Plastering job quality

andre_xs

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80027839#Comment_80027839

First of all, thanks to all for the answers so far. Back to a computer now, so can give a more comprehensive answer.

Well, he knew that we expected a guest, but also made it very clear that we'll have to wait until it is dry before we can paint. Depending on wheather he guessed a couple of days up to a week. On Monday evening, the ceiling did look dry (all light pink, no darker spots).

He offered to help with painting the ceiling by himself, we didn't ask for it (but of course were grateful). He also did some electrical work (he's electrician and plasterer), and with that work he was behind, he came late for those appointments (for one he was late by 5 hours or so). So I thought that he just wanted to show a little bit of good will to make up for this.

I really think the issue is not the painting. If I would have looked closer then I would have seen it then and there. But I was a bit stressed and didn't have too much time, so I looked more closely only two or three hours after he left, when I gave the ceiling the last coat of paint. It is just very uneven and 'sloppy' plastering. I now remember that he mentioned that he struggled a bit because the plaster was drying so quickly because the room would have been so hot (not sure why, it was this Friday, so not that warm outside, just turn down the heating and open a window?)

One or two small mistakes which may inititally go unnoticed I really don't mind and have full understanding. But the pictures above are just how most of the ceiling looks like (there are actually also larger patches which look absolutely perfect, like the plastering in other rooms).

I guess it simply didn't cross my mind that a plasterer would produce this kind of work. He also did a bit in the kitchen, which intially didn't look good, but he said "don't worry" and indeed fixed it so that it looked perfect. So when I said that there are dents and scratches in the bedroom, and he said again "don't worry", and I hear him doing stuff like sanding, I just assumed that he'd fix it again to give a much better finish, like he did in the kitchen.

Well, I invited him to have a look together. Stuff like this is sometimes hard to see in pictures, so an "in-person viewing" is best.

Best wishes,
Andre

mi-key

Paint will only cover what is already there unless it has been put on very very thick! It isn't going to cause hollows and scrapes like you have.

I think the fair thing is to allow him to come back and fix it all so the ceiling is smooth. If he can't do this then don't pay him.

ThisIsWeird

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80027988#Comment_80027988

It would explain - but not justify - the finish if it had started to set mid-polish.

The bumpy bits are quite possibly down to the mix not having been carried out smoothly, so these are powder crumbs which weren't blended in the mix.

Anyhoo, a large sanding pad on a pole should see it smoothed off to an adequate level, if not actually perfect. Then fine filler applied to all the 'hollows'. And more sanding...

It'll be messy - lots of dust. So lots of dust sheets.

Doozergirl

He's an electrician and a plasterer that also decorates?

If he was an electrician he'd be working as an electrician every day. They don't earn the same! Plasterers charge more than decorators and an electrician can earn twice the day rate of even a half decent decorator.

I think we've established that he neither a plasterer not a decorator because either way, you should have ended up with a decent job even if he had to fix his own plastering.

koalakoala

i think £350 was very cheap!

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028099#Comment_80028099

And if he used something like Multifinish (the pink stuff), you just don't sand it once it has dried. Drywall, you can sand, but it is a very messy business… That said, if you use the ready mix stuff like Knauf Fill & Finish, it can be wet sponge sanded for a good finish.

A plasterer should leave you with a nice smooth ceiling devoid of trowel marks, ridges, or rough patches - With Multifinish, the surface should have a slight eggshell finish to it, not polished to a glass like sheen.

Postik

FreeBear said:

And if he used something like Multifinish (the pink stuff), you just don't sand it once it has dried. Drywall, you can sand, but it is a very messy business… That said, if you use the ready mix stuff like Knauf Fill & Finish, it can be wet sponge sanded for a good finish.

I'm guessing maybe he used filler on the dents and scratches.

With that said I've never known a plasterer that has to start sanding at the end of a job, seems very odd.

grandadgolfer

koalakoala said:

i think £350 was very cheap!

I think it was overpriced for one ceiling

grandadgolfer

Doozergirl said:

He's an electrician and a plasterer that also decorates?

If he was an electrician he'd be working as an electrician every day. They don't earn the same! Plasterers charge more than decorators and an electrician can earn twice the day rate of even a half decent decorator.

I think we've established that he neither a plasterer not a decorator because either way, you should have ended up with a decent job even if he had to fix his own plastering.

I'd be checking any electrical work he's done..........as mentioned proper electricians earn good money and don't need to plaster / paint 

stuart45

Electrician and plasterer is an unusual combination. Bricklayer/plasterer is more common, as they are both wet trades.