soxfan

I'm a floor installer. I came across a bathroom floor today that had obviously been subject to many years of leakage from the toilet. I noticed that the flange had rusted to the point that the slot where the mounting bolts attach was gone. This isn't so surprising, I often find that the customer prefers to remove the toilet prior to my arrival with the plan being that a plumber will come in after me and re-set it.

I found out after the new floor was in that the plumber had already come and gone. he left a couple of spanners with the customer and the plan was for the customer to put the toilet back himself. I always thought spanners were things that people who didn't know anything about plumbing used and that they weren't the most dependable means of attaching the toilet. Should I be worried about my vynal floor? It won't last as long as it should if the toilet keeps leaking. I should also mention that the supply shutoff valve had a slow leak that I battled all day, something else I'd expect a decent plumber would have addressed while he was there.

Is this guy a hack? Is he just trying to save the customer a couple of bucks? or am I just being too picky?

tzzzz216

[quote=soxfan]I'm a floor installer. I came across a bathroom floor today that had obviously been subject to many years of leakage from the toilet. I noticed that the flange had rusted to the point that the slot where the mounting bolts attach was gone. This isn't so surprising, I often find that the customer prefers to remove the toilet prior to my arrival with the plan being that a plumber will come in after me and re-set it.

I found out after the new floor was in that the plumber had already come and gone. he left a couple of spanners with the customer and the plan was for the customer to put the toilet back himself. I always thought spanners were things that people who didn't know anything about plumbing used and that they weren't the most dependable means of attaching the toilet. Should I be worried about my vynal floor? It won't last as long as it should if the toilet keeps leaking. I should also mention that the supply shutoff valve had a slow leak that I battled all day, something else I'd expect a decent plumber would have addressed while he was there.

Is this guy a hack? Is he just trying to save the customer a couple of bucks? or am I just being too picky?[/QUOTE

Soxfan, You're not being picky at all ,As a plumber I would have liked to replace that flange and stop before the new floor was laid, maybe you should have suggested that to your customer ,So no damaged would been done to your new floor, installing spanner flange is just a tempory repair job, and who knows why he didn't replace the stop. Maybe the customer didn't want to pay to replace it the correct way ,sooner or later it'll come back to bite them ( home owner)And i'm pretty sure they'll call you back and tell you the new floor is lifting up. If i find something on a job that needs to be corrected before i can start my work i point it out to them and note it on their copy and mine of the work order and have then sign it,I'll turn down a job before a customer request me to cut corners, I work to hard to pay for my lic. & Ins.
one never knows what they'll get into until you get into the job.
Have a Good New Year!!

Try to send these jobs over seas!

oldgoat

Maybe the homeowner was told but decided to cheap out. I would think that if you are paying good money to have new flooring put down and have a plumber come in then it should be done right. The least the guy should have done is replace the shutoff valve. You might cover yourself for your work by having a note on the work sheet that you informed the customer of the problems and the damage to the floor that could result. If he decides to not do it right then you shouldn't be held responsible for the floor not holding up.

soxfan

I found out late yesterday afternoon that my comments to the customer seem to have led to a new flange being installed. The shut off was not repaired, but I did fail to mention that the leak was from not being able to completely shut it off. So I guess it should be fine once its hooked back up and the valve is turned back on. Thanks for the replys.

tzzzz216

Your welcome ,The plumber should have pointed out the stop at this point
and ask if they wanted to replace it,who knows they may need to shut it off sometime in the future. Have a good New Years..


Try to send these jobs over seas!!