Faulty wetroom floor

Helly18

In 2018 we had a complete bathroom refit in which we asked for the bath to be removed and walk in shower tray fitred. The company suggested a wet room which we hadn't thought about as it's a very small room. Absolutely delighted with the end result until the grout cracked when removing the drain cover, Company came out and reassured us there wasn't an issue. Over 12-14 mth period grout seemed to degrade and wasn't drying out but despite many promised didn't came out to review.  Same company booked for small  extension (look at floor) when covid hit so things delayed but didn't get round to sorting floor, beginning  of last year had full kitchen refurbishment and when ceiling  taken down the floor was leaking in 3 placed into kitchen, this was replaced at the company's expense. Few months later grout was cracking around shower drain, Company came out and offered repair (silicone around). I raised that I wasn't happy with this and asked if we paid for the materials to fit a shower tray would they cover the cost of fitting which was met with a no. Towards the end of last  year grout start to look a bit iffy and know you can see the water bubble up from gaps in the grout approx a ft diameter  of the shower drain.  Again alot of faffing but they came out ummed n Ahhed and said the other proprietor would need to come and look, 3 weeks later nothing! I appreciate we seem a bit silly in having them back to do further work but the work otherwise has been excellent and we took it in good faith that it would be sorted out🙄.  It will cost approx £2.5 k to get another company to do but clearly the original issue  is not resolved. Is it viable to go down small claims route, I paid a nominal 100 deposit via credit card but as the floor has been replaced not sure if I could make a S75? 
Would be interested in people's thoughts, if we were taking 500 quid I would jus t get it done!

Teapot55

Wondering if you’ve got room downstairs for a second tiny wet room incorporating a shower and toilet so you don’t have to go upstairs. Might work if you’ve already got a downstairs toilet? Sounds a bit drastic but my reason for suggesting it is because I have a suspicion that wet rooms don’t really work when they’re upstairs. 

My suggestion might be ridiculous but just a thought. 

(Wondering if @Doozergirl is around to advise?)

Manxman_in_exile

I agree with @Teapot55.

I'd have thought a wet room upstairs on a wooden floor was a bit risky.

You're saying the installers recommended it?

Aylesbury_Duck

I'm not a fan of a normal shower tray upstairs, let alone a wetroom.  I'd rather have an over-bath shower upstairs, but appreciate that space and accessibility don't always permit that configuration.

tacpot12

If you have home insurance, check to see if you have legal expenses cover. If you do, give the legal help line a call. They will be able to advise on the S75 and the small claims route. 

My feeling is that 3 weeks is too short a time to give up on the original contractor deciding to resolve the issue, BUT you need to be happy that they understand why the waterproofing failed. By coincidence I've been looking into doing a wetroom as a DIY project, so have been doing lots of research. It's clear that there are a number of potential causes of wetrooms to fail, and that the old floor to be pulled up very carefully to establish the cause. The cause is likely to be the installation method, and if the contractor just repeats their standard method without understanding what has failed, it is likely that the problem will just reappear.