why do profesional

ukwoody

Canknuckle thank you, I wasn't actually taking it personally, since I'm a chippie, but it was the implication that annoyed me. I value your support though ;-)

TR. You have clearly said "Apparently all painters water down their paint!!!!!"
I'm not a touchy chippie at all, but I am defensive towards "the trade" as there is an element of people who watch these consumer programs and think we are all out to rip you off and make a quick buck. And it is that, that you seem to be implying.
As several tradesmen have said in recent weeks on here, most of us are very honest people who have a loyal customers base and who's livelyhood depends on word of mouth and reccomendation. I havent advertised for 4 years since first moving to this area.
I just get very annoyed when someone seems to come in and tar us all with the same brush without actually finding out the full facts of if / why a tradesman may have done this, then suggesting they all do it. It doesnt matter what the trade is. There are times when we do cut corners but usually for good reason. Watering down paint is often cited as an example of a bad painter, but as has been shown it is often not the case at all.

I have said before, that until I actually ran a team of painters about 6 years ago, I thought "if you can P*** you can paint". I now stand humbly corrected and have learnt there is SO much more to painting then just slapping it on. Every trade has it's little tricks and it's those tricks which often give us tradesmen the edge over the average diyer.

We come on here for free, out of hours, to help others and yet often we dont even get the thanks button pressed. But we still come on and offer advice to those that ask. WE just ask you (collectively) to remember that and show us some of the respect we try to show others.

I was talking to a very good friend who is a Master Locksmith today about an issue that was raised on here a few days ago. He runs busy company with possibly one of the largest internet shops for his industry in the UK. He said to me "Why bother to go on there? If people want that kind of advice, tell them to pay for a call out".
Instead, I still come on here...

Sorry for the long post.

Woody

t_r

Woody I'm not implying anything I was told something. It didn't make sense so I asked a question.
I though I made it clear enough in the question. If its not about cost why do painters water down pant? Now I know its to improve the finish.
As for the statement 'Apparently all painters water down paint' that is because I have never heard of this before, I wanted to know if this was true.
Oh look at post three I was hopefully clarifying that I didn't think they did it for cost saving.

Ah well.

floyd

I have had 2 different painters and decorators in my house to do jobs and they both watered down slightly (both used Dulux) and got the most beautiful finish.

Ukwoody what you say is very true, I always though it was an easy job painting until I actually sat and watched one of the guys in our house (I did ask first, I know some people don't like being watched). He did a room in a few hours to an incredible standard that I would have spend days doing myself and would have got a far inferior finish.

Shame you don't live nearer the North West, I need someone reliable and with passion for their trade to make and fit me some understairs cupboards