Hired Painting Contractor - What Standards? - DIY Chatroom

graffix5 · 04-02-2009, 09:50 AM

I hired a painting contractor to paint the interior of my medium sized home. Some of the finished rooms are not up to my personal standards, but may be acceptable for non-nitpickers. Wanted to put this out there and see what others say.. Some of what I'm seeing is -
Roller fuzz in the finish
Patches with trowel marks
Patches that don't match the texture on the walls
Drips in inconspicuous area
Junk in the paint in general, like dirt, little pebbles
The cut in lines aren't PERFECT

Some other things that I'm convinced aren't entirely his fault.. like nail holes showing in the white painted trim..

What do you all think???

Thanks in advance

**DangerMouse** · 04-02-2009, 12:32 PM

too any variables.
who bought the paint and supplies?
who did the prep work?
what brand primer and paint?
how old and in what shape are the walls?

DM

Jms Int. Serv. · 04-02-2009, 01:00 PM

All the things you are talking about should have been gone over before anything ever happened. It is the painting contractors job to go over exactly
what they are going to do and tell the customer exactly what things will look
like when they are finished so there are no surprises. If the painting contractor
can not solve all the homeowners concerns before work begins then it is time to get someone else. If he or she does not deliver they don't get payed. Every
customer I do painting for I tell up front and is written down what is being done and what they are getting for the price. Then it is the customers decision
what they want and what they want to pay.

Stillwerkin · 04-03-2009, 01:50 AM

One thing that would help is if you got the leftover paint for touch-ups, or at least write down the brand/formula.
That way you could go back over any spots yourself.

There's a big difference between the amount of work for a "perfect" and a "good" paint job.

chrisn · 04-03-2009, 05:33 AM

The cut in lines aren't PERFECT

After 30 years in the business,I do not think I have ever seen a Perfect cut line.

too any variables.
who bought the paint and supplies?
who did the prep work?
what brand primer and paint?
how old and in what shape are the walls?

etc etc.

Bob Mariani · 04-03-2009, 08:56 AM

Seems you hired a handyman not a professional painter. Prep is done by a painter. Prep and professional standards were not done by this workman.

Roller fuzz in the finish -- even DIYers here know how to prevent this

Patches with trowel marks -- depending on what was discussed, who did the drywall, was it discussed to make this work look better?

Patches that don't match the texture on the walls -- Who made the patches... if this workman did it then it is his fault. But you obviously did not check his references or you would not be in this situation

Drips in inconspicuous area -- cheap paint

Junk in the paint in general, like dirt, little pebbles -- again you hired a non-pro. We know to filter paint always!

The cut in lines aren't PERFECT -- If the drywall is installed correctly cut lines will be perfect. But it takes time and cost more... you were not looking for that type of quality or this person would not have been hired.

Some other things that I'm convinced aren't entirely his fault.. like nail holes showing in the white painted trim.. Painters will set and patch nails in trim. Carpenters will tell you it is finish work.

WisePainter · 04-03-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisn

The cut in lines aren't PERFECT

After 30 years in the business,I do not think I have ever seen a Perfect cut line.

shame.

Matthewt1970 · 04-03-2009, 06:45 PM

If a non-pro points out that the cut line is bad, then odds are it is. The fuzz on the walls is usually a sign of a cheap roller nap. You can rinse a cheap one out and even use tape on it like a lint roller but the cheap ones will still shed.

WisePainter · 04-03-2009, 06:54 PM

I am confused graffix5, this is the post you made "elsewhere"....

Hired a painting sub to paint a gut remodel. Never worked with this guy before. Some of the finished rooms are not up to my personal standards, but may be acceptable for non-nitpickers. Wanted to put this out there and see what others say.. Some of what I'm seeing is -
Roller fuzz in the finish
Patches with trowel marks
Patches that don't match the texture on the walls
Drips in inconspicuous area
Junk in the paint in general, like dirt, little pebbles
The cut in lines aren't PERFECT

Some other things that I'm convinced aren't entirely his fault.. like nail holes showing in the white painted trim..

What do you all think???

Should he fix all/some/most/none of the above? What standard do you hold painters to?

Thanks in advance

Which is it then?

chrisn · 04-04-2009, 06:43 AM

Wise says "shame"

perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state

My point being that perfection is hard to obtain even for yourself or the infamous JP for that matter

WisePainter · 04-04-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisn

Wise says "shame"

perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state

My point being that perfection is hard to obtain even for yourself or the infamous JP for that matter

No, perfection is extremely difficult to obtain. I should know, my cut in lines are just that, perfect.

I have to rest for no less than 5 days after cutting in a 10x12x18 area.