Tiling in bathroom

[Leif]

Some pictures:









You can see that he is resting the tiles on the edge of the coving. You can also see in the third picture that the two halves of the hole he cut for the left hand copper pipe (where two tiles join) do not meet, and will be visible when he puts on the shower unit (there are two 5cmm diameter plates that fit on the wall).

He has said he will do it as I want it, but I can't see how he can put it right without making a worse bodge job. He cannot do it with no coving. I can't see how he can put up new coving correctly. At least if he had tiled flat to the edge of the coving, it would have looked so so put not this bad. I can't understand why he left the old coving in place. The original quote was without plastering, but given that old tiles were in place, and some of the wall was to be painted, I can't see how you could get away without plastering.

[royaloakcarpentry]

Oh well at least the tiling has not been finished yet.........tell me there are more to be put up!!! Just looked at pics again and he has finished tiling

That is the thing with being neat and tidy, clients miss other things as it puts them at ease. messy work normally gets inspected in minute detail.

I spy a ready mixed adhesive has been used on all but the top two courses.........incorrect. Tiles are too large for a ready mixed adhesive. They should be fixed with a bagged adhesive. Marpei do a larger format ready mixed adhesive but doubt the tiler knows this. Although, that isn't a tiler who has done the work. Handyman work that is and a chancer at that, probably drives a mini cab in the evenings.

Taking the coving down and tiling up to the ceiling will leave a pathetic looking rip at the top.

There are other things too.

I would have the whole lot off and done again by a tiler.

Belongs in the rogues gallery to be honest with you.

[Leif]

Oh lord.

Can I rectify the fact that he left the old coving in place? If I have the tiling removed, it will tear up the wall, and the old coving will still be in place. Then I will have to pay a substantial sum to have it rectified (no idea how) and re-tiled. And finding someone reliable is impossible. I've had three companies do work. The kitchen people, Optiplan, were brilliant. The other two companies were poor. This person is charging £5K for the bathroom refit including furniture.

Oh, and beneath the bath near the tap end the concrete feels damp. Not sure if that is an issue, but surely the water would be turned off anyway.

[Leif]

There are other things too.

Can you tell me what the other things are?

Incidentally, I found out on friday that he is not Part P registered (or whatever it is) and he does the electrics himself. Is that legal? He also said it is fine for me to replace the main light in the bathroom myself.

[royaloakcarpentry]

Take the top two courses off.Then fit new ones and finish with a tile trim.

Add a course of tiles above the dado and a row up to the ceiling and finish with trim. ( using a dado to finish looks pap, a course of tiles above looks better. IMO that is though).

If you use a metal square edge trim it will be a bit more minimal looking than a plastic quadrant trim and this way the coving can stay in place. Not brilliant but will be the best look that can be had.

Cement based addy will not come of the back of the tiles unless you use a grinding disk/scabbler. Chuck those tiles. ready mixed adhesive will come off of tiles if you soak them for 10 minutes in hot water and off the wall if you wet it. Mind you with the size of the tiles it may well not have cured yet anyway lol.

Concrete will get wet when ripping out the old bathroom but should be dry by now. The pipes should be live and thus under pressure. May well be weeping a bit judging by the rest of the work.

They obviously set battens onto the walls to give support to the bath. Fitted bath onto 4x2 bearers under the feet if on a timber floor. Filled with water so that the overflow was put under test and the waste outlet. Emptied bath so the waste was tested. Filled bath again and siliconed around the edges and left over night before emptying next day???

You can replace the main light in the bathroom as it is a fitting. Sure I am correct there. He can change the extractor for another that is fine. If he has to alter or add wiring then Part P comes into force. He does not need to be registered to do the work but you need the council to inspect and pass the work. £100 odd quid. Although perhaps the work was done when you moved in??

Why are the pipes sticking out of the wall in copper? What are they for and where are they coming from?













NO, I bet it ruddy well wasn't.

[Leif]

Thanks again. Here is the bath:



No obvious signs of any battens. Is that a bodge? Fitting instructions online make no mention.

The copper pipes are for a shower unit. They go through the wall, then into a cupboard and up into the loft (bungalow).

He is charging £5K and I have paid £3K. So according to you my best bet is tell him to scarper. I bet he would take the furniture apart from the bath. I have no idea what my legal status on this is. Surely he could argue that I simply don't like the work, and it is good.

Someone elsewhere suggested the plaster was not primed. No idea about that.

To be honest I am feeling physically sick as a result of this. And I would have to find someone else to finish off. I am concerned if he is doing things so wrong, it could cause huge issues in future. I will sell in 5+ years, and I don't want a bodged bathroom.

[darrenba]

Leif,

Whereabouts are you located?

[Leif]

Leif,

Whereabouts are you located?

East Hants near Alton.

[royaloakcarpentry]

The concrete being damp was obviously a big clue it wasn't a timber floor lol.

Looks very damp to me. Have a feel around the pipes to see if they are wet at all. Part fill the bath, about an inch deep and leave it for a while to see if the waste is wet on the underside of the bath. Then empty and see if the pipe work is leaking for the waste. It should all be solvent weld anyway so the leak will be where it joins the trap.

Those baths are very flimsy and as a matter of course we affix battens to the wall to add support. Fill bath and silicone between bath and wall. If it isn't done would this be classed as a bodge...yes, IMO and many others.

The copper pipes should have been put under pressure to test for leaks even if the valves have now been shut off in the cupboard.

He can't rip out fittings and take them away.

To put your mind at rest. Although the work is very poor, we rip out sub standard bathrooms, shower rooms that have lasted 15 years plus!

The problem for you is not getting a good tradesmen in it will be one willing to take it on. Many do not like taking on work that is already partly done and bodged.

Where are you.......Kent, Essex, London is my area. I only go further afield for larger jobs.

East Hants..........near to New Milton??? Is it

[darrenba]

East Hants..........near to New Milton??? Is it

New Milton is West Hants. Alton is south of Basingstoke

[Razor]

Sorry to add to your woes but you do realise the baths round the wrong way to have a shower that end don't you?

[Leif]

Does anyone else have any opinions on the quality of the work from the pictures?

I can't see myself keeping him on even though he has said "I rather talk to you than do this over email. What ever you want doing will be done.". Given current standards, I cannot see him making good. A pro on another forum said he would be ashamed of the work.

Also, if he sends an invoice for work done, what do I do? Of if he threatens legal action as I have not allowed him to make good?

I cannot do the work myself (many items are too heavy for me to lift) and I do not have the time.

[Leif]

Sorry to add to your woes but you do realise the baths round the wrong way to have a shower that end don't you?

I did wonder. What difference does it make?

[Razor]

Stand in the bath after putting something in to protect it and see how far away from the shower wall you are.

[Leif]

Stand in the bath after putting something in to protect it and see how far away from the shower wall you are.

Thanks. These are the sorts of things that I do not notice, until of course I use the bathroom. Clearly a professional with pride in their work knows these basics.