Getting a bathroom inspection/report

phill99

I think you may have a battle on your hands.

Priming walls before tiling is a mute point. Both Bal and Mapei sell self priming adhesives for use directly on to new plaster. I run a Maintenance Company and my tiling subcontractor never primes walls, but uses a self priming adhesives. In the five years that he has worked for me doing both bathroom and kitchen installations, we have not had a single call back. Additionally, he regularly applies adhesive to tiles while still getting a very level and even finish. So just because your tilers have done a job different to others, doesn't mean its wrong. However, if the tiles are uneven and poorly spaced, thats a different thing entirely.

In terms of supplying of the bath, did you specify a particular make / quality of bath to be supplied or did you ask them to simply supply a bath? If its the latter, then you have no leg to stand on - they did what was asked. If you asked them to supply a particular type or make of bath and they haven't done so, then you will have recourse towards them in court. Just looking on that there interweb, the cannon delta comes in at around £230, which for a bath isn't the lowest quality. You can get much cheaper baths - less than £90. In fact, I can buy a complete suite for less than the price of your bath, so it certainly isn't the poorest of qualities.

So, playing devils advocate, there may be some mileage in your fitter saying "We've done exactly what you told us".

Wish you luck.

Leif

phill99 wrote: »

So, playing devils advocate, there may be some mileage in your fitter saying "We've done exactly what you told us".

I think you've seen the photos in another thread, which show the top tiles placed 1cm away from the wall (packed out with adhesive) and overlapping the bottom of the coving. Tiles below have nasty steps. It looks like a nasty bodge. And the tiles come off very easily. The adhesives they used are supposed to be used with primer (instructions on packs), and they said they used a primer. I asked them to reverse the bath relative to the original, and they didn't. Having shower and taps at opposite ends for this bath is bad (strong slope at non tap end).

Basically what you seem to be saying is that the fitters can do anything, and say "we did what you asked" as long as something to the contrary is not in writing.

Because they advertise themselves as bathroom designers and installers, with example pictures (which I now strongly suspect are not bathrooms they have fitted) I expected them to know how to plan ahead, and advise me appropriately, not create a DIY bodge.

explumber

keystone wrote: »

OP did in his previous thread on this bathroom.

Cheers

I stand corrected sir.

keystone

Oh don't be old chap. If you didn't see the original thread why should you be expected to have a crystal ball? So my fault really.

Cheers

phill99

Leif wrote: »

I think you've seen the photos in another thread, which show the top tiles placed 1cm away from the wall (packed out with adhesive) and overlapping the bottom of the coving. .

Please don't make assumptions that I sit at my desk trying to relate a range of threads to each other. Maytbe you should have put the pics in this thread so that we have all the information in one place.

Looking at your pics in the other thread, I can see your point. My comments where based solely on the pen portrait you offered us in this thread.

I'm certainly not suggesting that tradesman can do what they want. However, to cover your own back you need to be satisfied that the instructions you gave them where clear, concise and unambiguous. If that is not the case, then you may have a fight on your hands.

Leif

phill99 wrote: »

Please don't make assumptions that I sit at my desk trying to relate a range of threads to each other. Maytbe you should have put the pics in this thread so that we have all the information in one place.

Looking at your pics in the other thread, I can see your point. My comments where based solely on the pen portrait you offered us in this thread.

I'm certainly not suggesting that tradesman can do what they want. However, to cover your own back you need to be satisfied that the instructions you gave them where clear, concise and unambiguous. If that is not the case, then you may have a fight on your hands.

Fair point, sorry. Yes there will be a fight, and the outcome is far from certain. The alternative is to roll over, limbs in the air.

BlueC

Hey Leif

Read your other thread and yes, they have made a proper bodge job! I am interested in the outcome of this and how you go about pursuing them because we're in a very similar position with our own bathroom. In our case they worked on it for 3 weeks and bodged after bodge until I eventually ran out of patience and kicked them out. Like you I made a large up-front payment and now need to spend more than the outstanding balance to put it right - it really irks me but not sure I can be bothered pursuing them as the chances of a successful claim might be reasonable but actually getting any money out of them is another matter.

Would be good to hear how you get along and the process you go through - keep us posted!

Leif

Hello BlueC. I suspect these people rely on people's unwillingness to pursue them for the reasons you state. If they have a limited company, then you can get a small claims court judgement against them, assuming the evidence is good and presented well, and then get the money back. It does not cost much to do, but you I assume you need to put together your case i.e. clear descriptions and photographs.

But they can liquidate the company, and avoid payment, though in my case it means losing a set of favourable CheckATrade ratings. If they are not in a limited company, then they are liable. Bailiffs can seize assets to the value of the outstanding monies plus bailiff fees.

Leif

BlueC wrote: »

I am interested in the outcome of this and how you go about pursuing them because we're in a very similar position with our own bathroom.

This morning I received a written report from a local builder, which basically says the work is very poor, walls tiled too soon etc. That will help my case if it gets to the small claims court. I recommend you take photographs of the bathroom, especially all faults. Also, contact Trading Standards, who should advise you on the format of a letter to write to the builder. Make sure you list all faults. I found it very helpful to post images on forums including this one because the pros found faults I had missed, and every little bit of evidence helps. Lastly write an account of exactly what happened, money paid, letters/emails sent and received and phone conversations. Once written down it becomes hard for the lying thieves to wriggle out of accepting responsibility.

The people I dealt with were very convincing, very friendly, seemingly helpful, but once I saw the crap work, and put photos online, I realised they were con merchants.

Good luck.

Leif

For what it's worth an update. I have agreed with a local builder to refit the bathroom, and I am tied to his schedule as he is busy, and a second good builder was unable to fit me in until next year. On Thursday I removed more than half the tiles in readiness for the refit. Yesterday (Friday) I received a letter from the rogues requesting a copy of my survey and someone of their choosing carry out a survey. I sent them my survey. I also told them I have no objection to their survey subject to the person arriving outside working hours. I also told them I am not willing to delay the refit as I an incurring significants costs from renting a flat and that they waited over a month before requesting the survey, which in my opinion is an unreasonable amount of time. They knew from the outset that I consider their work to be unacceptable. Is it really reasonable for them to wait one month before requesting a survey, and expect me to have stopped all work, and treat the house as a 'crime scene' so to speak, when it is in fact a home?

Clearly I cannot refuse their survey as that would make it look as if I had something to hide, but given that 3 people have visited and told me the walls were not primed, I can only assume this person is a friend doing them a favour, as an honest survey would support my case. Anyway, I have been promised a written report by a second builder, and the tiler who will do the kitchen has promised to check for primer in the bathroom. I also have photographs of an area I primed with Bal Primer. Very obvious!