New Grump of the Day

[WetWales]

When I was laying our foam
Glass + membrane + grid for UFH pipes I must’ve measured each room , length and width about 15 times and by the time I got back outside to cut the membrane or grid, I’d forgotten the measurements! I was too lazy every time to find a pen or pencil to write the measurements down, but kept forgetting and re measuring out of sheer stupidness!

The room sizes didn’t change but each subsequent layer I had to remeasure imagine how much time I’d of saved just drawing it out once

 

[LadyArowana]

Update on my roof and bucket situation. Not only did the industrial abseilers not fix the leak, but they have managed to create a new one. I’m now out of buckets!

The date on my quote re this leak was October last year. The Managing Agents arranged scaffolding at the start of December, the contractor was supposedly going to fix “everything” before Christmas. A man did “something” on December 19. This stopped one leak, but the other one needed a replacement window, so months after I suggested it a tarp was put over said window. There then ensued a rather heated discussion as to who would pay for the replacement window. Although it’s a leasehold/ share of freehold arrangement we are only responsible for certain parts, definitely not the roof. Before the argument escalated to the point of lawyers the board, of which His Lordship is a director - although he had to recuse himself from the vote, decided to significantly reduce our cost.

We resent paying even the new amount, but it wasn’t worth the cost of a fight. Fast forward to month or so ago and we noticed that the previously fixed leak had unfixed itself whilst we waited for the repairs, we hear all the other apartments are fed up with having to look at the scaffolding and there’s been confusion about who was ordering the window and what was required. A couple of weeks ago we were told the window was finally made……but had been delivered tthe wrong jobsite whilst we got theirs. Why a simple courier based swap solution wasn’t arranged I have no idea, but apparently they had to make a whole new window! The roof works and fitting of the new window is supposed to happen next Thursday. For added authenticity we have been told it will be done by “Simon” who works in “Dean’s Department” all overseen by “Matt” the project manager. I predict another update here in approximately 4months, it will involve buckets.

 

[a twig]

We have got to the last stages of our extension only to find:

1) The electrician can’t read an electrical drawing and has made several significant mistakes which can’t be rectified without trashing a lot of existing plaster.
2) The plumber ignored the specification of TRVs needed to be compatible with our smart heating system so they need changing
3) The main contractor claiming that painting and fitting flooring wasn’t in the quote, and fitting the kitchen is 30% larger than they had quoted (despite them having all the necessary plans since the tender stage) so they’d like an extra £1k for the kitchen and £6k for decorating and flooring.
4) Carpentry “to match existing house” apparently means rubbish MDF skirting and architrave, and nasty plywood doors rather than pine like everywhere else. One of the plywood doors they have installed is a pocket door so can’t be changed without significant re-work.

So I’ve finally snapped and once the electrician and spark have finished 2nd fix this week I’m kicking them off site, keeping hold of the final payment and doing the rest myself.

 

[CliffordPope]

Our replacement porch allegedly has a pair of "hardwood" doors. After a month or so they started to catch, so I planed a fraction off one of the doors, and it was fine.
After the next prolonged rain they caught again. I planed them. Then a few months later, the same again. This time I planed off a more substantial amount off.
That lasted for maybe a year, then they started to stick, again. Fed up, I took off the doors and cut 1/4" from both. After another year they had swollen again, so I planed a bit off .......

Ten years later they are mostly fine, although I did have to shave off a fraction a few months ago. So in total these hardwood doors have swollen about an inch in total across a gap of 30". They never shrink in dry weather - it's a one-way movement.
Grrrrr !

 

[aockenden]

So I’ve finally snapped and once the electrician and spark have finished 2nd fix this week I’m kicking them off site, keeping hold of the final payment and doing the rest myself.

Lol thata way. They sound like the typical “tradie” blockheads.

 

[Lacan07]

We have got to the last stages of our extension only to find:

1) The electrician can’t read an electrical drawing and has made several significant mistakes which can’t be rectified without trashing a lot of existing plaster.
2) The plumber ignored the specification of TRVs needed to be compatible with our smart heating system so they need changing
3) The main contractor claiming that painting and fitting flooring wasn’t in the quote, and fitting the kitchen is 30% larger than they had quoted (despite them having all the necessary plans since the tender stage) so they’d like an extra £1k for the kitchen and £6k for decorating and flooring.
4) Carpentry “to match existing house” apparently means rubbish MDF skirting and architrave, and nasty plywood doors rather than pine like everywhere else. One of the plywood doors they have installed is a pocket door so can’t be changed without significant re-work.

So I’ve finally snapped and once the electrician and spark have finished 2nd fix this week I’m kicking them off site, keeping hold of the final payment and doing the rest myself.

Number 3 is a classic

 

[malcolm]

What a pain @a twig. I've found you have to be around when trades are around which can be tricky if you are working to pay for it all. There needs to be a project manager that can answer questions and sounds like the contractor was not performing that role very well.

Talking about pain my grump today is about a bad health and safety day. Started off brushing away a bit of sawdust so I could see how far the hand saw needed to go. It would have been better to remove the hand saw first. Next was stepping off a step up and an ankle bending in a way it isn't supposed to. That'll keep me out of trouble for a few days.

 

[LadyArowana]

Next was stepping off a step up and an ankle bending in a way it isn't supposed to. That'll keep me out of trouble for a few days.

Owwwww, ice…… for the G&T and then a nice rest outside if the weather is cooperative

 

[a twig]

Latest debacle:

I was encouraged by the main contractor that all my fused spurs should be brought back into a central panel next to the new extension CU rather than above each appliance - I initially wasn’t convinced but after discussions we agreed that I would end up with something like this MK grid panel:

What I actually ended up with today was this monstrosity:

Cue very grumpy and threatening emails and a promise that someone will be on site to rectify tomorrow - we shall see

 

[Lacan07]

Latest debacle:

I was encouraged by the main contractor that all my fused spurs should be brought back into a central panel next to the new extension CU rather than above each appliance - I initially wasn’t convinced but after discussions we agreed that I would end up with something like this MK grid panel:
View attachment 13844
What I actually ended up with today was this monstrosity:
View attachment 13845
Cue very grumpy and threatening emails and a promise that someone will be on site to rectify tomorrow - we shall see

jesus lol!! its almost like the 90's never happened.

 

[fernicarry]

I was encouraged by the main contractor that all my fused spurs should be brought back into a central panel next to the new extension CU rather than above each appliance - I initially wasn’t convinced but after discussions we agreed

That's arguably not a very good design. The isolator should be close to the appliance it controls so that if it starts spewing out smoke you can quickly shut it down without hunting for the control panel. Personally I hate having those fused spur things dotted along the splash back. Most of mine are hidden in the backs of cupboards which violates another guideline that the isolator should be easily accessible. At the end of the day there is the Mother of All isolators at the front door.

Whilst I'm quite partial to the little grid switches with the legends printed on them, they are an absolute mule to wire up. I did my utility room as a 4mm2 radial and whilst MK say two of those should fit the terminals, it required copious amounts of blood and cursing to make them do so. 2.5mm2 isn't as much of a stretch but I would always aim to get a 47mm deep back box behind each of them. And each should really have its own fuse unlike your first pic.

Interested in how they intend to repair the plasterboard next to that switch farm...

 

[a twig]

Put a new bit of board in with 4 large screws straight through the wires I expect...

EDIT: Update - half a packet of Toupret seems to be the solution

EDIT EDIT: I underestimated their brilliance - fill it with pink squirty foam first then cut it back and use Toupret

 

[a twig]

Besides the amount I'm paying these electricians, the least I'd expect in return is some minor bloodshed

If we are being picky, provided that the socket is easily accessible, a fused plug provides all the protection and ability to isolate that is required for the majority of appliances - any issues with the appliance, pull the plug, any issues with the supply and the RCBO will trip. But the electrician wouldn't agree to that as "not best practice" - which I was prepared to accept until he wanted to site the CU 1m above the sink...

In honesty, agreed on each having its own fuse, those modules exist for the MK grid, I just couldn't find a photo on the interwebs of them in use. In commercial installations, each appliance often has its own RCBO protected supply these days so you can do away with the fuse, which is what I guess they have done there

 

[Lacan07]

I had "clear the rainwater guttering" on my 'to-do' list all summer, especially as I removed a chimney stack a few months back and it made a tremendous mess but I kept putting it off. It's just p***ed it down here in the UK and a few sections of my walls are now wetter than an otters bum.

 

[a twig]

I took the opportunity of the deluge to
go outside with a brolly and check my gutters were all working properly,

We could start a new game of driving around the country in bad weather and playing spot the PPUKer, the only ones who go out in a storm to watch their gutters

 

[paulc]

Cat: Whilst I don't mind you bringing in the odd dead mouse from time to time, why bring a live one in just before bedtime and let it run around ?

 

[Lacan07]

I took the opportunity of the deluge to
go outside with a brolly and check my gutters were all working properly,

We could start a new game of driving around the country in bad weather and playing spot the PPUKer, the only ones who go out in a storm to watch their gutters

Ha! Me too, but my brolly was broken and I got soaked anyway. I think some of my guttering might need reconfiguring to cope with these flash downpours. I need to repoint around a few ledges too as water got in.

 

[fernicarry]

fill it with pink squirty foam

Hmm, if the cable is surrounded by insulation for more than 0.5m it should be derated.

 

[LadyArowana]

Latest debacle:

I was encouraged by the main contractor that all my fused spurs should be brought back into a central panel next to the new extension CU rather than above each appliance - I initially wasn’t convinced but after discussions we agreed that I would end up with something like this MK grid panel:

What I actually ended up with today was this monstrosity:

Cue very grumpy and threatening emails and a promise that someone will be on site to rectify tomorrow - we shall see

Electricians should be made to pass a rigorous interior design module before being certified. We had one in our building who ran large black armoured cables in a slightly wobbly line just below the cornice down a corridor in a nice mansion block. Luckily a neighbour saw it and went ballistic before it was connected into our place. His resoponse to being asked about it was that it was safe, and up to code. I suppose technically it was the fault of the project manager/ surveyor who instructed him, or more likely didn’t instruct him, but really? Didn’t think to even ask if that was the best plan. Luckily it was rectified and done properly after the fuss. When It came to doing the house I made sure to show the contractor and say ‘our rewiring won’t look like this will it’, he laughed, and actually even our temporary cabling for the guy’s equipment was neater than that monstrosity. Beware folks, they move amongst us….. Hope it’s all made good Twig

 

[Lacan07]

Electricians should be made to pass a rigorous interior design module before being certified. We had one in our building who ran large black armoured cables in a slightly wobbly line just below the cornice down a corridor in a nice mansion block. Luckily a neighbour saw it and went ballistic before it was connected into our place. His resoponse to being asked about it was that it was safe, and up to code. I suppose technically it was the fault of the project manager/ surveyor who instructed him, or more likely didn’t instruct him, but really? Didn’t think to even ask if that was the best plan. Luckily it was rectified and done properly after the fuss. When It came to doing the house I made sure to show the contractor and say ‘our rewiring won’t look like this will it’, he laughed, and actually even our temporary cabling for the guy’s equipment was neater than that monstrosity. Beware folks, they move amongst us….. Hope it’s all made good Twig

They seem to be a completely different breed of tradesmen, my electrician didn't give a hoot when he was smashing the house up during 1st fix.