Bathroom Leaking, Quoted $4350 for Resealing, Tiling, Is The Cost Reasonable?

Aerith-Waifu on 23/04/2019 - 22:36

Hi Everyone,

An old relative have a flat which has got a water leaking problem from the bathroom (shower area),

See the photos here:

https://imgur.com/a/NDA2HQa

Here is a full description of the problem after inspection by a local company:

"Upon visual inspection of the main shower, it is noted that the grout in the perimeter joints of the shower recess is deteriorated. The grout around the waste and in the floor joints is porous and is completely missing in areas. It is also noted that the grout in the wall joints is showing significant signs of deterioration throughout the recess. It is understood that there are plumbing issues beneath the floor structure which is leaking into the ceiling of the apartment beneath.

Due to long term water leakage many of the lower wall tiles are now crazed (this is due to water ingress causing swelling to the substructure) - Due to the damage to the wall tiles and long term water ingress it would be recommended the floor and wall tiles are removed in order for a full waterproof membrane to be installed and new tiles across both floor and wall to be fitted.

Any minor patch repairs to this shower recess could lead to further costs and possible future damage to the surrounding area as the tiles are now damaged. The following Waterproofing and Re tiling quote is now recommended as follows:

Scope of works for Waterproof and Re tile Shower Recess (floor, double hob, + shower 3 walls) - Main Shower
Remove old tiles from shower recess
**plumber recommended to attend to all plumbing whilst tiles have been removed (disconnect lower wall taps if required)

Lay new cement screed (after the plumber has carried out beneath floor plumbing)
Spot repair render to substructure walls
Apply 2 coats of waterproofing guards to shower floor and x 3 walls + bandage to joints (bond breaker)
Supply and fit -Standard White 450x250/300x300 wall tiles and 200x200/300x300 floor tiles
Supply and fit new chrome (flat) floor waste
Inject tinted Megagrout product to perimeter, floor, waste, hob + 3 wall grout joints
Includes removal of rubbish from site

Work to be carried out over 4 - 6 days and subject to a pre inspection

Total work cost is $4350 with the possibility of another 20% extra costs due to unforeseeable circumstances

Some information regarding the flat:

Flat is about 40 years old, has a total of 18 units, 9 on the second floor and 9 on the first floor. His flat is on the second floor, 2 bedroom with 1 bathroom, single shower area. Strata company levy paid every 3 month, this leaking problem was discovered recently.

My question is:

1: Is the price quoted above reasonable for the work to be under taken?
2: In the inspection, it says 'It is understood that there are plumbing issues beneath the floor structure which is leaking into the ceiling of the apartment beneath', just wondering does that falls under the building repair at all through the strata insurance levy?
3: Whats the best way to minimise the costs in this situation? (we dont know any plumbers or friends who knows about bathroom repairs) Put a job ad on airtask?

Thanks heaps

Dan

Home & Garden

Comments

  • SmiTTy on 23/04/2019 - 22:45
    +6

    Suggest you get a few more quotes and you'll get a better idea

  • p1 ama on 23/04/2019 - 23:18
    +2

    1: Is the price quoted above reasonable for the work to be under taken?

    You need to get more quotes and you will have a better indication.

    2: In the inspection, it says 'It is understood that there are plumbing issues beneath the floor structure which is leaking into the ceiling of the apartment beneath', just wondering does that falls under the building repair at all through the strata insurance levy?

    The insurance covers the damage to the person underneath's ceiling (if there is any damage).

    3: Whats the best way to minimise the costs in this situation? (we dont know any plumbers or friends who knows about bathroom repairs) Put a job ad on airtask?

    Well you should get to know some plumbers, that's the best way to get the best price on something. Why would you put a job ad on Airtasker? That seems like a really weird thing to do. You'll either attract people who have no idea what they're doing (hence, they're answering Airtasker ads rather than actually working) or you'll end up ripped off.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 02:17

      I am thinking Airtasker maybe able to reduce the bill down due to the fact there are a lot of licensed plumber out there with no work, and he is on a pension so its a lot of money to pay at once.

    • dcep on 24/04/2019 - 10:40

      The insurance covers the damage to the person underneath's ceiling (if there is any damage).

      I think strata's building insurance exclude damages caused by other unit

  • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2019 - 00:35
    +1

    possibility of another 20% extra costs due to unforeseeable circumstances

    Expect to pay the extra 20%. Be very surprised if you don't have to. There is essentially no stipulation of what "unforeseeable circumstances" are.

    does that falls under the building repair at all through the strata insurance levy?

    Depends on the cause and location of damage.

    This does not include the cost of fixing the cause of the damage. There is no point doing anything until you know the reason for the water damage. If it's just bad sealing, sure. If it is a leaky pipe, expect the bill again shortly.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 02:15

      If its a leaky pip, doesnt Strata cover it as its part of the building structure?

  • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2019 - 01:09

    Seems normal. Have you seen the monthly installments on a Maloo ute?

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 02:15

      Maloo? You mean Holden Maloo?

      • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2019 - 02:32
        +1

        Yes. Just like the one your plumber is probably driving.

        • whooah1979 on 24/04/2019 - 06:02
          +2

          It's Hilux and Ranger nowadays.

  • garetz on 24/04/2019 - 03:44

    Seems pretty expensive for such a small bathroom, i had my whole bathroom tiled, and it only cost $2100 for labor over 3 days, plus bought the tiles myself at a deep discount, as they were out of season. Are they going to remove the existing tiles then waterproof, then retile ? or waterproof over the existing tiles then retile over the existing tiles.

    I would get several quotes. make sure each quote is similar in scope, and never tell them what the other quotes were costed at, or they use that as a baseline and undercut it slightly.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 04:12

      According to them, it will be completely re-tile so they can ensure that the substructure is prepared, the whole shower is waterproofed, tiled.

      So looks like it will be removing the old existing tiles and putting on the new tiles once waterproofing is done. They will supply all the materials including tiles i suppose.

      But I will ask just to be sure.

      • garetz on 24/04/2019 - 15:49

        Looking at those tiles, its very easy to remove them yourself, you could save alot on that labor alone.

  • gooddealmate on 24/04/2019 - 06:49
    +2

    I'm a Tiler, and thats a reasonable price for the amount of work involved and materials supplied.

    Get a couple more quotes for your own piece of mind if you wish but whatever you do, don't go down the airtasker route. It would be highly unlikely the person you get is qualified in waterproofing or tiling. I've seen it so many times before, the result will not be good.

    You could perhaps do the rip out yourself to save on money and shop around for your own tiles, ie; national tiles 300x600 @ $9.99 per m2.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 14:42

      Ok thanks heaps, no airtasker route for sure now.

      I will shop around for the tiles myself i guess. Every dollar helps

  • elgrande on 24/04/2019 - 06:54

    Just note that plumbing work will be in addition to that quote.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 14:41

      This is the area that worries me a bit, the costs alone is already pretty high for someone on the pension.

      Wonder how much this plumbing work will costs…………..

  • slow on 24/04/2019 - 07:43

    Long term water leaking can cause a lot of damage under the surface. I had a similar situation and after ripping out the tiles discovered all the timber in the surrounding areas was rotten and had to be replaced

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 14:43

      So far there are no damage to the unit beneath, but the sooner this gets fixed the better.

  • GG57 on 24/04/2019 - 09:16

    We had similar works undertaken recently, and that quote seems reasonable to me for that scope.
    As others have said, you may be able to pick up tiles cheaper if you shop around, but make sure you have the quantity requirements from the tiler (to allow for wastage).

  • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2019 - 15:56

    Get a couple of other quotes but as it says they need to pull all the tiles off and start again.

    You should consider if there is anything else to do while this is being done to improve the value of your property. May I suggest stainless steel floor waste/drain, flick mixer tap, floor to ceiling tiles with some sort of feature in them. Plain white tiles are so boring. Put in heater light thing and wire it up.

    • GG57 on 24/04/2019 - 16:02

      I assume the current tiling is not floor to ceiling; if OP opts for that then will most likely also incur some electrical works / costs.
      The most cost-effective is to replace like-for-like, but I agree that updated hardware might look better.

      • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 16:58

        Tiles in the shower are all the way to the cornice at the moment.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 24/04/2019 - 16:57

      I was thinking of asking whats the prices to replace the taps and the shower while they are at it. However given the costs could be another $500 extra I am not sure how my relative can afford it.

  • Aeonx on 24/04/2019 - 19:32

    You may be able to recover cost from strata or have their preferred contractor to repair the issue if the leak is behind the walls; below floor surface. And also waterproofing/replacement of tiles, if it is resultant of said leak.

    Also list your job on serviceseeking.com.au or hipages, get dozens of quotes from tradies with reviews.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 25/04/2019 - 16:06

      I have contacted my strata title and waiting an answer.

      I have also asked a friend which used to work for a rental company and they said looking at the photo he said the shower tiles & grout are owner responsibility. The issue is the grout deteriorating. (I am not sure how he can tell just by looking at the photos) The plumbing issue beneath the tiling is separate to this (maybe just happening at the same time by coincidence)

      Which got me thinking if that is true, Strata should at least get a plumber to come and give their assessment.

  • mr fiddles on 25/04/2019 - 11:43

    Just get the leak patched up by a licenced plumber, then do the water proofing and re-tiling yourself, it's dead easy. The leak needs to be done a by a licenced plumber as they have the proper equipment and materials. You don't need a licence to waterproof and do the tiling work, anyone can do it, the equipment required for this is very general.

    • Aerith-Waifu on 25/04/2019 - 16:13

      I have contacted my strata title and waiting an answer.

      I have also asked a friend which used to work for a rental company and they said looking at the photo he said the shower tiles & grout are owner responsibility. The issue is the grout deteriorating. (I am not sure how he can tell just by looking at the photos) The plumbing issue beneath the tiling is separate to this (maybe just happening at the same time by coincidence)

      Which got me thinking if that is true, Strata should at least get a plumber to come and give their assessment. If it is indeed plumbing issues as well, then strata should at least pay for the plumber bit.

  • Aerith-Waifu on 25/04/2019 - 16:09

    It maybe a long road from here as it takes ages for the strata company to reply

  • Aerith-Waifu on 11/05/2019 - 22:43

    Just got some news back from the Strata Insurance, their insurance indicated the leaking is due to the faulty tiles rather than the plumbing issues. Not sure I agree but they made the call.

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