Got builder in (hes done a few things for us before) to tile our ensuite shower. So he removed the existing bar mixer showed, tiled it then replaced it.
Next day there was a leak. Called him back. He had a look and said sorted now. We were out that night came home to water gushing out of the shower unit (and apparently back into the dividing wall). £1000s of damage to bedroom floor, ceiling of living room below, floor below, kitchen floor, furniture sofa, etc.
I called out an emergency plumber (had insurance for). He said the builder had not used washers, has overtightened it and basically knackered the shower causing it split. All I'm getting from the builder is it must be something else, not my work. Heres a text from him.
"just for an absolute clarity, I didn’t deal with any pipe work at your house in any way other than putting a stop end on your shower mixer fittings between taking your shower mixer off and then putting it back on for the purpose of tilling the area as instructed.
Any problems that arose from existing pipe work which as you both acknowledged was very problematic in the past with multiple leaks etc. cannot be rationally and/or reasonably attributed to any of my work. The list of the materials and all photographs, videos etc. taken throughout the process and initial leak clearly indicates that I didn’t do any alterations to your existing pipes whatsoever. I hope you and your family won’t hate me for saying this and understand my point without trying to blame me for your misfortune. Always at your kind service"
No idea what he means by existing pipework? We had a leak a few years ago when the hot water tank overheated and split but not the pipework. He even tried saying there must be a dodgy fitting in the wall space.
Had another plumber today - to look at fitting a new shower. He confirmed nothing wrong with the pipework - its just copper pipe from airing cupboard through wall to shower where you connected the mixer unit. The builder just did not do it properly for some reason and in the lieu of there beind enough pipe to refit he just tightened it up too much as well.
My insurance excess for water leak is £750. (because of past claim). Its going to cost me a fortune. House is for sale and this is going to cause a major delay getting this sorted.
Am I being unreasonable here expecting the Builder to deal with these costs? I have no issue if he screwed up and admits it but he has insurance for a reason surely?
Next day there was a leak. Called him back. He had a look and said sorted now. We were out that night came home to water gushing out of the shower unit (and apparently back into the dividing wall). £1000s of damage to bedroom floor, ceiling of living room below, floor below, kitchen floor, furniture sofa, etc.
I called out an emergency plumber (had insurance for). He said the builder had not used washers, has overtightened it and basically knackered the shower causing it split. All I'm getting from the builder is it must be something else, not my work. Heres a text from him.
"just for an absolute clarity, I didn’t deal with any pipe work at your house in any way other than putting a stop end on your shower mixer fittings between taking your shower mixer off and then putting it back on for the purpose of tilling the area as instructed.
Any problems that arose from existing pipe work which as you both acknowledged was very problematic in the past with multiple leaks etc. cannot be rationally and/or reasonably attributed to any of my work. The list of the materials and all photographs, videos etc. taken throughout the process and initial leak clearly indicates that I didn’t do any alterations to your existing pipes whatsoever. I hope you and your family won’t hate me for saying this and understand my point without trying to blame me for your misfortune. Always at your kind service"
No idea what he means by existing pipework? We had a leak a few years ago when the hot water tank overheated and split but not the pipework. He even tried saying there must be a dodgy fitting in the wall space.
Had another plumber today - to look at fitting a new shower. He confirmed nothing wrong with the pipework - its just copper pipe from airing cupboard through wall to shower where you connected the mixer unit. The builder just did not do it properly for some reason and in the lieu of there beind enough pipe to refit he just tightened it up too much as well.
My insurance excess for water leak is £750. (because of past claim). Its going to cost me a fortune. House is for sale and this is going to cause a major delay getting this sorted.
Am I being unreasonable here expecting the Builder to deal with these costs? I have no issue if he screwed up and admits it but he has insurance for a reason surely?
