Cracks in Plasterboard

[lanceberry]

Hi all,
I live in a 1930's mid terraced house , I am getting a builder to skim the house 3 bedrooms , passageway celing and the landing , however I've got cracks on the roof is there a way to repair it , as the builder said he can join the cracks and tape it up would this work ?

As I can't afford to get a new plasterboards on all the rooms , he is quoting £2000 for the rooms to be skimmed and he is due to start on christmas eve and work should go on for a month ,

Is it recommended to get work done at this time of the year when it gets dark at 4 or wait till the days are longer ?

 

[Nige F]

He`s a plastering builder - I`d get him to give a price for each room / area ( must add up to 2 grand) and tell him you want one done @ a time then will pay for each - or is he a building plasterer . or just a dodgy geezer from dahn the Old Kent Rahd A month for 3 bedrooms and 2 other areas , c.£400 per room / area , suppose it`s abaht right for The Smoke

 

[lanceberry]

He said £250 per room , but he said he can do all the rooms for 2 grand , he isn't a dodgy builder haha , he is a recommended builder/handyman/decorator , I live in west london about 10 minutes from London Heathrow , but is there a chance that the cracks will re-appear ?

 

[joe-90]

Why is he starting Christmas eve? He should be taking nowhere near a month for that FFS! Get him to do one room first - he may well be a bodge artist. Overpriced too. If he's charging £250 per room for three rooms and the hallway - that's a grand - not Two grand.

 

[lanceberry]

He doesn't celebrate christmas , he is definately not a dodge builder , I just asked my mom it#s £400 per room , it's £250 to paint the room so my bad

3 bedrooms , landing , passage way and a front reception room

 

[1john]

Unless you get 3 to 5 quotes and check references and see examples of work your wasting your time.

 

[joe-90]

Doesn't celebrate Christmas? Say no more.

£400 per room is well over-priced for a skim and paint.

What's he doing for a month? It's not even a two week job.

Is the house empty? If so I would do the job in around 7 to 8 days and charge around £1200.

I bet he's an Easyfill plasterer.

 

[stevethespreader]

He doesn't celebrate christmas , he is definately not a dodge builder , I just asked my mom it#s £400 per room , it's £250 to paint the room so my bad

3 bedrooms , landing , passage way and a front reception room

so what are you saying its £400 for a skim and its £250 for paint? and it all totals £2000? also where is this crack you are on about in the roof? if its the ceiling in a room its best to sure it up first, also for a handyman come builder/painter that price is crazy go and get a quote from a proper spread

 

[noseall]

He doesn't celebrate christmas

No, but everyone else does.

Builders merchants for instance will be closed.

 

[joe-90]

And even if the house is empty his new neighbours won't want people clonking around over the Christmas break.

He should be using good British trades - not only will he get a top job - it'll cost him less and they'll guarantee their work.

 

[lanceberry]

Apologies for the late reply , the 2000 doesn't include painting it just includes skimming walls and ceiling

3 Bedrooms , landing , staircase walls and ceiling , front reception room and passageway , the cracks is on the ceiling pretty large but he can join them is there any chance of them coming back ?

For the painting after the skimming i understand you need to do a miscoat followed by two coats is that true ?

Is a mistcoat necessary ?

He has is own way of getting building materials also how long do you have to wait till you paint the walls ?

 

[lanceberry]

Apologies for the late reply , the 2000 doesn't include painting it just includes skimming walls and ceiling

3 Bedrooms , landing , staircase walls and ceiling , front reception room and passageway , the cracks is on the ceiling pretty large but he can join them is there any chance of them coming back ?

For the painting after the skimming i understand you need to do a miscoat followed by two coats is that true ?

Is a mistcoat necessary ?

He has is own way of getting building materials also how long do you have to wait till you paint the walls ?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

1930's property, is it 1930's plaster? if so forget over skim, the cracks will return or others appear. I would not spend 2K on a hash up!
As far as cost what size are the rooms, walls and ceiling heights.

 

[stevethespreader]

can you upload some pics of the job ? it will give us a better view of your situation and also we will be able to get a better view of how much the job is worth

 

[calorific]

Op, how many quotes have you had? Have you seen any of this fella's work? Seriously, West London, you'll be able to get a load more quotes pretty quickly.

As an example, we had a quote (Chiswick) to overboard a 12' by 9' ceiling and skim for £1500 and he didn't even come to see the job. Another bloke came round and patched it perfectly (no signs of any crack over the last year and it's a work of a pro) for less than £150.

You've gotta look around!!