Quality of finish advice

[Tycho149]

Hi All,

I think it was mybuilder where i saw the figure of just over £500, for my own edification what sort of price would you guys charge for float and set on three walls including window relief? the 4th wall required a bit of bonding and a skim. The ceiling was not done. I had done all the prep i.e. removing all the old plaster and applied PVA. The room is a typical small single, just under 2x3m. I didn't know what it should have cost and certainly wasn't looking to get it done on the cheep but between the two quotes and what we had seen online we thought is sounded in the right ballpark. I guess my question was more, did we overpay for the quality of finish. Which i certain we did.

Normally i would have got at least three quotes but just after we gutted the room i fractured my back in a car accident (clipped by a HGV as they changed lanes on the motorway) and with COVID its all been quite difficult.

They are coming back on Monday and i will update you all with the outcome, i will wait until they respond to my issues before naming and shaming.

 

[malc]

That just shows what check a trade n the likes of are all about! I had a lad working for me for aboot 6 months couldn't do owt with him absolute nugget! He's on um all useless cnt! Gets work though told him to f**k off last time I seen him before he gets knocked out fking discrace to the trade little prick!

it took you 6 months to realise he was useless?

 

[smoother09]

it took you 6 months to realise he was useless?

Always knew I used him as a lab!

 

[MakeItSmooth]

I had a lad working for me for aboot 6 months couldn't do owt with him absolute nugget! He's on um all useless cnt! Gets work though told him to f**k off last time I seen him before he gets knocked out fking discrace to the trade little prick!

Don't suppose he was riding a bike at the time, down a narrow lane, by any chance, was he..?

 

[Stevieo]

Commonly known as ..
You've been...

@Casper

 

[MIXERMAN]

I'm with checkatrade. For years , wile back a nutter slandered me all over the site. I replied. But checkatrade should send a specialist in to check the work before printing it . Luckily it had know afeck on my reputation, some customers did remark on it and thought it was odd and didn't believe it. Funny thing was my daughter said y don't you pop round and have a chat with him. I said good idea, will you come visit me in belmarsh.

 

[johnh]

Its pretty poor.
Unfortunately most so called poasters nowadays dont have a clue how to use a feather edge. I cant see them sorting it out and i dont think id want them to

 

[Tycho149]

Its pretty poor.
Unfortunately most so called poasters nowadays dont have a clue how to use a feather edge. I cant see them sorting it out and i dont think id want them to

What would you think my best course of action is? is it possible to rectify without ripping it off and starting again?

 

[essexandy]

Float and set... they should have got that nearer... in fact there are are very little reasons why they cant get it near perfect

Most plasterers these days cant float and are just skimmers and I would say that these "plasterers" cant do that either...

£600 price... who knows if that is cheap or not... I would want more to do it that's for sure but then it would not look like that afterwards.

You rougher than that Danny?

 

[Danny]

You rougher than that Danny?

yup way rougher

 

[essexandy]

yup way rougher

Me too mate.

 

[worthwords]

 

[malc]

I'm with checkatrade. For years , wile back a nutter slandered me all over the site. I replied. But checkatrade should send a specialist in to check the work before printing it . Luckily it had know afeck on my reputation, some customers did remark on it and thought it was odd and didn't believe it. Funny thing was my daughter said y don't you pop round and have a chat with him. I said good idea, will you come visit me in belmarsh.

a local building firm that don't give a s**t about anything, just pay checkatrade to remove all bad feedback.

 

[malc]

What would you think my best course of action is? is it possible to rectify without ripping it off and starting again?

get a quote from a proper plasterer to put the work right.

 

[Brimstone]

Cummon guys, OP has asked a good question and would like an answer for when they arrive on Monday
- if you are the one called in, forget the money - how would you go about fixing it, practical answers?
Heres mine, feel free to shout me down;
- pull the nail/patch hole
- use a sander to taker off the high spots a bit and remove the brush hairs/polish finish
- PVA, skim to level & flush up to the box
-bit of wet skim or filler on the crazing & sand smooth.

 

[ChrispyUK]

Cummon guys, OP has asked a good question and would like an answer for when they arrive on Monday
- if you are the one called in, forget the money - how would you go about fixing it, practical answers?
Heres mine, feel free to shout me down;
- pull the nail/patch hole
- use a sander to taker off the high spots a bit and remove the brush hairs/polish finish
- PVA, skim to level & flush up to the box
-bit of wet skim or filler on the crazing & sand smooth.

I’d go over with a straight edge/levels to establish how bad it is. May need to hack off part of it at the base of walls to get rid of any scoops/ high spots. Either grit/pva and bond it out flat and reskim.

 

[Monkey Boy]

Either grit/pva and bond it out flat and reskim with 3 coats

 

[essexandy]

Cummon guys, OP has asked a good question and would like an answer for when they arrive on Monday
- if you are the one called in, forget the money - how would you go about fixing it, practical answers?
Heres mine, feel free to shout me down;
- pull the nail/patch hole
- use a sander to taker off the high spots a bit and remove the brush hairs/polish finish
- PVA, skim to level & flush up to the box
-bit of wet skim or filler on the crazing & sand smooth.

I'd have the lot chopped off again and just float and set it properly. f**k trying to sort that mess out.

 

[Tycho149]

Hi all, thanks for the suggestions.

With regards to the cost I was just trying to assess if they charged us roughly the right amount so in the future when we do another room I have a better idea if the quote is too cheap, obviously I would have to factor size and difficulty in. As i have never dealt with the trades before I thought what they were saying was reasonable.

I'm very much a perfectionist and wanted the job done to a high standard, if they can't correct it I will have to just get someone else in. Any tips on finding a good plasterer would be appreciated.

I've taken some more photos for you to have a look.

 

[Brimstone]

I'd have the lot chopped off again and just float and set it properly. f**k trying to sort that mess out.

Fair enough, understand the feeling but on old victorian brickwork will fresh set plaster come off ok or take the wall down?
The extra pics 'orrible, bulging in places, possibly float coat was,nt right in the first case?

 

[Cockney]

Hi all, thanks for the suggestions.

With regards to the cost I was just trying to assess if they charged us roughly the right amount so in the future when we do another room I have a better idea if the quote is too cheap, obviously I would have to factor size and difficulty in. As i have never dealt with the trades before I thought what they were saying was reasonable.

I'm very much a perfectionist and wanted the job done to a high standard, if they can't correct it I will have to just get someone else in. Any tips on finding a good plasterer would be appreciated.

I've taken some more photos for you to have a look.

 

[MakeItSmooth]

if they can't correct it I will have to just get someone else in. Any tips on finding a good plasterer would be appreciated.

Please trust me on this:

whichever clown did that, definitely can't correct it, and it'll (still) be a dog's dinner if you let them try.

That was not done by a skilled tradesman, and another try by the same idiot(s) isn't going to magically make them more skilled than the first attempt.

Sorry to sound bleak, and I'm sorry you were ripped-off by cowboys, but it'd be better to cut your losses and not let them insult you or your property with any more nonsense.


I think we both know you're going to ignore this advice, but you've had fair warning, now.

Cut your losses, learn from it and take the time to find someone who can do it properly

 

[Gilbert75]

Hi all, thanks for the suggestions.

With regards to the cost I was just trying to assess if they charged us roughly the right amount so in the future when we do another room I have a better idea if the quote is too cheap, obviously I would have to factor size and difficulty in. As i have never dealt with the trades before I thought what they were saying was reasonable.

I'm very much a perfectionist and wanted the job done to a high standard, if they can't correct it I will have to just get someone else in. Any tips on finding a good plasterer would be appreciated.

I've taken some more photos for you to have a look.

Why you not get it plasterboarded thats obviously what the plasters now are used too..

 

[Tycho149]

Why you not get it plasterboarded thats obviously what the plasters now are used too..

As a layperson that is not obvious to me. I wanted the solidness and finish of a float and set. Obviously did not got we asked for. We did ask about plasterboard but the room needed to remain as wide as possible to fit a single bed lengthways and we were worried about dot and dab being thicker. We went with what the "experts" suggested.

Just to be clear the guys we went with were highly rated, said they had a lot of experience with float and set and appeared to know what they were talking about, they even had lots of photos of previous work carried out which all appeard to be of a high standard.

 

[essexandy]

As a layperson that is not obvious to me. I wanted the solidness and finish of a float and set. Obviously did not got we asked for. We did ask about plasterboard but the room needed to remain as wide as possible to fit a single bed lengthways and we were worried about dot and dab being thicker. We went with what the "experts" suggested.

Just to be clear the guys we went with were highly rated, said they had a lot of experience with float and set and appeared to know what they were talking about, they even had lots of photos of previous work carried out which all appeard to be of a high standard.

They lied. They don't have a scooby doo about float and set.
Unfortunately legally you have to give them the opportunity to rectify that abortion, which they won't be able to. If you're not prepared to try and get your money back (at the least) then you should cut your losses, hack it back off and get someone in that knows what they're doing. Easier said than done with float and set now.

 

[Tycho149]

Please trust me on this:

whichever clown did that, definitely can't correct it, and it'll (still) be a dog's dinner if you let them try.

That was not done by a skilled tradesman, and another try by the same idiot(s) isn't going to magically make them more skilled than the first attempt.

Sorry to sound bleak, and I'm sorry you were ripped-off by cowboys, but it'd be better to cut your losses and not let them insult you or your property with any more nonsense.


I think we both know you're going to ignore this advice, but you've had fair warning, now.

Cut your losses, learn from it and take the time to find someone who can do it properly

I appreciate the advice,

It's not the same person who is coming round tomorrow as who did the plastering. Its the owner of the company who apparently has more experience.

I need to discuss the work with them and give them an opportunity to respond to the issues. If they can't give a satisfactory response (as you have suggested this is unlikely) then I will have to get someone else in.

Like I said I'm a perfectionist and if it's not right every time I go in that room it will p**s me off.

 

[Tycho149]

They lied. They don't have a scooby doo about float and set.
Unfortunately legally you have to give them the opportunity to rectify that abortion, which they won't be able to. If you're not prepared to try and get your money back (at the least) then you should cut your losses, hack it back off and get someone in that knows what they're doing. Easier said than done with float and set now.

Yea I agree, fortunately I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment as I'm off sick while I recover from the accident. So I am make the time to be a pain in the a**

 

[essexandy]

I appreciate the advice,

It's not the same person who is coming round tomorrow as who did the plastering. Its the owner of the company who apparently has more experience.

I need to discuss the work with them and give them an opportunity to respond to the issues. If they can't give a satisfactory response (as you have suggested this is unlikely) then I will have to get someone else in.

Like I said I'm a perfectionist and if it's not right every time I go in that room it will p**s me off.

Just for clarity; being a perfectionist means that YOU don't leave ANYTHING you're doing until it's perfect, not just that you expect it from others.
I've been in the trade close on forty years now and I've never met a true perfectionist, trade or otherwise.

 

[Gilbert75]

I appreciate the advice,

It's not the same person who is coming round tomorrow as who did the plastering. Its the owner of the company who apparently has more experience.

I need to discuss the work with them and give them an opportunity to respond to the issues. If they can't give a satisfactory response (as you have suggested this is unlikely) then I will have to get someone else in.

Like I said I'm a perfectionist and if it's not right every time I go in that room it will p**s me off.

Let us know what he says, , hard to judge by a photo wots actually gone on, but maybe he will chop proud bits out, thistle bondit wall then rule up bonding& skim...
Let us know....lol

 

[ChrispyUK]

I appreciate the advice,

It's not the same person who is coming round tomorrow as who did the plastering. Its the owner of the company who apparently has more experience.

I need to discuss the work with them and give them an opportunity to respond to the issues. If they can't give a satisfactory response (as you have suggested this is unlikely) then I will have to get someone else in.

Like I said I'm a perfectionist and if it's not right every time I go in that room it will p**s me off.

just be brutal with the t**t, don’t accept any excuse. It’s not even remotely passable.

 

[essexandy]

just be brutal with the t**t, don’t except any excuse. It’s not even remotely passable.

I think 'accept' was the word you were looking for.

 

[ChrispyUK]

I think 'accept' was the word you were looking for.

bloody perfectionists

 

[Cockney]

These ghosts are popping up more and more lately and they aren’t friendly!!

 

[Tycho149]

Just for clarity; being a perfectionist means that YOU don't leave ANYTHING you're doing until it's perfect, not just that you expect it from others.
I've been in the trade close on forty years now and I've never met a true perfectionist, trade or otherwise.

Yea, I mean my background is in the pharma industry so I have to have a good eye for detail. And and the end bid the day it's my house I would have to live with it so of course I would likely be paying closer attention to it. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns where a lot more effort gets you very little improvement.

I wouldn't have expected to to be perfect, and if it was just a few rough patches I could have done some minor snagging myself. But

 

[ChrispyUK]

Yea, I mean my background is in the pharma industry so I have to have a good eye for detail. And and the end bid the day it's my house I would have to live with it so of course I would likely be paying closer attention to it. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns where a lot more effort gets you very little improvement.

I wouldn't have expected to to be perfect, and if it was just a few rough patches I could have done some minor snagging myself. But

If it was smooth with decent internal angles, then you prob wouldn’t notice the humps and bumps. Take your straight edge to the rest of the walls in your house and you’ll probably be surprised.