When to pay a plasterer?

BrokenArrows

We we are having the house re-skimmed at the moment and generally just having a few problems with his work and his work ethic (drinking on the job, leaving pile of cigarette butts on the patio, poor work, very very messy with no attempt to prevent staining furniture, carpets etc)

Anyway the plaster was paid 20% up front for the cost of materials for the job as he requested. 20% more than covers the cost of materials for the full job. Plastering does not have expensive materials, it is the labor that makes it expensive.

This morning after I went through a huge list of stuff he is doing wrong he asked me for 50% of the amount due for "materials".

I told him that he will receive all the amount due once he completes the work as i have already paid for materials.

I quizzed him on the materials he has used so far and added it up. It only equates to less than half of what i paid him and hes about 60% done.
He then changed his reason to "He needs it to pay his laborer". Which i told him was not my problem, he can be paid at the end of the week when i pay for the job (His estimate was to complete the work in 5 days).

I guess im just looking for confirmation that im not being unreasonable.

Secondly id really like to hold back 10% of the final amount to give time for the plaster to dry properly and to give me adequate time to check the work for flaws. Is this acceptable in normal circumstances?

jlm29

The last time we had a plasterer in to skim, we bought the materials and then paid him going out the door. We didn't hold back anything to wait for plaster to dry, but perhaps other people do. That said, the plasterer we had was very professional, and we had no cause for concern throughout!

cardwizzard

Suppose it depends on the conversation before you started.

Was there talk of holding 10% back beforehand or has this just come along now? Re the quality of his work etc that's different argument. I'd wait till he's finished and point out what you thinks wrong and take it from there.

I'd also throw him a few bob if he's within reason, but again that's your call.

wordofwarning

A bag of plaster costs anything from €10-15 per 25 kg bag. The beading ie the metal pieces to put on the corners are expensive though. A fair amount of tradesmen buy on credit, so they aren't always buying material upfront

Most tradesmen are messy. You really should have cleared out the area. I know tradesmen who are super nice, but don't see anything wrong with dropping cigarette butts all over the place

Victor

What did you agree at the start?

If the total job is 5 days, pay him at the end, provided you are happy with the work.

If the work is longer, pay him for completed rooms, no more frequently than once per week.

If you are doing electrical or plumbing work also, is the plasterer taking care of the work around these?

Given that you are responsible for health and safety, I would not tolerate drinking on the job.

Why is there exposed carpet and furniture in the rooms being plastered? Get some old sheets and cover them.

tabby aspreme

If he is drinking alcohol while working he is an alcoholic, for skimming, materials would probably cost 10 - 15% of the total cost, do not pay him for labour in advance