Hi All
I am really at a lost at what to do next. I have moved out of my house so i am able to finish renovating it. i had just got to the stage where living in it with a family and doing work was impossible. i have spent the last 12 weekends prepping, stripping paper etc.
A family members boyfriend's odd job firm came round to do some plastering and, as i work away from home in the week, i went in yesterday to check the "finished" work.
The standard of work was appalling, every plastered finish is uneven, bumpy and irregular.
Below is an email I sent to him detailing the issues:
A couple of general points:
Cleanliness - The amount of plaster that has been left on the floor was enough to fill a bucket – I know I said we were not using the floorboards but you couldn’t put a carpet over that much mess. It took me all day yesterday scraping the floors and clearing up. Also, and I didn’t say this because it was obvious, but there was no need for anyone to go into the front room. My new £20m/2 carpet has got plaster footprints over it – if they had to go in there (which they didn’t) they could have taken their shoes of, or at the very least cleaned them off a bit! It really shows a complete disrespect for someone’s home.
Standard of plastering – I will be frank here mate, the plastering is amateurish at the best. I have had plenty of plastering work done before but I have never seen such an uneven finish. Large flat walls shouldn’t need completely rubbing down to remove trowel marks and other faults – let alone the large ripples that some of my walls have been left with. Take for example the stud plasterboard partition between the living/dining room. When the living room side was done, I didn’t have to do anything else to it – it was like glass. There is no comparison to the other side that your guy has done. I really don’t believe no other client has commented. I have spent all of today sanding down the plastered walls in the main bedroom.
Ok room by room:
Bathroom
One of the shower walls has not been plastered at all, it is still left at the bonding layer
No beading used on any of the window recesses – why did we bother to buy them? They are still in the garage. Surely this is a fundamental step?
No electrics put back – be nice to have a light and pull
Main Bedroom
Plastering poor finish (in comparison the easy finish walls are much better)
Ceiling cracks have not been scrimmed as we discussed, they have just been filled and rubbed
Again no beeding used
Back Bedroom
Plastering poor finish
Some of the plaster on internal wall has already blown, and more looks like it will follow
Plaster over the hotwater tank and boiler electrics/controls – I could have lent you dust sheets
Again no beeding used on window recesses
Hall/Landing
Ceiling cracks not scrimmed
General finishing off not done
I am not a perfectionist by any stretch of the imagination, I also realize an older house will have imperfections and I totally accept this – but to check I wasn’t being too unrealistic I asked the plasterer I used last time to have a look (this guy quoted me same as you, all in, to do the job earlier this year, that was to skim everywhere etc). He made a lot of negative comments but he basically said it looked like a “diy job” and he couldn’t believe the guy had received any formal training, and I really have to agree with him.
What I find really disappointing is that I have worked every weekend in that house since November, I have scrubbed every inch of the walls in preparation and the plastering “phase” was supposed to be a turning point, starting to rebuild. In reality, where I should be fitting a bathroom (which I can’t do because the plastering isn’t finished) this week, instead I will be attempting to get the walls back to a decent finish.
What should i do now. He has offered to come and make amends, but i really don't want them back in the house. Should I pay them anything?
What should i do with the irregular finish on most of my walls? I have read in earlier posts that you shouldn't sandown plaster, but i haven't really got a choice.
Any advice - or indeed sympathetic words - would be greatly received!
cheers
Lee
I am really at a lost at what to do next. I have moved out of my house so i am able to finish renovating it. i had just got to the stage where living in it with a family and doing work was impossible. i have spent the last 12 weekends prepping, stripping paper etc.
A family members boyfriend's odd job firm came round to do some plastering and, as i work away from home in the week, i went in yesterday to check the "finished" work.
The standard of work was appalling, every plastered finish is uneven, bumpy and irregular.
Below is an email I sent to him detailing the issues:
A couple of general points:
Cleanliness - The amount of plaster that has been left on the floor was enough to fill a bucket – I know I said we were not using the floorboards but you couldn’t put a carpet over that much mess. It took me all day yesterday scraping the floors and clearing up. Also, and I didn’t say this because it was obvious, but there was no need for anyone to go into the front room. My new £20m/2 carpet has got plaster footprints over it – if they had to go in there (which they didn’t) they could have taken their shoes of, or at the very least cleaned them off a bit! It really shows a complete disrespect for someone’s home.
Standard of plastering – I will be frank here mate, the plastering is amateurish at the best. I have had plenty of plastering work done before but I have never seen such an uneven finish. Large flat walls shouldn’t need completely rubbing down to remove trowel marks and other faults – let alone the large ripples that some of my walls have been left with. Take for example the stud plasterboard partition between the living/dining room. When the living room side was done, I didn’t have to do anything else to it – it was like glass. There is no comparison to the other side that your guy has done. I really don’t believe no other client has commented. I have spent all of today sanding down the plastered walls in the main bedroom.
Ok room by room:
Bathroom
One of the shower walls has not been plastered at all, it is still left at the bonding layer
No beading used on any of the window recesses – why did we bother to buy them? They are still in the garage. Surely this is a fundamental step?
No electrics put back – be nice to have a light and pull
Main Bedroom
Plastering poor finish (in comparison the easy finish walls are much better)
Ceiling cracks have not been scrimmed as we discussed, they have just been filled and rubbed
Again no beeding used
Back Bedroom
Plastering poor finish
Some of the plaster on internal wall has already blown, and more looks like it will follow
Plaster over the hotwater tank and boiler electrics/controls – I could have lent you dust sheets
Again no beeding used on window recesses
Hall/Landing
Ceiling cracks not scrimmed
General finishing off not done
I am not a perfectionist by any stretch of the imagination, I also realize an older house will have imperfections and I totally accept this – but to check I wasn’t being too unrealistic I asked the plasterer I used last time to have a look (this guy quoted me same as you, all in, to do the job earlier this year, that was to skim everywhere etc). He made a lot of negative comments but he basically said it looked like a “diy job” and he couldn’t believe the guy had received any formal training, and I really have to agree with him.
What I find really disappointing is that I have worked every weekend in that house since November, I have scrubbed every inch of the walls in preparation and the plastering “phase” was supposed to be a turning point, starting to rebuild. In reality, where I should be fitting a bathroom (which I can’t do because the plastering isn’t finished) this week, instead I will be attempting to get the walls back to a decent finish.
What should i do now. He has offered to come and make amends, but i really don't want them back in the house. Should I pay them anything?
What should i do with the irregular finish on most of my walls? I have read in earlier posts that you shouldn't sandown plaster, but i haven't really got a choice.
Any advice - or indeed sympathetic words - would be greatly received!
cheers
Lee