How to fix this botched wall paper Job?

EllaC

Would anyone have any advice on how to rescue this botched wallpaper job.

When painting the ceiling the “decorator” decided he didn’t have to do a neat job and painted a jagged line of paint all along the walls as well – presumably thinking he would be able to cover it up with wallpaper. That didn’t work and I’m left with a line of paint around the circumference of the room that’s clearly visible through the wallpaper.

I hired what I thought was a professional who refers to himself as a third generation painter and decorator (Dublin) – black forest gateaux anyone? – and shall remain nameless unless the mods give me permission to name and shame?

When I returned home to see the finished job I could immediately see all was not right. Your man saw me staring at the line of paint visible through the wall paper and said - that’s paste it’ll dry. I pretty much knew it wasn’t paste but paint - but took him at his word and paid him the agreed €500 for the job – hoping that he was right and that the line would disappear over the week end. But of course it didn’t. Rang him on Monday – he blamed the walls/the wallpaper everything but himself.

One huge problem here is that I bought all existing rolls of this wall paper and knew there were no more to be got. So when he suggested to come in and spend another 3 days undoing and redoing his work I know he would never be able to find more wall paper. He insisted he would find it by Wednesday. Anyway I didn’t particularly want him in my home again so settled on a €500 refund and replacement of the 13 rolls of wall paper he used. His thinly veiled concern didn’t last long and I received a text offering me €400 – as he claimed to have spent €100 on materials – ceiling paint etc. The following day I received another text saying he was offering me €350 and that’s it! plus he claimed to have found the wallpaper. I sent him a piece of my mind via email telling him to stick to the original agreement or I would go to small claims court. Dealings with him were getting increasingly unpleasant so in the end I settled for €500 – of course he didn’t manage to replace the wallpaper – he presented me with 2 rolls plus one roll out of it’s wrapping!

Anyway I’m still furious over this so sorry for the long rant.

What is the name of the registration body for painters/decorators?

Back to my original question – is there any way to disguise this problem? Before anyone suggests coving – doesn’t it have to be applied before wall paper? Will it suit apartment height walls 7/8feet? Any other ideas?

DublinDIYguy

A border paper would make more sense than coving..

DublinDIYguy

Could you just explain a few things for me as I'm very surprised you can see the paint through the wallpaper.
What was on the walls before the wallpaper was applied? Had it been previously painted? What colour is the wallpaper and how much did it cost?
TBH if I was painting a ceiling before wallpapering the walls I would bring the white ceiling paint a couple of cm's onto the wall too. But he should have noticed being able to see the paint through the wallpaper from the first lenght and solved the problem then..
I'd love to see a couple of pics if you don't mind posting..

EllaC

Hi DublinDIYguy

The walls were painted white before - but had become kind of grey due to storage heating. The paper is a delicate cream colour with a sparkle. It's from the Graham and Browne range and cost €23 a roll. Incidentally the decorator said he had worked with this brand of paper before and loved the one I'd chosen.

My bedroom was also papered in the same wall paper (by a different guy) and looks perfect. He painted ceiling as well and didn't bring paint down onto wall. I'm sorry I didnt use this guy to do the living room but I didn't.

Iv'e tried to post pics but they are not very clear. I'll try and take sharper ones when I get a chance. Suffice to say anyone who has seen the job so far thinks it's a disgrace.

Re a border - would this not look very outdated?

DublinDIYguy

It depends on the border you use. It'd be worth checking if Graham and Browne have a matching border, that would be the easiest solution I'd say.
Your decorator really should have noticed the problem and coated the walls white before papering, that would have taken him an extra few hours waiting for it to dry but would have prevented the problem, heresay is no use to you though.
If I was you I would return to the shop you bought the wallpaper from, with pictures and ask for a refund. Wallpaper should cover the walls without showing any difference in the colour of the wall underneath.
Unless that particular paper has written in it's description tag that it is a slightly transparent paper or that it needs the walls to be lined first.
The fact that you didn't have any problems the first time you used this same paper doesn't excuse that this shouldn't happen. A wallpaper should have its own backing paper which is thick enough to cover the wall regardless of what colours are on the wall.
I'm not defending your decorator as I said he really should have noticed the problem from the start but in my opinion that is a clear fault with the wallpaper.
The wallpaper suppliers will more than likely have a policy of only refunding 1 opened roll & all unopened rolls. Which will get you a refund for 3 for definite but if they want to keep you as a customer they might offer you a bit more as a credit note.
How many rolls did you buy altogether?
And are the rolls the decorator gave you back your own rolls?

EllaC

How many rolls did you buy altogether?

And are the rolls the decorator gave you back your own rolls?

I bought 20 rolls althogther. He told me he used 13 rolls.

Where the two wrapped rolls and one unwrapped roll came from - I don't know.

DublinDIYguy

So at the moment you have the 7 leftover rolls, plus the 2 and a half the decorator returned. And you have your €500 back.
I think you still have plenty of options then.
You could return your 9 unopened and 1 opened roll and try and get money back for them. Explain the problem, tell the shop you understand that they wont refund all 20 rolls but they have no reason not to refund the 10. €230
If you could find a nice border to put over the problem, you'll probably get enough rolls for less than €100.
That would mean you'd have got your room wallpapered and ceiling painted for only €330.
If your not happy with getting a border and would rather loose a bit of money than be unsattisfied with the decorating, still get the refund on the 10 rolls and start again.
You'd be starting €230 down but with having a painted ceiling.
The wallpaper should come off the wall easily enough. Take the €230 you get back and add to it to buy 11-13 rolls of a better quality wallpaper. Get whoever you are going to use to do this job to see the room and price your job before you buy your paper. That way he can advise you on how many rolls you need. The reason I said 11 is because it sounds like your 3rd generation decorator could also be a 3rd generation thief and planned on using 21/2 rolls of this paper he complimented you on to do a feature wall in his own house (total speculation)..
For 11 rolls of a higher quality wallpaper you could expect to spend around €500..
If you know anyone in need of a bit of work you should be able to get the paper stripped for less than €50, as I think it would only take a couple of hrs.
You'll get a good paperhanger to do the job for about €300.
So using all these figures it would mean you would spend €120 more than originally planned but you'd have a better quality wallpaper on your walls so that evens it up.
If you want the name & number of a very good wallpaper hanger and/or of a very good wallpaper shop with high quality wallpapers at affordable prices I can send you a pm..

DublinDIYguy

By any chance is there a shine off the paint on the ceiling? As that might more explain why it is showing through the wallpaper

cardwizzard

I presume the walls weren't lined before papering??

Its pretty standard to paint a ceiling like he did, but the decorator should have noticed the problem after a drop or two and corrected the problem. Even very very expensive paper can have there issues.

As what to do with the decorator, i'd take the five hundred and give the guy who did the other room a call and see if he can help.

References and insurance usually mean alot.

EllaC

By any chance is there a shine off the paint on the ceiling? As that might more explain why it is showing through the wallpaper

No there's no shine.

I bought the paper in B & Q so there's no problem getting a refund. I was talking to them today and they reckon that the paper was pasted instead of the wall - which is what the instructions say.

DublinDIYguy

EllaC wrote: »

By any chance is there a shine off the paint on the ceiling? As that might more explain why it is showing through the wallpaper


No there's no shine.

I bought the paper in B & Q so there's no problem getting a refund. I was talking to them today and they reckon that the paper was pasted instead of the wall - which is what the instructions say.

Would never have guessed that.. I'm very surprised that anyone, professional or not, would start hanging a wallpaper without reading the instructions. I mean its usually only about 5 lines long. And I think it's easier to hang paper that goes on a pasted wall than the ones that require pasting, definitely less messy.
It does make sense though, as the paper could go transparent from being soaked. It's a shame really to think that such a small error could cause such a big problem.
I wonder was your decorator dyslexic because in fairness to him he did refund the €500 so can't be all bad..
If you can't get a few more rolls of that paper then you may aswell get the refund off B&Q and just start again. Use the guy who done your last job or a proper paper hanger (a decorator who specialises in hanging wallpaper) this time. I'll pm you a number of a paper hanger I worked with who's excellent if you don't want to go back to your previous fella.

EllaC

I wonder was your decorator dyslexic because in fairness to him he did refund the €500 so can't be all bad..

Dyslexic? Eh no I don't think so. A careless, egotistical tosser more like. You wouldn't believe the bragging tales I had to listen to as he expounded on what a great success he is. Besides there was a drawing on the packaging illustrating that the wall should be pasted - so all angles were covered!

His €500 refund was small compensation for the messing and stress he put me through. Not to mention the stunt he pulled with the wall paper at the end. The thoughts of going through this again is totally off putting.

I'm unlikely to find a comparable wallpaper - so at this point starting again is not an option. I'm going to explore what "covering up" options I have this weekend.

EllaC

Tried a few times to upload more than one image but couldn't for some reason

sausagehead

Well thats very unusual!


wondering if he painted the ceiling just prior to the wallpaper going on, the paint might not have completely dried, the paste on the paper may have drawed the paint pigment to the surface of the paper past the wallpaper backing, because the paper should have covered the paint when dry like diyguy says,

whether you paste the wall or wallpaper, that shouldn't make the wallpaper see-through when dry!

EllaC

Well thats very unusual!


wondering if he painted the ceiling just prior to the wallpaper going on, the paint might not have completely dried, the paste on the paper may have drawed the paint pigment to the surface of the paper past the wallpaper backing, because the paper should have covered the paint when dry like diyguy says,

whether you paste the wall or wallpaper, that shouldn't make the wallpaper see-through when dry!

No, he painted the ceiling the day before. So I'd say it was completely dry by the time he went to do the wallpaper.