Not happy with new bathroom installation. Plumber left basin pipes exposed....

[Juicyfrooty]

Just looking for some opinions and any advice how to overcome this issue.

We have been having a complete bathroom refurb over the past 2 weeks, everything was going well until yesterday when the basin was installed. It is a wall hung basin but the plumber hasn't chased the pipes into the wall (it's an external brick wall on a 1930's house which apparently they can't bury pipes in) he has left the pipework exposed and it looks terrible.

I'm so disappointed with how it looks, is there any way around this?

Thanks

Oh that one looked good because it was really wide at the top to fit the plumbing in, most of them seem to be quite narrow.

Alternatively, something like this could work if you got a nice fabric.

He was being lazy. I've had my fair share of these experiences with tradespeople. They expect you to put up with it and the fact it was a friend means he was relying on this even more, when he should have been more motivated to do a good job.

I would get him to do it again. He can do it if he tries. Or you employ someone else at his expense. Get your OH to talk to them if you don't want to

He's used the cheapest wrong materials.

Get him to change the clips for stainless steel ones, they are available. Took me 2 minutes to google these (he should know where he can get them in the UK):

www.masales.com.au/pipe-clips

Then the copper bit of pipe should be sheathed in a stainless steel effect cover with a disk thingy which covers the hole in the floor. Like this:

www.amazon.co.uk/RADSNAPS-CHROME-RADIATOR-COVERS-COLLARS/dp/B005C1MCYY?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I’d just get it boxed in an paint it white/tile it. I couldn’t live with it like that, it just looks unfinished.

I wanted a sink like that but got a vanity sink in the end as DH said the pipes would be visible, so I'm not sure if it's avoidable with those styles unless you somehow chase them into the wall.
We've had 2 towel radiators fitted however and have no pipes showing. It did involve some wall work and replastering though. The plumber said we could do it the simple way and have visible pipes or the harder way with no pipes showing, and we went with the latter. So it's doable.

keepingbees it was completely gutted and taken back to brick so that could have been done.

I'm so annoyed and get angry every time I go in there.

I can’t think how you can do it without it looking bodged. I think I’d bite the bullet and get a replacement pedestal sink and get the builder to fit it for free.

I've told OH in no uncertain terms I'm not paying a penny until I'm happy with the finish, it's just too much money to not be happy with it and I've been waiting and saving for so long.

I think the trouble with getting a pedestal sink is you will still see the pipework if you stand to the side because they stand a few inches from the wall. They would have to move the pipes away from the wall to go in the pedestal and replace the drilled in tiles.

The only vanity sinks I seem to like are super expensive.

Actually if happily pay the electrician, to let and plasterer, they were great. Bloody plumbers have pissed it all up.

• tiler not to let

Your just going to have to grit your teeth and get them round and say you are not happy

We are having our bathrooms done at the moment. Only at first fix but I am already a bit worried about the fix for a bath tap that comes out the wall and intend to say as it is too much money

You don't have to accept a bodge. I wouldn't have a pedestal if I had originally wanted a wall hung sink. Presumably it should have been framed out to hide the pipes. Can you beat ripping the tiles out etc and doing that? Is there anything else on that wall that would need hauled out? That would be my preference although I know it would be a lot of work

How much space do you have widthways? Would a floating vanity like this work www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/washstands-taps/wash-stands/bråviken-godmorgon-wash-stand-with-2-drawers-black-brown-spr-19184834/ (lots of different colours)

We have very little space that current sink is only 400mm wide. I like those a lot but the pipes would still be hanging out the bottom.

I feel like I want them to rip it out and create a new stud wall but don't know if I can handle all the disruption and mess again.

Do you think it would look terrible if I got a vanity unit with a different sink that doesn't match the loo?

Yes, they have been linked to up thread and can be trimmed to the height you need. They're not perfect being crime effect but better than copper to chrome. Agree about the disks for the floor too.

I think it would be fine if you get something which is a piece of furniture. Like this. victoriaplum.com/product/the-bath-co-camberley-white-vanity-unit-with-basin-600mm

There is a 400mm one if yiu need smaller but it is a cloakroom sink so might not be big enough.

That's gorgeous gobbolino I was just looking at this one www.drench.co.uk/lansdown-floor-vanity-unit-lan400c-pg-lan420c which is a similar style.

I think that would be excellent.

It doesn't need to match the loo. I've just finished an ensuite where all the elements are from different ranges but they still go together. They're all white porcelain and there's a sort of shared slightly squared off look but mostly they were chosen to fit the space. I'd definitely get a vanity rather than a pedestal, lots of 40 - 50 cm ones available at all sorts of prices. Try Quality Supplies for lots of different brands, even somewhere like wayfair or eBay.
You're quite right to reject that by the way, he can't seriously expect a client to think that's acceptable presentation.

We have just done 3 bathrooms ( all at once never again!!) I think he hasn't tried very hard and I would definitely say something. I often find that my expectations and those doing the work can differ a bit ( sometimes because I have assumed something and they have assumed something else ) though I'm a pain and always say if something's wrong even if they think it's finished after all it's me that's paying !! In our bathrooms most of our pipework was boxed in behind frames. we do have small sections of copper pipe showing under the towel rails ( I didn't think to ask for chrome) but I'm just going to paint these to match the skirting/,walls and whilst chrome would look nice I think painted will look fine too - had this in my last house Lots of our bits cane from different ranges and it all looks fine - just double check that the whites go before you fit - some whites are very white some are a bit more grey in time

I think you could try making a feature of it by using those plumbing accessories linked to by previous posters - silver pipe clips, silver pipe sheaths and silver floor discs. I assume you have a bottle trap waiting to be fitted? That will be big, chrome and will definitely take your eye away from the pipes in the background. It could work, if you can embrace the industrial style!

Your other options are building out the wall, exploring adding a pedestal, or vanity unit. Depends on how much you are prepared to spend rectifying it, versus what the plumber will pay.

Oh yes, and to echo a previous poster, do not worry about things not being from 'the same range' - I've done lots of bathrooms up in the last 10 years and I've never even attempted to match - I choose the toilet I want, the sink I want and the bath I want (and the taps I want). Everything is white porcelain/chrome is interchangable.

Agree with not coming from the same range. It's fine as long as there is a similar profile (e.g. square or curved). We are currently in full house renovation hell and I have just chosen all the fittings and tiles for 3 bathrooms, 2 shower rooms and a cloakroom so I could get a bulk discount (and because I am bloody fed up of thinking about bathrooms!). All of our toilets are the same wall hung one in each room although the fittings and tiles are totally different.

A clever carpenter should be able to make a made to measure cupboard to go under the sink, just paint it white or grey and it will fit in. There won't be loads of storage space in it but every little helps and it will cover the pipes.