New radiators falling off - what would you do?
Discussion
Joe5y said:
My cousin is a landscaper that currently features top of the list locally - he has no experience (at all) and has stock pictures and recommendations from numerous sources. No one of them work he has done.
Your cousin is a c*nt.I hope you have at least left a review on checkatrade since you're not pursuing them to fix their own appalling job...
Edited by Dromedary66 on Saturday 14th December 09:37
Driver101 said:
It's no wonder all these charlatans get away with stuff when the advice on here is always chalk it up to experience and move on.
you think hes going to get anything but grief and wasted time for vhasing or small claims?Without knowing it hes gotten away with much more once he fixes the cowboys mistakes and realises theres a multitude of jobs he may once of paid someone else to do, but now will tackle them himself.
you talk like cowboys didnt exist before "check a trade", or that they will ever be eradicated?
its more a thing of once bitten twice shy and common sense, he will have gained this during this episode.
austinsmirk said:
er- you paid tuppence for that scale of job- assuming that included all the gear, pipe and so on.
I disagree about checkatrade- they along with which trust a trader are the only sites that seem to vet companies, check yr work and so on.
(as I use them, so I know).
the rest are all builders paying for leads.
If they've got great reviews, maybe they've just had a bad job, used a poor workman and so on. it does happen. I've had lads working for me, cost me a fortune and turn the job into a loss.
In what way do they check yr work then? What background checks do they do?I disagree about checkatrade- they along with which trust a trader are the only sites that seem to vet companies, check yr work and so on.
(as I use them, so I know).
the rest are all builders paying for leads.
If they've got great reviews, maybe they've just had a bad job, used a poor workman and so on. it does happen. I've had lads working for me, cost me a fortune and turn the job into a loss.
I use checkatrade and their ilk in reverse. If someone's on checkatrade I don't use them.
Jambo85 said:
I find those self tapping plasterboard fixings can take a lot of weight - my kitchen cabinets are all being held up by them... should I be worried!?
Perhaps a big radiator is more weight per fixing?
A big radiator is normally spread out over 3 brackets though, more fixings and better load bearing.Perhaps a big radiator is more weight per fixing?
If course that all goes to s
t when you're wife thinks a radiator is a good place to park her arse.The guys who fitted my radiators looked at the poo plasterboard walls and fitted timber battens along to fix the radiators to. Pushes them off the wall an extra few mm but recon you could stand on them now.
As an aside, we've had quite a bit of work done up here near Oban in addition to the work I've done myself. I can honestly say every one of the guys have done a superb job, been tidy, conscientious. That's everything from concreting, total en suite rebuild, carpets, electrical, ASHP.....
As an aside, we've had quite a bit of work done up here near Oban in addition to the work I've done myself. I can honestly say every one of the guys have done a superb job, been tidy, conscientious. That's everything from concreting, total en suite rebuild, carpets, electrical, ASHP.....
Decision made and i'm gonna chalk this one up to experience rather than face the hassle of getting back any of the labour costs that i've paid them. Part of this is that they're just up their own arse when it came to the bill so it won't be an easy ride, and whatever money i got back wouldn't likely cover the cost of someone else doing the job.
I already have loads of corefix plugs to use for any that are on outside walls, and i've ordered some of those Geefix fittings to use for the stud walls, alongside a few Gripit ones that i already have.
I'm assuming i'll need to add some inhibitor if i end up re-doing most of the rads?
One last photo to show the utter incompetence
I already have loads of corefix plugs to use for any that are on outside walls, and i've ordered some of those Geefix fittings to use for the stud walls, alongside a few Gripit ones that i already have.
I'm assuming i'll need to add some inhibitor if i end up re-doing most of the rads?
One last photo to show the utter incompetence
Edited by MrChips on Monday 16th December 20:37
Driver101 said:
It's no wonder all these charlatans get away with stuff when the advice on here is always chalk it up to experience and move on.
I'm finding some of the replies amazing too, but the original quote/ estimate call it what you like was £700, OP paid Over £1150, firm claimed final bill was £1350. What did he pay then?I'm struggling to work that bit out, he had a quote but paid far more even though the work was sub standard and unacceptable as the pics show, the last one with a big square cut out of the plasterboard being one of them.
Why pay up when you're not happy with the work? Then complain afterwards? I don't understand, complain before you hand over your money not after.
Promised Land said:
I'm finding some of the replies amazing too, but the original quote/ estimate call it what you like was £700, OP paid Over £1150, firm claimed final bill was £1350. What did he pay then?
I'm struggling to work that bit out, he had a quote but paid far more even though the work was sub standard and unacceptable as the pics show, the last one with a big square cut out of the plasterboard being one of them.
Why pay up when you're not happy with the work? Then complain afterwards? I don't understand, complain before you hand over your money not after.
Because when they left, the radiators hadn't fallen off so it was pretty difficult to see that the fixings they'd used were unsuitable I'm struggling to work that bit out, he had a quote but paid far more even though the work was sub standard and unacceptable as the pics show, the last one with a big square cut out of the plasterboard being one of them.
Why pay up when you're not happy with the work? Then complain afterwards? I don't understand, complain before you hand over your money not after.
The last pic where the bracket isn't even fitted to anything was something i'd missed when checking as it's hard to see unless you lie on the ground and look up. The plasterboard cut out was discussed and agreed with me as they had some issues with accessing the plastic poly pipe.
Edited by MrChips on Monday 16th December 21:33
I have fitted loads of radiators with those type of brackets over the years. They are a horrible design and couples often with heavy radiators. At least with a standard radiator bracket you get more options for fix points and the added bonus of the option to put some adhesive behind as a back up.
I think you have just been unlucky and found someone unfamiliar with these things coupled with not ideal walls. I think you may have some fun refixing them.
I think you have just been unlucky and found someone unfamiliar with these things coupled with not ideal walls. I think you may have some fun refixing them.
miroku1 said:
Unless it’s a tiny radiator I would cut out a horizontal section of board between the studs and insert some timber refit the removed section of plasterboard then fit the radiator , only way .
I’d agree for a small rad that’s between studs, however our stud walls are metal framed rather than wood so added complexity I think.We only have one large rad that is on a stud wall so I’m gonna get another pair of bracket to fit so there’ll be 6 brackets to spread the load and then fit with decent fitting and I’m confident it’ll be fine. I’m sure even the 4 brackets would’ve been ok if they had fitted the hollow wall anchors properly!
And I agree with the poster above, a part of the issue is the brackets themselves. To work better they should be joined as a pair (upper and lower) to the exact size of the rad that sits on them so the load is perfectly distributed. Trying to get the distance between them to be perfect is nigh on impossible.
Edited by MrChips on Monday 16th December 22:08
Jambo85 said:
I find those self tapping plasterboard fixings can take a lot of weight - my kitchen cabinets are all being held up by them... should I be worried!?
Perhaps a big radiator is more weight per fixing?
They're not the best as they tend to just pull a chunk of plasterboard out when loaded up. The spring toggles or similar can take more weight.Perhaps a big radiator is more weight per fixing?
You're quite limited with any fixing into plasterboard though by the strength of the board itself.
Flibble said:
Jambo85 said:
I find those self tapping plasterboard fixings can take a lot of weight - my kitchen cabinets are all being held up by them... should I be worried!?
Perhaps a big radiator is more weight per fixing?
They're not the best as they tend to just pull a chunk of plasterboard out when loaded up. The spring toggles or similar can take more weight.Perhaps a big radiator is more weight per fixing?
You're quite limited with any fixing into plasterboard though by the strength of the board itself.
Getting the brackets right on those rads isn’t easy but it’s doable by anyone who has half a brain and is willing to give it the time. I am guessing the wker who did yours had neither...
As a rank amateur I’ve put up 5 rads in my house.. all of which are solid and level. Stuff like this isn’t really that difficult.
ker who did yours had neither...As a rank amateur I’ve put up 5 rads in my house.. all of which are solid and level. Stuff like this isn’t really that difficult.
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