Is this a bodge job?

[Carlyx]

I have a general workman in to build a unit which houses a washing machine & tumble dryer in a downstairs loo.

The job was detailed as :
Insert electric socket (spur from kitchen next door)- (he quoted £250)
Build a unit (he quoted £600 incl a small piece of oak countertop)
Oak shelf (he quoted £200)
Plumbing in appliances (he quoted £250)

The job meant extending some plumbing which he has since said will be extra (but wont give me an idea of how much).
He has run a spur through from the kitchen but it looks terrible and is in the wrong place now for the unit doors to open so I think he has gone to plan B which is to move the lot and make a plinth to hide the gap. Not ideal as it eats in to space the other side which is where a sink will go.
The unit doors do not fit the frames - is this normal?
I wanted tiles off the wall before he installed the oak countertop but has pulled most of the wall down with them and now wants £250 to rectify it (also professing that he is not a plasterer).

I have already given 50% as a deposit and he said because of the extra work he now has a cashflow problem and wants 50% of the remaining balance.

Help!

Thanks,
Carly.

 

[matlob]

Sounds expensive and cash-flow problems always ring alarm bells, especially when there is not that much to buy it seems.

 

[johnny2007]

Try to get money back.
He's ripping you off.
I and any carpenter can build such cabinets in a couple of hours.
Oak shelf £200???
How big is this shelf???
£250 to plumb in appliances???
Is he going to use gold pipes?
It's a rip off and unfortunately I doubt you will ever see your money again, unless you are familiar with old school persuasion techniques.

 

[HERTS P&D]

unless you are familiar with old school persuasion techniques.

Andy

 

[Nige F]

Old school Chinese burn c. 1964.

 

[Notch7]

I have a general workman in

Did you find him online.

rated people or similar?

 

[EddieM]

Old school Chinese burn c. 1964.

Don't forget to Nick his dinner money too.

 

[HERTS P&D]

And give him a dead leg.

Andy

 

[IT Minion]

£250 can get you a plasterer for a day to do an entire room. Prices may be higher or lower depending on where you live and the quality of plasterer. Unless it's a very big wall, or you live in Monaco, I'd say that's excessive for an amateur to fix one wall.

I think you're going to have to write off your 50% deposit.

 

[kingandy2nd]

Photos to go with this post

https://www.diynot.com/diy/media/albums/is-this-a-bodge.27173/

 

[johnny2007]

Seen the pictures.
I see no oak, just very thin mdf.
Kick him in the teeth until he spits your money.

 

[mrrusty]

Yes, it's a total bodge and you are being ripped off. Sorry there is no kind way of saying it. This is absolutely tops 2 days work - so ~£400 labour, and materials would struggle over £200, so not only is the price ridiculous, but the quality of the work is poor as well. Also, it is not good practice to run both a washer and a dryer off a single double socket because they both potentially draw a high current, and double sockets are only rated to 20A (not 2 x 13A). Although 9 times out of 10 it will be OK, it is better to have two single sockets than a single twin - I'm not a sparks - this really needs one because although it looks simple, you are introducing 2 high-load appliances.

Also I bet he won't issue you with an electrical minor works certificate http://www.sparkyfacts.co.uk/The-Mi...gally required for,done on a modified circuit. which is a legal requirement.

You might be able to use this as leverage to get some of your deposit back - "give me half back and we'll say no more, otherwise I will both report you for unauthorised electrical work and raise a money claim online for the return of the deposit" - OK easier said than done, but depends how strong you feel...

 

[EddieM]

And give him a dead leg.

Andy

And a wedgie also consider a purple nurple too.

 

[mrrusty]

If you want nice doors rather than knocked up MDF, you can buy "kitchen" doors in any size from e.g. https://www.kitchendoorworkshop.co.uk/shaker-kitchen-doors/ and many other companies. Typically a vynil covered door made to measure will be about £30-£40.

If it had been me, I would have fixed a shelf/countertop across the alcove for the dryer to stand on, and then made a front frame to carry some doors (probably just a single door to fold flat against the wall) - no need for a "box" around the washer (which it will vibrate and bang against)