Plumber telling me fibs?

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

I do know a little bit about plumbing so I think my plumber is telling me total rubbish but I would like to check that I am not missing something.

He fixed a bathroom tap for me where the tap handle on the cold water was just going round and round so the water could not be turned off. He glued it back temporarily so that the handle could be used again but he said I will need to buy new taps. I had planned to do so as the taps are old so this is not the issue.

He said he would fit the taps like for like for £50, which is very cheap but then again he had charged me £100 for 20 minutes of work to repair the tap handle, so I believe this is a cheap quote for the expensive one that he had already billed. He offered to do this on his own volition so it appeared to be very kind of him.

I accepted his offer as £50 to replace the taps is very cheap for London. I sent him the link to the new taps and he has said it is not the same and would take him 2 hours to fit. He said he could fit the taps if I were to buy this one (second link).

I can't see how these two are different to fit, except the shower holder. If he didn't have to fit the shower holder, then they should be similar to fit right?

My suggestion https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-deck-mounted-bath-shower-mixer/91170

His suggestion (similar to the existing taps) https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-deck-mounted-bath-shower-mixer-tap/28552

picasso · 4 Jan 2021

His suggestion can be fitted without undoing the plumbing connections, there are connections on the tap that makes it a very easy job to do, your tap means he has to actually do some work for his money.

terryplumb · 4 Jan 2021

There is really no difference ,other than the fitting of a riser rail to hold the shower head on the wall ,but I would assume you would want one no matter what mixer tap you have.unless you already have the same tap as in link two ,and he just intends to swap the headworks.

Elkato531 · 4 Jan 2021

What do you have there at the moment? If you have something similar to his suggestion, then he may have been planning to change only the top section and leave the pillars in place. This would only take a few minutes once the water is off. Fitting your suggestion means getting access underneath the bath to change the whole tap. Its certainly a bigger job and if access is difficult it may not be at all straightforward.

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

picasso said:
His suggestion can be fitted without undoing the plumbing connections, there are connections on the tap that makes it a very easy job to do, your tap means he has to actually do some work for his money.

i see. i understood you remove the taps from the connectors under the bath then you connect the new taps to these connectors. i didn't think the connections under the bath would be any different for the two sets but it would appear that I am wrong. you absolutely sure about this?

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

terryplumb said:
There is really no difference ,other than the fitting of a riser rail to hold the shower head on the wall ,but I would assume you would want one no matter what mixer tap you have.unless you already have the same tap as in link two ,and he just intends to swap the headworks.

this answer makes more sense to me. i have the same taps now as the one he suggests. this would make me think that he is not replacing the whole tap but just the front bit as you say. this would look very silly surely as the back bit is very old!

there is already a shower holder on the wall, so there is no need to install another shower holder.

terryplumb · 4 Jan 2021

The connections under the bath are no different. But it sounds like he just intends to fit parts of the new tap ,to the existing pillars. Ask him.

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

terryplumb said:
The connections under the bath are no different. But it sounds like he just intends to fit parts of the new tap ,to the existing pillars. Ask him.

thanks I will do as this seems to be the only explanation of why he thinks the one he suggests would be a quick fit and not the one I want to buy.

picasso · 4 Jan 2021

Cant see him fecking about under the bath for £50 and why is he so set on his his selection if he was going to undo the plumbing under the bath ?

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

picasso said:
Cant see him fecking about under the bath for £50 and why is he so set on his his selection if he was going to undo the plumbing under the bath ?

yeah. i think you are right.

Madrab · 4 Jan 2021

As suggested, if yours currently has the pillars, then all he would be doing is replacing the top bar mixer/diverter and spout section, the 2 nuts just loosen at the top of the pillars and then the new one is fitted in reverse, minutes to do and therefore £50

The one you linked to is a deck mixer tap, and sits directly on the top of the bath, your old tap and the pillars would need to be removed fully off the pipework and from under the bath and then the new one fitted and all the fiddly/restricted/knuckle cleaving bits in the middle and a pain in the arcylic ass panel

... certainly >£50

muggles · 4 Jan 2021

Beware buying cheapo-brand taps with ¼ turn operation such as the ones in your suggestion. When they start dripping, you won't be able to get spares for them, so you'll be back in the situation of having to pay someone to fit new taps again. Better to spend a bit more on a quality brand now which you'll be able to get spares for in future... https://www.screwfix.com/p/bristan-cadet-deck-mounted-bath-shower-mixer-tap/965gf

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

Madrab said:
As suggested, if yours currently has the pillars, then all he would be doing is replacing the top bar mixer/diverter and spout section, the 2 nuts just loosen at the top of the pillars and then the new one is fitted in reverse, minutes to do and therefore £50

The one you linked to is a deck mixer tap, and sits directly on the top of the bath, your old tap and the pillars would need to be removed fully off the pipework and from under the bath and then the new one fitted and all the fiddly/restricted/knuckle cleaving bits in the middle and a pain in the arcylic ass panel ... certainly >£50

lol. yes indeed. i do know how to replace the taps myself but this is why i have chosen to pay someone else to do it

Madrab · 4 Jan 2021

Sorry, don't understand then .... if you know how to change them then why pay someone else to it, surely £50 is better in your pocket .... or do you mean if he was talking £50 to do the full change over to your choice and he only wanted £50 then it would be a bargain?

Even then I'd probably still do it myself

TNDU · 4 Jan 2021

Madrab said:
Sorry, don't understand then .... if you know how to change them then why pay someone else to it, surely £50 is better in your pocket .... or do you mean if he was talking £50 to do the full change over to your choice and he only wanted £50 then it would be a bargain?

Even then I'd probably still do it myself

i have never actually replaced the taps myself but i like DIY and so i have seen youtube videos on how to do it and it seems simple enough to do, except the fiddling around in a very tight space and trying to get the blooming old taps off can be difficult.

however, i had never anticipated that you could actually remove the front of the taps and just replace that! i didn't know you could and now that I do, it seems a silly thing to do as you are not getting the benefit of nice looking new taps! for that job, i could certainly do it myself. i wouldn't pay someone £50 to do that.

i was referring to your comment about fiddling around under the bath in a tight space. i wouldn't want to do that and would pay someone else to do it.

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Plumber telling me fibs?

Similar threads