neighbours builder has knocked a hole through wall between me and next door

starving_artist

So the neighbours are having building works done. Turns out part of a wall separating my flat from theirs is literally a single sheet of plasterboard (not even a stud wall) because one of their men accidentally made a hole through it :shocked:





They were actually intending to insulate that wall on their side and immediately said they would patch up the hole but I'm not sure what I should ask them to do about retouching the paint as it has a special paint finish. It is also quite aged so it would be difficult to make new paint blend in. Any suggestions as to what would be reasonable?

Fosterdog

Be honest, that wall looks like it needs a fresh lick of paint anyway, there are dirty patches all over it. Plus the special paint finish looks like it was just sponging which went out of fashion in the 90s. Maybe ask them to supply a tin of trade white to give you a fresh clean slate, the whole thing could be patched up and painted for around £20 and an hours work.

Paula_Smith

Hang a picture over it

spadoosh

Oops.

Its not that crown pearlescent/suede paint is it?

Id say due to the nature of the paint, youre more likely to get away with touching it up. It looks patchy as it is so hard to see how touching it up will make that much difference.

Ask them to try touching it up, if that doesnt work, repaint the wall, you shouldnt need to repaint the room as theres normally colour variation between walls due to lighting differences. At worst they should be looking at an hour or two to repaint the whole wall. Although i remember the crown paint being a pain to put on, has to be hand brushed.

starving_artist

Fosterdog wrote: »

Be honest, that wall looks like it needs a fresh lick of paint anyway, there are dirty patches all over it. Plus the special paint finish looks like it was just sponging which went out of fashion in the 90s. Maybe ask them to supply a tin of trade white to give you a fresh clean slate, the whole thing could be patched up and painted for around £20 and an hours work.

I'm not denying it's not a smart, contemporary look. The other walls are the same so having one wall freshly painted is not going to work and I don't want to change the look of the whole room.



Having thought about it I think they are going to have to get a few small tester pots (as there are a few colours) and try to blend it in.


Spadoosh - I don't think it is the Crown paint but it was hand brushed.

TELLIT01

The builder who caused the damage needs to make good that damage. If that is problematic for them it is for them to resolve. I wouldn't accept an offer of simply painting over that wall if it will not then match the others.
My other concern, nothing to do with the damage, is whether the wall meets fire regulations.

PasturesNew

That'd be the least of my worries.

It needs "a proper wall", a "fire proof" wall between the two properties....

You can't just dab a bit of paint over plasterboard in your home and say "job's a good 'un" when it's now been exposed as a risk of some sort - and future problem.

As it's a major problem I'd expect to dip my hand in my pocket, to some reasonable extent, to get it remedied legally .... you should be thanking them really.

Sea_Shell

I'm assuming your flats are converted, not purpose built?

I'd not be happy with the wall situation, painted or not.

Davesnave

If I was only one sheet of plasterboard away from my neighbour, the structural integrity of the flat would be a much greater concern for me than some fancy paint finish. It must have been converted a long time ago or without any regard to fire safety enshrined in the Building Regulations.


I hope you don't own it, because now you know about it, you'd have to declare it if selling.

RelievedSheff

As others have said you need to get a proper fire wall built between the properties ASAP.

I would also be informing my insurers.

As for the damage to the wall. Be honest that room is well overdue decorating. It won't cost a lot to patch the wall up and give the whole room a freshen up with some new paint.

Mistral001

Are you sure that this wall is just a single sheet of plasterboard without any studs. Such a wall would just flop about with the closing of a door and you would be able to hear a whisper coming from next door.

I suspect that the single sheet of plasterboard is only over a small area and the rest of the wall is a proper stud wall or a solid wall.