Doped Plaster

squidzin

I moved into a new build a couple of months ago. After starting to paint the walls, I noticed it was taking far too many coats to cover them. Yes I did seal/prime them with 4 parts emulsion, 1 part water, but it still took a further 2 coats of crown white and 3 coats of the colour (using dulux). I thought nothing of the texture on the walls when painting thinking it wouldn't be noticed when the paint job was finished. However now the walls are looking fairly lumpy. I've said to the foreman of the site (they are still building) and he is letting on he doesn't know what's causing it. I had someone else in looking at the walls and he reckoned that the plaster was doped (i.e. mixed with cement or something) hence causing all the problems. He said that the plaster could get worse and could eventually come away from the walls. Can anybody please offer any advise on what I can do about the situation?

Many Thanks

nelly_2

Im a plasterer.
How big are these lumps?

Mixing plaster with cement is done to make it go off really fast, this is so we dont have to wait for it to set. I can't see this being done on a new build, as theres plenty of work to do while waiting.

And it also wont cause lumps anyway, certainly not in my experience.

squidzin

Thanks for the reply, lumps was probably not the right term to use. There's patches on the wall that sit 1 or 2 millimetre proud of the rest. the walls look a bit like a large map. the patches come out more, the more coats of paint that go on.

nelly_2

sounds to me like its not been trowled up properly, just a guess with not actually seeing it.

squidzin

That's sort of what I was thinking. The foreman of the site tried to tell me that it was because the first coat of paint wasn't watered down enough. Meaning that the plaster absorbed too much paint hence causing the 'pattern' on the plaster finish. Basically implying it was my fault so they wouldn't have to fix it. I don't believe him at all though. How do you think it can be fixed nelly?

Thanks again

nelly_2

lol thats brilliant, I'll have to remember that the next time I do a job the day after a heavy session in the pub.

You've got to remember I havent seen it

but I have also never seen the situation he describes.

His point of view is the house has been sold and he doesnt want the expense and hassel of re skimming or sanding the place down with you, your stuff and all the carpets in there. And there the only 2 scenarios that will cure the problem.

Its a thing hes missed seeing it or couldnt be arsed with it, so jump above him or threaten too and go for his boss, get him down, he REAAAALY wont need the hassel.



Or get in touch with your building control officer at the councill and see what they say, they might come out to have a look at it.

Or once again threaten to do this to the foreman.

Or phone a plasterer up and get him to come and give his opinion. it'd be nice to offer a tenner or so, cos I know I couldnt be arsed to go round just to not get the job anyway.


In your original post you said you noticed the texture in the walls, well on site we dont do it to the super smooth standard its a waste of time to be honest however it should be flat and free from lumps, bumps holes and slacks (shallow bits).

Your in a !!!!ty situation here cos reskimming will cause a mess and so will sanding.

Just make them sort it out I really think it is their fault.

cloud_dog

Had a problem with the washing controls (knobs) obstructing the draw units perpendicular to the washing m/c (it was in the corner of the kitchen). Complained to the site foreman who basically said it was my problem because the washing m/c knobs stuck too far (complete tosh).

Anyway long and the short was that the fitters hadn't fitted corner expansion 'bits' when they fitted the kitchen (visited other show homes, etc).

Wrote a letter of complaint to the housebuilder, copying the managing director, and advised them that they were at fault (they also tried to get me to get the kitchen fitters back to fix it!!!) and that they had 21 days to resolve the problem, after 21 days I would notify NHBC.

Nothing happened, notified NHBC, they arranched for a visit to inspect, literally 2 mins of discussion between me, NHBC, and the foreman and the NHBC guy said to the foreman "you'd better fix it". One week later, job done.

cloud_dog

squidzin

Thanks for the replys. I am at the advantage that as it's a new build and the development isn't finished, all the builders are still on site. I guess I am just going to have to keep at them. Real nightmare!

LittleLuke

I think you will find they have some how got PVA on your wall. Its common in plastering and used all the time for different applications. But if it gets on the final skim coat it ineffect seals it. And it becomes almost impossible to get paint to stick. Thus u will get patches where they have got pva on the wall and patches where they haven't. The places where they haven't the paint builds up and the places where they have won't bulk up with the paint.

HTH

Luke

mcclim

Can you not go to the NHBC the contractor should be registered with them, and I think (but I'm not sure) that gives you some sort of come back over dodgy work.

I had a problem where the plastered in my house plastered the chimmneys with the wrong type of cement and also plastered small lumps of clay into the outside wall, and from talking to my local Citizens advice, if you can prove that his work is not up to a standard then you should be able to make him fix it, or if he won't then get it fixed and recover the money it cost of him.

squidzin

Do all plasterers use finish for the final coat? The plaster on my walls is a creamy grey colour with a hint of pink. Finish plaster looks more pink when used on it's own. This also suggests to me that the plaster has been doped with cement. Does this sound right?