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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - Painter has painted onto glass of windows?

251 replies

Sunandsea13 · 11/03/2025 22:19

Hi all, we had the kitchen painted and the painter has painted the wooden windows too. They are 2 windows separated into 4 panes/8 in total. In all of them there is white paint onto the glass, not even straight just sloppy at the sides/uneven. It’s about 1-2 cm. The invoice is £480.

The wallpaper is also not a complete match in places, but I can live with that.

YAIBU - remove yourself with a glass scraper

YANBU - ask the painter to fix himself

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
fruitbrewhaha · 11/03/2025 22:21

I’d be very disappointed about the wallpaper too. He needs to get back to scrape the widows, the longer it dries the harder it will be.

Cosyblankets · 11/03/2025 22:22

Tell him you'll pay when the job is completed to a decent standard

sesquipedalian · 11/03/2025 22:30

I never cease to be shocked by the shortcomings of so-called professionals. I was particularly put out when painters painted both the side bit and sash cord of my sash windows, I really would have thought they would have known better, but clearly not! (I would also be less than impressed by wallpaper that wasn’t matched properly.)

Trumptonagain · 11/03/2025 22:46

They've invoiced you the total amount for works undertaken.

You need to tell them that you'll pay in full when they've completed the work in a professional way....no more monies added to the invoice for doing so either.

Was there any mention during the initial chat about what you wanted painting and not painting?

If they are a professional decorator I'd certainly expect the wallpaper to match/line up so that would also be something I'd mention that I'm not happy with, but you need to do so with them in the room while you're pointing it out and they can see it or they'll just make up excuses as to why they couldn't match it correctly.

Don't settle for it no excuse will be good enough to cover their shoddy workmanship.

OverTheRaincloud · 11/03/2025 22:50

Trumptonagain · 11/03/2025 22:46

They've invoiced you the total amount for works undertaken.

You need to tell them that you'll pay in full when they've completed the work in a professional way....no more monies added to the invoice for doing so either.

Was there any mention during the initial chat about what you wanted painting and not painting?

If they are a professional decorator I'd certainly expect the wallpaper to match/line up so that would also be something I'd mention that I'm not happy with, but you need to do so with them in the room while you're pointing it out and they can see it or they'll just make up excuses as to why they couldn't match it correctly.

Don't settle for it no excuse will be good enough to cover their shoddy workmanship.

Are you suggesting that OP should have specifically mentioned not to paint the window panes?

Whatever next? Asking the decorator not to paint the carpet or the lightbulbs?

HundredPercentUnsure · 11/03/2025 22:52

OverTheRaincloud · 11/03/2025 22:50

Are you suggesting that OP should have specifically mentioned not to paint the window panes?

Whatever next? Asking the decorator not to paint the carpet or the lightbulbs?

Show quote history

& don't wallpaper over the doorway or the windows 😂

Original poster
Sunandsea13 · 11/03/2025 22:55

Thanks everyone! Have attached some photos…

AIBU - Painter has painted onto glass of windows?
AIBU - Painter has painted onto glass of windows?
OP posts:
OwlChops · 11/03/2025 23:08

Are you literally joking with those photos?

Speechless

Notthisagainyouidiot · 11/03/2025 23:09

Shoddy work. I'd be furious 😠.

Gawdimold · 11/03/2025 23:09

I wouldn’t be paying for that

4Tornot4T · 11/03/2025 23:09

That's shoddy work. The wallpaper isn't even cut in a straight line or pasted down properly. And the pattern should be matched up. They also need to sort out the paint on the window. Don't pay till it's put right OP and you're happy with it. I love your wallpaper! Beautiful colours.

Dazzlemered · 11/03/2025 23:09

What the actual fuck.

I really thought this was going to be a trade man bashing post and you were being over dramatic. I was wrong. I wouldn’t be paying that invoice! That wallpaper is shocking. The paint is easily fixed but it should be done by the painter.

PrincessofWells · 11/03/2025 23:11

Cosyblankets · 11/03/2025 22:22

Tell him you'll pay when the job is completed to a decent standard

Yes, this nails it . . .

Honeyroar · 11/03/2025 23:12

That’s terrible! They’re so useless I wouldn’t even trust them to scrape the paint off. They’d probably end up smashing the window!

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 11/03/2025 23:13

Shockingly bad...

I'd have done better when I was learning from my mum at 13!!

I'd be asking them to remove the paint and redo the wallpaper at no extra cost....

If they won't do it... Don't pay or pay a massively reduced amount...

I'd be annoyed at the extra hassle too... Why should you have to ask.. They should have done this right first time!!

PrincessofWells · 11/03/2025 23:13

I wouldn't pay at all. In fact it'll cost you more to put it right 😒

Ketzele · 11/03/2025 23:15

Oh that is shocking! Don't let him get away with it, OP.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 11/03/2025 23:16

That is not good enough OP. They should fix it.

S18 · 11/03/2025 23:16

The wallpaper is not just not matches up it’s cut poorly and not stuck down properly. It’s not going to last long like that. The window is shockingly bad. Shocking that a professional has done that.

Original poster
Sunandsea13 · 11/03/2025 23:16

Thanks everyone, wanted to check I wasn’t being ridiculous. I have had things painted before and usually do a couple tidy ups after which I don’t mind as I am very neat with painting. But this seems a bit ridiculous? Part of the wallpaper is over the top of the door arch so think it’s a bit trickier for him. The other bits attached were not as bad but still not great.

The painting of the walls is good although a bit slap dash in places.

Just feel awkward complaining and he’s a local painter so don’t want to get a bad rep with other tradespeople? He was meant to do the bathroom too but will cancel that.

Would you expect him to take the paper down and re-do? I don’t think I have enough left :/ He finished today, is there a time limit you think to respond? He’s not sent the final invoice yet.

AIBU - Painter has painted onto glass of windows?
AIBU - Painter has painted onto glass of windows?
OP posts:
Original poster
Sunandsea13 · 11/03/2025 23:19

Honeyroar · 11/03/2025 23:12

That’s terrible! They’re so useless I wouldn’t even trust them to scrape the paint off. They’d probably end up smashing the window!

This is my concern and why I am tempted to
fix myself/live with it!

OP posts:
S18 · 11/03/2025 23:24

I understand not trusting him to fix it, but definitely would not be paying for that.

I also would not worry about getting a ‘bad rep’ with other tradespeople. If he’s doing work that poorly then other locals have surely had issues with him as well.

cherish123 · 11/03/2025 23:29

Sunandsea13 · 11/03/2025 22:55

Thanks everyone! Have attached some photos…

That's terrible! Ask them to sort it. Then you'll pay.

TwinklyNight · 11/03/2025 23:38

I would not pay unless the wallpaper and paint were perfect. Take clear pictures for proof of a poor job. Oh I'd be mad!
Edit. Just saw the pictures, terrible job! My friends dh and her fil hung an entire room of wallpaper with airplanes, all upside down. They didn’t notice. 🤔Friend and her mil came home and made them take it down and rehang it.

WhatsitWiggle · 11/03/2025 23:39

I could do (and have!) a better job than that. No excuse for the wallpaper, it's a clear pattern match. And you use tape on windows, or if that's too much trouble PVA glue that peels off, or you scrape as soon as you've finished.