Builders responsibilites

AmyAlex

Hi

We have recently had our flat renovated.

The walls were re-plastered and painted.

The work has been finished for about 6 weeks and the paint on the walls and ceilings is bubbling and cracking in places.

Is this our builders responsibilty as after care to fix before we pay the final balance due or has he done what he should and we should fix this?

Thanks

Aylesbury_Duck

How long was the plaster left to dry out before it was painted? It sounds as if it wasn't dry properly and water is now leeching out and causing the problem.

AmyAlex

That i am not totally sure of unfortunately.
I am assuming this is the issue, and the builder will say they left it long enough to dry though!
Is it a usual practice to expect them to fix is or do we just have to lump it?
Thanks so much

Gilead

Was it the same people who plastered do the painting, or did you hire someone to do the painting or did the painting yourself?

AmyAlex

Hi
Our project manager hired the same people to plaster and paint

HouseBuyer77

I take it you've already talked to them about it and they've refused to come and touch things up?

Do you actually know how long they left between plastering and painting (e.g. maybe you came home one day to plastered walls, the following day they then painted them, indicating they at least left it overnight)?

[edit]From searching around and Gilead's post below leaving overnight appears to be totally inadequate for plaster to dry properly before painting so if they did do this I say you have a decent case they need to put things right[/edit]

Gilead

Get your project manager to talk with the plasterer/painter and hold off payment until you are satisfied. A brief google search advises 4-6 weeks to allow plaster to dry but is dependent on conditions (heat etc). I imagine the bubbles indicate it wasn't completely dry.

AmyAlex

Thanks you for your reply, much appreciated

eddddy

As a starting point, tell the project manager and/or builder that there is a problem - and see what they say.

It sounds like the new plaster surface wasn't prepared properly for painting.

Unless you or your project manager specifically told the plastering/painting company to prepare the walls in a specific (bad) way, it's difficult to see how the plastering/painting company can deny responsibility.

Aylesbury_Duck

...and don't be fobbed off if they tell you they sealed the fresh plaster with PVA. That isn't a good plan anyway but especially not on fresh plaster. The water has to evaporate somehow.

The last room I had plastered was completed in early December. It was in a cold room and I left it until February before decorating.

moneyistooshorttomention

You need to establish what the process is exactly to put matters right now, eg:

- removal of existing paint
- whether the walls need to be left to dry any longer
etc

so that you can specify to them (whatever way you choose to phrase it) that "This is what you will do now to put matters right, ie do x, then do y, etc".

My sympathies - I've been caught out by the same thing - and...yep....it was the same firm doing the painting that had done the plastering prior to that.:( One really would have thought a firm doing both would say "We will do your plastering on these days. Then you will need x amount of time to wait it out for the plaster to dry and THEN we will come back and do the painting" - but I've had two different firms pull that stunt of not saying that to me and paint duly bubbled:mad:. Didnt really realise how they should have done their jobs at the time - but knew they should know....hmmm...