, we were left absorbing the approximately $200 original freight charge, contractor costs and downtime, the renovation delay, the need to urgently source replacement material locally, the effort required to prepare 22 boxes for freight return, and the time lost waiting for a scheduled pickup that did not occur.

I also intend to share this update directly on TileBar’s NewTech Bianco product page so that customers considering this specific tile can read about our experience. I previously attempted to submit a product review while the issue was ongoing and was told that my review would not be posted while TileBar was still working with me on a resolution. Now that the matter is resolved, I hope and expect that TileBar will publish my product review so prospective customers have access to our experience alongside the other reviews of this tile.

Construction materials are often purchased as part of a tightly scheduled sequence of work, and a problem with one material can have consequences well beyond the purchase price of that product. Based on our experience with both the tile and the resolution process, I would not purchase tile for a time-sensitive renovation from TileBar again.