Dealing with a bad tradesman

Alex1983

If the saniflo is sitting right behind the toilet how is the shower waste going to get to it. Where the shower is, the waste will be under the floor and the saniflo will be above the floor, The shower and basin waste will need to continuously full till it gets to the saniflo.

magn8p

Thanks for your quick response Alex.

I already asked him that. He said that he is going to raise the base of the shower and run the pipe on the floor so that the gravity drives the water to Saniflo. The waste will run on the floor but concealed.


The sanitary ware in the picture are only place holders - they aren't installed yet.

Alex1983 wrote: »

If the saniflo is sitting right behind the toilet how is the shower waste going to get to it. Where the shower is, the waste will be under the floor and the saniflo will be above the floor, The shower and basin waste will need to continuously full till it gets to the saniflo.

System

magn8p wrote: »

Thank you.

The previous questions and Doozen's discouragement was about building an ensuite right next to the existing bath or modifying the existing bath to accommodate an ensuite - it was not about re-purposing wardrobes. In fact one of the users in the previous discussion suggested that but wasn't sure how the waste would run.

So, I posted the job in myhammer.co.uk, invited 2 builders onsite and ended up with the following builder who appeared to be very trustworthy and dependable.

http://directory.myhammer.co.uk/profile/mclean-building-services-essex

Looking over the previous thread, you have exactly​ the same issues, too little room, plumbing issues etc.
What you have done is start work with no viable plan of how this works. When a space is very tight the best thing to do is plan it in minute detail to make sure it works. That means doing proper scaled drawings with precise sanitaryware etc, not "realising" halfway through construction that you don't have enough room.
An ensuite that no one can fit in and losing a wardrobe isn't really a sound investment here.
What did the other builder you had out say about the job??

Mr.Generous

Raising and boxing will work, get your builder to sketch out his plans. Think about door opening too. Seen tiny en suite's that look like they will work, then a towel warmer goes in and the door won't open wide enough to admit anyone other than Victoria Beckham.

magn8p

I agree with you about the making proper plan.

The builder gave me an initial plan and it all made sense with a toilet - wash basin combi and he said he has all the right sanitary ware that will fit in. In hindsight I should've more attention to detail, but you can see his reputation on that website, I guess I was blinded by that.

The other builder said it's going to cost a lot more - £1,500 more as it involves installing a macerator.

As for the wardrobe, this is a 1950s one and the old wardrobes were hardly usable. And we figured out we are better of with an Ikea pax wardrobe and you can see where that goes in the picture below where the cupboard of the second bed is closed - it's almost 4 x 1.5 ft.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByzZtpskPzlFOFFnc1d5VG0tZ2s

Thanks again for sharing your views, really appreciate sparing your valuable time.

the_r_sole wrote: »

Looking over the previous thread, you have exactly​ the same issues, too little room, plumbing issues etc.
What you have done is start work with no viable plan of how this works. When a space is very tight the best thing to do is plan it in minute detail to make sure it works. That means doing proper scaled drawings with precise sanitaryware etc, not "realising" halfway through construction that you don't have enough room.
An ensuite that no one can fit in and losing a wardrobe isn't really a sound investment here.
What did the other builder you had out say about the job??

magn8p

Thanks a ton for equipping me with all contextual knowledge!

I like your quip about victoria beckham :-D

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Raising and boxing will work, get your builder to sketch out his plans. Think about door opening too. Seen tiny en suite's that look like they will work, then a towel warmer goes in and the door won't open wide enough to admit anyone other than Victoria Beckham.

Furts

magn8p wrote: »

I agree with you about the making proper plan.

The builder gave me an initial plan and it all made sense with a toilet - wash basin combi and he said he has all the right sanitary ware that will fit in. In hindsight I should've more attention to detail, but you can see his reputation on that website, I guess I was blinded by that.

The other builder said it's going to cost a lot more - £1,500 more as it involves installing a macerator.

As for the wardrobe, this is a 1950s one and the old wardrobes were hardly usable. And we figured out we are better of with an Ikea pax wardrobe and you can see where that goes in the picture below where the cupboard of the second bed is closed - it's almost 4 x 1.5 ft.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByzZtpskPzlFOFFnc1d5VG0tZ2s

Thanks again for sharing your views, really appreciate sparing your valuable time.

Your comment does not stand up to scrutiny. You are having a macerator installed.

I will try once more to help. Your builder has done six hour days and spun out the work looking on you as a cash cow. You in turn have colluded with this by not designing, managing and inspecting the work. You could have taken on professional help but have chosen not to.

The end result is a dogs dinner. i will be utterly blunt here and point out the obvious with your photos. Regardless of any reviews for your builder the studwork and plasterboard is absolutely !!!!!y - work done by a rank first rate amateur. That you have not taken this to task and got a grip of matters is something for you to ponder.

Sometimes being blunt and telling it as it is produces a lightbulb moment. Will this now occur with your situation?

Sit back and reconsider everything about your building thoughts.

comeandgo

Next time you go to these sort of on line web sites for good builders check the dates of the reviews. What has this company been doing between 2012 and 2017. Only one review. And the jobs he has been reviewed on are not big jobs, little repairs. He is saying he is a member of Federation of Master Builders I think they require their members to do decent work.

magn8p

Thanks and you are spot on. He told me there were no reviews as his existing customers called him for more work.

comeandgo wrote: »

Next time you go to these sort of on line web sites for good builders check the dates of the reviews. What has this company been doing between 2012 and 2017. Only one review. And the jobs he has been reviewed on are not big jobs, little repairs. He is saying he is a member of Federation of Master Builders I think they require their members to do decent work.

Annie1960

If he really is a member of the fmb you can take this up with them.

Are you sure he is a member?