Poor decorating finish - could really do with some advice

WobblyGoblin

Hi everyone

(Apologies for the long thread - wanted to give all the info)

Looking for some advice on some painting and decorating work we have had done. We accepted a quote on the following work:

- Remove existing lining paper in hall and bedroom
- Remove and replace ceiling lining paper in bedroom
- File and sand walls (in fairly good condition)
- Paint walls and ceilings
- Sand and fill cracks in existing woodwork, prime and paint with gloss
- Paint doors (2 of which were bare wood)

The quote was expensive but we struggle to find non-extortionate tradesmen in Wimbledon. We were told the work would take 1-1.5 weeks.

Alarm bells rang when it appeared to be only one person and not the guy who came around and looked over the property. When we checked he said that the person he was using was one of his men and did very good work. He also assured us it would be completed on time.

The work actually took 3 weeks and was only finished after we complained about what was still to be done and someone else came out to help on the last day.

The job was obviously rushed at the end and we have ended up with a poor finish.

- Large cracks in the woodwork unfilled
- Sanding was very light and did not correct big dents in the woodwork
- Parts of the woodwork have not been painted
- Edges are sloppy and frequently overlap
- The doors have been painted patchily and in places you can see the bare wood
- The paint on the walls is patchy and we can see undercoat in some places
- Dust build-up (from the sanding) has been painted into the gloss(!)
- Gloss paint has been liberally applied (I presume to cover the poor sanding) so there are new paint runs
- Gloss paint has been splashed on the window panes and wooden floors
- Paint and filler has been splashed over light switches and plug sockets and left

Now we recognise that the finish was not going to be perfect (it is a Victorian terraced house). We didn't expect the polished look of a new build as we weren't replacing the woodwork or getting everything re-skimmed. However, the points above just seem sloppy and inexcuseable. We have done a better job ourselves on other rooms in the house. the reason we went with a professional was to get a better finish and in a quicker time (neither of which is what we got).

I was hoping people could give me some advice over what we should do. I am speaking to the decorator on Monday and up until now he has been very appologetic for the delays and bits of work that were missed.

I can see 3 options:

1) They come back out and finish the job off properly
2) We get a discount and finish off the job ourselves
3) We pay for someone else to finish the work and take it out of the money we pay

I think option 3 is the last resort if they refuse to complete the work in a reasonable time. Option 2 is our prefered option but I have no idea what sort of discount to expect. Option 1 seems the most likely but it means we have to be in the house to let them in and will need to keep checking their work.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? Does anyone know what our legal position is should things come to the worst (hoping to avoid this though for everyone's sake). Lastly, if they don't put this right, is there a place I can name and shame poor work (some kind of tredesman review website, maybe)?

Many thanks in advance,

WG

ormus

give them a week to rectify any problems.
dont pay them until youre satisfied.

McKneff

Pay them absolutely nothing until you are completely satisfied, my other half
was a decorator for 45 years and i showed him your post. He was absolutlely horrified.
No professional (or any apprentice for that matter would leave it like that)
You should expect near perfection from a professional, thats what you pay them for not a bodge up job which is worse than what you would have done.
The trick to a good finish is three words, preparation, preparation and more preparation.

Keep calm with the boss, and dont take any crap from him. Ask about the qualifications the person who did the job had and above all, take photographs of all the faults.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Fire_Fox

Do not go the discount route, it could easily take you more time and money to put right than it took in the first place - many areas may well need stripping back and starting again. You should be expecting a near perfect result providing they weren't painting over rotten wood or crumbling plaster (in which case you should have been advised to replace). Take photographs of everything and put your complaint into writing by recorded delivery immediately. The reason for this is to prove that you have made a complaint, phone calls are no use if you end up going to the small claims court. I know the decorator sounds like he is being reasonable and apologetic but don't forget he has lied to you before about the quality of his man's work and the time it would take.