Question for the pros about paint

[Harry]

Well, more specifically about the way a wall should look after painting. I hired a painter to paint 3 rooms for me, each a different color and I wanted semi gloss since these are kids rooms and I wanted to be able to clean them easy. When we first talked, we discussed an issue about spots on the walls like nail pops and stuff like that and he said he would take care of what he saw.

Now when the walls are finished, I see spots all over the place like more nail pops and bumps. I think he should come back and fix them but he says that he only does a finish #2 or something like that I don't really remember.

What can I do now that he has been paid? Should he be forced to come back and correct what I think should have been done earlier? Some good help with this, even if I am wrong, would be nice. Thanks.

[Silvertree]

Never heard of just doing a #2 finish, but I'm in Minnesota and there are regional differences.
As far as seeing spots and nail pops, a good prep job makes those disappear. The question is, "What did you discuss, and what did you pay for"?
I think some painters will come along and shed a little more light on this for you.

[WarnerConstInc.]

Semi-gloss makes things look worse than they are. I try to avoid semi on walls if all possible.

[takethree]

I agree with previous post....all wall prep should have taken care of nail head pops, wall mars etc. I am guessing that your painter is referring to a Level 2 finish. I work for a general contractor that does high-end residential and we rarely see any requests for anything less than the best, a level 5 finish. If you are unhappy with the work, the most important thing you can do is analyze the quotation to see what was/was not included and then maybe ask another painter to give you his take. As for semi-gloss, our painters typically reserve it for bathroom/kitchen ceilings. If you do end up having the work redone, try using Benjamin Moore Kitchen and Bath paint.

[Harry]

I really don't know if I am relating to you properly all what he said. I don't think he did a bad job with the painting, its just that my wife hates the way the walls look when light shines on them. Now I'm stuck with trying to make her happy.

Should I have expected him to make my walls real smooth? I guess I thought that's what I would get. The quotation said nothing except "prime and paint walls in 3 bedrooms, customer chooses paint color". When we discussed what he would do, he said he would fix some bad spots as he found them while painting. I saw him wipe some stuff on the walls and a bit later sand it off.

Can I go after him or am I stuck? Is it his fault or mine? I don't want to seem like a fool if it is something he should have done, but my wife is after me to do something. If I can't go after him, is there anything I can do at this point to make the walls look better? Thanks again for your help this site is really good. Thanks.

[Silvertree]

Harry, I am a General Contractor, so I usually get the complaints.

Semi-gloss paint does show rough spots more than others, if you had called me I would have suggested Eggshell finish, but that still requires good prep work. But Semi-Gloss is recommended for its easy clean surface in childrens rooms.

It sounds like the painter did what you asked, and my guess is he's done. He should have made suggestions, and maybe he did, but my take is there should have been more discussion.

Satin and Eggshell are both good finishes, but with the lights on you will see "holidays" in the finish. I think you got what was agreed on, I wish the painter had spent more time talking to you about how it came out.
A #2 finish is not good enough when using Semi-Gloss.

[TulsaRemodeler]

Smooth walls are tough with semigloss, if I had been that painter I wouldnt have done it unless major prep work, probably more work then the actual painting. I've done semi and gloss on lightly sanded knockdown, looks fantastic.

[ModernStyle]

Unless the contract clearly states that drywall repairs were to be done then there is really nothing you can do about it, he primed and painted just like he said he would.
If having the walls as smooth as possible was a concern then it should have been addressed prior to a contract being signed. As a painter I am not going to assume every customer wants me to skim coat their walls before painting, the cost would clearly make me too expensive for many people.
On the other hand if you addressed your concerns over the smoothness of the walls before a contract being drawn up then he may have purposly left it out because he did not want to deal with it. Now even if that is the case, by leaving the drywall work out of the contract and recieveing payment once he had finished painting, you have pretty much guaranteed that he has filled his obligations to you. You wont win a court case for something that you never were actually according to your contract entitled to.

[Harry]

Thank you modernstyle and everyone else. I guess I am sunk and now have a wife who will be all over me about this. She wanted to use somebody called servicemaster or servicemagic or whatever to find someone for us. Like an idiot, I said I would check on Craig's list since we have had good luck there before. I guess not this time.

What now? She isn't happy with this. I suppose I will have to find someone else to redo this with maybe a different type of paint as someone suggested. Maybe eggshell. Is there anything I can do myself to help? Will just painting it with a satin or eggshell work? I can try it myself if I know it will work. Is that a good idea? I can't just leave it.

[RCP]

I agree with the above posts.

According to PDCA (http://www.pdca.org/consumers/) Standards you have to be able to see defects from 39" without additional lighting.

This is part of the specs for a level 2 finish, also from PDCA.

"Under this level of
preparation the surface profile is not
altered unless due to the removal of
unsound previously applied paint, and
that only obvious existing defects causing
abrupt surface profile differences
exceeding 1/8 inch or 125 mils will be
corrected."

As far as the sheen issue, an eggshell would have been a good choice.

[Harry]

WOW! While waiting to see what kind of help I can get on my painting question, I have been readding some stuff on here. It seems like you guys like to have fun but lots of stuff here is interesting. I just read the article by mike about how to check out a contractor. I can't let my wife see that because maybe 8 out of the 10 or so things he says to do I didn't do. She is a very headstrong person unlike many Chinese. How come I didn't know that when we got married? Anyway, great site!

[Ed The Roofer]

The other guys are just holding back from commenting, because on most forums that are around, your comments about using Craig's List or Service Magic would have gotten shot down with complete indignity.

The reality of those types of sites, well, lets back up for a moment.

The reality of Service Magic is that they do NOT do any of the proclaimed background and licensing checks that they purport to do.

The type of contractor, and I use that term very tenuously, that utilizes those services to generate contact with customer are really in most cases, novices in the contracting world.

Service Magic clients sort of operate on a Reverse Auction Bid format, to see who is willing to do crappy work for the cheapest amount.

This story is true, but the contractor fabricated his information to see what types of checks and balances that they have in place to screen their supposed quality contractors.

There is a contractor right here on this forum who tested them out and stated on his initial contractor submission, that he just got out of jail for stealing from a clients home and now can't or doesn't have any license or insurance.

Service Magics response that everyone needs a second chance. :eek:

Craig's List tends to draw the guys who are not really contractors and want to be paid cash and not have insurance and cause substantial grief for the customers, therefor, then giving all professional contractors a bad name.

Read the new article I just posted about how to choose a contractor without getting screwed also and see if that helps point out some differences too.

Ed

[Silvertree]

It wasn't Service Magic.

It was a lead service with an couple of R's in its name.

[Ed The Roofer]

It wasn't Service Magic.

It was a lead service with an couple of R's in its name.

I Sit Corrected.

Same Old, Same Old though.

Different name but the same old story.

Ed

[RCP]

Harry, please do not use Service Magic or Craigslist. You need a professional to solve your problem. Have you tried:

Asking friends or family if they could recommend someone?

Checking at local paint store, not a big box like Home Depot, but a store that specializes in paint like Sherwin Williams, Dunn Edwards or Benjamin Moore.
They know the local painters and may be able to direct you.

Checking your local Homebuilders Association, they often have directories off members.

Contact a PDCA (http://www.pdca.org/consumers/findapro.htm)member?

I network with a professional painters across the country, if you would like more assistance, let me know.

[ModernStyle]

I put ads on craigslist so that I can get the backlink to my website. The majority of the "contractors" on craigslist are indeed hacks though.
I rarely get work from Craigslist because I dont paint exteriors for $375 like other guys in my area like to advertise. But Craigslist does come up pretty high on some search engines and can boost your SEO.
I would at the very least Google a company before I hired them, if you get no results then I would rule them out right away. Even newer companies will work hard to establish themselves online and any place else they can, hacks and shady contractors rarely do.

[Harry]

Good morning guys, and women. Thanks fr all your help. After talking it over with my wife, well, she did the talking, we are going to repaint the rooms ourselves with eggshell. We decided to leave the walls as they are since we don't know how to fix them ourselves. Unfortunately, we can't afford to have a decent painter come in and do it again but I know now I should have done that in the beginning.

RCP, that's interesting about what you said about networking with others around the country. Know anyone in the Toledo area? As I said, I can't afford one now but I am currious to see if there is someone here I could trust. I know this is a new site, but that would be a pretty good think for homeowners to come on here and look up good contractors from their area. Maybe a special section or something. You know, put in your location and see who's listed.

Again, thanks everyone for your help. If you need a pet homeowner to kick around, I will stay around for a while and read stuff. I can't offer any advise like you guys, because I only think like a homeowner, but this is fun. Thanks.

[Silvertree]

Harry, come back as often as you like, this site (except for the private contractors area, which you have to show proof your a contractor) is for homeowners, the people we work for.

[RCP]

Thanks Harry for coming back and responding, most HOs never do and is nice to see how yuo worked it out. Just to be clear, it sounds like the painter you had was a decent painter and did the job correctly. It sounds like there was a problem in communication, us painters tend to think we know what is best and sometimes forget to really listen to the customer!
Check your PM box, if I find someone in Toledo, I will let you know!
If you do decide to repaint yourself, use a local paint store for quality paint and advice!
Good Luck!

[ModernStyle]

Dustyrose is in Toledo