Bathroom c*ck up - help me work out what to say to renovation people tomorrow

[TapsOff]

Victorian refurb. Little shower room upstairs where there already was one. The builders have put a concertina pipe on my toilet that I hate. I think it looks sloppy, will collect dust and break.

They say it is because the waste pipe is not the same size as the new toilet, and is not a modern size and isn't the right height etc. I feel annoyed they didn't tell me this or give me the option. It is only by chance the furniture is in the same order as it was in the previous bathoom, after all, I could have had it completely reconfigured. Their first design was for that, at the same price, so by that they should have moved the pipe properly.

What can I say to them? I can't live with this, it's ghastly. Does anyone know anything about it? I feel so lost and depressed with my refurb anyway and this feels awful to me.

I have posted a pic it just doesn't seem to be loading. Trying again.

Can't see the photo yet but can it be boxed in?

I know the type you are talking about, could it be boxed in with tiles, or hardboard and painted over, did you choose the toilet or was this recommended, can you choose another one that’s on the wall rather than off the wall, so there isn’t a gap.

Could it be boxed in ? Rather than visible?

Sorry pic hasn't shown so hard to understand

These types of waste pipe are pretty standard now but I agree they look awful. Either box in or get a new loo that goes all the way back to the wall.

Assuming you mean a flexible pan connector. Very commonly used. If the existing waste exit at the wrong level then likely if you wanted something else it’ll involve a new 4 inch hole bored in your wall and altering of the external waste pipe. This will cost £££’s I would imagine and so the choice is going to be yours. Impossible to advise really without a picture and some measurements for fall and sewage pipe size etc etc.

Thanks. And so if I got a new toilet that goes back to the wall, it would still be there but you wouldn't see it -- is that right?

I imagine in every renovation there's a straw that breaks you, and this has been mine.

Can you try the pic again so we can try to advise better

This

I can't live with this, it's ghastly. Does anyone know anything about it? I feel so lost and depressed with my refurb anyway and this feels awful to me
This feels like a big reaction to a pipe. It's not something other people will notice.

Has it been a difficult renovation overall?

If you're really not happy then ask them to change it but it might be more work than you'd like.

How much space on either side of it? Will one side be obscured by the dreaded toilet brush?

I think they could box that in for you. Not sure if that’s dry wall or aqua panel behind, but they could build round the back of the WCs with whatever is behind it, and finish it the same way.
Alternatively, a back to wall arrangement would take care of this.
i do agree with you, it will collect dust and become more noticeable over time.

It is never exactly a pretty piece of plumbing. Can you actually see it without getting on your hands and knees beside the toilet? Could you put a box skirting along that wall with a shelf to cover it up? We have something like that in the ensuite that covers a multitude and the shelf is useful.

Thanks everyone. If it was back against the wall I wouldn't mind, the problem is it's a long, thin bathroom a the top of the stairs and this is the first thing you see. I don't think I can go up the stairs each day and see this.

Yes, it has been a difficult renovation overall and I am exhausted. I am a divorced (lone) mum and scraping to afford a place near the old neighbourhood, so, feelings of inadequacy and worry.

Get a different loo that goes back to the wall if you don’t want to see the plumbing, and get them to change the soil pipe if necessary so that the size adjustment is on the outside. I agree, ugly and annoying to clean, but with your style of loo you’re always going to see pipes, why didn’t you choose a more streamlined style?

I just didn't think about that, @Penelopeeee. This is the first time I have bought a house, and I was only thinking about how I wanted it to look (but not from that perspective).

Honestly OP, you sound exhausted, you poor thing. Renovations are hell at times.

Old house here too. Recent bathroom re-do & honestly I've got over it. You can't see it unless you really look. They're really standard.

Here's upstairs loo. Again, I ignore it as can only see it when you're looking for it.

Simple solution box it in. With the toilet you have there is nothing they can do to change things. Could possibly put a 4inch plastic waste on but either way you’re going to have a load of pipe there. You need a ‘back to wall’ toilet if you’re going to replace in the future and want it all hidden.

Box it in, paint it white, you'll not notice it

Yes wel I could get a different toilet before all the plumbing is finished and use this one in a less important toilet downstairs. I didn't like the wall based ones when I was choosing, but now I think it'd be better than this.

You can get a collar that can cover the concertina bit. Only just looked but something like this would be more sightly.https://share.google/S9D6O3Yb5AyleuDpr

Just about to suggest this. Easy and cheaper fix

Even if you had a non-concertina pipe you would still see this pipe due to the gap behind the toilet pan.

I replaced the toilets in my house with concealed cisterns either in bathroom furniture with a back to wall toilet pan or created a boxed in wall like in my downstairs WC as the width of the space was awkward.

Look at options now to see what you could have. I can totally understand your frustration though.