What you use to clean it would depend upon if it was latex or oil based paint. I do think the painter should be responsible for restoring it to the original condition

This sort of situation is one reason you use a general. He should collar that painter and make him fix his stupid mistake.

Yeah, that's not coming off well or easily. I would definitely have the jackass back who caused the over-spray, and your GC needs to facilitate this.

The general contractor is of no help

So long as you haven't paid his bill, it is his problem. And, if he can't get it figured out, he owes you a new deck.

Once you attempt to clean it up or pay in full, it's going to be your problem.

his big is the deck? if not very big those areas will need to sanded past the paint and oil to bare wood . you can goo board by board.

It is not very big but do you think it is necessary to sand it or could we try the paint thinner first? If sanding is the only option.......would a small hand sander with a fine grit work or do we need a heavy duty electric one? I’ve read that others complained the sawdust was very bothersome to be breathing around. Wondering if there are any products out there on the market that work well to remove the paint ?

...regarding the general contractor...Unfortunately we have had numerous problems with him on everything. ..too many to mention. We paid a deck builder separately for the deck and it looked beautiful. That is until the painter damaged it. it was a new home build so we were not there to see the damage until after it was done. We asked the general contractor what he would do to fix it and he just changes the subject. Now that we already moved in this is just one of many “punch list items” that is not getting done. He has already been paid, and in fact ,owes us money for amounts he failed to pay subcontractors that we had to pay ourselves just to get the job done. All of that is another sore subject that we may have to pursue another way. Apparently he also had no risk insurance either so that is also a dead end. Our main concern right now is just trying to get items like this fixed so that we can move on.

could you post pictures? you might be able to use a latex paint emulsifier. paint thinner will only work on oil base paint. you would need to use a mechanical sander with heavy grit. IPe doesnt ssnd easy. use a dust mask when sanding

I think there is a good possibility that it is oil based because they were painting trim in a semi gloss and some cabinets in the nearby room. But there might be some latex involved also because I noticed some light gray splatters mixed in and that is our wall color.

I wondering if it might be better to get it fixed professionally rather than attempt it ourselves...I have not contacted the original deck company but it seems like they would have the tools to handle it .

I think there is a good possibility that it is oil based because they were painting trim in a semi gloss and some cabinets in the nearby room.

Did they leave the left-over paint or some small containers of paint for touch-ups? Should have.

The gloss level of paint doesn't mean anything. Water based paints come in all different levels of sheen from flat to gloss.

Your choice, of course, but I suggest that you have a chat with a lawyer before proceeding.

"this is just one of many “punch list items” that is not getting done."

This may not be a punch list item anyway of you hired the deck builder separately outside of your contract with the GC.

True...it is not a regular punch list item..but since his subcontractor created the damage we were figuring this should be on his list. I have the deck installer coming in the morning to take a look at it. Hopefully he will know what to do.

By the way the white trim paint is a Sherwin Williams pro mar 200 alkyd semi gloss....would this be oil based? Or water based? We also have got a good amount to clean up in other areas that the “ wonderful“ painter got on our tile and hardwood. Wondering what will remove it from those areas.?

That paint is probably latex. You can remove it with rubbing alcohol. Try some on the tile

Sherwin Williams pro mar 200 alkyd semi gloss....would this be oil based?

Yes, if it says 'combustible' on the can.

There is another formula--"ProMar 200 Interior Waterbased Acrylic Alkyd".

Which formula do you have?

It says promar 200 interior alkyd. I have a picture of the label .. assuming it is the waterbased. This is for the trim. ......the wall color paint I know is a latex.

Call Sherwin Williams. There's an order # on there. They can answer your question

Not a big deal. The ipe is not permanently ruined even remotely. Just sand that section of ipe and re-oil it. It's such a small area..... If the rest is as freshly oiled as you say it is, it will blend right in. Ultimately this will be the quickest and most painless path to remediation....