Question for the decorating experts…

L

LondonKid

Member
Unfortunately my bathroom is prone to leaks and when it does it stains my neighbours ceiling below and I have to pick up the repair bill.

However, each time it happens he insists on a full ceiling repaint rather than a touch up. Now I understand his frustration and the inconvenience caused, but I just paid for a full re-paint in January this year.

So I’m just curious as to how long you would think it would take for a touch up job to be noticeable? If it was touched up after six months would that be obvious or am I just being a bit naive?

For info, the reason for the leak is it’s an old listed building that is prone to movement, which in turn breaks away the bathroom grouting.

Ps I work overseas so can’t inspect it myself
 
I would sort out your bathroom. If there are leeks coming through the grout due to movement, replace the tiles with waterproof board, these come in sheets and replace tiles.
Also make sure your sealant is flexible, this should allow for some small movement.
I am sure that there is lots that can be done to make the bathroom watertight.
 
No painting expert, but I expect he's well within his rights to get the full thing done, and I don't think it's out of order etc. If getting a painter there each time it will be a fresh tin of paint, quoting the job, mobilising and demobilising etc, most of the cost will be in all the fixed aspects, not actually doing it. Then there's also the time for the guy who lives there.

After a few times he's probably within his rights for you to sort out a permanent solution, or he might start asking for it to be re-plastered/ re-boarded, as if it's happened a few times his ceiling is probably wrecked, just like the joists they're attached too etc.

Touch up's will never "match", not to the standard he could expect either, and every time he gets a new tin of pain the colour may even be slightly different if from a different batch etc.

I'm sure there are probably ways to seal that, under the grout, you'd need to re-do all the tiling though. Might be able to use some sort of flexible panels on the floor instead? Maybe have a tray of some sort under there, which drains off into one of the drains.
 
Boro in Devon said:
I would sort out your bathroom. If there are leeks coming through the grout due to movement, replace the tiles with waterproof board, these come in sheets and replace tiles.
Also make sure your sealant is flexible, this should allow for some small movement.
I am sure that there is lots that can be done to make the bathroom watertight.
Click to expand...
Yeah, we are now going level and strengthen the floor, add tanking under the shower and tile over the existing tiles. Unfortunately, I’ve had too many repairs by handmen who fairly much just carry out temporary fixes over and over again
 
Andy_W said:
No painting expert, but I expect he's well within his rights to get the full thing done, and I don't think it's out of order etc. If getting a painter there each time it will be a fresh tin of paint, quoting the job, mobilising and demobilising etc, most of the cost will be in all the fixed aspects, not actually doing it. Then there's also the time for the guy who lives there.

After a few times he's probably within his rights for you to sort out a permanent solution, or he might start asking for it to be re-plastered/ re-boarded, as if it's happened a few times his ceiling is probably wrecked, just like the joists they're attached too etc.

Touch up's will never "match", not to the standard he could expect either, and every time he gets a new tin of pain the colour may even be slightly different if from a different batch etc.

I'm sure there are probably ways to seal that, under the grout, you'd need to re-do all the tiling though. Might be able to use some sort of flexible panels on the floor instead? Maybe have a tray of some sort under there, which drains off into one of the drains.
Click to expand...
Yeah, agree that he has been inconvenienced on many occasions for something out of his control so I don’t want him to inconvenience him anymore.

However there is a little twist in the story as these repairs should be covered on our buildings insurance. But, as the premiums will Sky rocket our annual renewal price we (the building residents) try and not use the insurance and I am left to foot the painting bill each time. So because we try and save on insurance I have to foot the bill myself, and I guess that is why I am asking the question really
 
LondonKid said:
Yeah, agree that he has been inconvenienced on many occasions for something out of his control so I don’t want him to inconvenience him anymore.

However there is a little twist in the story as these repairs should be covered on our buildings insurance. But, as the premiums will Sky rocket our annual renewal price we (the building residents) try and not use the insurance and I am left to foot the painting bill each time. So because we try and save on insurance I have to foot the bill myself, and I guess that is why I am asking the question really
Click to expand...
Yeah, if the building's insurance is joint, then maybe any maintenance could be, or it could still be every man for himself etc, depends on what you agreed but you can back out of the agreement, it's not going to be illegal to do that etc.

If you have an agreement like you mention, then it change things a bit, he should be a bit slacker I would say, and just keep his own tin of paint and touch it up. It's only a bathroom ceiling, not exactly his entrance hallway or high traffic area.
Have a word with him, say "I can't keep paying out these full ceiling repainting costs, so I'm going to have to start to claim on insurance", this might kick him up the ****. Or you could claim for the new bathroom due to the leaks, and get it done properly. I imagine by now it's all pretty wrecked underneath. A one-off hit to the insurance maybe might not do too much, and might save you all some trouble/ expense.

Sounds like you've tried to do your bit, and keep it off the insurance, so nobody should now be expecting you to fork out £200-£300 every few month for painting.
 
Just to point out that if your bathroom leaks, it is on his insurance to pay for UNLESS it is due to negligence on your part. If you have done everything possible to prevent it in terms of fixing things as they arise, then a leak is a matter of course that he should either suck up or claim for, or pursue you for said negligence.
 
LondonKid said:
Unfortunately my bathroom is prone to leaks and when it does it stains my neighbours ceiling below and I have to pick up the repair bill.

However, each time it happens he insists on a full ceiling repaint rather than a touch up. Now I understand his frustration and the inconvenience caused, but I just paid for a full re-paint in January this year.

So I’m just curious as to how long you would think it would take for a touch up job to be noticeable? If it was touched up after six months would that be obvious or am I just being a bit naive?

For info, the reason for the leak is it’s an old listed building that is prone to movement, which in turn breaks away the bathroom grouting.

Ps I work overseas so can’t inspect it myself
Click to expand...
Best one yet 😂
 
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