Plastering quality - is this normal

nLdn

Hi,

I got a plasterer in at the weekend to totally re-plaster and skim two walls. He didnt take off the skirting on either wall so has plastered to the top of the skirting. Slight issue is there are some gaps between where the plastering stops and the skirting starts that I know I'm going to have to now fill myself before I paint and wallpaper.

is this normal? I thought I'd expect that if the skirting had been taken off and then the skirtin helps cover the gap but should I really have to finish this detail myself?

He messed up another part of the job which I's offered to fix when I next get him in though tbh I'm not sure I want to deal with him again.

Just wanted to ask before I send payment to him, not that I can do much. thanks in advance.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Did you ask him to take the skirting boards off? It would have been better if you'd taken the skirting off first but I wouldn't expect the plasterer to do this unless you'd told him (and he probably would have expected you to remove them yourself).

If your existing skirting boards aren't too high, you could remove them anyway and re-fit slightly taller skirting board for a cleaner finish.

nLdn

What I'm getting at is of hes doing a job of plastering up to the skirting board, should there really be gaps in the plaster? Shouldn't it just be smooth all the way up to the skirting board?

m0t

You would get a better finish taking off the skirting but it is a major job and the plasterer wouldn't take it off unless told. It is unlikely to come off without breaking and you'd then need someone to come in and replace it.

There shouldn't be gaps between the bottom of the plaster and the skirting but in my experience it's pretty common with cheaper plasterers.

nLdn

Thanks m0t. That was what I was thinking.

Sadly he wasn't cheap but talked a good talk at quote and was recommended by a neighbour (who's word I won't be taking any notice of from now on).

In the other room he replaced and skimmed a
loose wobbly plaster board. I scraped the paper either side of the board and explained I'll be removing the rest of the paper at some point so I could reline and paint the wall. I asked him to skim up to the level of existing plaster. Instead he's skimmed up to the 2-3mm thickness of wallpaper and lining paper. I'll need a reskim once I remove all that. I'd instructed him at quote and on the first day of the job but he didn't do this. I discussed it when I realised and he was all shrugged shoulders but said he'd happily reskim when I get him back at a later date for future work I'd mentioned before.

I've got to send a payment to him tonight but I'm not sure whether I should raise the gaps issue and suggest I pay less but not sure how to approach it.

TheCyclingProgrammer

nLdn wrote: »

What I'm getting at is of hes doing a job of plastering up to the skirting board, should there really be gaps in the plaster? Shouldn't it just be smooth all the way up to the skirting board?

Ideally yes, but a small amount of snagging after a skim isn't that unusual. If the rest of the job is decent I'd not worry about it. It doesn't take long to fill in a few gaps with a decent filler (Easifill probably your best bet).

societys_child

Shouldn't it just be smooth all the way up to the skirting board?

It's not always that simple plastering up to a protruding edge.

How long will it take you to smooth a bit of filler across the gaps? fgs.

ceredigion

Maybe the other plasterer that wanted 40% up front was the better spread.

nLdn

societys_child wrote: »

How long will it take you to smooth a bit of filler across the gaps? fgs.

By that logic I shouldn't be annoyed if a decorator doesn't bother trimming the ends of the wallpaper he attaches to the wall or your gardener misses out parts of the lawn he mowed. How much time it takes me isnt the point - I paid for the job to be done.

ceredigion wrote: »

Maybe the other plasterer that wanted 40% up front was the better spread.

ha ha yeah possibly though I doubt in hindsight he actually intended to come and do the job at all.

Overall, 2 out of 3 of the jobs he came in to do have resulted in smooth flat walls. I guess I'm supposed to be happy with a 66% success rate.

keith969

Very difficult to cleanly plaster up to an existing skirting. You should have taken the skirting off if that's what you wanted. You seem to want to bodge your preparation, then blame the plasterer for not being able to compensate for the lack of it.

gardner1

I've used two plasterers in the last few years......first one re skimmed kitchen walls and ceiling and after seeing the quality of second plasterer i would give him 7/10....it was ok but little things were missed/rushed ie the finish around switches wasn't perfect.
The second guy did two walls in lounge and by the time he'd finished it looked like a work of art.....perfect finish/no mess
He also tiled the kitchen walls and had to re do bits of wall,he did a fantastic job and his rates were 1/3rd less than first guy

OP.....plastering is a messy job but get the right person and it will be pain free