FAILED - toilet refurb

[redrabbit]

I wanted to refurbish my downstairs toilet. My idea was to get plumber remove toilet, sink and radiator. Paint it all and replace with brand new stuff.

Plumber came to look and said the toilet had a large concrete waste pipe which he would have to be careful with. It goes into a wooden boarded area and he said it was cemented to the toilet.

Anyway, he came back today to remove the items but couldn't get the cement of the wastepipe. He tried but said he was concerned about damaging it, because if he did then it would be a big job to remove the whole pipe and re-fit with modern stuff.

These are the images:

1) The Toilet - you can see to the left the wooden box area...

2)

3)

=============================

Does that look problematic to you?

I'm now considering whether I should just get a professional bathroom fitter to re-do the MAIN bathroom upstairs, and the downstairs toilet.

I'm worried about some old copper pipes he said about too and the whole house seems like it may need some modernising but I just don't think I can afford it.

As a result I'm just not sure what to do about it.

Thanks everyone

 

[Armo74]

You sure it's concrete?
An angle grinder should take care of that.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Hire a real plumber!

Andy

 

[redrabbit]

You sure it's concrete?

I have no idea to be honest. It's pretty solid, certainly not plastic. It seems very heavy so I wouldn't be surprised if it was concrete.

I'm a DIY novice so not sure.

Hire a real plumber!

Can you explain what you mean... are you saying this is very simple stuff and something that is day-to-day for a plumber?

He was charging me £100 to remove toilet, sink and radiator, and block off all the pipes so I could spend a few weeks painting.

EDIT: also the plumbing company I used before charge per hour which I was avoiding as I just wanted a quote with the overall figure.

 

[xr4x4]

It's cast iron.

The toilet will be cemented into the cast iron pipe, this will need to cut back and a modern pan connector fitted.

It will be a pain, but doable.

Get a different plumber.

 

[redrabbit]

It's cast iron.

The toilet will be cemented into the cast iron pipe, this will need to cut back and a modern pan connector fitted.

It will be a pain, but doable.

Get a different plumber.

Thanks.

How much would you expect it to cost for someone to do that?

1) remove the toilet
2) cut back the cast iron pipe
3) put the modern bit on
4) put the new toilet in

I appreciate it's hard without seeing properly, but just roughly...

 

[newbuildinstaller]

One day labour so for us £250+VAT (that would inc bits n bobs)

so depends on what a plumber charges/day

 

[xr4x4]

Be looking at a day rate, so depending on who it is, £100 - £150.

Roughly

 

[HERTS P&D]

Simple job, angle grinder and flexible pan connector.

Andy

 

[Armo74]

I would charge roughly £150 plus materials.
So I would say that from these prices compared to what your plumber was going to charge for his work he was cheap.
Hence you get what you pay for, someone not even knowing the difference between concrete and cast

 

[redrabbit]

So it's probably going to be £300-400 ish to remove all items.

Then return a few weeks later when I've painted and replace with new stuff.

Mmmmm - feel like my whole house is falling to bits

 

[HERTS P&D]

Where did you get £300 - £400 hundred?

You have being quoted £150 - 250 on here.

Andy

 

[redrabbit]

Where did you get £300 - £400 hundred?

You have being quoted £150 - 250 on here.

Andy

I thought those quotes were just to remove toilet, cut the pipe down and fit a new modern part to a new toilet.

The job I was intending to do included removing sink and radiator. And the plumber coming twice - once to remove. I can paint properly and then return to fit all the new stuff.

 

[Bosswhite]

removal No more than a days work,
if the plumber knows what he is doing uses an angle grinder all removal work should be done by lunch time.
replacing the items may take a bit longer
All in All 1 1/2 days work

 

[Newboy]

Just as a point of interest, that WC cistern contains asbestos - don't break it up when you remove it.