Plasterer disputes

stuart45

Are the walls smooth enough to paint, or too rough?

Lizzydrip26

Some areas are still rough

stuart45

You could tell him that you are going to get a tradesman to finish the job, and will deduct the cost from his fee. 
For a pro plasterer, that's a really poor job.

Lizzydrip26

I think i will, I have a plasterer coming tomorrow to look at it and give me a price, wish I never used him now

WIAWSNB

It would be interesting to actually apply a coat of emulsion on that, just to see how good or bad it is. But, that can't be done as it would affect the required fix. Suffice to say, if you can see or feel the difference betwixt the 'bonding' and 'filler' areas, then it's going to show up even more once painted.

In any event, that is not how to plaster. 

I guess if it happens to look ok once painted, then it is actually 'fine' in one sense - a cheaper-rate one. It's not conventional, no, but a smooth finish is a smooth finish, I guess. But, with exposed bonding, this ain't going to be a smooth finish... 

Relax. There is nothing this guy can do to you; there is no chance of him successfully challenging you for full payment. If he comes round to 'discuss' this, then have your phone set to record. Your choice whether to do this surreptitiously or overtly. 

He seemingly has done a fair bit of work; he has removed all the old plaster* - a hellish job - and bonded the bare wall. So, yes, he should be paid for this. No, bonding won't 'crumble'. The only real issue here is the standard of finish ready to accept paint. Almost certainly it ain't good enough.

I agree with yer hubbs - you pay him for the useful work done, and bid him 'good day'. If he argues, or threatens action, you just say, "You are entitled to do what you believe is right - but I am totally confident that the standard of your work is unacceptable, especially for the quoted price. I have plenty of photographic evidence, and I'm happy to post honest reviews both locally and on Google, with no fear of challenge."

If your phone isn't already out, then bring it forth.

First, get the proper plasterer in, and ask for his analysis. Watch out for excessive sucking-through-teeth - you really want a balanced and honest appraisal. And then you want their opinion on what the other cove should be paid for the heavy work done, and what the new guy will charge for a proper multifinish skim. It doesn't have to be accurate, just a figure you can use to decide what to pay the first guy; he is not going to sue you! 

* What were the details of his quote? Did you understand that he would dispose of all the old plaster? 

Lizzydrip26

Thank you!! We didn't really discuss the removal of the old stuff he just kind of dumped it all in my front garden, I asked him to put the metal casing back in the wires before he plastered aswell but he just cut some out of the bonding coat and popped them in and covered them so that annoyed me too as I asked him to do certain things and he did his own thing really, I definitely didn't ask for him to use a filler on the walls I expected it to be done with the proper stuff and then we would white wash it and decorate, the plastererror that's coming has seen the pictures and says it will be 180 for him to skim it but hes coming for a proper look so hopefully it won't be to much difference price wise

saajan_12

Lizzydrip26 said:

I recently has a plasterer come to sort out 2 walls in my living room, he knocked the old plaster off( also removed the metal casing strips that were covering the socket wires) he then did a bond coat which he smoothed and left it a week, when he came back he did a single coat of some sort of white joint filler, this was a mess so he came back a few days later and sanding the messy bits, friend who used to do plaster work has told me it needs taking off and skimming with a multifinish as the bonding coat is now showing through! The plasterer is asking me for payment of £657 but im being told I shouldn't pay him all of that and I just dont know what I should do  

What was the total price quoted to completion (given he hasn't painted etc)? The aim isn't to re-quote the job based on what you think, but rather to 
(i) divide the total price by the % of the tasks done; or 
(ii) deduct the cost of remedying by another plasterer / decorator. 

Basically if this guy was cheap or expensive you still get that deal, just on the part of the useful work actually done. 

danrv

It may be that the surface is ok to skim over rather than having to hack it all off. 

Lizzydrip26

I don't know  what the cost was as he was supposed to do our bathroom refit and plastering too obviously he isn't doing that now, but after he had finished the room he sent a message saying it was 657 for the living room walls so I need to work out what is a reasonable amount to pay him as im not paying what hes asked when he hasn't done the job properly

WIAWSNB

Lizzydrip26 said:

Thank you!! We didn't really discuss the removal of the old stuff he just kind of dumped it all in my front garden, (1) I asked him to put the metal casing back in the wires before he plastered aswell but he just cut some out of the bonding coat and popped them in and covered them so that annoyed me too as I asked him to do certain things and he did his own thing really, (2) I definitely didn't ask for him to use a filler on the walls I expected it to be done with the proper stuff and then we would white wash it and decorate, (3) the plasterer that's coming has seen the pictures and says it will be 180 for him to skim it but hes coming for a proper look so hopefully it won't be to much difference price wise

I'm trying to be as impartial and fair as possible.

(1) The metal casing has a purpose - it both protects the wires, and also allows them to be replaced by pulling new cables through, without having to channel out the plaster again. You - as a layperson - aren't meant to 'know' this, but you still asked for it to be done, which was a good move. For him to not do this as standard practice is very poor, and in my mind he has no excuse. 

(2) You didn't ask him to finish it off with filler?! Why on earth not?!!! Cough. Of course you didn't - you expected him to be a pro, and do pro stuff. It is not for the customer to 'know' how to do this job - it is for the customer to expect a pro to do pro stuff. This guy did Mickey-Mouse stuff. He should have finished off the bonding coat with multifinish. That's called, er, 'plastering'. 

(3) £180 seems ok for a fresh skim, and hopefully he'll decide that's all that's required. If so, then you simply deduct that sum - or whatever sum he actually charges - from the original £657, and you pay the original guy that balance.

Or/and, you ask the new guy whether the disposal of the old stuff should have been an expected part of the overall package at £657. If he says 'yes', then you ask him to quote for its disposal, and you also deduct that from the £667 bill. So, skim+disposal deducted from £657 - pay the first guy the balance, and say it's in 'full and final' payment. He'd be bonkers to try and chase you for this. And he'd fail.

Q - do you have LegProt on your house insurance? If so, then double-relax.