Sub standard plastering of walls & poor quality skirting

[Vagabond123]

Hi,

I need some advice. I moved into a newly built block of flats in 2014. A year later and the communal areas, particularly the small entrance looks dreadful. The plaster and wood skirting do not appear to be able to sustain knocks without holes being dug out of the walls. The skirting looks like mere pieces of wood that are now mashed up on the corners. The corners of the walls have metal strips poking through where the paint has rubbed off and the walls cannot be wiped/washed. Two years in It is beginning to look like the entrance to a crack house. I understand that the redecorating cycle is 7 years! Goodness knows the state it will be in then.

Why is it looking so awful after such a short amount of time? Why in a purpose built block of flats can the communal walls and paintwork not be cleaned? Did the builder use sub standard material or not put on a final durable finish?

Comments grateful accepted.

 

[23vc]

Pictures might help, if plastered walls and skirting (which are normally pieces of wood as you say) get a battering it generally won't look great. Possible issue with not using a hard enough undercoat plaster but doubt most this is the builders fault?

 

[Nige F]

As above - MDF skirting ? Soft plaster backing. The metal corners are standard though. Finished in Trade Matt paint . If it wasn't the builder it must have been the architect/specifier.

 

[cjard]

. The plaster and wood skirting do not appear to be able to sustain knocks without holes being dug out of the walls.

Club together with other residents who feel the same way and have the walls tiled

The skirting looks like mere pieces of wood

Er.. How often have you encountered skirting that isn't?

Club together with other residents who feel the same way and fit some hardwood skirting

The corners of the walls have metal strips poking through where the paint has rubbed off and the walls cannot be wiped/washed.

Fix skirting to them to withstand the knocks

Why is it looking so awful after such a short amount of time? Why in a purpose built block of flats can the communal walls and paintwork not be cleaned? Did the builder use sub standard material or not put on a final durable finish?

Comments grateful accepted.

Because it has had a hundred people smashing sofas, TVs etc through it for 2 years? You'll have to ask the architect about the specified finish, but you may note that it is the same finish as used everywhere else, and as the number of sofas being smashed through a particular area reduces, so does the appearance improve, until you get to your flat and it looks fine.

remember , it was built to a price. Only self builds aren't

 

[^woody^]

More like poor quality residents than the work.