Hecateh Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) Of getting someone to commision a boiler/ufh system when it is already installed but not commissioned or pressure tested. So much for having plumbers I can rely on. They installed the boiler and ufh control last week. Everything was supposed to be finished by last Friday but unfortunately it wasn't. They left at 8pm last Friday with promises to come back today (Thursday) to complete. Couldn't get before then because of other promised work. Message at lunchtime today to say that they couldn't make it but 'should' be able to come next Thursday or Friday. The week after next, one is going away for the week (and the van is his). Absolutely fed up with this now. I should have been able to move in next week. Edited October 18, 2018 by Hecateh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhome Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I think you are just going to have to go with it tbh. Getting anyone else will likely come with an overhead of cost as most trades don’t want to pick up a job halfway through. It’ll be a case of ringing round and finding out if you do want to go down that route but I doubt anyone will agree a fixed price for something that is an unknown quantity. Annoying I know but you’ll either have to go with the flow and move in without hot water, or heating in some places (think you have electric UFH in some places), or just sit tight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyke2 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I would wait for them to come back. At least they have let you know that they were not turning up today. I do wish you the best of luck that they turn up next week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Too late to rock the boat imho. You need to keep on good terms and retain labour / integrity warranties so just keep your head down and find something else to distract you as the days tick away. Theres always something to do. Worst case just get some cheap electric fan heaters and boil the kettle ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhome Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 2 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Worst case just get some cheap electric fan heaters and boil the kettle ? Christ I did that for weeks last winter when I couldn’t get someone out ?. It’s doable. 45 minutes ago, Hecateh said: I should have been able to move in next week. Wear a jumper and warm socks, plus you can pop to the old house to shower lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 If you don't need to get out of the old house why not stay there a while longer even when new house heating on, give the new place chance to dry out properly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hecateh Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) Yeah. What I thought. The water hasn't even been turned on yet but that is easier to sort. It's the gas safe part of it that is the big issue to get someone else to take on. I will have to wait until next week but I have my suspicions they will not come next week either but - I know I don't really have a choice. Edited October 18, 2018 by Hecateh 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 14 hours ago, Hecateh said: Yeah. What I thought. The water hasn't even been turned on yet but that is easier to sort. It's the gas safe part of it that is the big issue to get someone else to take on. I will have to wait until next week but I have my suspicions they will not come next week either but - I know I don't really have a choice. Have you paid them? Did they agree to be done at a certain date? Given your situation they must have understood you were 'keen' to move in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhome Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 TBH during our build plumbers were the least reliable of the trades in terms of turning up and most of the ones we had were pretty crap too so if you have a decent one it’s probably worth the wait. Is everything else finished now then? It’s much easier to get things sorted when you’re not working round your own stuff trying to sort things. Does the other guy need a van? Can’t he come in a car, or you go pick him up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I still need an imaginative, receptive plumber to help me with my UFH 3 years after the ‘build’. I’m willing to pay good money to the right candidate (hint, hint @Nickfromwales) but I have no confidence that anyone recommended or picked out of the phone book would be worth the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 14 minutes ago, daiking said: I still need an imaginative, receptive plumber to help me with my UFH 3 years after the ‘build’. I’m willing to pay good money to the right candidate (hint, hint @Nickfromwales) but I have no confidence that anyone recommended or picked out of the phone book would be worth the money. Hint Hint lol. PM me your mobile whilst I work out if I'm passing you at any time soon Cant be that much to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I am still waiting 4 months later for ufh/mvhr installer to come back and sort out problems with trap drying out and missing bits on manifolds. I have wastes from washing machine etc that sound like world war 3 when draining, plumber who did the job dissappeared. Try to find someone local who will know whats what and not do the sucking through the teeth thing and then want fortunes to replumb it all....so far been let down by 2 not turning up to look. Absolutely despair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyke2 Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I think this is typical of what can arise from managing things down to the lowest cost base. I'm definately not criticising Hecateh for the situation. I had similar situations on my build too, but more roof related. I first tried a roofer that I saw tiling another self build locally, He was actually a fireman, who like most firemen have a second job. He quoted a good price (£1200) and I had seen his previous work so I set him on. My roof was a bit complicated and he measured it , scratched his head, measured again and then said he had to go and get some more fixings. I never saw him again. Secondly There was a development up my street with a similar tiling system. I asked the lads on the roof if they would quote for mine, cash in hand for a weekend job for them. They quoted £6000. So I bit the bullet and went to a large reputable roofing company. They quoted £1100, did the job in 2 days with no fuss. Sometimes for things that are a bit specialist, you need to use someone who 100% can do the job for the price quoted. Heating system with UFH etc may just be one of those things in hindsight. But you learn from your experiences. I hope they come back and finish the job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 @Tyke2 mine were specialist installers and plumbers...all charged top dollar nothing cheap and rubbish service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 37 minutes ago, lizzie said: I am still waiting 4 months later for [...] installer to come back and sort out problems with [...] Only 4 months? Yer doing well. We all, well, nearly all, have the same issue. There's too much work about. Debbie's take on the subject is that we aren't repeat customers. One off jobs are sometimes sufficiently quirky that trades people have to think a tiny bit harder. Why bother with those jobs when all you need to do is go down the pub and come away with a few follow-on jobs. That's the West Lancs picture anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 @recoveringacademic I absolutely agree with Debbie. It is a very sad reflection on British workmen....you can see why some folks opt for the flat pack houses from Europe where everything is pre installed...and bland etc but it works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I find “door stepping” works well, find out where he lives and call round for a chat and a coffee! I’ve found it works wonders. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said: Hint Hint lol. PM me your mobile whilst I work out if I'm passing you at any time soon Cant be that much to do? Look out for the bait trail! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyke2 Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 1 hour ago, lizzie said: @Tyke2 mine were specialist installers and plumbers...all charged top dollar nothing cheap and rubbish service. Unfortunately a high price doesn't guarantee high quality. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Onoff said: Look out for the bait trail! I hope he likes Scottish peaty single malt whiskey ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 8 minutes ago, daiking said: I hope he likes Scottish peaty single malt whiskey ? You’ll be finishing it yourself if you open that in front of me ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 5 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: You’ll be finishing it yourself if you open that in front of me ?? Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhome Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 @daiking, @Nickfromwales is an ale man. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 15 minutes ago, newhome said: @daiking, @Nickfromwales is an ale man. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere ?. ... anyone... anything .... any pie ..... @daiking what was the issue with the UFH ..? If it is the balancing then tbh it’s now as quick to get the auto balancing heads for the valves and be done with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 24 minutes ago, PeterW said: ... anyone... anything .... any pie ..... @daiking what was the issue with the UFH ..? All the working parts are still in the box :whistles: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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