Bathroom woes - wwyd?

[wowfudge]

This is long, but I don't want to drop feed.

Have been living with horrendous DIY disaster bathroom for years (not our DIY). Now have the money to be able to sort it out. Don't want to spend a fortune as probably going to move within a couple of years, but need bathroom sorting out and it should help sale too.

I've spent ages working out best layout and trying to get DP to look at stuff and discuss it properly. I would be happy with 'not falling apart' tbh, DP wanted a double ended bath, bigger shower cubicle, white furniture. All fine, should be a million times better. Found bathroom fitter via friends - he's done complete bathrooms for three of them. His work is high quality, all are very pleased with the results, found his charges reasonable. He turned up when he said he would and his ballpark figure was very reasonable. I got comparison costs for the different items, although not an alternative quote including labour.

At the weekend DP and I discussed it properly, or so I thought. Marked out new shower size on floor and DP said it would be fine and to 'go for it'. Current shower is tiny and awkward so it's important it's an improvement. He expressed a preference for full tiling, which I think would look better too. Bathroom man comes back, rejigs quote for full tiling and some changes to items to be fitted. Cost has gone up a bit but this includes an extra tiles, more expensive bath and taps and extra labour.

So I book him to start next week as he can fit the job in then. He had told me when he would probably be free several weeks ago before he went on holiday btw. Can't get hold of DP - he works away during the week and his phone was dead. I order bath, taps and tiles. Hours later DP finally rings me. Difficult conversation as poor signal. He starts back tracking on bathroom and says he'll have to have a look at the shower again this weekend and think about it. And that he did say about getting an alternative quote - true several weeks ago but when we talked about costs last weekend he said it all seemed reasonable.

I was really pissed off, didn't want an argument - the conversation was difficult anyway. I haven't told him the work is starting next week; I am hoping he will come round. WWYD? I don't want to put bathroom man off because I think DP is being unreasonable and I don't want to wait any longer. It's me using the bloody bathroom every day in its current state and I came into some money which is enabling us to get it sorted. But DP will be really pissed off with me if I plough on without his agreement. Argh!

[DoJo]

Could you not tell him that unless he can get a quote and find someone else to keep to the original schedule it is going to go ahead as planned? He has had enough time to think about it, plenty of opportunity to have his say and he isn't even the one who is using the old bathroom most of the time, so I really think that he needs to shit or get off the pot as it were! If you are the one who deals with the household stuff while he is away, then he should trust you to get on with it and if he wants to make alterations to the plan then he needs to actually make a decision, not leave you with the uncertainty and the rubbish bathroom!

[wowfudge]

Thanks DoJo - quite! That's helpful too. I want to keep emotion out of it and not have a row.

I've just thought that I can tape the outline of the shower base out on part of the bathroom floor that doesn't already have a shower in it so no obstacles in the way.

Might threaten to haul him to try the display shower enclosures in B&Q on Saturday. That should stop his heel dragging in its tracks.

[wowfudge]

After several days agonising about when would be best to try to broach the subject, apparently I told DP on the phone that bathroom man is coming to start the job on Tuesday. It appears the dodgy phone line actually worked in my favour and he incorrectly pieced together what I did say, but he was not in the dark.

We've just had a laugh about me worrying that 28m2 of tiles are arriving on Monday.

Hopefully very tired and slightly mellow DP will remember this conversation tomorrow

[DoJo]

Glad it's all worked out and that he isn't going to be standing in between you and bathroom nirvana! Hope the fitting is swift and smooth and that you are enjoying your new bathroom soon...!

[wowfudge]

Thanks DoJo I have been feeling like I'm in a stupid soap opera story line. I did not have a plan B if he didn't agree on the shower! Plus I was determined not to cancel the fitting.