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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to complain to our plasterer for this work? *pics included*

47 replies

Olivia789 · 12/04/2021 20:47

Spent £600 getting our hall, stairs and landing replastered.
1 week in and there were many cracks, even he agreed they were not typical drying cracks and the plaster had actually blown (could hear it).
This weekend he returned and spent all day cutting out the blown bits, filling, taping and reskimming.
I am so unhappy, the overall finish initially was good except the cracks which appeared. Lovely smooth plaster. Now there's just imperfections everywhere. I am also worried that patches of the wall seem really shiny making me wonder if the paint will ever take?
Dh is a huge avoider of confrontation and thinks he should just give up his weekend and sand it all. I think we should complain again.
Any opinions please?

...to complain to our plasterer for this work? *pics included*
OP posts:
Original poster
Olivia789 · 12/04/2021 20:47

Another

...to complain to our plasterer for this work? *pics included*
OP posts:
FTEngineerM · 12/04/2021 20:50

I’d complain again, our house was plastered by absolute cowboys and it’s awful to decorate. It looks like they’ve cut the edge in with a spoon.

You could sand it but how much time and effort would that actually take you? Are you decorating or are you paying someone?

Marshasthorn · 12/04/2021 20:51

The workman needs to fix it until your happy with it or part refund you.

drpet49 · 12/04/2021 20:53

Awful finish. I wouldn’t be paying for that.

idontlikealdi · 12/04/2021 20:55

Awful. However £600 would be v v cheap here.

Faranth · 12/04/2021 20:55

DP and DF are both plasterers.

That's shocking. Complain.

Original poster
Olivia789 · 12/04/2021 20:56

Another. You get the idea

...to complain to our plasterer for this work? *pics included*
OP posts:
2bazookas · 12/04/2021 20:56

Call him back, tell him he has to do the job properly this time. Last chance.

Do NOT pay him until you're satidsfied with the work.

1Morewineplease · 12/04/2021 20:56

That's awful. Get them back in to make good.

Bagelsandbrie · 12/04/2021 20:57

Really awful. But I agree that £600 is cheap for all that. We paid £400 just for one bedroom. (Norfolk).

LesserBother · 12/04/2021 20:57

That's awful, and if it looks that bad in photos it will look even worse in real life. The plastering I've done all looks perfect in photos even if that's not quite the reality

howsoonisnow85 · 12/04/2021 20:58

DH is a plasterer, he says to complain!

Original poster
Olivia789 · 12/04/2021 20:59

We already paid him 😟 we had no reason not to as we were really happy with the job. Unfortunately the cracks appeared after and getting him back in to repair the bits which have blown has made things 10x worse.
It's difficult as he is also the partner of a friend (not a very close friend but still, again part of the reason why DH wants to stay quiet).
It wasn't boarded, they used bond paint on top of the old paint and skimmed. I feel the whole thing is a huge mess and I don't know what they need to do to fix it

OP posts:
Bettysnow · 12/04/2021 21:04

Family member is a plasterer an has said do not pay him until its done properly. He can hardly argue with the walls in that state

Skyliner001 · 12/04/2021 21:05

I would complain, but £600 is insanely cheap. So that would've set alarm bells anyway

Thelnebriati · 12/04/2021 21:05

I don't see any point in getting him back to fix it, but thats only one problem. I think your DH is going to be a problem as well if he's going to leave you to deal with it and then complain about how you handle it.
I think they should return and take it all off, and refund your money so you can get someone in who is actually a plasterer.

Laiste · 12/04/2021 21:08

It's difficult as he is also the partner of a friend

Oooooh.

Dh is a builder and we're building our own house at the mo. Had quite a lot of plastering done recently. That looks truly shite OP :( Sorry. He's done an awful job.

I wouldn't have him back in the house. I'd accept it as a loss and get a second opinion from another plasterer about what's best to do.

Original poster
Olivia789 · 12/04/2021 21:10

We are north of England and this was actually the most expensive quote we had. Our hall is as big as a postage stamp so really he has done a reskim of the stairs and landing. He didn't board it.
We used him once before and had no issues. Recommended him to friends who had no issues. He's one of the most well known and highly recommended in our town.
Just don't know what the f@#* has gone so wrong on this one, and how to fix without causing issues.

OP posts:
Justgorgeous · 12/04/2021 21:12

Agree with that being cheap. We paid £300 for a small bathroom ceiling.

NCkitchen · 12/04/2021 21:14

Eeeeek that is an awful job. But agree with others, 600 is vvv cheap for hall, stairs and landing

Was it "mates rates" and cash in hand that made it so cheap ? If so, I'd be inclined to sand and sort myself.

But if it wasn't mates rate/and was paid properly, I'd complain again and get them to fix

PembrokeshireDreaming · 12/04/2021 21:15

That is terrible but £600 for hall, stairs and landing is very cheap.......

Laiste · 12/04/2021 21:15

Right, well, if he really is a decent plasterer (and he values his good rep in the town) then he'll want to come back until it's done right.

It' not as if you're nit picking. They're big lumps and messy bits. It should be smooth as glass all over. It shouldn't need sanding. He needs to do what it takes to get it there and should be keen to do it.

Laiste · 12/04/2021 21:21

Prices do depend on where you are. We paid £750 recently for 10m x 4m room plus ceiling. Plaster over board (we do the boarding) Lovely job done.

We're v rural though.

AppleDolphin · 12/04/2021 21:21

I'd send him the pics you've posted here and just ask him to fix it. Message a shit sandwich.

You could start by saying how lovely the rest of the plastering is but this bit isn't right. Thanks again for the great job and when will he be able to come and to sort it.

Job done!

Original poster
Olivia789 · 12/04/2021 21:21

We paid cash and got no invoice so I assume mates rates for him, although we did may more than we could have if we had used others who quoted.
I think I will send him pics tomorrow and say now it's dried we've inspected it properly and don't know how we are meant to make this look good.
However I am sure he will say to just sand it 😖 never again will I use somebody I know!

OP posts:
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