Had a builder in to tile our ensuite shower. He removed the existing mixer shower, tiled the area then replaced it.
Day later we noticed a small leak on the ceiling below so called him to come back. I should have known then something was up because he made a lot of excuses. Anyway he did something and said it ok now.
Went out in the evening, came home and there was water everywhere. It was spurting out into the bedroom, and, as I found out later, down the inside of the wall into the ceiling and living room below. The damage is going to run into £1000s. New floors, ceiling, furniture, sofa, TV.
I've got home emergency insurance so got someone out. In their opinion, the builder refitted the shower without washers, and basically just overtightened it to stop the small leak causing it to fail badly.
I've got someone coming tomorrow to fit a new shower (properly) and hes indicated that there is no issue he can see with pipework anywhere else.
I've informed builder and his answer is he didn't touch the pipework, all he did was refit so its not his fault. Hes also tried to feed me multiple reasons why the leak occurred,
I've had no choice but to make an insurance claim via my home insurance. £750 excess because a few years I claimed when my hot water tank overheated and split. Totally unrelated but builder knows this and is saying the leak is a previous problem then.
All in all its costing me £800 excess, I dread to think of next years insurance cost too, hours and hours of time mopping up water/dealing with insurance, we can't use the living room because the sofa is ruined. To top it all off we're selling the house - thats got to be put on hold because of the condition. Thats going to cost me money when house move is delayed. On top of this the stress is massive.
I'm wondering it the builder even has PL insurance I'm beginning to doubt this.
Surely I've got a case here against him?