newly re skimmed walls

worried123

Thanks Furts

To be honest the beading looks good and there are many of them - the plaster is flush to it and the edges are clean...in fact, I know this sounds strange but if you glimpsed the room from a distance you would think it a good job......and i think it could have been had they not rushed and taken some time and paid attendion to detail..........it is on close inspection that you see how rough it is and running your hands over it......

The fact that he said he would remove the radiator when he priced the job but didnt do so saying to me that `no one would ever know there was paper behind it` (and you can so see it - layers of thick half pulled away woodchip) says it all regarding his atitude...they just wanted to get it finished and get off....

I will hopefully speak to him some time this week and i will let you know what he has to say about his handy work....

(at the end of the day if he doesnt rectify things you have given good advice furts and i will have to invest in a good dust mask, goggles and lots of dust sheets and knuckle down to sorting it all out).

When you said that you used a chap who had done it for years and it was a rubbish job makes me wonder whether they just dont care anymore.....i think that younger men have more pride in their job and they want to prove themselves and get recommendations..............i feel that he just didnt care and wanted it finished so he could be gone.....

Will let you know what he says when i tell him that i am not happy....

Thank you again...very grateful

Furts

If it helps you to weigh up your job...if the plaster finish is uneven but this is in spots or a slightly lumpy finish then the plaster has not been properly mixed. If it is a coarse finish then the back coat may be too high or the finish is scimpy.

Your comment about removing the radiator may be a key to this. But the plasterer is bound to think "why didn't the customer insist on this?". Then "why did the customer pay me when the work was sub standard?" Hence you may have difficulty broaching the subject now.

My plasterer was cr-p but I suspect that he could not see it. I wonder if his eyesight was not 100% - as a consumer there is no way of knowing this. Regardless, the customer was thrilled with the job - it was me that said it had to be improved. Of course this was because she, like so many people, had not scrutinised and inspected what was being done.

namecheck

Furts wrote: »

....
I recently had a plasterer do work for me on recommendation. He had been plastering all his life and now did plastering as an odd job a few days a week between rounds of golf. His work was cr-p.

So a lifetimes experience does not always equate to good workmanship. But, with rubbing down and a couple of coats of obliterating emulsion it was transformed. Still not brilliant, but the client was happy with it.

How true. About a year ago I employed a "professional" plasterer to do a couple of smallish jobs. One was ok, the other was not too bad but I realised afterwards that he'd plastered-in the lightswitch. Didn't complain as I couldn't face him being in the house again.

worried123

Thanks Furts.......its not lumpy but one small section that i am unhappy with has sort of ripples and indents.......there are lots and lots of lighter lines and swirls that would be from his `tool` (for want of a better word???) and these are all rough like sand paper and lighter obvious water runs that are rough like sand paper and there is no way this is ready for decoration.......even the ceiling looks okay from a distance but whn you rub your had over it there are many sections like sand paper......the wall where the radiator is that he lied about removing is truly shocking and i am going to have to get a radiotor cover....

Just truly a vile and dishonest man who should get a job with the council as thats his standard of shoddiness......rushed and anything will do.......

I must confess that should i ever have the profound displeasure of seeing this chancer again i wouldnt be responsible for my own actions....(apparently younger than me in years - incredibly - but really old school - not up to date with standards and what is acceptable......and maybe he needs to go back to college).

I think that i feel confident to be able to complain as i interviewed a chap today who is a decorater (i interview the public with my job) and he said that i shouldnt even see this lighter swirls and lines on the walls......and they certainly shouldnt feel like sand paper....he said that maybe his plaster `went off` too quickly......but he was only a decorater...........i cannot believe he gets away with this standardd of work and has been doing so for years and is very busy....his son didnt have much to say for himself at all and maybe he knows his dad does rough jobs etc.........maybe he is just a chancer - take the money and run.......

namecheck thats incredible........poor you......also like you i dont really want to see the plasterer again who did my work.....

Furts

worried123 wrote: »

Thanks Furts.......its not lumpy but one small section that i am unhappy with has sort of ripples and indents.......there are lots and lots of lighter lines and swirls that would be from his `tool` (for want of a better word???) and these are all rough like sand paper and lighter obvious water runs that are rough like sand paper and there is no way this is ready for decoration.......even the ceiling looks okay from a distance but whn you rub your had over it there are many sections like sand paper......

I think that i feel confident to be able to complain as i interviewed a chap today who is a decorater (i interview the public with my job) and he said that i shouldnt even see this lighter swirls and lines on the walls......and they certainly shouldnt feel like sand paper....he said that maybe his plaster `went off` too quickly......but he was only a decorater...........i cannot believe he gets away with this standardd of work and has been doing so for years and is very busy....his son didnt have much to say for himself at all and maybe he knows his dad does rough jobs etc.........maybe he is just a chancer - take the money and run.......

namecheck thats incredible........poor you......also like you i dont really want to see the plasterer again who did my work.....

My plasterer was working with his son - perhaps we both got the same plasterer!

The alarm bells rang for me when the client said to me that she had met the plasterer and felt sorry for him dealing with his sons drug addiction and offering sporadic work to get him away from the dealers. Tragic but true. This opens up far broader issues but not for this post!

worried123

Furts, your client sounds as though she is easily pleased !

i think he is going to ring me tomorrow about the further work.......not looking forward to it and part of me doesnt want to see him again......However, i surely cannot be the only person to complain to him if this is the usual standard of his work....

Hey ho.......

All the best....

worried123

Well Furts

This chap said he would ring me `next wednesday` to come in and finish some work. I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he might not have meant last wednesday but this wednesday - he didnt call and so i left a message on his answerphone this morning and he has not got back to me.

I must confess that i am angry.....I have paid him cash in full and was given no receipt - paid for everything and he hasnt finished some things here. I never cease to be amazed and shocked by people.......

It seems to me that its all about time and money and nothing else.......what happened to time, care and quality of work.

In hindsight it just feels like take the money and run - maybe i am angry with myself for using him.....

Furts

My local supermarket has a community notice board with posters for numerous social groups, get togethers and WI groups. Tap into these to find reliable trades people who could put your work right.

MIL has taken forward a local electricians contact details and circulated this through the Church members. Tap into this mechanism for reliable trades people.

There is a village news magazine produced where I live - it replaced the Church News. This carries numerous adverts from local trades people who have to reliable or word will go round.

Equally if any of these people, especially the trades people, know of your problems it could help others to avoid your situation - they will spread the word.

Your situation is unfortunate and it will cost you money to put it right. That said some good could come from it even if this is building a data base of good trades people, or social contacts.

worried123

Furts, Thank you very much indeed. I will ask a friend whether her son can have a look at things.......I was going to use him and a friend who are plasterers but as they are fairly young i decided not......just shows you that old school builders who have done it for years arent always better.

I think that i am just shocked that he has not got back to me as he seemed such a honest person.......blown me away a bit.

Thank again Furts

All the very best to you.

worried123

I wonder whether anybody can tell me about electrical work please. The main thing that vile man was supposed to be coming back in to do was electrical work.....(which I have paid him for upfront)......no word from him by the way - i found out where he lives and put a note through his door even threatening to take him to a small claims court but nothing......

If you do electrical as in put in a new plug socket and change a light switch fitting should you legally be registered to do this and would you have to issue a certificate........i suspect that he is not registered and also even if he could issue certificates it might mean him putting the work through his books rather than in his pocket.....the most unscrupulous man i have ever come across...

Also is there a fine that can be imposed for not issuing certificates etc.......thank you