Painters! Please settle an argument.

A guy who advertises himself locally as an expert cleaner, painter, handyman etc came round at my request to do some cleaning for me. I told him his task: sugar-soaping all the floor-to-ceiling painted tongue and groove cladding in my kitchen, in preparation for it being repainted.

He said it does not need doing: I should simply paint onto the cladding. He said there was an area around and above the cooker that needed a quick wipe but the rest of the room is fine.

I said the walls have not had a proper wash down in nearly 20 years (since it was last painted), and what with all the deep fat frying, steaming, plus two decades of general dust and grime, it should definitely be washed prior to painting.

He thinks he knows best because he's been a painter/cleaner,handyman/janitor etc for XX years and what do I know as I am just a lady home owner.

So, who's right?

LadyHomeLover, good evening.

You most assuredly are correct in what you have requested.

As you make clear, if the surfaces, especially painted wood has not been thoroughly washed down in some time them I am sorry but prior to re-decoration it is a requirement.

Suggest you have a further search for shall I call it a more reputable, understanding firm.

Ken

KenGMac said:

You most assuredly are correct in what you have requested.

Ken

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PHEW thanks Ken, for reassuring me that I am not being over-fussy.

I've booked a lady cleaner to do the work for 4 hrs tomorrow. Then it'll have a day to dry before (another) painter comes on Monday to do the actual painting.

LadyHomeLover, good evening again.

No matter what is to be re-decorated the surface has to be as clear and clean as possible, any Kitchen will by its nature attract detritus, no matter how small that can and will affect the final finish . Kitchens are especially vulnerable to such problems.

if you consider things why are so called "Deep Cleans" needed in Commercial establishments on a fairly frequent basis?

The lady is doing the job right now, and has told me the walls are indeed greasy.

That guy is a total "thinks he knows-it-all" tosser, and I will never employ him again.