painting and decorating - is this normal?

[emma_middlebrook]

Hi

Having painted one room, I decided to get some professionals in for the next one because of the preparation work required.

Nearly at the end of the job, with just one coat left I can see ...

some obvious gaps between strips of lining paper (that I don't think painting over will hide),

a few hairs in a doorframe's first coat,

obvious 'roller marks' on the ceiling,

splashes of paint on a window frame that's supposed to be left.

I'm wondering whether it's appropriate to mention any of these now, or wait until they have said they've finished (i.e. I'm hoping they will notice and correct these things or that they're due to being mid-way through the job - are they?).

They have also left several pots of paint open over the weekend. Is this advisable/normal behaviour?!

Emma

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Obviously not tradesmen? did you get them out of the local paper?

If you havn't coughed up the money yet wait till they've finished and tell the boss blokey your going to inspect the work before coughing up the bill.

[emma_middlebrook]

No, but they were recommended by the residents' association around the corner - all much larger and more posher houses than mine so would have thought it would be OK.

Do you think that's better than mentioning my issues now? I really don't want them to have to 'undo' any work as they're already two days behind schedule!

Also, leaving the paint open - is that OK under any circumstances?

Cheers

Emma

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Your a woman they are men,enough said. ;-)

Raise your voice to them because it looks/sounds like they don't give two hoots about the property their in ie the normal practice is to cover the paint back up when finishing for the day otherwise accidents can happen. :-(

[RedOnRed]

Paint should never be left open for longer then the drying time, especially during the present weather.

With decorating they should be doing a good job as they go along. It's quite hard to put a mess right once things have dried.

Are you paying on completion (which you should be)? If so, hold some back if they leave it shoddy.

[Broadback]

I am afraid that I firmly believe if you want a job done properly do it yourself. Estate agents say "Location, location ,location". With decoration it is "Preparation, preparation, preparation". Not many professionals follow that code.

[The Medway Handyman]

If they are that visible it's not been done properly.

Shouldn't be there but should be removed prior to second coat.

May be covered by next coat if there is one.

Not acceptable. Everything should have been covered.

I'd point them out now and tell them you aren't happy.

Certainly not advisable/normal behaviour. What if a pet cat had entered the room & knocked them over? Won't do the paint any good either in this heat.

[hzatph]

Agreed - it needs fixing now before the painting

Dead right - get them sanded out now.

Point it out to them and ask for a better standard next time. Check instructions on tin for rollers and point them out if necessary.

You need to mention them now, not later

No - bad. Even if they say a skin will form to protect the paint underneath you can get bits in when pierced.

This work is clearly very substandard and not professional.

[Ken]

One other thing worth pointing out is the usual one of getting cheap estimates. You get what you pay for normally and if this was a cheap estimate-- well, buyer beware.

ken

[Chris Bacon]

They should butt up. It's faintly possible that caulk will get over it, but if you're having painted lining paper as a finish, caulk is likely to shine out.

Tut tut. Should be dealt with when they (hopefully) de-nib before the top coat.

They should disappear with subsequent coats.

That's not good - if it's vinyl emulsion, use meths on some Bounty kitchen roll to get it off (soak and wipe, don't rub hard).

Much better than later!

Depends on the paint, not normal, though, they should be covered. If flies get in, that won't help. There may be a problem with skinning of the paint/skin getting mixed in with the paint and being painted on.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Broadback saying something like:

Not many customers want to pay for the extra time involved in proper preparation, not just in painting, but in so much else. Hence the proliferation of cowboys who can slap a coat or two on and seemingly charge a reasonable amount. It seems a bargain until things start going wrong, once again proving you only get what you pay for.