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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect this replacing

44 replies

Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 20:07

Last week I noticed the carpet on the downstairs toilet was wet. It seemed to be coming from the boiler. I contacted customer services as the house is a new build and we have only been in 6 months. They sent a plumber out who couldn't see the leak and said keep an eye on it. Over the weekend it has got worse. To the point you squelch when walking on the carpet. I contacted the site office today and a plumber came round and located and fixed the leak. It took about an hour.
Would I be unreasonable to ask for replacement flooring? It is still very squelchy underfoot. Thanks all in advance.

OP posts:
CloudsAndTrees · 20/05/2013 20:09

On a new house you bought 6 months ago?

No. YANBU.

LIZS · 20/05/2013 20:10

You can try but you'll probably be told to claim on your house insurance.

WeAreEternal · 20/05/2013 20:16

I agree with LIZS, it's worth asking but its unlikely they will accept responsibility and more likely that they will say that they are not responsible and suggest that you claim on your home insurance.

Original poster
Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 20:17

Lizs-really? With the excess it would mean being £50 out of pocket and we are totally skint 😳

OP posts:
WeAreEternal · 20/05/2013 20:33

I would put money on them saying they don't accept any responsibility for the fault, the leak or any damage caused, and that they/their plumber fixed the leak as a good will gesture.
They may even come up with a 'diagnosis' for the leak from the plumber that suggests that you were responsible, such as overuse or obvious tampering.

You would be well within your rights to ensure they fixed the leak, but I think you will struggle to get them to agree to replace the carpet.

I'm sure you can get an off cut cheaply, try calling all of your local carpet shops. We did this last year for a downstairs WC and got a new carpet for £15.

Original poster
Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 20:37

Weare- we paid extra for all the carpets and it is the same carpet throughout the house. Do you know if it would just dry out?

OP posts:
ArtexMonkey · 20/05/2013 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 20:43

Artex - yes I think that's a good idea, I will get my better half to do it :-)

OP posts:
Choccywoccydodah · 20/05/2013 20:45

Carpet in a toilet Shock

Seriously though, they probably won't, but I would still ask.

WMittens · 20/05/2013 20:52

Insurance probably wouldn't pay out, as it is usually 'sudden and unforseen escape of water' (i.e. burst pipes) - a slow leak doesn't qualify.

However, I would have thought it would dry out with too much issue, just keep the window open or put something hygroscopic (caustic soda) in a bowl in there, and keep the temperature reasonably high.

WeAreEternal · 20/05/2013 20:52

I would lay down towels, to try and soak up as much as possible, then just leave it to dry.
Keeping the heating on (if you have a radiator in there would be great) will help.
Keeping it warm will dry it out faster.
You could also use a portable heater or a hair dryer.
I would also advise hiring a carpet cleaner such as a rug doctor or a wet vacuum if the carpet is still squelchy. They spray soapy water out and then suck it up, it is great for sucking unwanted moisture out of sodden carpets.

And make sure you keep the window open as much as possible, the fresh air will help dry it out and stop it from getting damp and mouldy.

Obviously the faster it drys out the better.
How long has it been wet for Chew?
And do you know what kind of underlay there is?

It should be completely rescuable. Usually for bathrooms and WCs they put plastic between the underlay and the carpet to offer some water protection, so as long as you get it dried out before the carpet gets damp or mouldy or the underlay gets ruined you should be ok.

I would also advise that you avoid walking on the carpet as much as possible while it is wet.

Original poster
Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 20:53

I know choccywoccy - it was an incentives package and we couldn't get them to budge on carpets in the bathrooms :-( we just haven't got any cash for some nice vinyl at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 20:57

Weare- we do have a vax carpet cleaner in the garage. Should I use that?

OP posts:
slug · 20/05/2013 21:01

Nappies are the business when it comes to sopping up leaks on carpets. Get a pack of the cheap ones and be amazed

ArtexMonkey · 20/05/2013 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 20/05/2013 21:06

Suck up as much water as you can and leave the window open. Depends on whether the underlay dries out properly and whether you have chipboard or concrete floor if you need to pull it up. Agree with others , we got an offcut of lino from Carpetright for under £25 to do our bathroom.

Nagoo · 20/05/2013 21:10

Yes, use the vax. Suck the water out of the carpet and ventilate the room.

Original poster
Chewmebush · 20/05/2013 21:20

There's no window but we have has the extractor fan on. That should help right?

OP posts:
Notcontent · 20/05/2013 21:41

You can get lino really cheaply and lay it down yourself.

CwtchesAndCuddles · 20/05/2013 22:15

Is the sales office still open? We bought a new build and had lots of problems and got fobbed off until I started visiting the sales office when there were lots of potential buyers there.

They soon sorted out the problems!

Original poster
Chewmebush · 21/05/2013 09:46

Yes the sales office is still open its next door. I've pulled the carpet up this morning, the underlay is soaking and the carpet backing like a hessian is disintegrating Sad

OP posts:
mercibucket · 21/05/2013 09:58

put an ad on freegle for a vinyl offcut, carpets are minging

Original poster
Chewmebush · 21/05/2013 10:03

Mercibucket- lovely input thanks Smile

OP posts:
shewhowines · 21/05/2013 10:03

YANBU - its still early enough to be argued it's a snagging problem due to a fault with the original build. We had all sorts of things fixed for a long time after our house was originally built. It may have helped that they were still building on the site a long time after we moved in.

TheChaoGoesMu · 21/05/2013 10:06

I would ask for a replacement, there's no harm in trying.