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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Paint mess, decorator says to chill out

75 replies

JediNinja · 04/03/2023 19:04

NC as I disclosed town in a recent thread and my painters are a local business.

We have just installed a new kitchen and tiles, which we haven't used yet. The team doing the kitchen were super careful with everything and covered every surface with big mats and towels. They have finished and decorators came in to paint the walls and the ceiling. They are using small brushes because they said that the gaps are not big enough for rollers, although there is a big wall without cupboards or anything. They have been three days and every time I come in from worm and check I'm getting anxious about all the drips and small splashes everywhere. I raised up with them and they were quite laid back saying it's water paint based and it will come off easily. But it's still there. They are finishing on Monday and said not to worry, that they will clean then whole thing before handing it over. Yet I have just now been ten minutes on a tile trying to get the paint off just with warm water, soap and an sponge and it doesn't lift easily. I imagine they will have to use some strong product or a scraper, and it's making me feel annoyed and worried that the new floor will end up with scratches or without some protective layer if using chemicals, which might make them stain easily. Floor is cream coloured with patterns, paint is water-based washable kitchen paint. I'm actually losing sleep over this, literally, worried about having to spend hours checking and cleaning bits left behind or that by the time they hand over my new floor won't look like when the kitchen company finished. Maybe I have been spoilt with the other team as they were so incredibly tidy and careful. Maybe the painters are right in saying not to worry and let them clean it. DH says that if I'm that bothered we can tell them to stop and we finish it ourselves, as we cannot be much messier anyway.

YABU - chill and let them finish, it is indeed easy to clean and that's standard

YANBU - I would stop them, it's a pain to clean.

OP posts:
JediNinja · 04/03/2023 19:05

*from work, not worm 🙄

OP posts:
DingDongDenny · 04/03/2023 19:07

I have done all the painting in our house and one of the most time consuming bits is making sure everything is covered properly and masking tiles etc. They sound like total cowboys

Lonelycrab · 04/03/2023 19:08

Not good tbh. As a painter you really shouldn’t be getting paint anywhere that it’s not supposed to be. Drips are a bad sign too. Could you post pics?

Travis1 · 04/03/2023 19:08

Have you paid them in full? I’d make it clear I wasn’t paying until 100% happy

FlappyValley · 04/03/2023 19:08

Tell them your concerns and ask them exactly how they intend to clean it without damaging your floor. Don’t be too nice - they’re probably relying on you being too polite to hold them to account.

FlappyValley · 04/03/2023 19:09

Have you paid them in full? I’d make it clear I wasn’t paying until 100% happy

And yes, this!

ZeroFuchsGiven · 04/03/2023 19:10

hmm, that sounds worrying tbh, i had my kitchen done last year, white marble worktop, light grey floor and red walls! I was terrified of them getting the red on my worktops and floor, they covered everything, not one drip or splash anywhere.

Frabbits · 04/03/2023 19:10

I would expect professional decorators to cover literally every surface they aren't painting. Paint splashes and unless you wipe it up immediately can be difficult to clean off.

Also: 3 days to do a kitchen? I could do my entire house in that.

They sound like utter chancers.

Theunamedcat · 04/03/2023 19:13

I hope your not paying them by the hour

Zola1 · 04/03/2023 19:13

3 days is wild, my partner could do our kitchen in a morning. It sounds like they're dodgy with the drips etc

MucozadeOnLucozade · 04/03/2023 19:17

Are the decorators employed by guys who did kitchen?

We had a dreadful decorator, millions of paint splashes everywhere, all over the new carpet. We asked him to leave and not return.

TreadLight · 04/03/2023 19:18

Painting is one of those jobs that everyone thinks they can do, but there is a massive difference between an amateur and a professional. The pro probably spend more time on prep and filling than the amateur does to do the whole job.

And you can see the difference. The pro job just looks better.

LadyB49 · 04/03/2023 19:23

A single guy painted a wall in each of our 9 rooms plus hall and landing. 2 coats all in two days. No drips or splashes. £180.
Don't pay until satisfied. Any damage make a deduction, or better, they fix any damage....which may not be possible if there are scratches.

mrsfennel · 04/03/2023 19:23

I do all my painting myself as im fussy and incredibly detail oriented, as others have said the prep before takes a long time.

Once ive covered everything and taped off any bits I know the actual painting is quicker.

Somanysocks · 04/03/2023 19:31

It pees me off the people here that go on about 'ooh, we would have done your kitchen in 2 hours!!!'. The time is irrelevant here.

What is relevant is the fact that they haven't sheeted up before painting (it's my trade).

taxguru · 04/03/2023 19:34

TreadLight · 04/03/2023 19:18

Painting is one of those jobs that everyone thinks they can do, but there is a massive difference between an amateur and a professional. The pro probably spend more time on prep and filling than the amateur does to do the whole job.

And you can see the difference. The pro job just looks better.

Not at all.

We've used several so-called professional decorators (who claim to be qualified) and we've done it ourselves at various points over the past 25 years. We can definitely do a better job ourselves, as we are careful and spend more time. "Professionals" we've used to be too quick and don't have the attention to detail.

When we bought our house, we did everything ourselves, all the rooms, stairs & landing, etc., and were very pleased with the result, despite it being our first time. After several years and rooms needed doing again due to wear & tear, changing tastes, etc., we got a few different decorators in over the years and never happy with them, either due to them being messy, or seeing the joins on wallpaper, brush marks or drips on painted surfaces, or just paint splashes/drops everywhere when they've not put down cover cloths or not used masking tape, etc. We've just gone through the whole house again over the past few years, doing it all ourselves, and the finish/neatness is a lot better.

I think the "pros" try to do things too quickly - I'd rather that they charged more and took their time, but whenever we'd suggested it, they seemed to take it as an insult and assure us that their finish would be excellent (but it never is). They rush through what they're doing and then beggar off mid afternoon or even lunchtime (but still charge a full day), when they could have just slowed down a bit, got the detail better, and still have done what they were doing within the working day!

Emptycrackedcup · 04/03/2023 19:47

Travis1 · 04/03/2023 19:08

Have you paid them in full? I’d make it clear I wasn’t paying until 100% happy

This. I'd tell them now too to prevent anymore. Then chill and let them finish. But make sure you are totally satisfied before making payment

JediNinja · 04/03/2023 19:51

I'll try and see if I can take any pics that are not too identifiable.

The issue was that we assumed the painting was included. But apparently the painting that was included was just to touch up and cover the plaster. We asked them to find someone to do the decorating. Local team came up. They were busy and doing other jobs, so they are fitting us in here and there. So that's why it's taking forever. We are having them a couple of hours or less each day. The did the primer, left. The did the first layer of paint, left. They did the second layer, left. Now they are coming to take their stuff, touch up and clean. Probably that's why they have been rushing. Not sure if they are doing a favour to kitchen team, we haven't been given an invoice but kitchen people is either covering the cost or getting it as a favour from them. There were some issues and that's their way to make it up to us.

As I see it, my options are to ask them on Monday to take their stuff and clean, finishing ourselves the last bits. Or just wait for them to finish, it's probably just another couple of hours anyway, and make sure they clean every bit... But what if cleaning means scratching it or using harsh chemicals? That's my worry. :-/

OP posts:
JediNinja · 04/03/2023 19:56

FlappyValley · 04/03/2023 19:08

Tell them your concerns and ask them exactly how they intend to clean it without damaging your floor. Don’t be too nice - they’re probably relying on you being too polite to hold them to account.

I avoid conflict and struggle to make myself hear. I had two modes with this project: "it's ok, do what you can, as long as it gets done" or "are you sure this will work? I'm feeling a bit anxious about it, are you absolutely sure? Ok, I guess you know, it's your job after all".

OP posts:
Londontown12 · 04/03/2023 19:56

I think if there splashing and dripping paint ! They’re very careless I would not want them cleaning new floor it’s not worth it ! I had painters in and they covered everything before starting (do not let them clean do it yourself) xxx

JediNinja · 04/03/2023 19:59

MucozadeOnLucozade · 04/03/2023 19:17

Are the decorators employed by guys who did kitchen?

We had a dreadful decorator, millions of paint splashes everywhere, all over the new carpet. We asked him to leave and not return.

Potentially the same people? 😅
Might have to go the same route and ask them to pack up and clean. Or did you just tell them to leave and you sorted it?

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 04/03/2023 20:00

My decorator does have amazing wipes that he uses for any inadvertent splashes but does cover up. Perhaps they use those. I agree - wait to the end and see what they do. If not happy then complain and withhold payment until sorted

MelchiorsMistress · 04/03/2023 20:04

If you don’t wait for them to finish you won’t be able to complain if they leave it badly done. Ime it’s not standard for them to leave a mess, they leave everything as nice as they can at the end of each day. Last time I had a professional decorator in I was genuinely amazed at how few paint splashes he made compared to when we’ve done it ourselves. He said that’s as the whole point of having a professional in, and I agree!

Was126orbustandmaybebust · 04/03/2023 20:06

LadyB49 · 04/03/2023 19:23

A single guy painted a wall in each of our 9 rooms plus hall and landing. 2 coats all in two days. No drips or splashes. £180.
Don't pay until satisfied. Any damage make a deduction, or better, they fix any damage....which may not be possible if there are scratches.

Wow@LadyB49 where are you and can I have his number?
we were quote £7500 to do our hallways from front door to the top floor!
In the end we did it ourselves but at those rates and speeds I would rather pay!

2bazookas · 04/03/2023 20:25

Do NOT pay the painters one penny until they have cleaned off every tiny spot of paint. With no damage.

If they complain, tell them to chill out.