Help! How can I force my builder to put undercoat when painting a new built home?!!

I’m building in SA at the moment. My contract includes everything (painting, carets, floor tiles, etc.) except of backyard. My builder Statesmans Homes (same as Hickinbotham and Construction Services Australia) suppose to be very reputable and the biggest builder in SA.

The problem I got – they don’t want to do undercoat as a first coat of all new gyprock, woodwork and corrugated iron. Just paint with 2 finishes!

My contract says - price includes “painting for 2 coats”.

Ideally you paint bare surfaces for 3 coats – 1st undercoat (or sealer) and 2 coats of finish. But if you put 2 coats – you cut off the last finish coat.

Here the problem comes…

They tell me that they quoted for painting with “2 coat system” (not quite what contract says) – means the system used for previously painted surfaces when you put 2 coats of finish.

Without undercoat paint will blister, crack and peel off. And there is not way real to fix it later. Once it’s done it’s done…

Builder also keep telling me that they do what everyone does and it’s a normal practice. If I want undercoat I have to pay extra.

Now – can anyone advise – how can I force a builder to do use first coat of undercoat?

Cheers
:)

Lesia

www.ol-painting.com.au

First coat is most likely a coloured sealer. Second coat is the finish coat. If you want 3 coats, it is an extra. Go to your painting supply specialist/hardware house and check out their recommendations.

I.P. Freely - 'cause I can!

Force???

You can't force anyone to do anything! With developments we have done, if it states something in the contract that we don't want or would prefer different, we just ask. Can you please give us a quote on the additional cost of adding an under coat? I did not notice previously that it was not included but would like you to do it this way! How much more?
It gets done that way :)

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I though so too!!!

But no, they are not going to use undercoat at all!!!  

Checking material data sheets was the first thing I did. They don’t use a self priming paint. Their paint requires undercoat. I’m a painter myself and know what I’m saying. 

I spoke with Solvers (paint manufacturer). When I called myself – the rep told me that this issue arises from time to time, but he’s not legally allowed to discuss this with me.  He gave me a contact of a guy from the Consumer & Business Affair (equivalent of the Department of Fair Trading in NSW). This guy advised that it’s illegal what builder is trying to do, as it’s against Australian Standards (AS 2311… I think).    He suggested I lodge a claim for assistance form with them and they then take legal action with builder for me.

Now it gets better.

I got another call today from Solvers today, but this time my builder organized it. The rep told me that doing 2 finishes over bare surfaces is common practice in SA and it will not peel or crack etc. Undercoat in his words is a better option, but not a necessary one. But he declined to give me a written statement throughout.   

He mentioned that in Vic and NSW they do put 1 undercoat and 1 finish, but in SA package home builders just do 2 finishes without undercoat… .  

I’m now discussing few options:

-         To exclude painting for 2 coats (inside/outside) would result in $950 credit to my contract balance (It’s very under priced – it’s about 6K of work)

-         To add 3rd coat of undercoat/etch primer (really the 1st coat) is $1500.

I’m trying to get quote for upgrading 1st coat for undercoat – but apparently they don’t have such variation!!! I can only take painting off (really underpriced value!) or add 3rd coat of undercoat (overpriced value!)

Can anyone suggest how to negotiate with the builder – I really want a proper built house (this is why I’m not too keen on going legal).

Has anyone been in such situation?

How did you negotiate?

Cheers
:)

Lesia

www.ol-painting.com.au

You are a painter.  Why not paint the undercoat yourself?

K

I was going to suggest the same as Linar. You may have to sign a waiver saying that if anything goes wrong with the paint then you wear it as you did the base coat. But it may be worth asking. I would really try not to get them offside, you still have to get them to finish everything off properly.

All the best

Mick 

Yep, I'm a painter…
But I have quite a large business in Sydney.
It’s not feasible for me to go to SA for a week to do paining myself (but it’s a good problem)  So I really need to get someone to do painting for me in SA. I guess I’ll press the builders to give me a price for updating for undercoat  & etch primer on first coat of paint.  Wish me a good luck

Cheers
:)

Lesia

www.ol-painting.com.au

By the way… Did anyone had a new house painted without undercoat?How does it perform?

Cheers
:)

Lesia

www.ol-painting.com.au

Since when did plasterboard or cement render need an etch primer? AFAIK it is used only on galvanised metal to get to a clean/oil-free surface - what are you on about?.

As a painter, use your rule of thumb as to what the paint job is worth (two coats), why does the undercoat cost $1500 if the other 2 coats are worth $475 each - hasn't the builder allowed any prep? Use your skill to negotiate either a realistic credit ie about $4-5k or pay for a 3rd coat at $475 + margins.

If the paint manufacturer will only warrant the paint with an undercoat insist that the builder either comply with the manufacturer's recommendation or provide a specific warranty on the paintwork equal to that of the manufacturer or advise that payment will be withheld until he complies with the standard (not his specification/quote - not your problem that he short-changes his clients by providing sub-standard finishes, what else has he left out?).