Dealing with a bad tradesman

magn8p

Hi there,

I recently engaged a builder to re-purpose our wardrobes into an en-suite. We had an initial agreement about the cost and deadline but then as the job went along he kept telling me that it's going to cost a bit more than what he initially thought and I told him I don't mind paying up 5% more as long as he does a good job.

At this point I paid him £1500 and agreed to pay the rest as the job progressed.

8 days down the line, after 4 no-show days it was clear that he isn't doing a good job and at one point told me that I am better off with an ensuite with just a shower as he thought there wasn't enough room to fit a toilet. I told him my requirements and I felt him being the expert, I relied on him with the planning and executing. However, now it's also clear that he didn't have a good plan in place.

So, we had an elaborate conversation on the 8th day and even asked him about dropping the idea of building the ensuite and rather converting it into a walk-in wardrobe. I guess this made him realise what he has done and then promised to come up with an ensuite design and decided to go for space saving toilets etc to make sure it is still feasible.

However, he has asked for a week off which I agreed for but it's more than 10 days since I last saw him and he hasn't shown up yet. Every time I write to him, he gives an excuse.

Can someone tell me how I can solve this issue? Am I better off approaching trading standards body? What is the best course of action from here?

Mags.

Doozergirl

So where did you decide to try and put the en-suite on your floorplan.

Look, I know a forum isn't the ideal place to find professional advice and you can't check qualifications or experience, but this sort of thing is my absolute bread and butter and I gavw you an awful lot of help.

I told you it wouldn't fit. We had a long conversation and I backed up everything that I said, giving you dimensions etc.

The last thing we all spoke about was asking you compromise on everything you were expecting.

You then decided to hire someone who said 'yes' and now discover that it doesn't fit.

This bloke might be an idiot but you were absolutely pre-warned and I told you that your plans were 'bizarre' back in February when you didn't own the house and were planning to move in March. How on earth did you manage to correctly plan and arrange a decent firm to carry out the work for us to be where we are at the beginning of April?

How much have you paid him and what has been done? What was the quote?

He's gone, probably because you've only commited to spending 5% more and he wants to cut his losses.

Doozergirl

The old thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5595823

magn8p

Thanks for that nudge :-)

Got the keys in the last week of February. I thought of getting the job done before moving in as I thought it would less of an inconvenience for the family.

As you have suggested, we thought building an ensuite right next to the family bath would make the bedroom smaller, so went for the re-purposing the wardrobe instead - of course it takes some space but just about the size of standalone wardrobe. Also, in order run the waste, it needs a macerator - I was aware of the issues involved hence agreed go for a good one - the Sanflo one.

Agreed price: £5,500 + VAT
Amount paid so far: £1500

Work he has done so far:
1. Remove the separating wall between the wardrobes.
2. Add stud-wall to the extended part.
3. Add plaster boards to the roof
4. Run wiring to the roof
5. Make holes to run waste pipes

Hope this information helps.

Doozergirl wrote: »

So where did you decide to try and put the en-suite on your floorplan.

Look, I know a forum isn't the ideal place to find professional advice and you can't check qualifications or experience, but this sort of thing is my absolute bread and butter and I gavw you an awful lot of help.

I told you it wouldn't fit. We had a long conversation and I backed up everything that I said, giving you dimensions etc.

The last thing we all spoke about was asking you compromise on everything you were expecting.

You then decided to hire someone who said 'yes' and now discover that it doesn't fit.

This bloke might be an idiot but you were absolutely pre-warned and I told you that your plans were 'bizarre' back in February when you didn't own the house and were planning to move in March. How on earth did you manage to correctly plan and arrange a decent firm to carry out the work for us to be where we are at the beginning of April?

How much have you paid him and what has been done? What was the quote?

He's gone, probably because you've only commited to spending 5% more and he wants to cut his losses.

Doozergirl

So how big is your cupboard now? Exactly.

Doozergirl

Can you take a phot of what is done.

How many days work has he done?

magn8p

Thanks for your swift reply, I will take the pics and share it tonight.

Doozergirl wrote: »

Can you take a phot of what is done.

How many days work has he done?

magn8p

Please find the images in the link attached.

Days worked so far - 4 (6 Hours a day). In one of the pics, you will also find revised layout.

The corner shower cubicle is 900x900mm - http://amzn.to/2oyVZqE

Toilet is victorian high level cistern with a projection of 500mm - http://amzn.to/2oyXnJT

Washbasin (not shown in the pics below but shown in the layout) - http://amzn.to/2oySZKW

Towel warmer - http://amzn.to/2oz3Jsw

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0ByzZtpskPzlFZmVLLVlUd3pHMzg?usp=sharing

Thank you.

Doozergirl wrote: »

Can you take a phot of what is done.

How many days work has he done?

magn8p

I believe you can assess this from the information provided above, if you want me to take precise measurements, more than happy to do so.

Doozergirl wrote: »

So how big is your cupboard now? Exactly.

Furts

Doozergirl knows her stuff, and I have not followed your thread to date. A quick look at the photos and it is not good. However you appear to have glossed over the multitude of issues and just given links to the sanitary ware. Pure superficial stuff which lacks any thought or practtical, common sense input.

Come along, get real and wake up. Where do you stand with Buildings Regulations? What is the proposed floor detail under the shower? How do you intend to beef up the dangerous bulkhead - there is a real risk shower users will fall through to the floor below. Then where does the waste go? How is it routed? Where is the feeds? Where is the extract? How are you waterproofing and/or backer boarding? The list goes on - I will stop there.

You may indeed have a bodging contractor. But Doozergirl has hit a nail straight on the head. Consider your role in all of this - a competent contractor likes to work for a competent consumer.

andyhop

That is hideous

How do you expect to seal the outside of th enclosure when it's touching the wall

Good luck getting that passed by building control