Situations and planning

Picking up a bathroom job another trade left unfinished

How to approach it

  1. 1

    Ask for photographs of any concealed work if none exist already, and where that's not possible, be prepared for some tiling or boarding to come back off to verify it.

  2. 2

    Check tanking and sealing behind any tiled shower area specifically, this is the single most common source of later leaks when a job has changed hands.

  3. 3

    Get a clear written list of what was actually completed versus paid for, since the two don't always match after a dispute or a trade disappearing.

  4. 4

    Confirm any electrical work already done, particularly in the shower zone, has appropriate certification before it's built over further.

  5. 5

    Treat the takeover as a fresh scope with its own quote, not a quick finish, since unpicking someone else's work often takes longer than starting from scratch.

tiled bathroom fitters project, Stroud (Gloucestershire), referenced in our guide to taking over a half-finished bathroom job
Recent en-suite bathroom installation completed in Quedgeley, relevant reference for Gloucestershire clients, referenced in our guide to taking over a half-finished bathroom job

If you want this doing

Worth checking on site

Ask for photographs of any concealed work if none exist already, and where that's not possible, be prepared for some tiling or boarding to come back off to verify it.

Common questions

Is it safe to just tile over work someone else started?

Not without checking what's underneath, waterproofing and electrical connections in particular need verifying before they're covered, since faults found later are far more disruptive to fix.

Can I get money back from the original tradesperson?

That's a separate legal and consumer matter from the building work itself, and is worth pursuing independently of getting the bathroom finished.

Keep reading

Insurance escape-of-water reinstatementSituations and planningDownsizing and bathroom needsSituations and planningRenovating while it's your only bathroomSituations and planningHoliday let bathroomsProperty typesTrade sequencingProcess and cost factorsScreed and drying timesProcess and cost factors

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