Can anyone tell me if this is a good plumbing job?

[Feebs]

I asked the plumber to connect the waste pipe of the bath and basin to the existing soil stack.

He has cut the soil stack, then connected the pipes, and added 2 large rubber flexible pipes with cable ties.

Is this normal?

 

[Meady]

Technically nothing wrong with it. I would of used a couple of slip couplings so they didn't stand out.

Also did he connect up both the smaller waste pipes, as they could do with some clips on them really.

 

[thereisawizza]

FYI, they're stainless jubilee clips not cable ties, called a Flexcon; not the prettiest but saves disturbing the whole stack to try and squeeze a slip coupling in.

When the stack is next painted you won't even notice!

 

[Phil]

What a disgusting eye sore bodge up, he's obviously cobbled that together from any random multi coloured fittings in his van, no clips, no cement.

Whatever anyone says , that guy has no pride in his work. What else has he done?

 

[jonnyswamp]

Personally, I would have used 2 seperate strap on bosses
One for the basin, higher up and one for the bath or shower, saves the need for antivac traps and is the better/correct way to pipe it
Also would have used black pipe and fittings

 

[Paulplumb]

Well it ain't going to win any awards.

 

[newcastle phill]

I get fed up of posts like this.
Why do we even bother squabling over them. I would have done this. I would have done that.
Just because one person may have done it different doesnt mean its a bad job.
Undoubtedly its done to a price. Everyone wants cheap and more often than not pee and moan about fit and finish afterwards
But judging by the fact there isnt **** everywhere all over the walls i deem it a success lol

 

[Masood]

What a disgusting eye sore bodge up, he's obviously cobbled that together from any random multi coloured fittings in his van, no clips, no cement.

Whatever anyone says , that guy has no pride in his work. What else has he done?

I agree. Knuckle bend on the bath waste, no rodding point, and why not do it all in black with a couple of strap-on bosses? Would have saved on the Firncos as well.

 

[Radioman]

To the OP: does it work? If it does then what's the issue? More to the point, how much did he invoice you for?

 

[townfanjon]

Some say yes, some say no ........ Personaly I think it looks a tw@t

 

[REDSAW]

i was more interested in the weed on the wall!

 

[Geyser]

It works but I'd be embarrassed if i had done it!!

 

[dave1]

Looks like it's leaking to me, have a close look on the bottom fernco

 

[PriestyUK]

You would go strap on boss all day long, maybe the guy who carried out this work is scared of a good old strap on excuse the pun

 

[tolly]

If it just needed those 2 wastes bossing in, I too would have used a couple of strap on's with tee's and rodding access's, if he didn't like strap on's he should have used a couple 4" boss pipes and then just one ringseal slip coupler, cant see the need for 2x ferncos anyway when it could have been done with one.

Im not going to slate someones work unless I know how much he charged/you offered for the work to be carried out though

 

[chris watkins]

I get fed up of posts like this.
Why do we even bother squabling over them. I would have done this. I would have done that.
Just because one person may have done it different doesnt mean its a bad job.
Undoubtedly its done to a price. Everyone wants cheap and more often than not pee and moan about fit and finish afterwards
But judging by the fact there isnt **** everywhere all over the walls i deem it a success lol

Price over Pride in my humble is no excuse, otherwise it is a race to the bottom isn't it phill ?

So everyone comments, is that such a bad thing, just people expressing the standard that they would not go below, it might even highlight what the expected standards of a professional plumber should be to those who have not had the formal training of you & I.

Pride in my trade would stop me from installing that rubber & jubilee clips concoction at what ever price.

 

[newcastle phill]

Opinion - exactly what im expresssing
Everything comes down to price.
Which is why many wouldn't bother with some jobs.
Is this any different to the posts "is my boiler install crap" and people here say "ohh yes because it hasnt got a magnetic filter" when the punter wont pay for one....
Or the radiators are piped in plastic cos "id never lower myself to use that" when they wont pay for copper....

It all comes down to cost...

 

[lame plumber]

just another means of doing the same thing, me I would use slip couplings and match the colours, though hardly a worry if the loo outlet is already a mismatch!

 

[Feebs]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm sure I'm asking a very common question so I appreciate your replies.

I haven't been connected to a bath/shower/basin or flushing toilet for 2 months...

Before the plumber went to screwfix - I forgot to specify black pipes - I knew he would come back with different coloured pipes....so a paint job it is.

How much would someone charge to redo all this pipework - including new soil stack? Maybe I will redo it when I win the lottery.

BTW - this is plumber no. 3.

Plumber no.1 left me - when I told him I wanted to change from paying him day rate, to a single price for the job, as he was in his 3rd week with nothing still connected. So he walked out.

Plumber no.2 was fine to begin with. Said he would charge me £500 for first and 2nd fix. A 2 day job. He said he was flexible, could work weekends to suit me....then once he started, he said the job was not as straightforward as he thought - due to non standard fittings (which he did not ask to see before he priced it).
At the end of the first day, I probably ticked him off, by asking him if he would mind moving the basin and I would pay him extra for the change. But no price agreed. He took days to get back to me. Then agreed a day, but didn't turn up (after my old mum waiting all day). Then when he turned up 3 days later - he said he wouldn't charge me for moving the basin - but then he drilled the hole in the wrong place.
When I sent him a photo of the hole in the wall not lining up with the basin waste he said it was because I hadn't provided him with a washer nut for the basin, which led to the hole being drilled wrong.
He said the only solution was to move the basin up by 20mm to match the hole. But when I checked, basin would need lifting by 70mm - making it over 95cm high.
Has anyone experienced these tactics before? When a plumber realizes he has under priced for a job, tries to get out of the job by being a total **** just so he can get sacked, and then produce a new invoice (not itemized) - and basically price for what he wants - so he doesn't lose any money out of it?

I asked him what I owe him, and to factor in his mistake which I would have to pay to get rectified. He responded by ignoring the mistake, and billed me £250 for '1 days work'. At the end of his email he says he has 'dealt with people like me before' and if I don't pay he will will 'see me in court'.

Any thoughts? :thinking2:

Plumber no. 3 is OK - just putting in some ugly, yet probably functional, pipework. He agreed to finish the job plumber no.2 left - for £380 for a final fix, and the basin/bath waste. I.e. fit the shower, basin, high level cistern and radiator. The only slightly dodgey thing - he asked me for £200 for putting in those ugly wastepipes and drilling a hole. He said he had 'cash flow problems', and he would come back later to finish the job - and wouldn't ' let me down'.

I'm sure this story is very familiar to many. What is strange is that plumber no.3 was recommended to me by my friend (who unlike me - happens to be a guy). He was asked for payment AFTER the job was finished. So maybe I just got mug written on my face? :yes:

 

[Two-Pipes]

Would it not have been better to have used a tee in place of the first elbow on the 40mm, add a reducing bush and then drop the 32mm straight in to it?

Feebs - I feel sorry for you. To get one iffy plumber is bad enough but to get three chumps is against the law of averages (probably)

 

[newcastle phill]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm sure I'm asking a very common question so I appreciate your replies.

I haven't been connected to a bath/shower/basin or flushing toilet for 2 months...

Before the plumber went to screwfix - I forgot to specify black pipes - I knew he would come back with different coloured pipes....so a paint job it is.

How much would someone charge to redo all this pipework - including new soil stack? Maybe I will redo it when I win the lottery.

BTW - this is plumber no. 3.

Plumber no.1 left me - when I told him I wanted to change from paying him day rate, to a single price for the job, as he was in his 3rd week with nothing still connected. So he walked out.

Plumber no.2 was fine to begin with. Said he would charge me £500 for first and 2nd fix. A 2 day job. He said he was flexible, could work weekends to suit me....then once he started, he said the job was not as straightforward as he thought - due to non standard fittings (which he did not ask to see before he priced it).
At the end of the first day, I probably ticked him off, by asking him if he would mind moving the basin and I would pay him extra for the change. But no price agreed. He took days to get back to me. Then agreed a day, but didn't turn up (after my old mum waiting all day). Then when he turned up 3 days later - he said he wouldn't charge me for moving the basin - but then he drilled the hole in the wrong place.
When I sent him a photo of the hole in the wall not lining up with the basin waste he said it was because I hadn't provided him with a washer nut for the basin, which led to the hole being drilled wrong.
He said the only solution was to move the basin up by 20mm to match the hole. But when I checked, basin would need lifting by 70mm - making it over 95cm high.
Has anyone experienced these tactics before? When a plumber realizes he has under priced for a job, tries to get out of the job by being a total **** just so he can get sacked, and then produce a new invoice (not itemized) - and basically price for what he wants - so he doesn't lose any money out of it?

I asked him what I owe him, and to factor in his mistake which I would have to pay to get rectified. He responded by ignoring the mistake, and billed me £250 for '1 days work'. At the end of his email he says he has 'dealt with people like me before' and if I don't pay he will will 'see me in court'.

Any thoughts? :thinking2:

Plumber no. 3 is OK - just putting in some ugly, yet probably functional, pipework. He agreed to finish the job plumber no.2 left - for £380 for a final fix, and the basin/bath waste. I.e. fit the shower, basin, high level cistern and radiator. The only slightly dodgey thing - he asked me for £200 for putting in those ugly wastepipes and drilling a hole. He said he had 'cash flow problems', and he would come back later to finish the job - and wouldn't ' let me down'.

I'm sure this story is very familiar to many. What is strange is that plumber no.3 was recommended to me by my friend (who unlike me - happens to be a guy). He was asked for payment AFTER the job was finished. So maybe I just got mug written on my face? :yes:

3 plumbers left the job ???

 

[Radioman]

I think we've all been up against a customer like Feebs. Only experience gives you the courage to not get involved from the off. But if you decide to then cover yourself with written estimates, terms and conditions, deposits and payment plans.

Feebs, my advice to you in the future, get written estimates, provide a written specification detailing the work, materials supplied and timescale, don't keep changing your mind, take references for tradesmen, don't try and get a cheap job by employing under skilled odd job men. In my experience proper tradesmen only walk off a job if they are messed around or don't get paid. Do a written job specification, Get 3 written estimates for the work from proper bathroom installation companies not odd job men, take references and actually speak to the previous customers, agree a payment plan, agree a time schedule, don't change the design half way through.

 

[plumben]

As above my advice would be the same, if you think the price seems expensive its most likely going to be a good job,


As for the pipe work the only fault I can see with his method is lack of clips but they could still be added but would need to stand off the wall with bits of copper and would not look the nicest but would be functional

 

[Radioman]

Feebs something else to consider. Was any electrical work carried out in the bathroom such as shaver or toothbrush socket, new lights, electric shower? If so this work needs a certificate to be legal. Also having had a second look at the picture, is the 4 inch waste pipe connected to the rain gutter? Is this a new bathroom? Has some idiot connected a foul water outlet to a rainwater soak away?

 

[Ray Stafford]

I take the point that sometime price pressures force down the quality of work, but checking the colour of an existing soil stack before ordering fittings for it is just good practice. How much does it cost to ask "what colour is the existing soil?" And that double flexible connector job is not the cheapest solution.

I also take the point that if it doesn't leak, its "working".

BUT...

we also agree that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Would you recommend this plumber? I surely wouldn't.

 

[jonnyswamp]

Feebs something else to consider. Was any electrical work carried out in the bathroom such as shaver or toothbrush socket, new lights, electric shower? If so this work needs a certificate to be legal. Also having had a second look at the picture, is the 4 inch waste pipe connected to the rain gutter? Is this a new bathroom? Has some idiot connected a foul water outlet to a rainwater soak away?

I'd say the 4" pipe steps out over the gutter with a pair of 45's and vents to atmosphere
Could well be wrong though

 

[REDSAW]

what about the weed?

 

[Radioman]

I take the point that sometime price pressures force down the quality of work, but checking the colour of an existing soil stack before ordering fittings for it is just good practice. How much does it cost to ask "what colour is the existing soil?" And that double flexible connector job is not the cheapest solution.

I also take the point that if it doesn't leak, its "working".

BUT...

we also agree that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Would you recommend this plumber? I surely wouldn't.

Don't disagree with any of that Ray
BUT..... Sometimes It takes experience and a dose of courage to walk away from a job. And that's something that is learnt by experience through dealing with many many customers and situations over time. And there's always 2 sides to every situation. From the grammar in the OP I would guess there has been a comms issue between the customer and the trades. The old expectation exceeding experience conundrum. And no I would recommend the guy that did the outside work, but he was recommended and that opens another can of worms as to the recomendee's standard.

 

[Gray0689]

I take the point that sometime price pressures force down the quality of work, but checking the colour of an existing soil stack before ordering fittings for it is just good practice. How much does it cost to ask "what colour is the existing soil?" And that double flexible connector job is not the cheapest solution.

I also take the point that if it doesn't leak, its "working".

BUT...

we also agree that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Would you recommend this plumber? I surely wouldn't.

That's not a plumber

 

[Gray0689]

I asked the plumber to connect the waste pipe of the bath and basin to the existing soil stack.

He has cut the soil stack, then connected the pipes, and added 2 large rubber flexible pipes with cable ties.

Is this normal?

It's a complete disgrace IMHO

 

[quality]

would have been a lot cheaper with a couple of strap bosses also tidier also the work is rubbish

 

[goz666]

Poor work IMO, whoever did it needs a course in aesthetics.

 

[Stanios]

I get fed up of posts like this.
Why do we even bother squabling over them. I would have done this. I would have done that.
Just because one person may have done it different doesnt mean its a bad job.
Undoubtedly its done to a price. Everyone wants cheap and more often than not pee and moan about fit and finish afterwards
But judging by the fact there isnt **** everywhere all over the walls i deem it a success lol

Gotta agree here, I am also abit confused as to why OP went to trouble of taking a photo, uploading it to pc, registering on this forum, then making a thread. In what way does the job look suspect? Plenty of stacks have the easily recognisable rubber coupling. Its rare to see a single colour and style of fittings, correctly clipped and terminated stack on an old house (round here anyway)

Also the fact that you had 3 plumbers puts serious doubts about whether I would want to be your 4th.

 

[Gray0689]

Gotta agree here, I am also abit confused as to why OP went to trouble of taking a photo, uploading it to pc, registering on this forum, then making a thread. In what way does the job look suspect? Plenty of stacks have the easily recognisable rubber coupling. Its rare to see a single colour and style of fittings, correctly clipped and terminated stack on an old house (round here anyway)

Also the fact that you had 3 plumbers puts serious doubts about whether I would want to be your 4th.

if you think that's ok I'm sure he wouldn't want you as number 4

 

[SimonG]

Def wasnt the cheapest option.

Always in my mind that if somebody can leave something like that on show then how bad is the stuff you cant see.

Couple of strap ons and sorted.

 

[Stanios]

if you think that's ok I'm sure he wouldn't want you as number 4

Just had a proper look at the photo noticed theres no rodding eye and a mechanical elbow up top so its quite bad yes. Rubber coulings and odd colours Im ok with, the stack already had an odd coloured branch afterall so perhaps plumber 3 though he would complete the set with white and grey.

 

[newcastle phill]

if you think that's ok I'm sure he wouldn't want you as number 4

It isnt a job id undertake as too busy with gas. But if i knew youd had 3 others there - id just hang up

But to be clear - i didnt pass opinion really....good or bad. It isnt how id do it. But i dont know what he paid.
But it seems to work even if it isnt a van gough.

10 plumbers - 10 different opinions on how to do the same thing.

 

[REDSAW]

train the weed to grow around it!!

 

[plumben]

if you think that's ok I'm sure he wouldn't want you as number 4

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with you or that I'm having a pop, But its easy to pick faults with pictures of someone else work when you haven't actually been to the job or know the hole story, the fact that the op mentioned going to Screwfix suggests to me that this might of been a late night or weekend job when the merchants where shut and they didn't have what he wanted in stock and had to make do, trying to get a working bathroom for the Op After being let down by 2 other plumbers, and as stanios mentioned its rare to see a proper job done on old houses, (not that I'm saying i'd accept that or not do a proper job on my work)

 

[Gray0689]

If you can't do a proper job don't do it simple solution as far as I'm concerned

 

[plumben]

If you can't do a proper job don't do it simple solution as far as I'm concerned

I don't think your following what I'm saying

 

[newcastle phill]

Why are you employing gas safe plumbers to sort a soil pipe out.

If your an architect - why do you need public opinion to decide if this is good or not - you would surely know the score...

Sorry something is amiss here - im done with this

 

[Millsy 82]

Some of the work that I see kicking about now I can fully understand how people get through 2-3 plumbers over a job.

To me if I saw that I would say it's rough, it wouldn't cost anymore possibly cost less to do it nice and neat and correctly.

I took a job on that was started by someone else and she told him to go, when I was there I found out I was the 3rd person there. Yes she was very picky but she knew what she wanted and if she didn't like something she would say, I personally like that as I would rather they say than make do and slag me off behind my back. The standard of work in the property led me to believe that she had no choice to get rid of the others, things like 2 basins, 1 bath and 2 shower cubicles off 1x 1 1/2" pipe, a soil pipe looking a lot like the one in the photo amongst other things.

 

[newcastle phill]

Yes but thats just the crux. As above how do you know they are plumbers.
1 was a handyman.

Did i tell you im a dab hand gynecologist

 

[rpm]

Followed a high roof LWB Transit the other week must of listed 20 things on the back doors that he did, you name it I think it was there.

Jack of all trades & master of none springs to mind. lol

 

[REDSAW]

Yes but thats just the crux. As above how do you know they are plumbers.
1 was a handyman.

Did i tell you im a dab hand gynecologist

i like to keep a finger in the pie as well!

if that job cost less than £250...........

 

[Unregistered]

can you fix my Biasi 28s boiler?

Hi. I was wondering if you are anywhere near Wigan and if you could fix my 28s Biasi boiler? Kind regards, Jane

 

[Dotty]

Jane. Please register with us and post a request in our 'looking for a plumber' sub forum.