www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Started a new job today helping a client finish off a house refurbishment, kitchen and bathroom to finish, skirting, flooring, bit of plastering etc.... nothing too difficult really.

We did quickly view the job a few weeks ago at night but today we've spotted some absolutely shocking workmanship that wasn't immediately evident on measuring up to quote.

The kitchen units and worktop sit almost an inch off the wall in places, the carcasses aren't even fixed to the wall and some aren't fixed to the worktop, the whole 4m run is free to pivot against the high spots on the wall. The sink is fitted and plumbed in. The stop cock is tight up against one of the legs on the back of a unit. The pipework is all speedfit.

The bathroom and some bits of the kitchen have been cladded in some pvc cladding, nothing lines up with the cladding, the pics will show this better than words. The sink drain pipe is siliconed on a join at a funny angle and surprisingly doesn't drain properly. The shower cubicle is spaced off the wall to allow pipe runs.

When I mentioned all this to my client they explained it was there nephew who had done it and he lived 90 miles away and it had taken him a year to get to this stage.

I'll let the pics do the talking.

I have seen some bad jobs and this is up there - strip it out, plaster it out and refit what you can

A 135 elbow should sort out the pipe but going by the other pics I would imagine there is zero drop or it runs up hill

Bob225 wrote:I have seen some bad jobs and this is up there - strip it out, plaster it out and refit what you can

A 135 elbow should sort out the pipe but going by the other pics I would imagine there is zero drop or it runs up hill

You're correct, next to zero drop on that pipe.
The bathroom is gonna take a lot of work, total bodge job.

I've seen "professionals" do worse. I was horrified, but at least it ended up looking ok.

Are those the before or after pics?

Oops

What a bloody mess

DWD

If you think thats bad you should see some of the work done by so-called qualified builders/ plumbers/electricians, here in France, of course they tend to work for stupid brits, that have seen too much crap "Live abroad" Tv, they take big cash payments, run about in unlicensed, uninsured, no CT (MOT) vans and cars, sometimes do very bad, and dangerous work, then bugger off back to blighty some actually stay to continue the misery. It will be the same Iam sure in the Uk and other countries, the main thing here is there is no building control, just get your plans passed and build, you are supposed to tell them when its done, especially "New Builds," so they can check its up to the latest thermal standard, but if you dont tell them, because it costs money and they then tell the tax office so you have to pay tax etc, nobody checks yet This may change this year if you leave the EU.

Had a call from client last week, they'd sold the house and buyers had arranged a survey. Surveyor got the keys and upon opening the door found the kitchen flooded and a chunk of the kitchen ceiling down.

We'd turned the water off when we finished, client said his sister had been, she is the mother of the diy bodger, and left the water on.

Took me all of a minute to fix the leak, he'd not tightened the lock nut on a push fit fitting into the toilet, as he hadn't sealed the pipe entry hole in the bathroom it had ran everywhere for a week [emoji44]. We didn't remedy the bathroom as we had to spend so much time on the kitchen.

Upshot is that half the kitchen is ruined and the ceiling and decorating need to be redone once repaired. Living room carpet is also sodden.

I thought those lock nuts were there to stop accidental removal of the fitting, they don't actually do anything to stop the fitting leaking.

Rorschach wrote:I thought those lock nuts were there to stop accidental removal of the fitting, they don't actually do anything to stop the fitting leaking.

Hmmm....I thought they sealed the o-ring tight around the pipe.

It was probably the fitting not pushed home originally and was just gripped on the edge I reckon. The surge of the water turned on by the sister probably moved it to leak.

DWD

I think the lock also prevents water pressure from blowing the fitting. However in the case, as DD says, probably wasn't fully engaged or the o ring had shifted, again preventing a good seal.

ah