Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 Jan 16, 2024 3:56 pm Hi All,
I know this has been discussed in many other threads before but wanted to give everyone a heads up before you buy and give trades your new toilets too early in your build/renovations. We are currently doing a major renovation (literally only kept the four walls of the house) and engaged in a cost plus builder. From when we first engaged them, a toilet for trades did come across my mind and I did offer that they can renovate one of the bathrooms last so there's a toilet on site but the builder said they bring their own. In the initial demolition they demolished everything except for one old toilet and were using that until we had to have that removed to make room for the new joinery (bathroom was being remodelled in to a butler's pantry). At they point they erected a portable toilet at the front of the house for trades to use. I had purchased the new toilets for the house and was at the house when the plumber who works for the builder was on site to do some work, he had semi-installed the toilet in the main bathroom and at the time he told me he wasn't going to connect it until the end as the toilet will get a bit grubby if trades know it works, he even got cardboard and sealed the toilet pan with a note telling them to use the one outside. We recently noticed that a temporary door had been installed in our main bathroom and the toilet was connected, cardboard that sealed it is gone. We spoke to the builder and he said the portable is not comfortable especially in summer as there's no water etc etc... and if we don't let his trades use our new toilet it's not a nice gesture and they will be less motivated to do a good job. He said they will sanitise it daily and keep it clean etc etc, but if I were to be honest, I don't trust him. As a bit of background info, the various trades have been a bit of a hit and miss when it comes to hygiene....we have had some of his trades half eaten mandarin and spit them out on the floor inside our house (assuming it wasn't sweet?? no idea!) and left a fresh mango seed on the floor... thankfully that was our old floorboards however even when his trades saw me covering the freshly laid floorboards with Ramboard they decided to eat their Subway sandwiches on the part that I haven't yet covered (by that point 80% of the flooring was covered in Ramboard so there was plenty of space to go elsewhere but they had to go to the part that's not covered). On one of the hotter days I also got everyone ice cream but when I got back to the house we had wrappers and paddle pop sticks everywhere despite there being a bin. I understand it is the polite thing to do that trades will now see a toilet has been installed and connected that they should be able to use it however the builder never mentioned this was what will happen and had I known, I would've of purchased the toilet early and instead hold onto it until the end of the renovation when other plumbing is being installed (we are still yet to have a skylight installed as waiting on new roof so nothing else has been installed in the bathroom, only tiling and this toilet has been installed and I dare say we are still about 2 months away from completion of the interiors). It is the builder's obligation to ensure his trades have clean and usable facilities, the onus should not be on us. If they have given us a heads up that he was going to connect the toilet and allow trades to use it despite a portable is on site (and still is!) I would not have purchased and supplied them the toilet so early. Without even asking they've just helped themselves to our brand new toilet. And frankly speaking, in my opinion, trades should do a good job being able to use our toilet or not as we are paying them (and comparison to other trades their rates I would say are in the upper middle range)... Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 2Jan 16, 2024 10:07 pm I would just let them use it really, it is much cleaner, smells less and is more pleasant to use. The builder should have checked though. With regards to the rubbish and foot waste, to them it is a messy building site, to you it is your home, which explains why they don’t keep things as clean as you would your home. Hope the build goes ok. Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 3Jan 16, 2024 10:11 pm Thread to long to read but I am guessing to sum it up they are using your new toilet No that's not ok That's your product It's no longer brand new and all products must be brand new following hand over Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 5Jan 17, 2024 8:14 am ponzutwo pick your battles. As long as teh job is handed over in a clean and pristine state and all work was completed to spec, who cares. ⬆️This. I've owner built our last 2 houses and was happy to get a toilet up and running so I could get rid of the site toilet. The builder has to do a full clean on hand over so it will be perfectly clean. Maybe talk to your builder and ask them to cover the tiles in the area the trades will be walking to prevent the tiles getting dirty but otherwise as long as your builder is doing a good job elsewhere I'd let it go. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 6Jan 17, 2024 8:37 am Right now, we have been given no choice but to let them use it as it's already been installed. I agree about picking out battles and we've been forced into letting this one go, but had we been asked upfront I would've asked for the toilet not to be installed. The toilet was purchased for us to use and not as a tradie toilet, the fact that he installed the toilet early so the trades can use it without asking is just poor form. The problem is the builder and his trades have been far from respectful. Understand that they only see it as a messy building site but at least show some respect to the new floorboards especially when they saw me on my knees at 35 degree heat trying to cover them.The fact that they said they weren't going to connect the toilet when I saw the plumber installing it so trades can't use it to now connecting it and installing a temporary door gives me little faith they will do the right thing by us... Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 8Jan 17, 2024 9:30 am noviice Honestly that's your brand new toilet and there using it I would not accept it its a toilet. its for $hiting in. Like i said. pick your battles. Tehyre also walking on teh floors they are installing and washing their hands in sinks. Why ssnt this problematic under the same logic? Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 10Jan 17, 2024 9:56 am noviice I would have a problem if a brand new sink installed is being used also Yeah you are clearly 100% unreasonable. there isnt a single build that can be put together without "new" products installed being used in some capacity. Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 12Jan 17, 2024 1:18 pm noviice Get a hire toilet, install the sink near handover There is a portable toilet for trades outside and a fully functioning tap. They decided to connect our brand new toilet and start using it without asking because they portable smells during summer, not as comfortable etc etc. When we asked the builder if they can stop using our toilet we were told it will demotivate his trades to do a good job.... Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 13Jan 17, 2024 1:22 pm ponzutwo noviice Honestly that's your brand new toilet and there using it I would not accept it its a toilet. its for $hiting in. Like i said. pick your battles. Tehyre also walking on teh floors they are installing and washing their hands in sinks. Why ssnt this problematic under the same logic? Yes but when purchased the toilet and tiles it was not intended to be a trade toilet (if you have a look at how they treated the original toilet that was in the house you will understand why!). The floors as I mentioned I covered all the brand new flooring with Ramboard once it was installed and there are not yet sinks in the house... only taps outside as stonemason is not yet back on deck. I went to the house and removed the uninstalled flush plate for the ensuite today so they won't start helping themselves to that one too. As I said, my biggest issue is they didn't ask, just simply took our brand new toilet, connected it and started using it despite we were told it wasn't going to be fully installed until the end of the build to avoid trades using it. Had I known they were going to do this I would not have left my brand new toilet on site. Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 16Jan 17, 2024 2:21 pm Elbe ponzutwo noviice Honestly that's your brand new toilet and there using it I would not accept it its a toilet. its for $hiting in. Like i said. pick your battles. Tehyre also walking on teh floors they are installing and washing their hands in sinks. Why ssnt this problematic under the same logic? Yes but when purchased the toilet and tiles it was not intended to be a trade toilet (if you have a look at how they treated the original toilet that was in the house you will understand why!). The floors as I mentioned I covered all the brand new flooring with Ramboard once it was installed and there are not yet sinks in the house... only taps outside as stonemason is not yet back on deck. I went to the house and removed the uninstalled flush plate for the ensuite today so they won't start helping themselves to that one too. As I said, my biggest issue is they didn't ask, just simply took our brand new toilet, connected it and started using it despite we were told it wasn't going to be fully installed until the end of the build to avoid trades using it. Had I known they were going to do this I would not have left my brand new toilet on site. So i figure youre just here to get some validation. Sorry. this type of situation with builders is more common than not. Youre getting worked up over something that is irrelevant. I know it doesnt feel like it to you, but it is. What's important is that the agreed works are delivered to plan, as per contract and with a degree of care and skill, which for the most part most likley will be.. caring where they $hit is really one of those things that puts you in the bucket of people that are outraged at when somone doesnt look disabled, but parked in a disabled bay and have a disabled sticker entitling them to park there. Trades are people too, and taking a $hit in a normal toilet over a portaloo can make a difference. If you dont think so, i suggest you try the portaloo out the front of your house and let us know your thoughts. Youre in essence putting yourself over another person and saying "they dont deserve to $hit in my toilet, they have to use the third world one out the front". Have a think about how you look in that moment. they have an obligation to hand you over a spotless, built to spec reno. Get angry if its not handed over that way, otherwise you and noviice here just look like Karens. Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 18Jan 17, 2024 3:50 pm ponzutwo Elbe ponzutwo its a toilet. its for $hiting in. Like i said. pick your battles. Tehyre also walking on teh floors they are installing and washing their hands in sinks. Why ssnt this problematic under the same logic? Yes but when purchased the toilet and tiles it was not intended to be a trade toilet (if you have a look at how they treated the original toilet that was in the house you will understand why!). The floors as I mentioned I covered all the brand new flooring with Ramboard once it was installed and there are not yet sinks in the house... only taps outside as stonemason is not yet back on deck. I went to the house and removed the uninstalled flush plate for the ensuite today so they won't start helping themselves to that one too. As I said, my biggest issue is they didn't ask, just simply took our brand new toilet, connected it and started using it despite we were told it wasn't going to be fully installed until the end of the build to avoid trades using it. Had I known they were going to do this I would not have left my brand new toilet on site. So i figure youre just here to get some validation. Sorry. this type of situation with builders is more common than not. Youre getting worked up over something that is irrelevant. I know it doesnt feel like it to you, but it is. What's important is that the agreed works are delivered to plan, as per contract and with a degree of care and skill, which for the most part most likley will be.. caring where they $hit is really one of those things that puts you in the bucket of people that are outraged at when somone doesnt look disabled, but parked in a disabled bay and have a disabled sticker entitling them to park there. Trades are people too, and taking a $hit in a normal toilet over a portaloo can make a difference. If you dont think so, i suggest you try the portaloo out the front of your house and let us know your thoughts. Youre in essence putting yourself over another person and saying "they dont deserve to $hit in my toilet, they have to use the third world one out the front". Have a think about how you look in that moment. they have an obligation to hand you over a spotless, built to spec reno. Get angry if its not handed over that way, otherwise you and noviice here just look like Karens. You've obviously have not seen how nice some portaloos look these days, I recently went in one that was fully decked out with vanities and towels...I would use one of those any day over a lot of public toilets! it is the builder's responsibility to ensure his trades have the right facilities to use, not me... This is the first time it's happened to me after 5 previous renovations - I agree if the builder is doing a good job, then sure, might just have to let it slide, but I don't believe he is - which yes, it's another greater issue than this one. Re: Builder connecting our new toilet for his trades 19Jan 17, 2024 6:03 pm We do long term jobs like this all the time and as a company we provide a site toilet/shower unit as required by law for the workers to use which has a full wash area inside including hand cleaner etc. The units we have nowadays are very nice and get cleaned routinely by the hire companies. We also provide a table and cupboard on site complete with toaster, kettle, microwave etc so we do not have to use the renovated and new items in the house If i caught any of my workers or sub contractors using any facilities in a home it would be their last job. All eating is to be done in garage area or outside as we cover floors prior to start as we set up first aid, fire equipment and safety notices or if not available we set up a shelter on site. Unless there were unforeseeable issues with the site, I dont think you should have to pay for contractors errors or poor planning. I'd probably try and be reasonable and… 5 4823 Always get multiple quotes, no matter how reasonable/cheap you think it is. I remember getting a few quotes for a pool fence, roughly around the same price, thinking the… 5 9831 Hey, I am wanting to add a second toilet to my house, bit we have limited room. There is a hallway/entry that is never used, so was thinking this could be an option. Only… 0 4954 |