Well, less than a year later and the tub and surround had to be redone. The surround was bubbling…read moreand literally falling off the wall. I reached out to Michael and he offered to replace the surround, with me paying only the difference between the new surround and what I originally paid, and he would not charge me labor.
I couldnt understand why the surround was coming off the wall, and Michael said it was because I wanted to do it 'cheap'. The bathroom was not cheap!
I reached out to another contractor and inspector who came to take a look and it turns out that Michael had neglected to remove the plastic backing on the surround before gluing it to the wall, so the plastic backing was nicely glued, the surround, however was not. This not only caused the bubbling but it caused the bottom and sides of the surround to bulge out and create areas where the water could get in. When I reached back out to Michael about it, he said that he tried to get Home Depot to replace the surround, but they wouldnt because apparently he used the wrong type of glue for the project. The type he used foamed out after application (hence the bubbling).
Because this was neglect on Michaels part, I had the other contractor replace the surround. When he pulled it off he found that the plumbing had been replaced with PVC pipe, not pex. And that the tubing was the type used for refrigerator ice machines NOT for showers and tubs. When I asked Michael about this, he said that he didnt replace the PVC - however in re reading my original review I see that he did indeed replace the plumbing. He said he only replaced the tubing with the same tubing that was originally there. Because he is not a plumber, had he reached out to one, he would have learned that it was incorrect tubing and piping all the way around. A liscensed plumber (who I had replace it correctly) said that we were lucky the PVC hadnt burst.
I asked Michael for reimbursement for the cost of Labor for the new contractor as well has reimbursement for half the cost of the original surround. He said he would get a cheque to me, if I send him my mailing address.
i did so.
A week later I had received no notification either by email or text that he had received my email, so I reached out to him. He said that he is a small business and needs to 'free up come capital' in order to pay me, but that he would let me know when he could.
I asked him for a time line as to when he believes this will happen (because I am now out the cost of redoing the bathroom, and Im a retired senior on a limited income). He did not reply. Its been another almost two weeks, and he has 'ghosted' me.
I sent him paperwork from the CCB, to file a complaint via certified mail and it has been noted that the letter was forwarded to an address other than the one he has on file with the CCB.
Next steps, unfortunately will have to be the court system. Ugh.
