Plumber cracked my sink

Yujismum

Plumber came to replace kitchen taps and cracked the sink.
The sink was bought in 1989 from Magnet. It’s white and very strong, I know we paid a good sum of money because it was a ‘good’ sink, which it has proven to be. The plumber is very dismissive saying it’s plastic. Does anyone know what materials Magnet sinks were made of at that time? I know it’s a long while ago but that only goes to show it has been very hard wearing.

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't see what difference it makes what it's made of, the fact is it's broken. It will be difficult to prove that the crack was caused by the plumber's poor workmanship or whether he did everything right and there was a weakness there that has been exposed with the stress of fitting new taps. Any plumber will have to apply reasonable force to undo and then fit taps and if the sink is made of a material that can't withstand that force or it had a fault/slight crack beforehand, it's just bad luck. It's 30 years old so it's served you well.

The sensible solution is to work with the plumber to see if he can source you a replacement at a decent rate. The wrong solution is to start chucking around accusations, demanding compensation, etc. To have it replaced with a brand new sink would be betterment, so any compensation would be tempered by 30 years' use anyway. In other words, almost nothing.

nofoollikeold

1. Very unlikely to be plastic. Assuming it's a kitchen sink, then it may well be a resin type, such as "Coram", or possibly ceramic.
2. If I have difficulty removing taps, I warn the customer that there is a risk of the sink cracking, and that the risk is their's. They have the option of asking me to stop work, but in reality, if one plumber (using the proper techniques and tools) can't do it, its unlikely another will be any more successful.
3. As Aylesbury Duck has pointed out, a 30 year old sink is of virtually no value. I think you'll have to take it on the chin. If it were me, I'd install a new one for a reduced (labour) price, but only as a gesture of good will.

Yujismum

Alyesbury, you clearly have not understood why I am asking about the material the sink is made of. I have every intention of working with the plumber in finding a resolution to the problem. When I say he was dismissive and claimed the sink was plastic, he has a reason to do so. Ie plastic is a weak material therefore liable to crack. Also I am not in the habit of chucking accusations ‘ around, as perhaps you may be, I asked a fairly straight forward question. Working with the plumber, or anyone else come to that, involves a certain amount of trust. So when, as in this case, the plumber dismisses the fact that this is not a cheap easily breakable material, it puts into question whether one can trust other things he may say when we are trying to come to a resolution which respects both of us.

Doozergirl

That escalated quickly

Doozergirl

I think the fact is that old taps can be very hard to remove and there is a risk of the sink giving way first.

The guy was probably a bit embarrassed and defensive, but it isn't actually unusual for what has happened to happen.

If you buy a new sink, he may fit it for you for a reduced rate. If you want to argue about what it's made of then he might end up disappearing. Things that are pursued 'as a matter of principle' are often irrelevant in the grand scheme. What is relevant is sensible conversation that might find you a compromise.
What isn't important is pointing out what it's made of - it's broken and it's likely to be counteractive, especially if your response to the plumber is anything like your one to Aylesbury Duck!

There's a reason why tradespeople aren't all that keen on repairing things. You do a £50 job and someone ends up irate and needing a new sink.

That said, a photo is going to be the thing that helps us work out what it is made of.

Yujismum

Doozergirl still missing my point. Not ‘arguing’ about the sink material. Yes, of course he was defensive, understandably. But I would like honesty so we can begin to work out a resolution that is really fair. For both of us.

Yujismum

There's a reason why tradespeople aren't all that keen on repairing things. You do a £50 job and someone ends up irate and needing a new sink.

Yes and there’s a reason why people having work done can feel taken for a ride.

Doozergirl

Yujismum wrote: »

Doozergirl still missing my point. Not ‘arguing’ about the sink material. Yes, of course he was defensive, understandably. But I would like honesty so we can begin to work out a resolution that is really fair. For both of us.

Yujismum wrote: »

Yes and there’s a reason why people having work done can feel taken for a ride.

Taken for a ride for £50 or so? Have you paid him yet? I doubt you would have.

You know, there are more bad customers than bad tradespeople. He isn't being dishonest if he doesn't know what it's made of. You don't either!

I get the distinct feeling that what you think is fair isn't actually fair - you need to buy a new sink that you like and that is why we're saying the material is irrelevant. You haven't said that you're really keen to buy the same - there's hundreds of different composites out there now - you said you were angry that he said it was plastic. That suggests you expect him to pay towards the sink. I'm suggesting that he'll have other ideas and am trying to temper your expectations a bit.

When you think the problem is everyone else, you need to have a little re-think about where the problem might be.

As I said, though, I'm sure people will help if there's a photo. No one can guess.

kinger101

Yujismum wrote: »

The sink was bought in 1989 from Magnet. It’s white and very strong, I know we paid a good sum of money because it was a ‘good’ sink, which it has proven to be.

(A) It's now 28 years old. Plastics deteriorate with age.
(B) It was from Magnet anyway, so can't have been that good.

in_my_wellies

I have a ceramic sink in perfect condition. I've had the taps changed twice. Once in situ and when I moved house I brought it with me and had it fitted here with another change of taps. I'd be very cross if it had been broken. It might be 28 years old but it's certainly not worth nothing to me.