Goods received without installation instructions

Slowhand

Guardsman wrote: »

How do you tell the difference ? if it's not specified on the paper.

It would not be that difficult for the manufacturer to give basic guidelines on these expensive rolls

No, it would not be difficult to do so, but a painter and decorator should know the difference. £300/9m should at least suggest that. If the OP did not convey that to the tradesman the OP is at fault. If I paid that amount for wallpaper I'd make damn sure the guy hanging it knew it!

ThumbRemote

Slowhand wrote: »

No, it would not be difficult to do so, but a painter and decorator should know the difference. £300/9m should at least suggest that. If the OP did not convey that to the tradesman the OP is at fault. If I paid that amount for wallpaper I'd make damn sure the guy hanging it knew it!

No hanging instructions were given by the retailer. It is therefore quite reasonable to assume that no special process is required.

wealdroam

ThumbRemote wrote: »

No hanging instructions were given by the retailer. It is therefore quite reasonable to assume that no special process is required.

It would perhaps be equally reasonable to expect a professional decorator to know how to hang different types of wallpaper.

Back to the brick laying analogy.
Can you please explain why bricks come without instructions?
Is it because the tradesman laying them is expected to know what he is doing?

What about a bathroom tap?
Often come without fitting instructions, in my experience.

rustyboy21

It was a commercial product, sold presumably for commercial use. Lots of commercial products are sold without fitting instructions. Carpet doesn't come with installation instructions, should a carpet store give an installer guide with every carpet they sell?

IMO, It was up to the OP, to ensure that their decorator had the experience to hang commercial quality paper and it was his responsibility to say no if he hadn't.

There are wallpapers out there that you hang horizontally across your walls, Whilst I will have a go at normal paper, I would get someone in , who knew how to hang this correctly.

Old saying....' If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys' Getting someone cheap to do something doesn't always pay dividends. More than likely this is the case with OP's situation.

paddyrg

Who was the retailer? A consumer wallpaper seller like Homebase? Or a trade seller (eg the wallpaper equivalent of Travis Perkins) which the OP went into? Was the shelf price inc or exc VAT might be a good indication/guide. If it was a trade supplier, there might be an expectation that the decorator had the relevant skills to know one type of paper from the other. If it was a domestic vendor, they should expect it to be DIY-ers and advise accordingly in my opinion.

unholyangel

Guardsman wrote: »

How do you tell the difference ? if it's not specified on the paper.

It would not be that difficult for the manufacturer to give basic guidelines on these expensive rolls

By looking at it apparently. My dad was a painter and decorator for 20 years, he never reads the instructions but instead unrolls the paper and examines it. No idea what he looks for but after looking at it he knows what he's doing, whether he can overlap or has to join the seams/match the pattern/whatever.

molerat

wealdroam wrote: »

It would perhaps be equally reasonable to expect a professional decorator to know how to hang different types of wallpaper.

Back to the brick laying analogy.
Can you please explain why bricks come without instructions?
Is it because the tradesman laying them is expected to know what he is doing?

What about a bathroom tap?
Often come without fitting instructions, in my experience.

The brick analogy is good one as the bricks used on my house have a rough face and thus a correct way up so that water runs off. They do not come with instructions and it is up to the tradesman to know.

ThumbRemote

molerat wrote: »

The brick analogy is good one as the bricks used on my house have a rough face and thus a correct way up so that water runs off. They do not come with instructions and it is up to the tradesman to know.

I agree, its a good analogy.

If someone bought the bricks and fitted them upside down, then had problems within 6 months, the burden of proof would be on the retailer to show that the problem wasn't inherent. I cannot see how the retailer would demonstrate misuse on the part of the consumer. 'It should be obvious' is unlikely to go very far in court, especially when it's clearly an unusual requirement on the product.

In that case I am almost certain the consumer would win in the small claims court.

unholyangel

Let me ask you this. If i buy patterned wallpaper and hire someone who does not possess the skills/experience who subsequently hangs the paper without matching up the pattern......does that suddenly make the wallpaper faulty? No. It means I didnt hire the right person for the job.


There is such a thing as wallpaper/wall covering that needs trimmed (I asked my dad while I was visiting). So to me....sounds like the issue is with the painter decorator not being skilled.

ETA: I went and done a quick google and found this page:
http://www.wikihow.com/Hang-Wallpaper#Different_Types_of_Wall_Covering

which states this:

Untrimmed wall coverings are truly the most beautiful residential products due to the vivid colors that can be achieved by the usual hand-screen process. They are called untrimmed because the edges need to be trimmed at the job site - either "on the table" or on the wall. These are on the high end in price and require highly refined skills that many paper hangers simply do not have. Don't even think about trying to hang untrimmed wall coverings if you are reading this page. As a matter of fact, I would not hire a pro unless he/she has references for this specific type of product.

Looks like OP has their answer.

Guardsman

These are on the high end in price and require highly refined skills that many paper hangers simply do not have.

Does it say that on the paper ? Was the OP advised about this when buying the paper.
The manufacturer and supplier also need to do their bit by informing their customers whats needed in hanging this paper.