Shower install question

[Baffled.me]

Hi All,

i am not a professional and all I can do is a bit of diy here and there. However to have mybarhroom updated I called a local plumber who calls himself a bathroom specialist. They have had few good reViews hence nothing suspicious on my mind.

I have a problem with shower enclosure they installed. It leaks constantly. They came back 5 times to redo the seal but still leaks. My question is.... can this be caused by them placing my low profile tray on a softwood pallet to raise it? I am myself a 16 stone in weight and it stroke me last night that this could be the issue- Me standing in the tray that os placed on a pallet? This possibly cause tray movement and seal leak? I should add that the pallet is not the standard EPall but looked a bit flimsy. He assured me however that it would be ok.
Any opinions?
Thanks.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

putting a shower tray on a pallet is not the way to do this. at the very least I would use properly treated timber of sufficient strength so as to not flex which it is doing. there should be a set of legs available for this purpose. using the pallet will only cause the seals to keep failing.

 

[townfanjon]

Well I have seen them balanced on bricks but never a pallet.
Sorry pal , I would be rather worred about the quality of the installation if they do "tricks" like that .... sorry

 

[Baffled.me]

Thanks for quick reply. I have had another plumber coming round and he said same - BIG NO to a pallet and that it should be treated wood. My original plumber is not willing to fix it as he is too busy. I think the only way to go is to rip everything out and start again :-( this bloody pallet is now soaking wet. Heh...

 

[townfanjon]

This alleged plumber gives us guys a bad name , is might be worth an advert ( I am looking for a plumber ) on here , great lads on here

 

[Riley]

Agreed we are protected by the "can't show their face again" pledge as the mickey taking on here for a poor job will be intolerable

 

[Riley]

Ps I hope you've not paid the first guy

 

[Baffled.me]

Unfortunately I have :-( fortunately he agreed to pay back what's paid by me to fix it....(on txt message only) and he is now sending his mate to fix it as the other plumber quoted too much in his opinion :-( he said he's got only £140 in his account for Xmas and can't afford to fix as quoted and that second plumber is an opportunist as the shower doesn't need taking out only resealing...tbh I don't blame second plumber for quoting a bit steep as he is expected to rip all out and re use and sort someone's shoddy workmanship.

From the newest stuff the said "bathroom specialist" blocked me on FB and banned from his page ...

 

[jonnyswamp]

From what you say how it's been done, the only way to do it properly would be to remove the enclosure and tray and start again
Anything else is just a bodge which will continually leak and leave you with silicon everywhere
What did he consider too dear

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Agree rip out and start again depends how stuff comes apart maybe new enclosure as well

 

[Baffled.me]

Thanks. We will do just that - take out and start fresh.

It's so frustrating for me as the original plumber doesn't answer phone calls and last time sent me amessage "who's this?". I have also found out that he left college only in 2014 so taking into consideration that he does jobs like this he will not last next 40 years in the business will he?
He also installs boilers ( he is not gas safe) and takes his mate to check and sign for him... is he allowed to touch gas without gas safe engineer present at the job?
I kind of feel for the guy as the greed and "good money in plumbing" (his words) took over him by the looks of it....

I should not mention I have never seen any invoice from him...

 

[Riley]

Speaking off the topic I would report him to Gas Safe if you know he is installing boilers illegally. Him and his mate are actually putting peoples lives at risk by doing that

 

[Baffled.me]

He does boilers as he is posting this on his fb page plus txt me this : "We can install boilers but we get a gas engineer in to sign it off and test etc.." but gas safe is not interested if I don't give them the address where the job is carried out. I just hope nothing bad will happen and that I know not to ever use him again....

 

[Riley]

It is illegal for a gas safe engineer to sign off somebody's work who is not qualified

 

[Baffled.me]

Off the phone to gas safe and they are not interested if I don't know exact address of the property this has happened in... I guess he will have to rip few more people like me off to finally meet the one that will report him for the job done at their address...

 

[Riley]

The fact that they brazenly advertise it on FB is what angers me

 

[Dotty]

It is illegal for a gas safe engineer to sign off somebody's work who is not qualified

I believe that anyone who knowingly employs illegals should be prosecuted too.

 

[townfanjon]

Off the phone to gas safe and they are not interested if I don't know exact address of the property this has happened in... I guess he will have to rip few more people like me off to finally meet the one that will report him for the job done at their address...

Why does this not surprise me

 

[Phil]

Most showers I quote to re do I just don't hear anything back, this is understandable as the price is always high, not because I'm expensive but it's so labour intensive and everything is sodden and ruined in the wall.