Avoid K&M Plumbing – Poor Workmanship, Broken Promises & Unfinished Work

I regret using K&M Plumbing (Secunda) and Karl Maartens for repairs and upgrades to our bathroom and passage wall. Initially, Karl appeared professional and responsive. We received formal quotations totaling R37,900, which I paid a R32,000 deposit toward. Karl acknowledged receipt and work commenced.

Unfortunately, the experience quickly deteriorated:

Poor Workmanship: Tiling was poorly aligned, and a cracked tile was left in the shower. The toilet did not flush properly, and despite Karl’s promises, I had to fix it myself. There were visible defects in the bath installation, and the mirror frame was damaged.

Unfulfilled Promises: Karl repeatedly said he would return to complete and correct the work. This never happened, despite numerous WhatsApp follow-ups.

Deceptive Conduct: I was asked to pay a remaining balance under the pretense that Karl needed to pay his workers before the holidays. Trusting his word, I paid. However, he disappeared afterward without completing the job.

Damaged Goods & Extra Costs: I had to purchase additional repair materials myself (R946.72), and Karl even admitted to receiving a tile refund of R525, which was never returned to me.

The final straw was having to complete the repairs myself and clean up after their mess. The electrical connection for the bath was never done, and communication from Karl completely stopped.

This experience mirrors other negative reviews online. I should have heeded the warnings and asked for more reliable references.

To anyone considering K&M Plumbing: proceed with extreme caution. Their work is unreliable, promises are empty, and your money may be at risk.