EXT. PAINTING CONTRACTOR MESS
Peter Bucy
On Mon, 14 Jul 1997 22:06:53 -0800, Lola Bomke <lo...@nwlink.com>
wrote:
>HELP! We are having our 5-year-old house re-painted for the first time.
>
>The siding and trim are turning out OK (same color) but we had the front
>door painted blue.
>
>The painter did not properly prep the door (old flaked paint leaving
>bare wood and even insect 'fuzz'). He sprayed the door with two coats
>of latex enamel in rainy weather. The door was splotchy with rainwater
>and paint drips. We didn't accept it.
>
>He told us he would sand and spackle better and re-do IN A FEW DAYS, but
>we came home and he had sprayed another coat or two that same day. When
>we still weren't satisfied, he got angry and told us he would just give
>us a "credit" for the time spent on the door. We said NO WAY, that we
>would get an estimate to have it done right and deduct it from his final
>payment.
>
>He started to get angry and asked for another chance, blaming the poor
>job on the weather. He said he would wait a couple of weeks, actually
>take the door down to sand and prep and spray it. The next thing we knew
>(same day) he had sprayed the door again!! AND LEFT, stating he was
>done!
>
>We haven't paid him yet, but what do we need to do with the door? This
>is a six-panel door which now has a very thick, rubbery, uneven paint
>job. Sanding may work on the flat areas, but what about the delicate
>parts? Can a paint remover be applied? Will the door need to be taken
>down for this? Should he have used an oil-based paint for the door?
>
>Any help on fixing the door or dealling with the painter will be
>appreciated.
>
Welcome to the wonderful world of construction. Do you ever wonder
what these creeps were like as children?
Get a bid to strip the door to bare material or at least to a solid
primer base and repaint it. Then, if the remainder of the work is
satisfactory, then deduct this amount from your contract. Demand a
lien waiver that states that he has been paid in full and pay him with
a check that says "payment in full."
I like water based paints, but you must use a good quality paint (Ben
Moore is my favorite). If the paint is "rubbery" then I would suspect
that he used a cheap grade. I would also be very suspect of the rest
of his work if he did such a poor job on the door.
Make sure that you report him to the better business bureau too.
Peter A. Bucy - Home Builder
email pe...@ix.netcom.co
homepage http://www.netcom.com/~petex