to be --really-- --cross-- frustrated by our bathroom fitter?!?

[JingleyJen]

He started on Monday
I have just been up there and he asked what flooring we were having - I showed him the flooring and asked at what point it would be fitted.
"oh I don't do flooring" WTF
I pointed out that we had discussed flooring when he came to quote and he had said it wasn't a problem. I now know that it isn't a problem because he doesn't touch it!!!

So I said that I thought we should go through other things that I have understood that he is doing and check -

Well he doesn't do skirting boards
he doesn't do cupboards
he doesn't do painitng and decorating

So when I thought that he would leave us with a finished bathroom he is actually going to leave us with bare plaster and no skirting boards and no flooring with the cupboards still in boxes.

Not only this but we aren't having one bathroom done by him we are having 3 bathrooms done

I know in my heart these misunderstandings are our fault because we haven't got in writing that he is going to paint the rooms or put the flooring down. We shouldn't have assumed anything.

ARRGGHHHH!! I also know that good painters and decoraters are a 6 month wait in this area. We have waited since October for him to be able to fit us in - we could have booked the painters to come in if we had known

Sorry I know I am ranting but I can't shout at him and I need to compose myself before we have another conversation.

Help!!

Think of it this way - you got off lightly. it is very rare to find a workman who can do all these things to a high standard. Mostly, you'll find that bathroom fitters who claim to be able to do your decorating and flooring and plumbing are 'Jack of All trades, Master of None'. If you want a really good finish, get specialist tradesmen in to do each thing separately. i speak from bitter experience!

Does he know of anyone that is able to do the other jobs for you?

thanks ladies - am a little less cross now.

Just more work and expense -
need to find a fitter for the floor
and painter & Decorater.

Was hoping to have more time sat on my arse doing nothing just being lazy

I know, I know - it's a pain in the arse isn't it? We are renovating our whole house, so trust me, I feel your pain

you CAN shout at him, it sounds like he misled you about what he was going to do in order to get the job.

Where abouts are you, my DP can do all of those things

I also tend to agree with motherfunk, it is difficult when you get someone who claims to be able to do it all. My DP is a carpenter and he is very good. He is also good at plastering too, does tend to take him longer though as he is a perfectionist. As for fitting the bath, that should be a plumbers job so he contracts that side of things out, because you cant do everything.

What floor are you having by the way?

I am a bit that you expected your plumber to do all that TBH. When we had our bathroom done DH did the painting (small bathroom and two walls tiled so not much and fitted the floor. He consulted with the plumber though and fitted the floor after the old suite went out and before the new suite went in, making it much more straightforward as he didn't have to fit round the toilet and sink. So the plumber basically fitted the new suite, raised the header tank so that the mains shower (wasn't one before) would have better pressure and tiled.

i agree with MF too, my DH is a plumber/gas fitter, he does bathrooms, but would never have the time or the inclination to paint/decorate it aswell, everyone seems to have their own trade so if this bloke has told u he would do it all, then he most likely is a jack of all trades, TBH if the decorating was included in the price, theni'd bloody well make him decorate is aswell lol

My DP fitted a bathroom for someone. He did it all. In as much as he did all the carpentry (they had bespoke hardwood cupboards and built in sink units etc) and tiling. He contracted in a plumber to fit the bath units etc and plumb everything in. He organised the electrician to do the shower and lighting. So, as far as the client was concerned, DP did the bathroom. If the OPs bathroom fitter implied that all was going to be done then it should have been done, otherwise he is in breech of contract.

This goes on to highlight the importance of getting estimates in writing. We learnt this through bitter experience ourselves, but from the other point of view. DP fitted a floor in a clients house (actually a "friend" of mine), bathroom actually. We quoted for labour only, as she was chosing he laminate. She asked DP to go and fetch it, and then when it was time for payment she said she thought it was in the price. It wasnt, but we had to swallow it as I didnt make this clear in the estimate. So basically, it really should be tough on the bathroom fitter. You can bet your life i itemise all our estimates now!! That way, the client is absolutely clear what they are having done and they prefer to see exactly what there money is being spent on!

LEM we are in Cambridge if you are anywhere near here it would be great!

It was just one of those conversations when he came round that flowed - he doesn't sell his services as just a plumber he has a "bathroom fitting company" I had thought (wrongly) that that was finished product bathrooms.

You live and learn, am not cross any more, just needed to vent earlier. I asked at school this morning and one lady said that her friends Dh may be able to come and do the flooring after work one day next week.

My sis has said she will come over and we are going to have a painting party to at least get the first coat of paint on everywhere.

Once again, thanks all.

We are in Kent, so a bit of a trek i think Sounds like you have a good plan in order there though

Jingley - things like that aren't that tough anyway - my dp has just put in a new bathroom, built a wall, tiled it, put new radiator on and fitted skirting, painted and decorated. Depending on which floor you have chosen you may well be able to do it yourself....

He had no experience whatsoever and it looks fab, far more professional than my friend's 'dolphin' bathroom which is shite btw