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AIBU?

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Original poster

Decorators - help ....

39 replies

Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 17:54

Hi, please help as this is making me anxious.

I am having the outside of my house painted and they are making a right mess.

Splatters all over the path and wall - is this usual? Will they clean up afterwards?!

They were supposed to come this morning and turned up at 4:30 this afternoon and I have just got in from work and they have their bloody radio on outside the lounge window, are using our garage to store all their stuff (they haven’t asked if this is ok and I can’t get to our bikes or the bloody tumble dryer) and are using the kitchen to make tea, which is fine but I actually want to cook tea.

Anyone else hate having workmen in?! 😓

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 13/04/2021 17:55

Nol when I had the outside of mine down they used dust sheets, and turned up by about 7,30 each morning, there was no mess.

silentlight · 13/04/2021 17:57

Mess is not normal, should be masking and covering windows and doors and dust sheets on the ground

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 17:57

They have dust sheets but there is paint all over my path which is tarmaced 😰

OP posts:
Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 17:58

And on a brick wall, I guess unless they clean it I don’t pay them.

OP posts:
DeeplyMovingExperience · 13/04/2021 18:00

I would point it out to them right now this minute. Tell them you don't expect to see paint anywhere except where it's meant to be. That gives them the heads-up that they'll need to clean it properly and take a bit more care.

I'm assuming their proper professional painters or are they just a bunch of chancers?

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:02

They were recommended by our window cleaner and have good reviews on check a trade..

OP posts:
PyjamaFan · 13/04/2021 18:04

That doesn't sound right to.me at all. They shouldn't be making a mess or using your garage or kitchen without checking it's OK with you first.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:06

I said I was fine with them using the kitchen but helping themselves to my garage without asking was just cheeky and they unplugged the freezer out there to use the plug socket!!

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 13/04/2021 18:08

Speak to them about the mess, paint is not easy to remove when it dries.

coldnwindy · 13/04/2021 18:09

@Besswess88

I said I was fine with them using the kitchen but helping themselves to my garage without asking was just cheeky and they unplugged the freezer out there to use the plug socket!!
That's not on at all!
sbhydrogen · 13/04/2021 18:10

They sound like utter cowboys. Tell them to fix it immediately - they shouldn't be doing any of those things!

DustCentral · 13/04/2021 18:13

Nothing you’ve described is acceptable. Not the mess, unplugging your freezer, helping themselves to stuff, turning up late. Nope. Not a chance.
I’m having major work done at moment abd not one professional trades person has acted this way.

PyjamaFan · 13/04/2021 18:13

They unplugged the freezer?

Get rid. They are clearly not capable.

FeelinHappy · 13/04/2021 18:16

Unplugging the freezer isn't normal, is it?

They didn't start today did they? When we had ours done they spent well over a day on prep before they even got the rollers out.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:19

No he started on April 1st and seeme to be doing it between other jobs 🙈🙈🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:20

*seems

Leant all their stuff up against our brand new garden gates which were stored safely in the fucking garage.

Am worried the 13 great check a trade reviews he has are made up 🙈🙈

OP posts:
Garlia · 13/04/2021 18:25

They sound awful OP!

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:27

They turned up at 8am on Good Friday (I wasn’t working) and wanted access to the kitchen.

In the end I put the kettle in the garage as I was here alone (OH works away) as I didn’t want them in the house while I was asleep in bed.

OP posts:
Rumplestrumpet · 13/04/2021 18:27

Yes sadly most reviews online these days are completely fabricated.

Looks like they're taking the utter piss. Time to put your big girl pants on and be clear with them that it's really not ok.

I know it's awkward, I hate this kind of confrontation. But don't let them carry on like this

TheHateIsNotGood · 13/04/2021 18:28

I think we need pictures really to assess the situation - eg: access, paint mixing area, incline, etc - ie: you can't safely paint the front of your house in my road without scaffolding, yet many owners would rather pay cheap for people to work in unsafe conditions and get a bad job for it. I pay cheap for scaffolding and do it myself. And it's a good job that has lasted well too.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:31

I was an utter chicken and got OH to deal with it over text Grin asked him when he is finishing and then asked when he will be sorting out the mess.

OP posts:
MadKittenWoman · 13/04/2021 18:38

This is why I loathe builders (sorry).

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/04/2021 18:38

It’s so bloody intrusive isn’t it?

OP posts:
CallMeCleo · 13/04/2021 18:43

You must get control immediately. Don't just "have a word" with a rndom workman. Go and ask who is the boss, who is the man with whom you have the contract. Ask for his number, ring him and book a meeing with him immediately. Be firm and insistent and don't be fobbed off.

Now, you SHOULD by law have a written schedule of works and on it he should have mentioned leaving the site clean. Point to this and tell him they are making a total mess as they are working without dust sheets.

Also hand him a WRITTEN list of things you are not happy with. Tell him that all these things MUST be addressed immediately. You also want the paint cleaned off the pavement in HIS time, not yours. You don't have to pay them to clean up their own mess.

TheHateIsNotGood · 13/04/2021 18:45

Is there any reason why you are too scared to be in your own home when some people come to paint your house? What would you do if you didn't have an OH and lived completely alone as most people do eventually - never have your house painted?

They might be bad at painting (or not) but to be so fearful of painters is a bit silly, although your desire to stay in bed sleeping on a Good Friday when some painters come at 8am is a bit sillier.

There is Easter Sunday for a good sleep too. Maybe you think your time is more worthwhile than theirs, even when you're asleep.