Plasterer has finished but poor finish. Is this normal?

Doozergirl · 15 December 2015 at 10:53AM

dominoman wrote: »

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?

I wouldn't pay another penny.

I've spent £40k in plastering labour this year. I know what plastering costs and the £300 you paid would have been more than enough for a good day's work including materials, let alone a bad one.

£600 is much more a going rate for two men for two days.

dominoman · 15 December 2015 at 11:15AM

I feel the same about the money. I am going to call another plasterer to come and do the remediation (around the fireplace). And I'll call this one and tell him I am not prepared to pay the rest because he has not done what he promised.

I just hope I don't end up with a brick through my window!

What I don't understand is his amazing CheckaTrade reviews. It has really lowered my faith in that site, as I can't believe I am the first person to be unhappy.

Furts · 15 December 2015 at 11:23AM

What output is there from the burner and are you happy with the close proximity of that plaster edge? If so, there is the issue of durability - a stop bead detail would have finished this off, although you may have needed to make a feature of this.

Having been shot down once I post with great trepidation!

dominoman · 15 December 2015 at 11:33AM

Furts wrote: »

What output is there from the burner and are you happy with the close proximity of that plaster edge? If so, there is the issue of durability - a stop bead detail would have finished this off, although you may have needed to make a feature of this.

Having been shot down once I post with great trepidation!

No trepidation! I do appreciate all feedback and comments - and I know I was too trusting.

Output is 5KW and so it should be OK with plaster. Minimum side clearance for that heater is just 10cm to non combustible and 40cm for combustibles, so it easily makes that.

I did want the fireplace to be a feature and the plasterer told me he would be using bead. I spent a long time and a lot of work cleaning and repointing the brick, then laying the new hearth (including building up the underfloor construction hearth), so the plastering was the final piece. I was looking forward to it being done, but now am just really disappointed with how it looks.

Furts · 15 December 2015 at 11:44AM

dominoman wrote: »

No trepidation! I do appreciate all feedback and comments - and I know I was too trusting.

Output is 5KW and so it should be OK with plaster. Minimum side clearance for that heater is just 10cm to non combustible and 40cm for combustibles, so it easily makes that.

I did want the fireplace to be a feature and the plasterer told me he would be using bead. I spent a long time and a lot of work cleaning and repointing the brick, then laying the new hearth (including building up the underfloor construction hearth), so the plastering was the final piece. I was looking forward to it being done, but now am just really disappointed with how it looks.

We are not on the same wavelength. I appreciate that plaster is non combustible, but the detail does not look "right".

My concern is heat and expansion and the plaster blowing off the bricks. Even if this gut instinct is unfounded there is likely to be an issue because stop beads are not used. Basically you have a variable edge which has probably not been floated to a dense finish. Catch 22 - this dense finish cannot be easily achieved without a bead.

Furts · 15 December 2015 at 12:43PM

Furts wrote: »

We are not on the same wavelength. I appreciate that plaster is non combustible, but the detail does not look "right". I do not know the answer and I have not looked it up!

My concern is heat and expansion and the plaster blowing off the bricks. Even if this gut instinct (for it is no more than this) is unfounded there is likely to be an issue because stop beads are not used. Basically you have a variable edge which has probably not been floated to a dense finish. Catch 22 - this dense finish cannot be easily achieved without a bead.

I have just got an old Standards down from the shelf. It states gypsum plasters should not be used where repeated, or persistent heating occurs...eg on flues and near heat sources. The practicalities will depend on the heat output and time period, but 5kW near your plaster is concerning to me.

I would be suggesting a return clear of plaster for 200-300mm. You might say over kill but what if you wanted to upgrade the fire?

Equally a competent, probably old school, trades person might have flagged this up with you before the plastering was undertaken. Did this conversation occur?

MisterBaxter · 15 December 2015 at 12:58PM

I hope you gave his guide dog a biscuit and bowl of water or was it the dog that did the plastering.

teneighty · 15 December 2015 at 1:42PM

For clarity I think you need to separate out the 2 issues.

Poor Quality Workmanship. Withhold remaining payment until a reasonable standard is achieved. If you cannot achieve this with the original "alleged tradesman" then you need to give him fair warning that you intend to employ a new plasterer/decorator to make good his mistakes. If you want to recover part of the £300 already paid you are probably looking at a money claim/small claims which probably isn't worth the hassle.

Cost of Work. Depends how the quote was worded. If it was £600 to scim lounge you don't have much room for negotiation. If it was broken down as 2 men 2 days to scim lounge at a total of £600 then you only owe him half (subject to above).

For what its worth I think you are going to have to accept a less than perfect finish due to the constraints of scimming up to obstructions like skirtings, architrave and sockets. Take it as a learning experience and try to make the best of a bad job.

Mojisola · 15 December 2015 at 1:51PM

That really is dreadful work!

We had a lot of plastering done while making alterations and it had such a beautiful finish it felt wrong painting over it!

dirty_magic · 15 December 2015 at 8:00PM

We've just had lots of plastering done. We took the skirting off ourselves but he advised us to replace architrave to get a better finish and we didn't want to. You can't even tell that he's plastered up to it so it is possible to do it without making a mess. He also loosened all sockets and plastered behind them.