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Original poster

Decorator stinks of booze.

158 replies

HelpMeOhMyWhat · 07/08/2023 10:29

Put an advert up on Facebook as I needed a bedroom painting.

For content I'm on disability benefits so cannot do it myself and cannot afford the kind of decorator that you book through a website.

A guy messaged me on fb and showed me photos of his work, with him in photos so I knew it was him, he seemed nice and the photos were of a good standard work.

Because of my anxiety I asked a friend to be here so I didn't have to deal with a stranger.

She let him in showed him to the room etc.
I put him a brew on.

She got a call saying her kid needed picking up from school so she had to leave.

I took his brew up for him and he absolutely reeks of alcohol.

Reeks. My friend has zero sense of smell but I have no idea how she didn't clock it.

He came and knocked on the living room to to ask something and a few mins later the smell was still in the room.

He seems nice enough but I'm sat down here with my kids and my anxiety is through the roof.

I'm worried that it's gonna be a shit show and I'll be too scared to say anything.

Friend can't come back as her kid is vomitting and I don't have anyone else to call.

Please don't say I'm stupid. I've had lots of people do jobs off Facebook and this is the first time I've had an issue.

OP posts:
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Original poster
HelpMeOhMyWhat · 07/08/2023 12:40

Ihavekids · 07/08/2023 12:37

I really don't think getting a random off Facebook into your house to do work is a good idea for you. It's stressful having strangers in the house even if you're totally mentally well.

Painting a room isn't difficult, it's deeply satisfying and would probably do you the world of good. You'd be excited and proud rather than understandably stressed.

Absolutely you can do this yourself! Tell him not to come back and finish it off yourself.

I'm disabled. I cannot do it myself.

OP posts:
fivelilducks · 07/08/2023 12:40

Ihavekids · 07/08/2023 12:37

I really don't think getting a random off Facebook into your house to do work is a good idea for you. It's stressful having strangers in the house even if you're totally mentally well.

Painting a room isn't difficult, it's deeply satisfying and would probably do you the world of good. You'd be excited and proud rather than understandably stressed.

Absolutely you can do this yourself! Tell him not to come back and finish it off yourself.

You don't even know in which way she's disabled, how can you say she can do it herself when she's said a gazillion times she can't due to her disability

Aquamarine1029 · 07/08/2023 12:40

FridaRose · 07/08/2023 11:39

'There are many functioning alcoholics in the world whose addictions do not affect their work.'

Ok would you let a nursery worker look after your kid if they were a 'functioning alcoholic?'
@DuplicateUserName

Do you always compare apples to oranges? How ridiculous.

Original poster
HelpMeOhMyWhat · 07/08/2023 12:41

Thanks for all the advice. Am hiding this thread. I won't be coming back.
I don't need to prove my disability to people on the Internet.

OP posts:
belei1922 · 07/08/2023 12:42

HelpMeOhMyWhat · 07/08/2023 12:26

It's a fucking mess.

He's only done the woodwork and my 6 year old could have done it neater 😭

Can you put a photo up op . Also don't live in wales do you 😂I know someone who is drunk going to work and he's a decorator. He drinks on the job

GasPanic · 07/08/2023 12:45

Plump82 · 07/08/2023 12:38

I think he knows how bad it is and wouldnt be back after 40 mins. The cat is just a handy excuse.

Either that or he's gone home to fuel up.

I find it hard to believe it is that bad. Painting isn't rocket science. Normally you start with the ceilings, then the walls and finish on the gloss. I can never get the matt walls perfect when you look at them from an angle, but otherwise my jobs are ok.

A couple of quids worth of masking tape helps keep the line straight and speeds up the process, so if they aren't using that it's normally a pretty bad sign.

How much is it costing ?

AMuser · 07/08/2023 12:45

Has he used tape and so on - sand & filled - or did he just crack on and start slapping gloss on the skirtings?? 😩

Sorry OP - I don’t think you deserve all the grief you’re getting.

You’ve made it abundantly clear that you are disabled and can’t do it yourself. Unsure why so many people are telling you to do so and that it would do you the world of good. Patronising or what!

I am able bodied and don’t do my own decorating if I can help it. I also work in the building trade and am NT and quite forthright and still find it a bit vulnerable to deal with tradespeople if they are being crap or stink of booze. Or just stink of fags / BO. (Had that with two different handymen’s recently gross).

People react so oddly on here sometimes. It’s bizarre. Hope you’re ok.

Wendysfriend · 07/08/2023 12:56

Aww sorry it's turned out badly. I would definitely message him and tell him not to come back.

I am actually quite shocked that a poster is telling you to do it yourself when you're clearly disabled. Sometimes people really need to think before they post. Then read what they're posting a few times before hitting that submit button.

Whataretheodds · 07/08/2023 12:57

HelpMeOhMyWhat · 07/08/2023 12:33

He said he needs to go home for 40 minutes to find his cat?? Wtf.

I'm going to text him when he goes and ask him not to come back.

OK so that's a blessing. He's done the hard bit for you by leaving so you don't have to ask him to.

Was ge recommended to you by someone you know in real life?

Farahpascalmoges · 07/08/2023 13:03

I just had a guy in to do our bathroom - a very tricky job in a very old house.
I got his company from asking on Facenook for recommendations. The first morning he came, he smelled of booze when he came and my heart sank, but he worked very hard and did a fantastic job. Where I am, unfortunately, heavy drinking some evenings amongst English tradesmen is the culture. I hope it goes ok for you.

Ihavekids · 07/08/2023 13:12

Wendysfriend · 07/08/2023 12:56

Aww sorry it's turned out badly. I would definitely message him and tell him not to come back.

I am actually quite shocked that a poster is telling you to do it yourself when you're clearly disabled. Sometimes people really need to think before they post. Then read what they're posting a few times before hitting that submit button.

Assume you're referring to me?
The op initially said she was on disability benefits, not that she was physically disabled. The 2nd reference to physical disability was cross posted, so I didn't see it til after I posted.

Sorry for any offence caused op. Obviously you can't paint a room if you physically can't paint a room.

Can you offer a friend a bottle of wine to help out or something? I definitely wouldn't invite strangers into my home if I was suffering with mental health difficulties.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

GenerallyGreenerGrass · 07/08/2023 13:17

Hi, re painting on the walls when doing the gloss.
I recently had my whole house painted by professionals and that is exactly what they did….
the emulsion covers the gloss fine.
I know what you mean though, as the day I got back home after they’d just done the gloss, I was a bit shocked but apparently that’s the way it’s done.
So, if you read this, I wouldn’t be stopping him coming back….it’s fine.

GreyCarpet · 07/08/2023 13:23

OP says she won't be back but I always overpaint the gloss - maybe not by 3 inches but without photos... and, I mean, you'd need a pretty wide brush to overpaint by that much. It's not really possible to do without deliberately painting the wall.

The emulsion covers the gloss no problem and it's easier to be neater with the emulsion. That's why you gloss first.

Stressedafff · 07/08/2023 13:25

GreyCarpet · 07/08/2023 13:23

OP says she won't be back but I always overpaint the gloss - maybe not by 3 inches but without photos... and, I mean, you'd need a pretty wide brush to overpaint by that much. It's not really possible to do without deliberately painting the wall.

The emulsion covers the gloss no problem and it's easier to be neater with the emulsion. That's why you gloss first.

I always do this too. And I’ve never had any issues either. Goes on perfectly fine!

TheHappyCarrot · 07/08/2023 13:30

Weird order you are supposed to do the ceiling first, then the walls and the woodwork last.

BeverleyMacker · 07/08/2023 13:39

That's awful. I wouldn't let him come back in :(

Narjilla · 07/08/2023 13:46

I think op had worked herself up with anxiety before even seeing him then picked on the drink thing which her friend allegedly couldn't smell, then she disappears after saying she'll upload a pic. This thread was a waste of time.

Growlybear83 · 07/08/2023 13:52

Why do you automatically think he's an alcoholic? He might have just been on a night out with his friends last night. I'd judge him on the quality of his work, not how he smells! Presumably the photos he sent you of his other work showed a good standard?

youknowitIknowit · 07/08/2023 13:53

Imagine going onto a thread where someone has said they are ND, physically disabled and doesn't have a huge amount of money and being an absolute cunt to them for doing their best.

Rogue1001MNer · 07/08/2023 14:22

youknowitIknowit · 07/08/2023 13:53

Imagine going onto a thread where someone has said they are ND, physically disabled and doesn't have a huge amount of money and being an absolute cunt to them for doing their best.

Couldn't agree more.

Some posters on here are beyond awful

BeverleyMacker · 07/08/2023 15:31

Rogue1001MNer · 07/08/2023 14:22

Couldn't agree more.

Some posters on here are beyond awful

Show quote history

That's Mumsnet for ya. Packs of wolves on here sometimes 🤦‍♀️😡

TimeToMoveIt · 07/08/2023 15:44

youknowitIknowit · 07/08/2023 13:53

Imagine going onto a thread where someone has said they are ND, physically disabled and doesn't have a huge amount of money and being an absolute cunt to them for doing their best.

Exactly. Op says in the first post she's on disability benefits and can't do it herself, that should be enough . No one has to go into detail about their disability, bloody idiots on here

SpeckledlyHen · 07/08/2023 16:07

youknowitIknowit · 07/08/2023 13:53

Imagine going onto a thread where someone has said they are ND, physically disabled and doesn't have a huge amount of money and being an absolute cunt to them for doing their best.

I think the poster who suggested the OP do it themselves then apologised as it was a crossed post. It seems with this post no suggestion that anyone gave was going to be the right one sadly. I should imagine even if it were a "professional" company there would have been something wrong for the OP due to her extreme anxiety.

GEC44 · 07/08/2023 16:09

I'd be worried that he's drink driving.

WeAreTheHeroes · 07/08/2023 16:17

SpeckledlyHen · 07/08/2023 16:07

I think the poster who suggested the OP do it themselves then apologised as it was a crossed post. It seems with this post no suggestion that anyone gave was going to be the right one sadly. I should imagine even if it were a "professional" company there would have been something wrong for the OP due to her extreme anxiety.

Show quote history

You rather patronisingly told someone with anxiety to, "calm down dear", then proceeded to say the OP had been rude to you when she'd been nothing of the sort.