Problem with work carried out / plumbing

[Pulsedriver]

Hey folks!

So a long story short(ish) we bought our first house 6 months ago, and one of the jobs we did 'pre-moving' was to renovate the bathroom, by having a toilet / vanity sink unit fitted (it didn't originally have a toilet in the bathroom so they had to drill through the wall to fit a new wastepipe and then drill the concrete outside to attach it to drain), a new shower enclosure/mixer shower to replace an electric shower, and a sink in a cloakroom.
I was let down unfortunately by 2 different tradesman at the time, after they had agreed to do the job(!) and so was running out of time but managed to finally get one in, who had good ratings on the rated people website.

Anyhow, they did the job, and just over a month later I noticed a small damp patch on the kitchen ceiling (directly under the shower) so I had a look at the shower to try and see if I could tell, and sure enough some of the area had not been fully siliconed, so I put some silicone on myself and I did not see a leak again... Although the door closing of the shower enclosure was never really right from day one.

Anyway... Early last month, I came back from a couple of days away with the family and after using the shower, it was leaking a lot! So much so, it created water dripping from the ceiling below and a massive brown water stain patch on the ceiling (as well as it cracking slightly) I found the issue, the outside base of the tray was cracked open from where the door was not closing properly and a trickle of water was going in there, eventually worsening etc, once again, sillicone over that gap, stopped the leak, but it looked awful.
It then transpires, the shower enclosure had been fitted completely wrong, missing out seals and a bar across the bottom, which would have stopped such leaks, we have had another plumber out who is a decent guy, and we have had to scrap the old enclosure, and buy another one, and whilst that is being fitted as we speak, the plumber found that the shower connection was leaking slowly behind the tiles as well, a slow leak, but causing us to need to retile some of the area, and as the tiles the previous owner had used are discontinued, the whole room is being re-tiled, and the shower pipes being re-fitted from the shower end (and changed from plastic, to copper as this plumber prefers that).

With this in mind, what would be your plan of action? We didn't call the guy originally after the leak, as we don't want him anywhere near the house anymore after this, I wouldn't trust them again, but it cost me over £1600 to get that work done, granted not all of that was the shower part, but even so, you then add on the fact of the wasted shower enclosure that was only 5 months old having to be thrown out, that cost me around £500 as well.

I have photographs of all the issues and ceiling leaks etc, as well as evidence that I had called homeserve last month when the big leak occurred, but unsure on the next course of action, I could call, but it's a case of 'hi, by the way, the job you did on my house has completely had to be re-done as it's caused leaks everywhere' is the small claims court a better option? (I don't have a receipt as such for paying them, but there is bank transfer evidence)

 

[Prophet]

I think the issue claiming is that you've had it replaced and fixed without the other guy having the opportunity to 'make good' his work.

IMHO I think it's lesson learned and a bunch of cash down the drain.

 

[Abyss]

I think the issue claiming is that you've had it replaced and fixed without the other guy having the opportunity to 'make good' his work.

IMHO I think it's lesson learned and a bunch of cash down the drain.

Agreed. You've given the original plumber absolutely no opportunity to even inspect the issue let alone make good the work. The fact you've taken it upon yourself to get someone else to do the works is your choice and the likelihood of getting any money back is slim to none.

 

[Pulsedriver]

Ah well, to be honest I had kinda thought that, but friends and family have mentioned I should be letting the guy know but I thought what's the point now, I can change the rated people rating though! That said, same rule kinda applies about not being allowed back to inspect, but the more I see of what he has done, the more shocking it is, it is just so frustrating.

 

[Rids]

I think you're going to have to take the financial hit on this one - I would ask the new guy to draw up a "report" of the issues he found during his inspection and drop the original plumber a line to let him know the issues you found during the install. Explain that you don't expect compensation, but you're disappointed with the standard of his work. Give him the opportunity to offer a goodwill gesture - and if there is nothing doing I would leave a review (not overly harsh, just honest) on checkatrade etc.

 

[GinG]

Chalk it up on experience, to be honest could have been an honest mistake, especially as you say after reading a load of good reviews and feedback.

You don't know how many different ones he may be fitting, with regards to a review I wouldn't even leave one. At the end of the day it could have been a completely honest mistake which you never gave him any change to get right...

 

[Pulsedriver]

So far on the report we have;

1) Shower enclosure door fitted incorrectly, door not lined up straight on the wall so not closing entirely flush, day-to-day use causing this gap to worsen (hence leak)
2) Shower enclosure side panel fitted incorrectly, adding an extra (not required) part of pvc plastic along the bottom to 'secure' it more.
3) Not using screws in screwholes, simply using mastic and putting silver caps to cover any holes as decorative.
4) Connection to shower tap area, one connection was loose, causing water to drain down the inside of the wall, behind the tiles, this leak was ongoing - and we had no idea about it until the new plumber took the existing enclosure out and a couple of tiles to then spot the damp wall.
5)Damp around shower tray after removing - top of shower tray had a plastic 'seal' stuck to the tiles, this again was added by the plumber, and is not required, most fitters fit the tray directly to the tiles and seal flush, so it was leaking around the tray also.
6)Failing to fit all parts included with the shower enclosure which in turn caused at least one of the leaks (who knows what they did with the parts that were not fitted?!)

More than a genuine mistake, I would say that he didn't know what he was doing and bodged it up when he realised, there is a difference between a plumber and a bathroom fitter, I think it's a case that he may know the plumbing side, but not the latter... Although a loose connection is worrying, as he did other plumbing work, some of it under the floor which I will never know if leaking until it's too late!

 

[Iron-man]

Life is too short, Lesson learned and move on as not worth getting worked up over

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

Even though you've listed a catalogue of errors, as you have now had someone else out to fix it you aren't going to get anywhere with the original chap. You should have contacted him first.

Plus, how do you know the second fitter isn't exaggerating any of the "faults" to kind of justify him doing the work he needs to do etc and appeasing you?

Sorry to be the echo in the room but chalk it up to experience and move on.

 

[Johno please?]

We struggle to get payment from people who don't pay for invoices (after being taken to court), you won't get your money back and you will waste more money and time.

 

[Pulsedriver]

Yeah I have accepted I won't get any money back, just frustrating.

He definitely hasn't exaggerated it, as he shown me it as he was doing it, he's a friend of the family and wouldn't say it for nothing, plus some of the stuff I had worked out myself (even though I am not remotely any good at plumbing!)

Live and learn eh... I would have employed this guy from the start but it was too short notice when we moved in, we never knew when we would get the keys so we couldn't book anyone etc what a bummer, but fingers crossed it will be alright after this 'renovation'!