Somebody please help me!

16 years ago

We are building a new home...should be in it by now, but have had terrible issues with sheetrock work and then the paint. Every room in the house has seams showing. They are finished I forgot to mention. We have 18 foot tall walls as you enter the foyer and over the kitchen area. First, they said they would only use Valspar paint..primed, painted using their much loved paint and all you see is roller marks every where! Not to mention terrible places in sheetrock. So we tried to get the builder to "STOP" and get sheetrock guys back in..Let's try a different finish...first eggshell, now flat in Valspar. Same thing..then they try Sherwin Williams flat..same thing. Roller marks everywhere. Now the builder brings in the sheetrock guys...skim coated these walls and sanded..painters return primed using white primer..used gray before as it's a dark gold color being used on these walls. We decided to ask builder to use another painter as there were other paint issues going on in the house. Brought in new painter (crew of 3). Mudded places in walls, sanded spot primed and are using Benjamin Moore paint...what do you know...same problem..roller marks everywhere! Somebody please tell me what in the world the problem is and what needs to be done to get these walls right? This has been going on since Feb. Our builder is very honest and keeps saying he wants us to be satisfied. We feel terrible that this is costing him so much in labor and paint, but want it right. To make us feel even worse, his wife has stage 3 breast cancer and is fighting for her life! We almost feel that we should just accept the ugly walls and deal with it later because he is dealing with so much right now! Can someone please help! Thanks so much for any guidance!

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Comments (11)

trudymom
16 years ago
I don't know what is going on with your walls, but do not accept something that you don't like. You are kind to be concerned about the builder's wife, but he still needs to do his job, and may need your recommendation some day in the future.
galore2112
16 years ago
Can't the painters use a spray gun?
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nc_cowgirl
Original Author
16 years ago
jrldh...maybe that's what they should have done to start with since they are dealing with such tall walls. I don't know alot about painting, but I'm waiting for the walls to fall apart due to so much paint!! There's got to be about 7 coats or more so far on them! I just don't understand! thanks!
sue36
16 years ago
I have 17' tall walls in my greatroom and there are no seams or roller marks. In fact, I think they did a better job in that room than anywhere else. They were less careful in some places (the ceiling in that room, for example).

If there are visible roller marks I have to think it is a skill issue with the painter. I am an amateur and can paint without visible roller marks. My master bedroom was sprayed and I don't like it, it is too smooth and I think it emphasizes every flaw.
nc_cowgirl
Original Author
16 years ago
sue36..I agree with you! I am no professional painter, but have painted many rooms in my day and did a pretty good job. A Sherwin Williams rep came out and said it was the application of the paint with the first painters. The new painter is having another rep to come out from Benjamin Moore store this week. Can't wait to hear what he says. There's got to be someone that can put paint on these walls and have a nice finish to it! Thank you sue36!
bevangel_i_h8_h0uzz
16 years ago
There is a "Paint" forum here at GardenWeb. I'm sure there are some paint experts over on that forum so you might run a search for "roller marks" there and see what you can find out.
macv
16 years ago
Overlap lines are sometimes caused by cheap roller covers that are not beveleed at the ends and/or have cardboard sleeves. Lambs wool covers might help. They can also be caused by vertical rather than zig-zag application. Proper application on such a tall wall might require a lift or scaffolding.
rethree
16 years ago
Put a coat of plaster on the walls. It will cover up pretty much everything and will leave a smooth, paintable surface. It's kind of something you should have done in the first place on a home of average to good quality.
sis2two
16 years ago
Bumping for my sister!
nc_cowgirl
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you everyone. Thank you sissy! Macy...I know that the painters are using wooster rollers, but that's all that I know about the rollers and the new painter made the comment that the previous painters were not rolling properly... I know the new painters are using scaffolding. Update!!! Our new painter informed us that the walls are "bubbling". The last painters did not remove dust from the walls after skim coating was done. At least, that is what the new painter believes is happening. You can peel it off in sheets..Ben. Moore rep will be out tomorrow I believe and maybe he will shed some light as to what is going on!!
rollie
16 years ago
I dont think its the dust.

I think its the fact that the skim coating was done over a painted surface. The original painted surface is a sealer/vapor retarder. The skimcoating applied over the "sealer" will dry and look good, UNTIL you apply another coat or 2 of paint on it. Instead of the paint drying, the skim coat will absorb the bulk of the moisture in the paint, which will loosen it from the sealed surface below the skimcoat and it may peel. $.02