Decorator

TheDean

TheDean

TheDean

Soldato
Joined
3 Oct 2004
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North East
So,

Decorator quoted to carry out stripping of wallpaper, painting 3 x walls, wallpaper one wall, sanding wood, painting wood etc. He's taken longer than expected and effectively over-run by approx 2 days. I can only assume he will attempt to pass these charges onto me.

I guess there's two schools of thought here:

i) He quoted for the job, not the time, he should go by the original quote and finish the job as quoted.

ii) He couldn't have expected that walls would have needed extra prep before painting, and thus not his fault job over-ran.

He also took the blind down which we had fitted, and now has lost a part for it to be put back up, and has thus just left it.

Thoughts?
 
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I would try to compromise between the original quote he gave you and the next one, and also subtract a reasonable sum for what it would cost you to replace the blind, or make him do it. I think you should have to pay more, as he has done more work than you were quoted, HOWEVER, he can't just do work that may not need to be done and expect you to pay extra for it, so a compromise seems right to me.
 
Firstly he should fix the blind somehow or pay for it.

He should have had a discussion with you when it turned out it was going to take longer.

If he seemed like a nice bloke I'd just give him the money if it wasn't too much.
 
He quoted for the job, he should have factored his time into this, if the quote was going to change I'd have expected him to say something already, not hand over a revised quotation at the end including his time.

Blind - these things happen, frankly it's partly your fault for not removing it in the first place to ensure it doesn't get paint etc on it. He was only trying to help, granted it should have been kept together and a part not lost.
 
IF you agreed a quotation for the works which was accepted, then you pay this figure AS LONG as he's not undertaken works above and beyond this.

If he has, he should have agreed a rate with yourself for any extra works, and, professionally, obtained a signature agreeing to this, thus ensuring there's no dispute later.

In terms of the blind, if it was in situ when he gave you a quote, and there were no qualifications in the quotation such as "removal and refitting of blind by yourselves", then you have to assume it was part of his labour cost.
 
Did he give you an estimate or a quote?

Quote is a binding contract if you accept it, estimates are not. However if there is additional work then you must pay for this on top of the contract already agreed, although if the work has already been done without agreement of costs its not enforcable in law.
 
Nah he won't pass the charges on to you. Sometimes these guys (as do we) carry out a lot of smaller jobs at once. Sometimes we over run simply due to so much work taking place over different areas (admittedly our/decorators fault) but if you've been quoted you won't be charged more. Tough luck on the blind, don't charge him unless you're tight?
 
sandy10 said:
IF you agreed a quotation for the works which was accepted, then you pay this figure AS LONG as he's not undertaken works above and beyond this.

If he has, he should have agreed a rate with yourself for any extra works, and, professionally, obtained a signature agreeing to this, thus ensuring there's no dispute later.

In terms of the blind, if it was in situ when he gave you a quote, and there were no qualifications in the quotation such as "removal and refitting of blind by yourselves", then you have to assume it was part of his labour cost.
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Agree with that totally.

The blind part getting lost is unfortunate. Maybe try and work to a compromise? Ask him to source a replacement part/blind?
 
Ok,

Original quote was approx £500 for work, and final cost is now £618. I am 'happy' at the increase, due to the extra work he has carried out, I see this as a fair and justified increase. I had a look at the blind, and have managed to fix it myself, so no problems there.
Now there is a bit of an issue though. There are several areas where paint has stained the carpet in the room. The carpet is throughout bedroom, landing & stairs. It's not massively bad, but your eyes are drawn to it, and when you pay £620 for a small room, you expect perfection. Paint has also marked bed & bed frame, and there is some 'bubbling' in one area of wallpapering.

I have sent him an e-mail detailing my concerns, and importantly, we have yet to pay him.
 
Lol, you paid someone to decorate for you.

EDIT: £620?!!!!!!!!!!!
And he's not even done a good job, would it not have been cheaper to do it yourself? Wallpapering and painting, any idiot can do it.
 
I get around said:
Lol, you paid someone to decorate for you.

Firstly, he must fix the blind, if he doesn't you can dock the wages for the cost of the repair. He also quoted for the job, ask for an itemised bill, compromise.
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What on earth is wrong with paying someone to decorate for us? I have neither the time nor the inclination to learn a new trade. I would do a truly dreadful job most likely, and would prefer to let a professional carry out the work while I have my weekends to myself to drink, eat and have fun...which is what I did.

Let us stick to the issue here, rather than: "Learn a new trade, give up your lucrative career to become a tradesman" etc etc etc
 
I decorated every room in my flat and painted, after never picking up a brush or ever wallpapering, not only was it easy but it looks perfectly fine.

And not only was it free (Minus cost of paint, wallpaper, paste etc.) I have no bubbling or any on the carpet :p
 
Neodite said:
I decorated every room in my flat and painted, after never picking up a brush or ever wallpapering, not only was it easy but it looks perfectly fine.

And not only was it free (Minus cost of paint, wallpaper, paste etc.) I have no bubbling or any on the carpet :p
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Thank you for that. What a truly worthwhile contribution. Shall we rewind time and I'll have you come round and do it all for me? I'm quite happy to pay £600 if you spill paint and such, possibly £800 if not :rolleyes:
 
Decorator sounds ok, he charged extra for unforseen work which he sorted so all ok.

Messing your carpet up is a bit sloppy and should have been properly cleaned up, bubbling paper can be easily fixed.
 
I get around said:
Lol, you paid someone to decorate for you.

EDIT: £620?!!!!!!!!!!!
And he's not even done a good job, would it not have been cheaper to do it yourself? Wallpapering and painting, any idiot can do it.
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If it's so easy, why don't you ditch your Tesco job that you loathe so much and become a painter/decorator :rolleyes:
 
Hank_Marvin said:
Decorator sounds ok, he charged extra for unforseen work which he sorted so all ok.

Messing your carpet up is a bit sloppy and should have been properly cleaned up, bubbling paper can be easily fixed.
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In terms of paint on carpet: can that be cleaned somehow? Also, how can blbbling in wallpaper be fixed? Will he have to re-hang?
 
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