Hello --- I'm wondereing if anyone out there can help. I've hired a builder to redecorate my front room, and although he seems really nice, and appears to know what he's talking about, every thing he's worked on so far seems dodgy.
First - he removed the chipboard from my walls and put up lining paper. The only problem is he didn't sand down the plaster, so the paper is all lumpy. When I asked about this he said not to worry: he'd sand THROUGH the paper to create a smooth finish (!!). Is this possible?
Second - the plaster on one wall cracked and bulged a little (e.g. when he took out the old fireplace) so he said that one would need replastering. I let him go ahead... but the result is unbelievably messy. He has plastered right ONTO the dado rail, so it isn't on top of the plaster, but is somehow integrated - but not even smoothly. He's also plastered ONTO the lining paper on the adjacent walls, and ONTO the light sockets. Finally, he's not covered the whole wall, so there are gaps and holes. There is also a sort of mesh sticking through in places. Surely this can't be right?
Finally - he was originally meant to sand and refinish the floor. We talked about the importance of using a stain rather than a tinted varnish etc, and that was all agreed --- but now he's talking again about using the tinted varnish. I have this in other parts of the house and know that it flakes off leaving nasty white patches. Can anyone recommend a good stain which is avaliable in the UK?
I'm new to the whole DIY thing (which is why I hired help...) so any suggestions would be really useful.
thanks!
First - he removed the chipboard from my walls and put up lining paper. The only problem is he didn't sand down the plaster, so the paper is all lumpy. When I asked about this he said not to worry: he'd sand THROUGH the paper to create a smooth finish (!!). Is this possible?
Second - the plaster on one wall cracked and bulged a little (e.g. when he took out the old fireplace) so he said that one would need replastering. I let him go ahead... but the result is unbelievably messy. He has plastered right ONTO the dado rail, so it isn't on top of the plaster, but is somehow integrated - but not even smoothly. He's also plastered ONTO the lining paper on the adjacent walls, and ONTO the light sockets. Finally, he's not covered the whole wall, so there are gaps and holes. There is also a sort of mesh sticking through in places. Surely this can't be right?
Finally - he was originally meant to sand and refinish the floor. We talked about the importance of using a stain rather than a tinted varnish etc, and that was all agreed --- but now he's talking again about using the tinted varnish. I have this in other parts of the house and know that it flakes off leaving nasty white patches. Can anyone recommend a good stain which is avaliable in the UK?
I'm new to the whole DIY thing (which is why I hired help...) so any suggestions would be really useful.
thanks!
