Remedial work

[ColumboOnTheCase]

Hi all

I have had my bathroom done this summer hired a local plumber with good reviews to undertake the work.

He started 2nd week of August then went off on holiday and left his son to run things. They hired a tiler (not their usual tiler apparently) who was stroppy and sloppy with his work as a result he used the wrong sized trim and some of the floor and wall tiles are uneven. They hired an even worse carpenter (apparently also not their regular carpenter) who cut a square hole for a rounded edge on the furniture thankfully this was rectified but the furniture does not look properly installed ie gaps between the worktop and the units.

Now we agreed £3k for the work to be done. I have asked him to rectify the tiling and have yet to ask him about the furniture. He hasn’t invoiced me yet and the dates he is offering to get the remedial tiling work done is the date I am due to start a new job.

He is anxious for payment and I get that, so was hoping for some opinions on how much I should hold back until the work is completed to an acceptable standard. Thank you if managed to reach the end, any opinions would be welcome.

I may be in the wrong, but it would irk me to pay him anything until the job was finished to my satisfaction. I’d be concerned that he might write-off the remainder of the payment and leave me with gaps and uneven tiling.

Thank you for your reply knittedfairies I appreciate it, this whole thing is making me so anxious. I don’t want to come across as unreasonable as I’m a non confrontational person and thought part payment would be a good gesture. but also don’t want to be taken for a fool as I have saved up for so long to get this done. You are right he could just write it off.

Don’t pay until he rectifies it. Otherwise you’ll never get it fixed.

Thanks bigbluebubble I’m so glad I posted

I don't think you have any basis to withhold the lot, although working out the right amount is tricky.
Basically estimate the cost of the remedial work, double it, add a bit, and then pay the rest ie the undisputed amount for work done correctly.
That means you can get someone else to solve it if he doesn't, but he's not out of pocket for the work that was done ok.

Thanks johnd I initially thought of paying two thirds but not sure of the cost of the remedial work.

Me neither but you have to show willing. We were lucky to have an architect to deal with that kind of thing as it was a bigger project. You could just go for half, it's better than nothing?
If it came to court I'm not sure who would work it out but it would basically be the value of the work done compared with the specification (whether it would be implied, verbal or written down) and of course the contractor would have the right to finish it to the right standard for full payment.

Hi

Just to update plumber came in today back from his hols, his son had not been keeping him informed. The tiler, who recommended the tiler who undertook the work, told him that we were being fussy, and so the plumber was being a little funny with me, perhaps thinking I was evading payment. He came in to look at the work and was not happy with it and is arranging different tiler to fix problems and different carpenter to remedy the problem with the cabinets. I am so relieved thought I had a fight ahead of me, even doubted myself for bit as he had so many good reviews.

Great news glad you're all ok!!