How many coats of paint, eggshell on doors

bootman

I have a retired chap painting my mahogany finished doors that i hate in my house white. I got the paint that a friend who is a decorator but miles away told me to use.

Dulux all in one primer/under coat
Dulux trade undercoat
and Farrow and Ball eggshell.

Now so far he has primed and undercoated, but you can still see patches showing through.

Today he said he just has 1 coat of top coat to start tomorrow on them and then they will be done.

Is it not usual to do 2 top coats? I am worried that 1 will not be enough, I know what the answer will be from him.

''oh, I have only quoted for 1''

Any advise most welcome.

He is charging me £380 for 14 doors and frames, labour only.

nickj_2

if he's only quoted for one top coat then he's within his rights to to charge for a 2nd coat .
as a painter i would have allowed for 4 coats , however i would not recomenend F+B as normaly their paints are too thin and too expensive

misgrace

I can only tell you how I would paint them.

Firstly, I wouldnt use primer/undercoat, as its not bare doors, you would normally use the primer/undercoat on new wood.
As they are already I would presume stained or varnished Mahogany, I would have used a product called 'Dulux supergrip', or 'Zinsser bin' this would stick to your mahogany doors to take the subsequent coats, and elimates any chipping/flaking/peeling.
Then I would give them a thinnish coat of oilbase undercoat, thinnish, as the supergrip sucks in your first normal coat.
Then I would have given them another UC
Followed by 2 coats of satinwood, or in your case eggshell.

If I was going for gloss, then I would probably do 3 UC.
Hope this helps.

When he has done the 1 coat of eggshell, and its still grinning (original colour showing through, or patchy) then tell him your not happy, and get him to another coat.

Are they flush doors, or panel doors?

bootman

They are panel door, 4 panels on each side.

He has not given me a written quote, Just a verbal price what he will be charging me for the job.

I am a bit soft when it comes to pointing things out like this.

misgrace

4 Panel doors, my favourite I love painting doors

Its a lot of doors, specially if he is doing both sides, then multiply that by at least 4 :eek: then theres the frames.

Its a very good price TBH, but if your not happy with the finish, then perhaps suggest paying him for an extra coat, but wait and see how they look first.