We recently hired Mike (operating under Blue Tile LLC) for a bathroom renovation, including installing a shower pan, HardieBacker boards, and tile. While we noticed several cosmetic issues and installation gaps, the major concern is what happened with the shower drain after his installation.
When Mike first came to give us an estimate, we specifically mentioned that a drain adjustment might be needed, and he assured us that it wouldn't be a problem. After the job was completed, we asked if he had tested the drain, and he simply stated that he had installed it properly. He also told us multiple times that he stands by his work and that if any issues came up in the future, he would return to fix them. However, the day after the job was completed, we tested the shower and encountered serious problems -- we immediately saw water leaking from the drain below.
We had to cut open the wooden floor to investigate the source. What we found was alarming: instead of a standard P-trap and secured drain connection, there was an unsealed rubber coupling and a loose pipe that let water leak straight into the ceiling below. The drain pipe was also sloped in the wrong direction, preventing water from draining and causing it to sit in the pipe itself instead of flowing out.
We contacted Mike immediately and sent him video evidence. He initially responded and said he'd come the next day to fix it using PVC cement instead of plumber's putty, but he never showed up and stopped answering calls and messages.
The licensed plumbing company we brought in to fix the issue told us that due to the improper slope of the drain pipe, water wouldn't have flowed out at all -- the shower pan would have filled up completely. In addition, the drain pipe was not connected to the shower pan correctly -- it was loose, and the pipe was moving within the connection. To fix it, they installed a proper traditional P-trap using silicone and PVC glue, as should have been done from the start. They also noted that a plumber's putty should not be used in this type of installation. We paid $399.64 just to correct the drain connection and slope.
We are extremely disappointed with how unprofessional this job was done. read more