6 Year Wet Room Leak, Am I Liable

[Handyeire]

Just got a call from a 6yr client. I installed this wet room and last night it pissed a leak and going by what the client says, he thinks its the drain and was saying hes wanting me to fix the drain, plaster and paint the ceiling below for free.

This is before I've even looked at it but if the drain is leaking and its been 6 year since you did it, would you take the hit with this or refused to do it for free. TBH I don't mind giving my time for free if its not to much but having to fork out money as well is asking abit much seeing as its been 6 years.

 

[Dave]

After 6 yrs , mmmmm , you would expect longer but I would investigate first , it might well not be anything you've done.

Could simply be a product failure.

 

[ttt tiling]

Just got a call from a 6yr client. I installed this wet room and last night it pissed a leak and going by what the client says, he thinks its the drain and was saying hes wanting me to fix the drain, plaster and paint the ceiling below for free.

This is before I've even looked at it but if the drain is leaking and its been 6 year since you did it, would you take the hit with this or refused to do it for free. TBH I don't mind giving my time for free if its not to much but having to fork out money as well is asking abit much seeing as its been 6 years.

A £50000 car has what , a 3 year warranty ,so ethically you are in no way obliged to do the repair . If he's demanding you repair the fault and repair the damage ., I would remind him that the warranty on the drain parts was probably only a year . I f he gets testy tell him to contact the drain suppliers and see how far he gets

 

[Dan]

I too wouldn't guarantee work for 6 years. All the parts will be standard 1 year I'd have thought. Also wear and tare over 6 years is going to come into effect.

It might be worth taking a look. But I'd be charging a call out inspection fee that you will refund off the price of the repairs. And I'd be happy to also provide a discount as he's a repeat customer (not sure how that would go down lol he seems annoyed and demanding) but I certainly wouldn't do it for free and pay parts and labour and I'd make that clear before I got in the van to call around because I can see where this is going.

 

[Spare Tool]

I give a 12 month guarantee on any work I've done, prepped and supplied the materials for..customer supplies and preps it thereself or gets a third party involved they get no guarantee off me whatsoever. Like above 6 years..wtf

 

[Spare Tool]

Surely after 6 years trouble free one of the only things that could fail on this is the pipes got full of hair and the nasties that wash down the drain and water has backed up the pipe and over the top of a joint..tell him to call dynarod

 

[Just Rizzle]

a lot can happen in 6 yrs pass it over to his house hold insurance to sort it out

 

[Qwerty]

Way too long IMO. No way you could be held to account for that

 

[Dan]

Yeah actually why hasn't he rang insurance. That's surely covered.

And if he liked you the first time round provide him with the quote/estimate to carry out the repairs.

 

[Alan M]

if its close I would pop round and see what's going on.
then if its a bit of hair or a bit of loose silicone fix for free but explain that it is a gesture on your part.
if its not your fault or something more than a 2minute fix then tell him there will be a bill. if he freaks out then he will bad mouth you either way so just walk

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

here we go its your fault for new building work he has carried out in the house probaly an ensuit that he wont show you or a change he did himself to the room you did if a wet room does not leak for six years what now makes it leak like a sive new work added some were else conniting to yours so the other builders gone bust or he did it him self and now wants you to pay.your limtations stopped after 5 years i would go round have a look dont look for whats there. but looks for whats not there now .you are being had over .my guess would be the push fits on his plumbing have given way as the rubbers hardened

 

[Just Rizzle]

modern day plumbing is going to be a gold mine for plumbers in 10 to 15 yrs time all those o rings in all those push fit fittings cant see them lasting as long as a soldered joint . loads of work for decorators and tilers too.

 

[Dan]

Yeah ray's probably right. I rate he's somehow caused a leak himself.

I can't see how just a trap or drain going can cause the ceiling to go through as if a pipe to the tap has burst or something.

Why so much water?

Must have Carried on having a long shower with the drain disconnected.