Patching and Plastering - Contractor + Drywall Finish
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jmill130
08-26-09, 05:03 PM
Ill try and make this short..
I am having my basement refinished, I am an avid diyer but do to limited time with work and pursuant of my masters decided to venture out and pay someone to assist with the job.
Had what i thought based on photos of other jobs a reputable contractor. So far he has framed the entire basement out, reworked and ran new electric as needed. He outsourced the plumbing and drywall. The drywall has really got me ticked.
I have 9' ceilings in my basement. He decided to use 12' sheets long ways and stick a 8" piece right between the two 12' sheets. Seemed as though it would work ok. However, you would need a good finisher because of the butt joints. I am not an expert but it took the finisher over a week to mud everything, in my mind thats way too much mud. Then I went and looked and you could feel and see the bulge in the wall. It wasnt a smooth transition and wasnt consistent all the way around the walls. I complained like hell and told him i am not wasting my time priming walls that look like that.
Photo below:
Zenfolio | Jason&Brianne | BasementRemodel (http://jasonbriannepics.zenfolio.com/p768600993/h4c0b156#h4c0b156)
He had his hired finisher come back out today to feather it out.. I am not expert here, hoping some finishers can weigh in here. Shouldnt you not be able to see this seam and want it to be as least noticeable as possible. I personally would have used 10' sheets floor to ceiling to avoid butt joints. He said this would be easier to mud. In reality, I dont think it is, you have more mud to sand and it doesnt look nearly as clean(at least so far). What are others opinion?
What if he doesnt make it right, theres nothing in my contract about how it should look but if If doesnt look nice enough, do I have any legal rights?? Again, I normally do everything myself because it is so hard to find people that do quality work. They are all about volume and so many contractors dont care about reputation it seems.
Any feedback is appreciated. Sorry I was venting a bit.. It really gets me, I pay good money and dont do this type of work everyday but could do a better job if I tried half as much as these guys.. Its nuts..
I am having my basement refinished, I am an avid diyer but do to limited time with work and pursuant of my masters decided to venture out and pay someone to assist with the job.
Had what i thought based on photos of other jobs a reputable contractor. So far he has framed the entire basement out, reworked and ran new electric as needed. He outsourced the plumbing and drywall. The drywall has really got me ticked.
I have 9' ceilings in my basement. He decided to use 12' sheets long ways and stick a 8" piece right between the two 12' sheets. Seemed as though it would work ok. However, you would need a good finisher because of the butt joints. I am not an expert but it took the finisher over a week to mud everything, in my mind thats way too much mud. Then I went and looked and you could feel and see the bulge in the wall. It wasnt a smooth transition and wasnt consistent all the way around the walls. I complained like hell and told him i am not wasting my time priming walls that look like that.
Photo below:
Zenfolio | Jason&Brianne | BasementRemodel (http://jasonbriannepics.zenfolio.com/p768600993/h4c0b156#h4c0b156)
He had his hired finisher come back out today to feather it out.. I am not expert here, hoping some finishers can weigh in here. Shouldnt you not be able to see this seam and want it to be as least noticeable as possible. I personally would have used 10' sheets floor to ceiling to avoid butt joints. He said this would be easier to mud. In reality, I dont think it is, you have more mud to sand and it doesnt look nearly as clean(at least so far). What are others opinion?
What if he doesnt make it right, theres nothing in my contract about how it should look but if If doesnt look nice enough, do I have any legal rights?? Again, I normally do everything myself because it is so hard to find people that do quality work. They are all about volume and so many contractors dont care about reputation it seems.
Any feedback is appreciated. Sorry I was venting a bit.. It really gets me, I pay good money and dont do this type of work everyday but could do a better job if I tried half as much as these guys.. Its nuts..
GBR in WA
08-26-09, 08:21 PM
It looks incomplete to me. 1st pic. - studs over garbage can at upper board need screws- screws in the field need to be maximum spaced 12" apart, with framing 24" on center. 16" o.c. framing- screws are max. 16" apart. As per manufacturer: http://www.gypsum.org/pdf/GA-216-07.pdf
Two studs away from the can needs more screws in field. The right of can, to the right of the first recept. box, needs screws in that stud. (are the screws there more than I mentioned for the spacing per framing?
The right wall needs screws at the first and second stud. Just look at the spacing from the pics, it will jump out at you. Drywall should be up 1/2" from concrete, in case of water on floor, not a requirement, just common sense.
2nd pic--- the left wall needs screws in the blank space above, where you see a screw below. I hope there are some screws in the stud closest to the pic on the left, is it more than 24" o. c. between screws? A good rocker will never break a joint over the jamb of a door or window...
Read the web site listed, carefully, as they recomend priming the drywall before and after texturing, though this may not be in your contract. I am not a professional finisher, be I can spot quality or not.
Be safe, G
Two studs away from the can needs more screws in field. The right of can, to the right of the first recept. box, needs screws in that stud. (are the screws there more than I mentioned for the spacing per framing?
The right wall needs screws at the first and second stud. Just look at the spacing from the pics, it will jump out at you. Drywall should be up 1/2" from concrete, in case of water on floor, not a requirement, just common sense.
2nd pic--- the left wall needs screws in the blank space above, where you see a screw below. I hope there are some screws in the stud closest to the pic on the left, is it more than 24" o. c. between screws? A good rocker will never break a joint over the jamb of a door or window...
Read the web site listed, carefully, as they recomend priming the drywall before and after texturing, though this may not be in your contract. I am not a professional finisher, be I can spot quality or not.
Be safe, G
marksr
08-27-09, 05:08 AM
Why didn't they use 54" boards? that's the industry standard for 9' walls, only 1 joint in the middle.
A good finisher should be able to float out most any butt joint.
A good finisher should be able to float out most any butt joint.
coops28
08-27-09, 03:19 PM
Im a little confused. the pictures I saw were 2 4x8 sheets going up 8'. There is no ceiling.
Overall a pretty novice job. The job in the pictures is not done yet so hard to make a good assesment.
If you don't like it and they won't fix it then fire them and keep your money.
Overall a pretty novice job. The job in the pictures is not done yet so hard to make a good assesment.
If you don't like it and they won't fix it then fire them and keep your money.
jmill130
08-27-09, 06:04 PM
Im a little confused. the pictures I saw were 2 4x8 sheets going up 8'. There is no ceiling.
Overall a pretty novice job. The job in the pictures is not done yet so hard to make a good assesment.
If you don't like it and they won't fix it then fire them and keep your money.
There are 4x8 sheets with small piece in middle.. see below photo
Zenfolio | Jason&Brianne | BasementRemodel (http://JasonBriannePics.zenfolio.com/p768600993/e3385a7a1)
I am installing a drop ceiling(wanted easy access to wires) Overall ceiling will sit about 8' 6" or so. I am not sure why they didnt use 54" sheets. Its sad these contractors get away with this stuff. I know next time to really do my research before picking a contractor. The prices varied significantly from various places. This guy talked a good talk and I explained I want the job done correctly and that i had problems with past contractors not finishing or trying to get by with shoddy work. I wish there were sites that rated contractors with clear photos of their work. What a learning experience. I feel like a babysitter holding their hand and this is what they do everyday!
Overall a pretty novice job. The job in the pictures is not done yet so hard to make a good assesment.
If you don't like it and they won't fix it then fire them and keep your money.
There are 4x8 sheets with small piece in middle.. see below photo
Zenfolio | Jason&Brianne | BasementRemodel (http://JasonBriannePics.zenfolio.com/p768600993/e3385a7a1)
I am installing a drop ceiling(wanted easy access to wires) Overall ceiling will sit about 8' 6" or so. I am not sure why they didnt use 54" sheets. Its sad these contractors get away with this stuff. I know next time to really do my research before picking a contractor. The prices varied significantly from various places. This guy talked a good talk and I explained I want the job done correctly and that i had problems with past contractors not finishing or trying to get by with shoddy work. I wish there were sites that rated contractors with clear photos of their work. What a learning experience. I feel like a babysitter holding their hand and this is what they do everyday!