Builder has used the wrong bloody paint!

[Woozlebear]

Ok so I know I sound like a typical middle class brat but our decorator, after painting the rest of the house various shades of F&B estate emulsion has taken it upon himself to paint our hall stairs and landing in modern emulsion.Why I do not know. Mistake I guess. I noticed because it looked weirdly reflective with the lights on and so I checked the tin. It's not like I wouldn't have noticed had I not seen the tin.

I had already thought it was a bit meh and two dimensional looking but assumed it just need another coat. Nope.

It just looks awful. None of the usual depth of colour and texture. Plus the shine! It's really bad. And looks even worse as everything else is the estate.

Sent a quite upset email to builder (not at all stroppy- we have known him years and get on v well) but have yet to hear back. They finish for Christmas on fri so no doubt will say no time to fix it. Or I'm overreacting and should just live with it.

Just really It sounds silly but I've put so much into every little detail and this really spoils the effect.

When we recently painted we were 'advised' by the painter to use eggshell/washable paint for stairs & hallway - coz its easier to clean/maintain with fingerprints etc as its a high traffic area. I refused this coz I didn't like the shiny reflective look in the hallway (I have used this in my kitchen & yet to see benefits!). Perhaps for this reason your painter has made this choice? Am sure it can be fixed - but given the timing you may need to wait.

Yep, builder says he assumed as people normally want it and admits he should have checked. He says they can change it but I've read about all kinds of difficulties painting over washable paint so worried they're not going to make a good job of it if they don't have time to do it properly- ie sand it all down again.

Waiting for the F&B advice line to open - like I have time!

Grrrrrr!

like I have time

TBH, I would leave it til after Christmas and agree with the builder that you will be in touch in the new year to find a solution.

Is it F&B Modern Emulsion? I don't find it overly shiny TBH.

Yep. It's not in some places but on the stairs it looks awful. We have a very tall looming wall to one side of stairs, no natural light, and spotlights on landing, and they bounce off it in a really bad way. Looks like the wall has been coated in plastic.

Oh dear, sorry to read this, partly because having painted my hall in estate emulsion 2 years ago, I was planning to repaint in modern emulsion due to all the marks everywhere that won't scrub off!
Our hall is very dark too, so we have lights on all the time :-/ is it really all that shiny?
Glad your builder is sorting though

Tbh, I'd rather just paint over any marks that won't dab off. Shiny paint of any kind isn't very nice.

i know you have said you dont like it, but i have modern emulsion in our hallway and dining room and estate emulsion in the study. the study is barely used and yet after only being painted about 6 months is scuffed and marked, the other rooms look as new despite taking a battering from 2 toddlers and a dog. perhaps live with it over christmas and review in the new year.

i am sure the builder/decorator will agree it should be replaced with what you commissioned as it is his mistake.