not happy with textured ceiling paint job

[subtle_j]

We got 2 estimates to paint our livingroom. We went with the cheaper one. The contractor used textured "sand" paint on the ceiling. It looks atrocious. There are patches with little texture and lots of areas with clumped up texture ranging in size from an 1/8 of an inch to

1/4. And the lines from the roller are clearly visible over the entire ceiling.

I see the contractor again is a couple of days. What can be done? Another coat? But in view of the clumps and roller lines, I'm afraid this painter doesn't have good technique.

[marson]

i hope you haven't paid him. what do you mean by roller lines? are there ridges from the roller or is it a problem of insufficient paint? at any rate, i'm afraid your options are limited. you could try another coat, but clumps would be hard to fix. i can't really think of a solution short of skimcoating the whole thing with drywall mud and starting over. if that is the case, you might as well have the bozo back and see if he can fix it. if not, don't pay him, and look for someone who can. good luck.

[Norminn]

Sounds like he didn't stir the stuff.

[Link]

no, haven't paid him yet...he still has the walls to do.

the roller lines aren't really ridges...they're more like columns or rows across the ceiling...it's as though he painted back and forth, without any diagonal motion to blend the paint in.

thanks!

[Banty]

It is tough as heck to get a good textured ceiling - done it twice. It does speak to possibly lack of experience on the part of this painter (don't always go for bottom bidder!) It won't be *perfect* whatever is done, but it sounds like this is really a botched (blotched?) job.

Possibly, the spare areas can be fixed with brush touch up. That would be time consuming, but this painter needs to fix it.

If not, I'm afraid firing the guy, skim coating, and starting over is the only option I know of.

Banty