Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Plumber damaged bath while fitting it

105 replies

House1999 · 04/12/2022 08:07

Could I please have opinions/advice

I’m in the process of having a full bathroom refurb done.

Yesterday the plumber fitted the bath in place and put wooden battens all around ready for it to be tiled.

At the corner of the bath i’ve noticed part of the bath has been damaged by a screw from underneath when they have fixed the bath in place. The screw has gone through the wood and pierced the bath from underneath causing cracks.

The plumber has placed a piece of wood over the top (presumably so I don’t notice it yet) and when I lifted it I saw it. However it’s clearly noticeable.

The cost of the bathroom is £6200 for the plumber to do the renovation. £280 for the plaster, £300 electrics and the bathroom suite cost £2690. So I feel really disappointed seeing that it has been damaged knowing how much I’m paying.

Here are some photos.

What would you do?

Plumber damaged bath while fitting it
Plumber damaged bath while fitting it
Plumber damaged bath while fitting it
OP posts:
piedbeauty · 04/12/2022 08:09

Tell him. Ask him to buy a new bath, take out this one and fit the new one.

gbconfused · 04/12/2022 08:09

I would think it would need replacing if it's underneath as it's at risk of leaking? Have you paid plumber upfront? I'd raise it and ask for a replacement.

Raindancer411 · 04/12/2022 08:11

As others have said, he needs to replace really.

MadeForThis · 04/12/2022 08:13

He needs to replace the bath and fit a new one.

notdaddycool · 04/12/2022 08:14

He needs to pay for the magic man to come in. New bath is excessive for that.

Roselilly36 · 04/12/2022 08:15

The bath will need to be replaced, that split is likely to crack further with the weight of the water I would think. Don’t put up with any nonsense about resurfacing the crack either OP, a plumber wanted to do that when a tile fell into our brand new bath causing a chip, we insisted it was replaced.

Lindy2 · 04/12/2022 08:17

He might already be dealing with getting a new bath. The crack is clear to see and he can't leave that as the finished result.

You need to talk to him about it.

NoIncomeTaxNoVAT · 04/12/2022 08:20

We had a new shower room fitted last week as part of our loft conversion and the tiler dropped a tile onto the shower tray and put a hole in it 🙄 Anyway the project manager told us to order a new one and to take the cost off the final invoice. We were fine to do this. They then arranged to reinstall everything before the rest of the shower room went in. Its annoying but better now than after all the tiles are in!

pluckie · 04/12/2022 08:23

I'm sorry, that's so disappointing for you. Definitely a new bath to put it right.

ImNotBella · 04/12/2022 08:26

He will have to replace it.

splatfrog · 04/12/2022 08:26

His mistake, he needs to replace it.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 04/12/2022 08:30

He needs to replace it. You're paying for a new, undamaged bath and that's what you should get.

If he thinks he can get it resurfaced he's welcome to do it after he's taken it away and he can sell it to someone else.

tanstaafl · 04/12/2022 08:31

get your position straight in your mind, someone needs to replace that bath, not repair.
I say someone … has it been only the plumber working , could the plumber try and blame an electrician perhaps.

anything you say needs to be firm, absolute , not ‘Do you know anything about this crack?’

as an aside, if you replace the bath, you might want to think of putting in a Mira (other brands are available) bath filler/digital mixer.

fills the bath from the overflow, do away with the taps.

summergone · 04/12/2022 08:53

He should have public liability cover that will pay for a new bath for you , if he doesn't want to pay out of his own pocket .

Diyextension · 04/12/2022 09:17

He’s used too long a screw to fix the bracket on to the bath. School boy error 🫣

Skadoo · 04/12/2022 09:20

At the stage your bathroom fit is at I would want a replacement and not a repair.

My friend had something similar happen but it was when the entire thing was tiled in with grout and sealant and they were putting on the front panel which was also to be tiled. They cracked the bath and they had a repair chap come and fill the crack. She said it is a really good repair but she originally wanted a replacement bath and the fitter was reluctant to claim on his insurance for it.

As yours is easily at the replace stage that is what I would be wanting.

Herejustforthisone · 04/12/2022 09:22

He has to replace it. It’s as simple as that.

Original poster
House1999 · 04/12/2022 10:25

Thank you for all the responses.

The plumber said he is coming today for a couple of hours. So will discuss it with him when he arrives.

OP posts:
Original poster
House1999 · 04/12/2022 12:23

Plumber is here now. He didn’t mention the cracks and just carried on with his work.

I showed it him and he said ‘oh yes something must have fell on it’, I have a really good repair kit. I’ve used the repair kit lots of times, you won’t know it’s there’. I said nothing has fell in it, it is from the screw underneath the bath’.

I said I’m not happy and he said ‘have faith’.

OP posts:
Sprouttreesareamazing · 04/12/2022 12:28

Personally I would email him your concerns

You need in writing he intends to make it good...

Roselilly36 · 04/12/2022 12:40

It’s a brand new bath, why should you have a split in it due to a mistake he made by fitting it. It would really annoy me that he tried to hide it by putting the wood on it.

pluckie · 04/12/2022 12:41

Problem with him using his repair kit is it may end up looking bad again in the near future, then you won't have a leg to stand on.

pluckie · 04/12/2022 12:43

Roselilly36 · 04/12/2022 12:40

It’s a brand new bath, why should you have a split in it due to a mistake he made by fitting it. It would really annoy me that he tried to hide it by putting the wood on it.

I agree, I guess he was hoping that op wouldn't move the piece of wood before he came today and he would have just repaired it thinking that it hadn't been noticed. It's sneaky behaviour.

RudsyFarmer · 04/12/2022 12:51

‘Have faith’ lol. I can tell he’s damaged quite a few things in his time.

GrumpyPanda · 04/12/2022 13:15

Not acceptable. And sounds like he was hoping to hide the damage.