Help - My worker has skimmed using Easi-filler

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I love the title of the thread......MY WORKER” sound like some upper class toff talking about unruly staff :ROFLMAO:
Help - My worker has skimmed using Easi-filler
 
In fairness, your 'worker' isn't completely wrong. Its very common, especially in commercial, retail, office type environments to dot and dab / stud and board / tape and joint / skim with a filler of some type. We see a lot of pubs and shops done this way. The dryliners normally do the boaring and jointing and the decorators come and skim the whole wall in filler before they paint. And it does come out looking bang on.

He is also right when he says this is how it's done in a lot of the rest of the world.

I think the issue you have here is you haven't got what you were expecting.
 
addyb said:
In fairness, your 'worker' isn't completely wrong. Its very common, especially in commercial, retail, office type environments to dot and dab / stud and board / tape and joint / skim with a filler of some type. We see a lot of pubs and shops done this way. The dryliners normally do the boaring and jointing and the decorators come and skim the whole wall in filler before they paint. And it does come out looking bang on.

He is also right when he says this is how it's done in a lot of the rest of the world.

I think the issue you have here is you haven't got what you were expecting.
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Never seen it
 
I have seen it done elsewhere and yes it does look ok. He's admitted a mis-communication, and offered to sand down and sort it. You have taken the most expensive quote and expected plaster.
The courts are suprisingly lax on this sort of thing; You have a servicable flat wall etc., no written contract specifying plaster, the contractor stands by his quality and finish, its just as mis-comm but he has delivered. Ergo only the price is in dispute.

I suggest avoid the legal process and do a deal which is what the courts would seek to do anyway - you get him to do the sanding down/finish as he claims but make him pay for it on the basis of mis comm and he was the most expensive (prove with the other quotes) - principle cost to him is his labour - cheap'ish.
Accept you have a different finish to the one you envisaged but it looks ok. It will be a bit more delicate than plastered but not a lot. Anything else the decorator will get, joking aside.
Next time get it all set out in writing what you want. If you do n't know about the techie bit (why would you) get someone who does, you will probably save the cost of them on the quotes and finish. {e.g. get your kitchen plan finished totally before you go out for quotes, right down to the light switches finish etc}
 
Brimstone said:
I have seen it done elsewhere and yes it does look ok. He's admitted a mis-communication, and offered to sand down and sort it. You have taken the most expensive quote and expected plaster.
The courts are suprisingly lax on this sort of thing; You have a servicable flat wall etc., no written contract specifying plaster, the contractor stands by his quality and finish, its just as mis-comm but he has delivered. Ergo only the price is in dispute.

I suggest avoid the legal process and do a deal which is what the courts would seek to do anyway - you get him to do the sanding down/finish as he claims but make him pay for it on the basis of mis comm and he was the most expensive (prove with the other quotes) - principle cost to him is his labour - cheap'ish.
Accept you have a different finish to the one you envisaged but it looks ok. It will be a bit more delicate than plastered but not a lot. Anything else the decorator will get, joking aside.
Next time get it all set out in writing what you want. If you do n't know about the techie bit (why would you) get someone who does, you will probably save the cost of them on the quotes and finish. {e.g. get your kitchen plan finished totally before you go out for quotes, right down to the light switches finish etc}
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Have you seen the pictures? It doesn't look ok
 
Robbo123 said:
Have you seen the pictures? It doesn't look ok
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But he reckons he can make it look ok, and the courts will not know any better and only see much the same pictures. They're not going to be very sympathetic, and unless it is a complete and obvious abortion they'll just say well adjust for that in the price.
Some cases builders have got away with columns and piers missing. In one house I was asked to look re the plaster board chimney (total deathtrap), the rafters were all short of the ridge board and the Building Inspector said it might have just been shrinkage and bowing. The builder was so confident he told the client to try to sue him.
 
Some good points made in the blokes defence here. However, on domestics it’s really weird to assume someone wants filler on their walls not plaster. Guy wants his head testing
 
Thank you everyone. I have decided to get it all re-skimmed and I have been obtaining quotes. Some are suggesting PVA with just 1 coat of Thistle multi-finish whereas some tradesmen are saying 2 coats. Please advise... I don't want to be stung again. Thanks.
 
Ali123 said:
Thank you everyone. I have decided to get it all re-skimmed and I have been obtaining quotes. Some are suggesting PVA with just 1 coat of Thistle multi-finish whereas some tradesmen are saying 2 coats. Please advise... I don't want to be stung again. Thanks.
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Yes pva and 2 coats of multi finish . The 2 coats are applied more or less at the same time . Don’t be confused after the plasterer has finished the wall that he doesn’t put another coat on . It will
Be complete
 
Ali123 said:
Thank you everyone. I have decided to get it all re-skimmed and I have been obtaining quotes. Some are suggesting PVA with just 1 coat of Thistle multi-finish whereas some tradesmen are saying 2 coats. Please advise... I don't want to be stung again. Thanks.
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Ali123 said:
Also they have not used corner beading on windows
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Whatever you do, in light of your unfortunate recent experience, I suggest you insist your new chosen quote includes written confirmation of the exact method and materials the tradesperson intends to use (including whether they intend to seal the walls first, apply beading where required, and whether they intend to apply 1-coat or 2-coats of multi-finish). This is really obvious stuff to a respectable spread, but getting it written down on the quote protects you from a repeat of what's already happened.
Any decent plasterer would, as a normal matter-of-course, PVA the walls to seal them, but with freshly taped & boarded walls, you don't want anyone chancing their luck at your expense - it shouldn't happen, but it sometimes does.
As for 1 coat or 2 coats, you probably know by now that it is 'possible' to get a decent result with 1 coat (onto clean plasterboard, not old walls), but it's also very easy to get a crap result with 1 coat, which is partly why it's so controversial in the trade. As others have already said, you should specify 2 coats for your job, for the best chance of a good result.


Asking for such a detailed quote for a domestic job would normally be considered excessive, but it's your money, it's for multiple rooms (so a worthwhile job for tradespeople to quote for) and you've been burned so you're within your rights to do what you can to minimise any more misunderstandings with the tradespeople you employ.


Good luck, and if you care to remind people what area of the country you live in, you might get one or two suggestions of people worth getting quotes from.
 
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Hello,

I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for all for your help and advice - it was all very appreciated. I hope you are all safe and doing well despite the whole covid19 situation.

Update: The company decided to knock off 34% from the final bill. Unfortunately, no tradesmen wanted to agree to a written confirmation for a domestic job and looked at me as though I was crazy! A friend recommended a plasterer who completed the upstairs with his colleague, just before they relocated to Southampton and then lockdown happened. When I asked if they did 2 coats as I initially requested, I received conflicting answers from both of them so I get why it is a controversial topic. At least they used beading on all corners, PVA and multi-skim! I will try to upload pictures and see what you all think of their work. :X3:

I now require a reputable plasterer for our kitchen and lounge, ideally after 10th July. I live in (Kirklees WF17) West Yorkshire and I would be very grateful for any recommendations please. The plasterers that our kitchen supplier have suggested are fully booked until December!!!

Thanks once again.

MakeItSmooth said:
Whatever you do, in light of your unfortunate recent experience, I suggest you insist your new chosen quote includes written confirmation of the exact method and materials the tradesperson intends to use (including whether they intend to seal the walls first, apply beading where required, and whether they intend to apply 1-coat or 2-coats of multi-finish). This is really obvious stuff to a respectable spread, but getting it written down on the quote protects you from a repeat of what's already happened.
Any decent plasterer would, as a normal matter-of-course, PVA the walls to seal them, but with freshly taped & boarded walls, you don't want anyone chancing their luck at your expense - it shouldn't happen, but it sometimes does.
As for 1 coat or 2 coats, you probably know by now that it is 'possible' to get a decent result with 1 coat (onto clean plasterboard, not old walls), but it's also very easy to get a crap result with 1 coat, which is partly why it's so controversial in the trade. As others have already said, you should specify 2 coats for your job, for the best chance of a good result.

Asking for such a detailed quote for a domestic job would normally be considered excessive, but it's your money, it's for multiple rooms (so a worthwhile job for tradespeople to quote for) and you've been burned so you're within your rights to do what you can to minimise any more misunderstandings with the tradespeople you employ.

Good luck, and if you care to remind people what area of the country you live in, you might get one or two suggestions of people worth getting quotes from.
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John j said:
I dont do written conformity thingy .
Stand in middle of room . Make few jokes about brews better be good . Then get back to em with a price once I.ve had me tea
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True pro , do you insist on sampling the tea
 
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