Well, what went wrong since the last post? Almost everything.
The shower was not delivered on the Friday. The sales rep spun a tale about two plumbers enroute from Cairo, who would collect our shower from the Alexandria Warehouse where it had already arrived and proceed to install it. Finally, at 10pm, he called and said the plumbers would not reach Alex in time, and he was re-scheduling for the Saturday.
Two days later we called the Company owner in frustration and found the shower had not even left the Cairo factory. He got on the case, and we had direct contact from the factory, keeping us up to date as the shower was shipped direct to us that day.
Next day, two very efficient installers duly arrived and commissioned the shower. At the same time, Sherif El Sellab very kindly provided his plumber free of charge to start installation of the toilets and washbasins.
1. The aluminium windows were delivered on time, but no installation work took place. They have been processing installation since the 26th, and there is now only one window unit to install. Several units require adjustment, and the two doors require a flat bar extension on the base to cover the wooden frame they rest on. The window between reception and the computer room, requires a full surround frame be installed on the computer side. Apparently Valve thought it acceptable that only one side of the internal window was framed, and the other revealed the wood framing and plaster wall.
2. The glass block was installed Friday 28th.
3. The cupboard materials were part delivered on Thursday. We are still waiting for the shelves, shoe and coat racks. First surprise was that the quoted price did not include the steelwork needed to suspend and operate the sliding louvred doors. We were not really surprised to see the carpenter (I use that word very, very loosely) and varnisher had been unable to coordinate their efforts.
4. We got 50% here. The Microwave, Fridge and Dishwasher are all installed, commisioned and under warranty. The washing machine and tumble dryer need to wait till the laundry cupboard is re-installed.
5. Still April for the second shower unit. No update.
6. We got a jump here. This was completed yesterday 30th, but we cheated. We bought a cabinet/sink combination instead of continuing to fluff about waiting for steel support and marble shelf.
7. Mohamed, the carpenter who fitted the internal doors and constructed and fitted the main door has undertaken this laundry cupboard rebuild work and is due to deliver and fit out today 31st.
8. We will schedule the installation of the sink once the cupboard is re-instated. This week seems possible.
9. Our second success. We ended up doing the beit nour with 19 lampholders and 25 watt lamps. The end result is surprisingly good.
10. The doorbell has been bought, but not fitted.
11. A third success. The upper hall light is installed and operational.
12. Kitchen unit rework is ongoing. The existing corniche has again been badly repaired, but this time our choice is limited to ‘accept it or remove it completely ’. Charismoo are not willing to put any more work into this. They have numerous doors removed. to be replaced, and have bodged the lower corniche which will hide the strip lights under the upper cabinets. Their solution to a 45 degree joint that was actually just two pieces of wood meeting and not a fitted joint was to apply a very dark brown filler putty. They are not going to supply the under cupboard lighting, nor the wiring required for this, though they are supplying the spotlights and wiring for inside the two corner cupboards. We will not be offering any endorsements for this very very poor kitchen design and sales service.
The sad tale continues.
