Decorators' Caulk used as silicone round bath?

melb

hi there well after spending over £300 to someone for regrouting and resealing stone tiles and resealing round bath in an attempt to cure a persistant though intermittent leak through our dining room ceiling, the leak is still there and the insurance plumber has come round today to find other possible reason and showed us the water running down the back of the bath when the shower is on it because the silicone job has failed after less than a week. He has told us that they have used Decorators' Caulk rather than sealant/silicone. I rang the person who did the job and he said no we used plumbers' silicone. I noticed that the finish was matt and hard rather than shiny and soft. Can't believe we've been fleeced yet again! We already held back £50 from the final amount as the job was not of the standard promise. Where do we go from here?

phill99

You can bring an action against the guy that used caulk in the normal way through the courts.

Or you can put it down to experience and get a professional mastic applicator in to do it properly.

macman

You don't have to go anywhere from here. You've already retained what you presumably think is adequate compensation for the work not done to standard, so what more are you seeking?
It's up to the tradesman as to whether he wants to take a civil action aganst you to recover £50. If you deducted the £50 without discussing it with him first, then he's unlikely to want to compromise.

melb

sorry it was a bit of an aimless rant. what I should have asked is would there be any benefit to them to use the incorrect substance? I can't think there would be. The £50 was his suggestion because of the bad workmanship and we were unhappy with the result. i would willingly pay someone to apply the sealant as i have done previously BUT it seems difficult to find someone to do it. It is not an easy job as the bath is sort of wedged into the far end of the bathroom so you have to get in it to do the job. i am just exasperated at the fact that I am back to square one with a big brown mess on my downstairs ceiling from the ongoing leak and having to start again on finding and then paying someone to do this job. Oh and the underfloor heating has suddenly stopped working after 5 years without a problem. It's just not my day/week/month!

phill99

If you identify where you are based, somebody may be able to recommend a tradesman.

melb

hi I'm in Leeds. thanks

Bettie

melb wrote: »

hi there well after spending over £300 to someone for regrouting and resealing stone tiles and resealing round bath in an attempt to cure a persistant though intermittent leak through our dining room ceiling, the leak is still there and the insurance plumber has come round today to find other possible reason and showed us the water running down the back of the bath when the shower is on it because the silicone job has failed after less than a week. He has told us that they have used Decorators' Caulk rather than sealant/silicone. I rang the person who did the job and he said no we used plumbers' silicone. I noticed that the finish was matt and hard rather than shiny and soft. Can't believe we've been fleeced yet again! We already held back £50 from the final amount as the job was not of the standard promise. Where do we go from here?

Wonder why it is failing? With mine it is because the bath moves too much so that has to be rectified before sealant will be any good. Could you not use a plastic curtain all round as a temporary fix?

melb

yes I wonder if this might be the problem although there is no obvious movement when you're in it. I suppose we could get one of those circular metal rails and have a shower curtain all round but we do already have a shower screen opposite the shower and I think the curtain would look awful but as you say it would stop the leak

mart.vader

melb wrote: »

what I should have asked is would there be any benefit to them to use the incorrect substance? I can't think there would be.

Yes, there is a benefit. Decorators Caulk is much cheaper than silicone sealant.

It's leaking because caulk isn't designed to be waterproof.

OK, bath wedged in at the end of the bathroom - it still shouldn't be an insurmountable task.

heretohelp

I bought some silicone from a pound shop once when i used it it looked and felt like caulk he might have did the same.

muckybutt

Pm me your details, i'm in Leeds tomorrow morning...cuppa tea and biccie that'll do me.