Not paying for a job

[stevetheplumber]

personally if that was my work i would get a job in tescos

 

[hammers4spanner]

That work is pants and aint from any decent plumber

 

[IND_Nick]

The whole install looks poor and unfortunately the only way to fix the leak would be to start again, silicone on grout is not a solution. As it has already been stated I would talk to Citizens advice or a consumer lawyer to get the facts right but no one should pay for workmanship this poor.
As said everyone gets the odd leak or something that doesn't go right bit this is terrible from top to bottom. Good luck with it and hopefully you find a decent tradesman to put it all right.

 

[joni os]

Building new wall will be disruptive. Fix 18mm ply, floor to ceiling, and screw tilebacker board to ply. Ply can be fixed to stramit with plugs and adhesive, and screwed through to pads recessed into reverse side of wall. Reinforce joints, scrim, in backer board prior to tiling.
As alternative you could consider shower panels, !0mm faced ply. these would fix to stramit with adhesive.

 

[Stanios]

Hi Triple! Sorry you had such a terrible experience. I also feel sorry for your contractor because if only he knew how to silicon properly he would have gotten paid. I suspect your bath leak is coming from a poor seal.

A good plumber would know to silicone bone dry surfaces only and to tile after fitting the bath so tiles sit on top. If this goes to court please keep us updated and best of luck!

 

[Tonycane]

How did you find this so called plumber? Recommendation or on a web site? Did you see any previous work or ask to see any qualifications/ trade memberships?

 

[firemant]

Rocketman, with respect, I think you are being a bit harsh in the OP. Assuming he is telling the truth re the newness of the product, I probably would not pay for the parts. At the very least, I would be deducting the cost of the ruined product supplied by me.
RM, can you honestly say that the work looks like that of a reasonable tradesman, let alone one at the top his trade.?
I am not a plumber, but a Gas Service Engineer, and HATE bathroom work etc. But I would be embarrassed to put my name to that pile of rubbish.
That said, we know that we only ever hear one side of an argument, but pictures do speak volumes.

 

[TripleD]

How did you find this so called plumber? Recommendation or on a web site? Did you see any previous work or ask to see any qualifications/ trade memberships?

It was on the local street life forum with some recommendations. Saw pictures of his work, apparently been a plumber for 25odd years and lived locally. Didn't see physically any work and didn't see or ask for qualifications. My fault there.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Rocketman, with respect, I think you are being a bit harsh in the OP. Assuming he is telling the truth re the newness of the product, I probably would not pay for the parts. At the very least, I would be deducting the cost of the ruined product supplied by me.
RM, can you honestly say that the work looks like that of a reasonable tradesman, let alone one at the top his trade.?
I am not a plumber, but a Gas Service Engineer, and HATE bathroom work etc. But I would be embarrassed to put my name to that pile of rubbish.
That said, we know that we only ever hear one side of an argument, but pictures do speak volumes.

That's your opinion.

It's up to the op what he wants to do. It's gone from a leak & dodgy silicone to putting in new walls etc.& ripping everything out.

For £1400 compared to other quotes of £2500 imo I think someone thought he was getting a deal.

I ain't involved & as said wouldn't wanna be the one to rectify unless it was all ripped out & started again but it'd cost the right money for the right job & I'd want a depo up front!

I wish the op the best. The job looks crap as we can all see.

 

[TripleD]

That's your opinion.

It's up to the op what he wants to do. It's gone from a leak & dodgy silicone to putting in new walls etc.& ripping everything out.

For £1400 compared to other quotes of £2500 imo I think someone thought he was getting a deal.

I ain't involved & as said wouldn't wanna be the one to rectify unless it was all ripped out & started again but it'd cost the right money for the right job & I'd want a depo up front!

I wish the op the best. The job looks crap as we can all see.

The initial quote was for £2500. The invoice he provided after I refused to pay was for £1400. I paid £340 directly to electrician that was part of initial quote. To date that's £1740.

I wasn't after a deal, I was after a good job, which is far from what I got.

The walls being ripped out is a question and advice that I'm taking on board with reference to cracked grout and wobbly tiles. Not saying that's what I'm doing but surely must be a consideration.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Rocketman, with respect, I think you are being a bit harsh in the OP. Assuming he is telling the truth re the newness of the product, I probably would not pay for the parts. At the very least, I would be deducting the cost of the ruined product supplied by me.
RM, can you honestly say that the work looks like that of a reasonable tradesman, let alone one at the top his trade.?
I am not a plumber, but a Gas Service Engineer, and HATE bathroom work etc. But I would be embarrassed to put my name to that pile of rubbish.
That said, we know that we only ever hear one side of an argument, but pictures do speak volumes.

Also Pal did I say it looked reasonable?

No, I never, it looks like he's done it himself with no practise ever.

The job looks crap.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

What you need is someone in to look & tell you exactly what's wrong & what's needed.

It's all well & good trying to get advice on a forum but it's too difficult as its all - what if this & what about that.

You've had lots of advice & im sure you've spoken to friends etc. about it.

The bathroom needs attention & fixing to your standard that's for sure. You wanted a job done & it's no good.

As I said, if you feel so strongly that you don't want this chap back then you need to get someone else in soon to sort it & if it ends up in court then you fight your battle.

Good luck. I hope it gets sorted.

 

[joni os]

The plumber should have consulted you as soon as stramit was discovered. You obviously didn't realize it was unsuitable for tiling but as a professional he should have. In any tiling work it is essential to have a stable background.
Should you receive a County Court claim, be sure to defend within the time limit and put in counter claim for whole cost of new work. The original claimant must also defend the counter claim within the time scale. If he fails to do this, seek a judgement by default and you will be awarded the counter claim without appearing in court.
As the counter claim will exceed the original the "plumber" would be stupid to pursue you through the court.

 

[TripleD]

Thanks everyone. As Rocketman says I need to get someone professional in to review and quote, but the advice from everyone is much appreciated.

 

[joni os]

You have posted on a plumber's forum suggesting you don't pay your plumber. No one has attacked you. After this, appearing in court before a neutral judge should hold no fears.

 

[TripleD]

You have posted on a plumber's forum suggesting you don't pay your plumber. No one has attacked you. After this, appearing in court before a neutral judge should hold no fears.

Lol

 

[plumben]

Thanks everyone. As Rocketman says I need to get someone professional in to review and quote, but the advice from everyone is much appreciated.

personally when im asked to provide a qoute for a bathroom i tell all my customers that standard is between £3000-£6000 depending on the work and materials the customer wants
as i do everything apart from any plastering and final decoration

My advice would be to rip out and start again, all walls need to be solid if tiles are going on any movement will result in cracked tiles, although you can use shower wall/wet wall instead of tiles, less joints

 

[julesverne]

Shocking work. I wouldnt pay him a penny and certainly never get him back and never ever use PVA for tiling or plastering for that matter

 

[joni os]

PVA ok for plastering. Controls suction on porous surfaces and aids adhesion when skimming old plaster. Just don't use in continuous damp conditions. SBR for damp and mixing with cement based tiling adhesive for additional bond.

 

[REDSAW]

seen better jobs done by a builder, joiner, tiler, sparky landscape gardener taxi driver i know!.

must pay him for materials on production of cost only receipt there un-paid for goods!.
dont have to pay for labour charge but can charge him for job to be rectified.

the silicone can be pealed off chrome with thumb.
the rest wants ripping and re-doing though. start with water supplies and check for leaks before anything else is installed.

as for the tiles, i would fit pvc shower boards and glue to wall, that would never leak if done properly. it would take me a day to do that at half the price of tiles you bought.
timber and batten the bath/shower so it dont move and leave for a couple of days to set.

job done!.

btw, the leak might be coming from the screen upright section. not filling the base before fitting gives an un-detected leak that runs along the bath. sealing inside makes it worse as the section fillswith water through glass seals and other places.

 

[TripleD]

Have spoken with Citizens advice, they have said:
I could pay the invoice in full under protest to stop any court proceedings then try and claim back part of the money once it's fixed.
Or I can pay for materials only.
Or I should keep up communication with him, until such time as the faults have been rectified by him or another trades person and come to a mutual agreement.

I'm thinking that his materials minus the cost of what has been damaged or needs replacing, i.e. having to re-tile the bathroom so new tiles, damaged pipe to bath filler etc and then paying the balance. he wouldn't end up with much.

Not sure I want a court battle but CA said you have a strong position as you have let him try and fix it 6 times and photographic evidence, but they advise that it's better to come to a mutual agreement than drag it through court.

So pretty much said what most people on here have said. It's christmas now so nothing is going to get done until the new year, I'm looking at shower panels as a replacement to the tiles if that is the issue, but will have to be guided by another trades person, so I'll have to start my hunt for one in January.
__________________

 

[quality]

there are plenty of decent trade people on here

 

[TripleD]

there are plenty of decent trade people on here

Any around the Ipswich or Suffolk area want to price it up?

 

[quality]

I will bet santa coming tonight that there is, put a post in the I am looking for a plumber forum

 

[joni os]

Do not part with any money at this stage. Before court action, claimant must send, "letter before action" giving you notice and time to pay. On receipt of such letter, respond, recording his 6 failed attempts to rectify the problems and notification that should he proceed with action through the courts, you will counter claim for the full cost of all remedial work, together with your direct and consequential losses.