Poor Standard of Work by Painter & Decorator

[Pickled Piper]

I'm looking for some advice, possibly from someone in the trade. I'm in the midst of having some rooms decorated in the house. The job is still underway probably about 60% complete. The standard of the work is very poor ie brush marks visible on walls, wallpaper edges not trimmed neatly, paint on light switches etc. I've been pointing these out to the decorator politely as the job progresses and he's acknowledged them and agreed he will sort it. However, the general standard is not good and I'm getting tired of having to inspect and point everything ou to him. I'm going to go round with him tommorow and point out some more areas that need rectification and make it clear to him that it all needs to be sorted before he gets paid. My main concern is that he doesn't bring it up to the standard required and we get into a dispute.

The man is an experienced painter and decorator. He is member of a professional association BDA now called PDA (Painter & Decorators Association). I've contacted them to try and establish how they can help should we get into a dispute, however, they have been very vague and are not even able to outline a complaints procedure.

Any suggestions from any Painters & Decorators out there on how best to proceed.

pp

[mutt k]

Tell him you will hold back some of the money until the job is completed to your satisfaction. The usual retention is 10%, but you may want to hold back more if you are really dissatisfied.

[ChelseaTractor]

Pickled Piper said:

The man is an experienced painter and decorator. He is member of a professional association BDA now called PDA (Painter & Decorators Association). I've contacted them to try and establish how they can help should we get into a dispute, however, they have been very vague and are not even able to outline a complaints procedure.

And there you have the problem.

No disrespect to you, but you have fallen for the old 'I'm a member of the :insert here: association so therefore I must be good' line.

I know a lot of people in the building trade, nearly all good, some bad. Without fail it'll be the bad ones that sign up to so and so because it's a way of getting work.
The 'associations' very rarely check on work and issue certificates to anybody, so i'm not surprised they arn't interested in your case.

Believe me, builders and the like get laughed at when they turn up on site with 'Guild of.....' bla bla bla on the side of their vans!

I think the only way out of this is to hold the money back, if he's at all worried about his reputation he'll sort it, if not, sadly there's not a lot you can do. Unless you think it's important enough to drag it to court.

Word of mouth is the ONLY way to 'get a man in'!!!!

[Pickled Piper]

Chelsea Tractor,

I see your point about associations etc. However, this man was recommended to me by a bathroom fitter who has done a lot of work for me over the last four years. I didn't just pick him out of the phone directory.

pp

[The Surveyor]

My understanding on these issues is that under s13 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 their was an implied term of your contract with this decorator that he would progress with reasonable care and skill. As a benchmark you can refer to current British Standard 8000 Section 12 '1989 Workmanship on Building Sites Part 12. Code of Practice for Decorative wallcoverings and painting', or alternativly the recommendations given on the side of the paint tins / wallpaper.

If you discuss your concerns, you may choose to make it known that you may refer to such standards in the unfortunate event of a dispute.

But as has been said before, the best tool for such discussions is witholding payment, but make it clear that you intend to do this before witholding money.

As a word of caution, if you expectations exceed 'reasonable care and skill', and you stop payments, don't be supprised if he doesn't pursue you.

All given in good faith.... Paul

[ChelseaTractor]

Pickled Piper said:

Chelsea Tractor, I see your point about associations etc. However, this man was recommended to me by a bathroom fitter who has done a lot of work for me over the last four years. I didn't just pick him out of the phone directory. pp

Apologies PP.
Now it seems the only course of action left open to you is to kick the plumbers teeth in.

[groomi]

It is usual to go around at the end of a job to do the 'snagging', and as mentioned earlier, withhold 10% of the money until it's completed properly. That works for things like paint on light switches etc, not so sure about things like visible brush-strokes.

An experienced tradesman should expect a little snagging at the end of any job.

[sparkythecat]

Pickled Piper said:

Chelsea Tractor, I see your point about associations etc. However, this man was recommended to me by a bathroom fitter who has done a lot of work for me over the last four years. I didn't just pick him out of the phone directory. pp

So you mean he's a fellow freemason.


>> Edited by sparkythecat on Tuesday 6th September 21:12