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Original poster

Bathroom fitter taking forever

12 replies

Manchestermanchester · 29/02/2020 14:28

It’s been three weeks and he’s not even finished the bathroom floor. His work is ok. He said it would take him three weeks, it’s now going into the forth.
I’m worried as he’s given me an estimate of the work and he might try to inflate. I’ve paid him £300 for the boards for the walls (he said that would affect the estimate as he didn’t know what state they would be in).
Any advice?

OP posts:
WickedlyPetite · 29/02/2020 14:29

Has he actually fitted a new suite yet? I don't get what you mean by he's not even finished the floor. Is he tiling too?

What has he actually done so far?

As part of his estimate, did you agree a daily rate for his labour, or a set amount?

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 29/02/2020 23:45

He’s tiling yes. The pipes are in and everything is prepped for the tiling. He’s tiled half the floor.

The estimate included everything but the wall repairs/plasterboard isn’t as it was depending on the walls after tile removal (walls were bad). So I think he asked for £300 for materials.

I’m concerned as he’s going to take at least another week and he still has to tile the walls and fit the fixtures :/

OP posts:
anon2020202020 · 29/02/2020 23:54

3 weeks??

It shouldn't take anywhere near that long.

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 01/03/2020 00:41

^sadly it is. My parents also took 3 and also my friend paid for a 2 week turn around and it took 3.

OP posts:
Countmeout · 01/03/2020 06:15

I’m sorry I’ve no idea what to suggest to hurry him. That is very long, is he going away to do bits of other jobs at times? I assume it is a large bathroom. For comparison my daughter is currently having her decent sized bathroom redone. Her plumber is on target for the 10 days he quoted from start to finish, it has included replacing the floor by reboarding. He does have a mate but some days only one of them actually at the house depending on what’s needing done that day. He did though work part of Saturday to grout the floor and tile a part wall that’s being done but I have no doubt will be finished when he says.
As @WickedlyPetite says what has he actually done in 3 weeks and hopefully that is a quote not an estimate of work. I understand extra re the boards as that happened when I had shower redone and boards were rotten. It must be costing a massive amount to cover someone working for 3+ weeks.

UncomfortableSilence · 01/03/2020 06:38

It's far too long unless your bathroom is huge.
I've got a large bathroom and that took 2 weeks and was tiled floor to ceiling and included removing an old water tank and fitting bath, sink, walk in shower and toilet.

Plus he has no need to hurry as he hasn't given you a fixed price. You need to get a price at the beginning not just an estimate as he will now say as it has taken so long it will cost more.

I would be direct and ask why it is taking so long, you need to be assertive otherwise you are going to be hit with a nasty bill.

ChicChicChicChiclana · 01/03/2020 06:52

He's had additional work to do because when he gave you his estimate he didn't know what state the walls would be in under the existing tiles. So you will have to pay for the cost of the special waterproof plasterboard (I'm assuming that's £300) plus the additional labour required to put them up. Ask him for a specific price for these additional works now so it doesn't come as a surprise at the end.

custardbear · 01/03/2020 07:02

Is he in a day rate? I've found they take much longer - drag them work and pay out longer - get a fixed price

GrockleRock · 01/03/2020 07:06

How many hours is he putting in every day?

Iggly · 01/03/2020 07:11

Our bathroom fitter was like this and I’d never employ him again. He was there 8-4 but just so incredibly slow.

We paid a fixed rate but he ended up stopping with the job unfinished (only painting left, which he hadn’t included in the price).

wowfudge · 01/03/2020 07:22

He sounds like the guy we had do the bathroom in our old house and if your username is an indicator of your location, he could be. A friend recommended him. He gave me a price verbally and asked for an amount upfront for materials, which was fair enough. After two weeks the job was nearly complete but things still needed doing. When he did finish he told me about several things which had required extra work, which he hadn't mentioned along the way, and tried to charge more. He also suggested things along the way, which we didn't like/want which made the job easier for him and was pissed off when we said no. It would have been so much better if he had been upfront. Mind you, I was an idiot for not getting a written quote.

If you are not around when he's doing the work, you won't know what hours he is working. He may well be working on other jobs as well as yours.

PlumsGalore · 01/03/2020 07:34

Mine took the plumber a week of his time including replacing the floorboards and putting up new plasterboard walls. The experience took a few weeks longer as the plasterer came in between and then the glass fitters had to make templates and deliver and fit the glass before the final plumbing fix could be done.

If he’s doing the lot he should have cracked on by now. I would never have a plumber do the tiling, it’s a trade on its own.

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