Bathroom floor repair Estimate

[Michael Rozdoba]

My elderly mother let the bath overflow a couple of months ago. When we took the carpet up we found a small area of flooring next to one corner of the bath (about 6" to 12" across) which was crumbling, probably as a result of small spills over the last 20 years. A foot away from this was a patch about 18" across which was more sound but still sufficiently spongy to be worrying - I think if I'd stamped on it I'd have gone through the floor. I imagine this is where most of the recent spill drained through the floor.

She lives in a bungalow with t&g chipboard flooring which hasn't had need to be touched since the place was built in '79.

The damage to the bathroom floor was surprisingly minimal but enough to warrant attention.

She's got a single estimate from a guy who wants to replace just a couple of the boards. He reckons on one day's work & has given her an estimate of 575ukp.

Does this seem reasonable? I thought it was OTT & was also concerned there was no breakdown, not even between materials & labour.

The bathroom is tiny, about the length of the bath & probably six feet wide including the space occupied by the bath. He only intends to replace one or two sections of board. He mentioned water resistant boards, though I'm not sure of the benefit of these if only a third or a quarter of the floor is going to be replaced.

Any opinions welcomed. I'd like her to get a second estimate but she just wants it out of the way.

[A.Lee]

.....

Well, at first glance it looks like daylight robbery. But, until the damage can be seen, and what needs replacing/moving, then judgement cannot really be given. If for instance the bath needs to be moved to get access, then it can be very time consuming. If however it is 2 easily accessible floorboards that need cutting out and replacing, then I'd expect it to be a lot cheaper, probably £150 max. Without seeing it, a true idea of cost cannot be given. Alan.

[The Natural Philosopher]

well if its thoroughly dried out I'd be tempted to get a pack of epoxy resin and mix it and dilute it a bit with alcohol, pour it on the floor and let it soak in, and set.

Chances are it will be stronger than the original chipboard.

I don't think its too much of a ripoff..the guy will have to buy stuff, fiddle about and its probably nearer two days including the time doing the quote.

The price reflects how little he relishes the task.

[Peter]

If the bath doesn't need moving I, do it for £150 incl. materials.

P

[Lurch]

On Thu, 31 May 2007 21:47:45 +0100, "Peter" mused:

I don't think I'd see a proper job done for that.

[Michael Rozdoba]

[snip]

Thanks for the technique. I'll add it to my list of things that would be good to remember. Unfortunately I reckon my mother's set on a 'professional' solution now.

That figures :)

[Michael Rozdoba]

The cost, lack of breakdown & claim it was one day's work made me think that.

The damage isn't great. The flood itself seems to have caused damage to only a single board - iirc they're about 2' by 8'. However access is a pain...

I was expecting around that amount & maybe two or three hours work.

Understood.

...The bath won't need moving however I think the hand basin &/or toilet might. Also, the board in question passes out from the bathroom to the adjacent hallway. Most of it's width lies within the doorway, however several inches does run under the internal dividing wall.

If I was 'fixing' it myself, prior to the epoxy method, I'd have been inclined just to remove the damaged section, but I'd not want to inflict my bodges on anyone else.

[Michael Rozdoba]

If by some fluke you're in the North East of England, mail me (see sig) :)

[The Medway Handyman]

A days work for £575? Sounds a bit pricey given that flooring grade chipboard isn't very expensive.

Having said that, if it's T&G chipboard and has been nailed down it can be a bitch to get up. Probably have to take the door off for access.

I'd reckon on 2 days to be certain, so £300 + say £40 for wood. That's without seeing it of course.

Bathrooms IMO should be floored in water resistant chipboard, but it's not that much more expensive than ordinary.

[adder1969]

That's what I'd do, or even try PVA.

If the guy has quote that much for a days work and it does turn out to be two as some here have suggested will the actual cost then become more like a grand? Sounds to me to be expensive although as always it's supply and demand.

[Lurch]

On Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:52:26 -0700, adder1969 mused:

He hasn't quoted anything, he's estimated. An estimate is just that, a rough guide as to what it may cost. A quote though, is a quote and unless the job specifics change (e.g. the joists turn out to be rotten) then the price should be the price it will cost to do the job, irrespective of how long it takes.

[Michael Rozdoba]

For the record, I asked my mother to get some quotes for the work, though I don't know if she asked/got an estimate or a quote. I wrote estimate earlier on as I sloppily use the two words interchangeably, which clearly I shouldn't.

I read his letter today - 575ukp to replace part of the floor with water resistant chipboard & in the process remove & then refit the toilet & handbasin. He doesn't state how much of the flooring.

Looking again at the damage, I can't see why he needs to touch the toilet & handbasin as the only seriously effected boards aren't near that end of the room.

[Michael Rozdoba]

Again, my thoughts.

Yup, T&G chipboard nailed down.

Understood. Wish I'd taken my camera today. Never mind.

I understand that, but am less clear in what the benefit is of doing a partial replacement with water resistant boards. If there's another flood, I imagine the process will need to be repeated with a different section of the old flooring.

Come to that, if the whole bathroom floor is replaced with water resistant & there's another flood, won't the water spread to adjacent rooms? Or does the fact the material is water resistant make no difference to how quickly the water will seep through joins &/or the board itself?

I was over at my mother's again today & tried to persuade her to put this guy off & let me have a go with epoxy resin. As I expected she wants this guy to do the work as she's sick of the fuss, even though he can't do the job until the middle of July. I'm only annoyed as I don't want to see her get ripped off or waste her money.

The boards seem to have regained most of their strength. The main problem is a section of edging of one board about 18" long where while it was soaked the tongue has been broken off, leaving that side unsupported. Resin in the board & along the join probably would be enough to rescue it.

[Michael Rozdoba]

Again, my thoughts.

Yup, T&G chipboard nailed down.

Understood. Wish I'd taken my camera today. Never mind.

I understand that, but am less clear in what the benefit is of doing a partial replacement with water resistant boards. If there's another flood, I imagine the process will need to be repeated with a different section of the old flooring.

Come to that, if the whole bathroom floor is replaced with water resistant & there's another flood, won't the water spread to adjacent rooms? Or does the fact the material is water resistant make no difference to how quickly the water will seep through joins &/or the board itself?

I was over at my mother's again today & tried to persuade her to put this guy off & let me have a go with epoxy resin. As I expected she wants this guy to do the work as she's sick of the fuss, even though he can't do the job until the middle of July. I'm only annoyed as I don't want to see her get ripped off or waste her money.

The boards seem to have regained most of their strength. The main problem is a section of edging of one board about 18" long where while it was soaked the tongue has been broken off, leaving that side unsupported. Resin in the board & along the join probably would be enough to rescue it.

[Lurch]

On Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:52:12 +0100, Michael Rozdoba mused:

I hate quoting jobs as I usually lose out to people who go in low and in a cowboy style leave off half the work and pile it back in on extras. I tend to price for what I think will need doing and also for what may need doing. Perhaps if you ring and speak to the bloke he will say he quoted for removing the sink etc... just in case, I have been known to quote a top whack price on the agreement it won't go above that but if the job is very much simpler than I suspected it may have been then I will drop the price.

[Michael Rozdoba]

I didn't think of that - perhaps as I've never met a tradesman with that approach ;)

Good advice though; I should speak to him directly.