LLigetfa
DIYer, not in the trades
Exactly! If it was shown in a catalog or display as flush, that would have just been a poor mock-up. As hj said, if the front of the plaster guard came flush with the finished face of the tile, the rough-in was set correctly. There of course can always be deviation caused by inconsistencies in the framing, backer board, mortar, and tile or stone thickness.
When looking at the photos for comparison, one needs to realize that the reflection in the chrome makes the gap appear to be twice what it is. When several sub-trades are involved, it is the contractor that should have looked for the aforementioned inconsistencies that could have resulted in a gap on one being radically different than the other.
