Question to those who have used builders… who should pay for this?

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So the situation is that the client requested a bathroom shower hob and shower screen removed thereby converting the bathroom to a wet room.

Builder asked if the floor tiling extended under the hob to which the client mistakenly said it did. The floor had been laid many years ago and she thought the floor had been laid and the hob had been added afterwards.

When the builder removed the hob it became clear that this was not the case.

The hob had been built at the same time as the flooring laid and by removing the hob, the waterproofing is now compromised requiring the entire bathroom tiling and first row of tiles on the wall to be replaced.

So who should pay for this? The client or the builder?

Appreciate your views. Thanks.

The client

Client.

Client

The client.

Client

Client

Client

I’m puzzled why anyone might think the builder should pay!?

Yes. The builder was acting on the client’s incorrect information.

Client. Even if the builder accepted full responsibility for design and construction as part of his works, the missing floor tiles would be significant enough to constitute a variation for which the client would pay.

The client obvs, are you they?

Client

May I ask what a bathroom hob is??? Having just spent nearly 3yrs renovating and learning SO many new building terms from roofing tiles, soffits, insulation types to down to flooring options, I've never heard this term? Is it a bathroom cabinet under the sink?

Client

Client. Builder is not responsible for the client not knowing their house and being given incorrect information.
At best they could have warned client of possible consequences of going ahead if they were not sure information was true. But if client stated it as fact it's not the builders job to truffle out if actually they might be mistaken.

Client.

a job shouldn’t cost a builder anything.

unless they fucked something up and then of course it’s up to them to rectify it at their cost.

Client of course. Why on earth would the builder be responsible for incorrect information?

I think they mean the shower tray.

Of course the client

Obviously the client.

Neither.
And you are being (both) massively unreasonable.

Just removing the shower tray, does not a wet room make. Even if the tiles are patched in.

Is there a fall in the floor to ensure the water drains correctly?
Are the tiles sufficiently non-slip?
Is there a continuous water proofing membrane under the tiles?
Is there confidence that the existing tiling is absolutely perfect, as any imperfections could lead to cracking and water leaks?

I bet it's a "no" to all the above ⬆️
The client might be lacking in the knowledge but the builder is clearly a cowboy (yet another). Barely anything attracts a cowboy as much as a wet room does. Probably a close second to anything that needs doing on the roof.

I totally agree!
It's very naive of them both to think it's likely that the floor below the shower tray would be suitable as a wet room floor. Why would a shower tray have been installed in the first place if the floor had been built to meet wet room specifications?

Client.

This. Of course.

A wet room is an entirely different beast.

Personally I'd never have a wet room unless it was on the ground floor. And no basement...

Client 💯