Not happy with standard of work by 'painter & decorator'.

the_worrier

the_worrier

the_worrier

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The wife and I decided we didn't really have the time to do the job justice and wanted a top quality finish with the decoration in our bedroom. A guy put a card through the door a few weeks back offering his services as a painter & decorator. We rang and he called round, quoting £300 to apply 2 coats to the ceiling, 2 coats minimum to the walls, undercoat and gloss all skirts, rad, door and window sill, line and paper one wall. In advance of his next visit I had to chase in 2 double sockets (been lay loose on floor since we moved in 18 months ago!) and apply new skirt all way around room. We obviously supplied the paper and emulsion, he sourced the undercoat and gloss with me to pay on top of the quoted price.

I had my bits done to a good standard in plenty of time. He has been in Mon and Tues this week (bar nipping off to help his wife for an hour or two here or there as she fell and broke her arm the other day) and all day (until 1430!!) today. He has stated he needs Friday to paper the one wall (done the lining) as won't be in tomorrow as he has a paid gardening job to do.

My wife came home from work today and excitedly went to have a look at the progress. Tears followed. I feel a fool as should have asked for references, etc. The painting is awful as there is no sharp 'cutting in' from skirt to wall and wall to ceiling. I have honestly done better in other rooms!

What should I do? I have text him but had no reply.
 
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Also take pictures as evidence incase he comes back in a few weeks demanding money. Is it just the cutting in that's poor? He sounds like a jack of all trades master of none. Oh and never hire any tradesman who shoves a card through your door could be absolutely anybody.
 
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pattojones said:
£300 to apply 2 coats to the ceiling, 2 coats minimum to the walls, undercoat and gloss all skirts, rad, door and window sill, line and paper one wall. We obviously supplied the paper and emulsion, he sourced the undercoat and gloss with me to pay on top of the quoted price.
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Wow... £300 for that? Is that really the going rate?

I'd expect an absolutely perfect job for that...
 
2 days preparation
1 day ceiling, woodwork, ceiling, maybe first coat wall, 2nd coat woodwork
1/2 day final coat walls and making good

3.5 days @ £125
Misc consumables £20
= £457

You're paying
3.5 days @ £80
Misc consumables £20
= £300

£80 is what we pay labourers to push a broom around or move stuff, not do a good job decorating. Doesn't surprise me you aren't happy with the quality. Very good decorators are on £150 - 200 a day but they aren't decorators more like artists who can make anything look good.
 
maccapacca said:
2 days preparation
1 day ceiling, woodwork, ceiling, maybe first coat wall, 2nd coat woodwork
1/2 day final coat walls and making good

3.5 days @ £125
Misc consumables £20
= £457

You're paying
3.5 days @ £80
Misc consumables £20
= £300

£80 is what we pay labourers to push a broom around or move stuff, not do a good job decorating. Doesn't surprise me you aren't happy with the quality. Very good decorators are on £150 - 200 a day but they aren't decorators more like artists who can make anything look good.
Click to expand...

This was what I thought too (minus the maths). I'd have instantly dismissed it as too cheap.
 
maccapacca said:
2 days preparation
1 day ceiling, woodwork, ceiling, maybe first coat wall, 2nd coat woodwork
1/2 day final coat walls and making good

3.5 days @ £125
Misc consumables £20
= £457

You're paying
3.5 days @ £80
Misc consumables £20
= £300

£80 is what we pay labourers to push a broom around or move stuff, not do a good job decorating. Doesn't surprise me you aren't happy with the quality. Very good decorators are on £150 - 200 a day but they aren't decorators more like artists who can make anything look good.
Click to expand...

I guess when you break it down like that it's not so bad... Still makes me glad I'm handy with a paintbrush though!
 
I've recently lined, papered and painted my hall and landing much to the surprise of my brother and dad who are time served decorators (over 60 years experience between them).

It isn't that difficult of a job if you just take your time with it. The most annoying part for me is the cutting in but if you take your time with that and don't go in too heavy handed its reasonably easy to get a pretty good result.

I have yet to tackle glossing however and it looks like i'll be popping my glossing cherry today as it happens. Have prepped the stairs woodwork over past couple of weeks with various coats of undercoat and sanding downs.
Glossing is something my Dad told me only last night I categorically will not be able to do to a good standard so i'm hoping I'll prove them wrong as they said i'd never been able to do the papering on the stairs and landing to begin with!
 
Why do people refer to painting woodwork as "glossing"? I've never understood that one, especially when a lot of the time they aren't even using gloss paint.
 
Rotty said:
depend where he lives, I don't pay above £70-80 a day for a very good job
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For a tradesman who out of that £80 a day would also need to supply tools, van etc, spend time going round looking for business/quoting and do their accounts? It is far too cheap.
 
spoffle said:
Why do people refer to painting woodwork as "glossing"? I've never understood that one, especially when a lot of the time they aren't even using gloss paint.
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Because traditionally they used gloss paint, in fact I'm pretty sure most people still do.
 
Got any pics? a good decorator are quite expensive but that just sounds like a crap job hes done.

Ive developed some pretty good skills over the years, mainly due to OCD, it has to be perfect or its getting done again.

I think with these things, if people dont do it up to the standards where you could do it yourself, you cant help but feel peev'd
 
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