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Plasterer has finished but poor finish. Is this normal?
Comments
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The onus was on you to ask the question.When you received the answer the next stage was to ask "How is that possible" or Does this explanation make sense" or "Am I being fed BS".
It sounds like you are saying that if you get a poor job because a tradesman BS's you, then it is your own fault for not detecting his BS!
In actuality, a good tradesman doesn't BS you in the first place, and is not your fault if you get caught out by a poor one.
By your logic Furts, anybody who gets caught in a scam deserves it because they should have known it was a scam from the start.
OP got a sloppy tradesman, there are plenty about. Isn't the OP's fault though.0 -
But it is hard to tell if you are being fed BS if you don't know how the process works yourself.
It sounds like you are saying that if you get a poor job because a tradesman BS's you, then it is your own fault for not detecting his BS!
In actuality, a good tradesman doesn't BS you in the first place, and is not your fault if you get caught out by a poor one.
By your logic Furts, anybody who gets caught in a scam deserves it because they should have known it was a scam from the start.
OP got a sloppy tradesman, there are plenty about. Isn't the OP's fault though.
OP has said I imply he is lazy or stupid. This is not the case. But OP's earlier post clearly stated removal of the skirting was "too big a job" What is too big about easing out some cut nails on skirting, or easing oval nails on an architrave?
I have simply answered as a builder or an expert witness would answer. How can an excellent job be achieved when the preparation is sub standard? Then consider that the preparation is the domain of OP.
With regard the question should the skirting and architrave be removed is it really too difficult to canvass opinion, or post on this Forum, and ask a professional who works in the construction industry?
If OP was indeed after the perfect job then all credit to him for seeking to achieve this. However another fundamental of building comes to the fore. Removal of the skirting and architrave would aid energy efficiency, sound insulation, air tightness and drafts. That is why plastering is taken to the floor, within reason, unlike some years ago when it could have been 200mm above if covered by 9inch skirting. So why did OP not do this?
Had the plaster been superb along the top of the skirting it would have been chipped, damaged and cut by the plasterers floating and trowelling. Would OP then have posted about this?
OP has taken the hump at my reply. But it is of no benefit to OP to shoot the messenger. OP has exacerbated the problems with this job.
I have no doubt the corners and finish are sloppy, for OP refers to bumps and lumps. Hence OP has taken on a sloppy tradesman. But OP has allowed a sloppy tradesman to do the job, for this person was a "mate" of the plasterer. Hence OP has probably not met, or vetted, or checked, this individual.
With regards the concept of scams it is blindingly obvious to all in the construction industry - "never ask a subby how a job should be done" . This is because the answer is likely to be the quickest, or most expedient, or most profitable answer. One always expects to not receive the correct answer. All consumers should bear this in mind, and when the answer is received engage default setting, that is, "does this answer make sense".
Of course there are countless good trades people out there but in this instance it appears OP asked rogues to give him the answer he wished to hear.0 -
Furts, sounds like you are expecting the OP to be an expert, which if they were they would do the job themselves.
They called in an expert and got duff advice, not their fault, who is to know if an expert is talking balls?
On another note, £600 for a skim? Ouch!
Not an expert, but the words common sense and savvy come to mind.0 -
It's perfectly true that skirting and sockets should be removed prior to skimming to achieve a good finish.
However in this case the OP specifically asked about skirting and sockets. The plasterer - the expert - assured the OP that there was no need to remove the skirting, and said that he would remove the sockets himself.
Therefore it's ridiculous to blame the OP for leaving the sockets and skirting in place.
That said, from the photos I'm not sure removing skirting and sockets would have made any difference to the quality of the finish anyway. Some knowledge of plastering on the part of the plasterer would have.0 -
That is as rough as ****I'm only here while I wait for Corrie to start.
You get no BS from me & if I think you are wrong I WILL tell you.0 -
Thanks all for the advice. And Furts, I do appreciate your reply too, though I think saying that I "cut corners and could not be bothered to go about a job in the proper manner" is harsh. I tried hard to get a good tradesmen and the one I chose has excellent reviews on CheckaTrade. I prepped the walls carefully by removing all traces of wallpaper and washing them down with sugar soap.
I took the advice of the both plasterers who came to quote, and both said that they could get a good finish for the skim without removing the skirting.
I'm really upset by this.
The plasterer came back yesterday (while I was at work) and spent an hour with polyfilla, but he was resentful and basically said he couldn't see much wrong with it. When he left it isn't much better.
The arch on the fireplace looks uneven. Two of the walls are lumpy and uneven, and the corners are all rough.
What should I do now? I can sand and polyfilla some parts, but for the lumpy wall and fireplace arch will I need to chip off the skim and get another guy to start again?
Below some photos of after he came back to fix the original work.0 -
Wow. He really took the proverbial yesterday! I was a bit dubious about the extreme close ups, but the fireplace looks dreadful!
And the filler is just, well, filled.
Did you pay them the rest? I'd get a really good decorator to come and sort that out.Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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I can't understand why you paid for work of such a low standard - rough as a badgers bum!0
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I can't understand why you paid for work of such a low standard - rough as a badgers bum!
Yes - That was a mistake. I thought by paying just half on the day (I left it with my brother in law to give him as I was away) I was being sensible.
In reality though I can't refuse to pay him as he has done a full day's work, plus another hour to "fix it" yesterday.
However I would like a significant reduction on the £600 (I have paid half of this so far) because:
- Quality of finish is poor
- It only took one man one day (versus 2 men 2 days stated)
- I will have to pay another plasterer or decorator to remediate it
What would you do now with regards payment of the rest?0 -
That looks like a dog's dinner.
I wouldn't be paying him any more. He comes to skim and fills it with polyfiller. I would tell him to go jump for the rest. £600 for that? He's having a laugh.0
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