Is this really how a Professional Painter operates?

17 years ago

Painter did not prep room, spackle imperfections prior to painting. Ignored our request to use primer, then roller the room red. They sprayed and used no primer. Paint sagged and bubbled on wall. Said they could fix. Didn't wait the recommended time to dry - improved the look but you can still see all the sag lines and wall imperfections under the paint (some of which came off in chips when masking tape was pulled off and they had to fix that, too). Used 7 gallons of paint for 250 sq. ft wall space and charged $1200. Did I get ripped off? Will the paint fall of my walls or come off in hunks once it completely dries?

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Comments (6)

randita
17 years ago
Doesn't sound professional to me. Before you hired them, did you have them agree to exactly what you wanted done, how you wanted it done, and a price? Did you have all this in writing with their signature?
paintguy22
17 years ago
If the paint is not adhered, then yes you will probably be able to pull it off in sheets. This doesn't mean that a primer was needed. It could be that the walls were just not sanded and/or not clean. Paint will not stick to slick surfaces or surfaces that are dirty. If you paid for a prime coat and they didn't prime, then you should not pay them for what they did not do. If primer was not included in the price, then you should pay extra for the primer coat. You shouldn't expect them to prime just because you requested that. It's time and money. They do not sound like pros though of course. Painters should prep and there should not be sags. Latex paints are very easy to spray. If you are getting sags, then you truly have very little experience with spraying...this is especially true when most coatings get backrolled anyway.
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Faron79
17 years ago
Butter,
Was there a signed contract stating prep-needs, priming, etc.?
Were any references checked?
How was this painter brought to your attention?
What brand/color of paint was ACTUALLY used?

SEVEN GALLONS??!??!?!...Krikey!!! That's ridiculous...

For 250 sf:
* Gray primer should've been used under 98% of Reds.
* This would've taken ~ 2/3 of a gallon of primer.
* The paint: about 1.5 gallons should've done it...applied as TWO FULL ROLLED coats.

>>> A normal 12'x14' bedroom with 8' ceilings, & subtracting out for an avg. window & door = 400sf.
>>> 2 gallons would be average to do TWO COATS in this size room. Deep colors MAY take slightly more paint, since these tint-bases are less full.
>>> If paint is pushed too far past 400sf, it's getting WAAAAAY TOO THIN.
>>> The rate of 400sf/gallon is the absolute high end most paints should be applied at.

Were you ripped off...YES.
Were you "hacked".....YES.

Faron
PRO
Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
17 years ago
Were you ripped off...YES.
Were you "hacked".....YES.
Michael
17 years ago
In the future, choose carefully.

Interview. See the work. Talk with references.

Michael
lucillle
17 years ago
No, that does not sound like how a pro painter operates. I'm with the others especially Faron, did you have a contract and did it include prepping? Even if it did not, the sagging paint does not appear professional. I would refuse to pay and talk to an attorney after such an experience to see about reparation work at that painter's expense, even if you call in another painter, he may have to do more work than he would have to make these walls look professionally painted.