When you hire a professional painter and decorator, you are buying not only their labour and materials but also their expertise and assurance. A professional decorator warranty is a mark of confidence in their craft, offering homeowners peace of mind long after the job is complete. However, understanding the terms of this guarantee is crucial to ensure you have realistic expectations and know what constitutes a genuine claim.
A standard professional warranty covers workmanship and materials for a defined period, usually ranging from 12 months up to 5 years, depending on the type of work and the quality of paint used.
What should a painter guarantee?
A reputable painter or decorator guarantees the quality of their workmanship and their adherence to the manufacturer’s specification.
1. Workmanship failures
These are issues directly related to the decorator’s skill or preparation process:
- Peeling/Flaking: This occurs when the paint film separates from the surface. In most cases, this indicates poor surface preparation—either the surface was not properly cleaned, the correct primer was skipped, or a mist coat was not applied to new plaster. If paint peels after a month or two, this is almost certainly a preparation failure covered by the warranty.
- Blistering/Bubbling: Bubbles in the paint film, often caused by painting over a surface that was not fully dry (trapping moisture) or by painting in direct, hot sunlight.
- Uneven Finish: Visible brush or roller marks, ‘fat edges’ (thick buildup of paint at the edges), or poor ‘cutting-in’ lines that show a clear lack of skill.
- Bleed-Through (Stains): If the painter failed to use a stain-blocking primer (like shellac) over knots, watermarks, or smoke damage, and the stain reappears, this is a clear preparation failure.
2. Material failures
This is less common but involves the paint itself failing prematurely (e.g., severe fading or poor opacity) when applied exactly according to the manufacturer’s technical data sheet. A professional should use trade-grade materials, which often come with better performance claims than retail equivalents.
What a warranty typically does not cover
It is vital for the homeowner to understand that a professional painting guarantee protects against the decorator’s fault, not the building’s fault.
- Structural Defects (Root Cause): The most common exclusion is damage caused by water ingress, rising damp, or structural movement. If a leak from a gutter causes moisture to wick up the wall and make the paint peel, the fault lies with the guttering, not the painter. If the building settles or a crack reappears, this is a building maintenance issue.
- Fair Wear and Tear: Scuff marks on skirting boards, damage from furniture moving, or fading caused by normal light exposure in a south-facing room are not covered.
- Misuse: Damage from improper cleaning (using abrasive cleaners on a matte finish) or failure to follow the curing instructions.
Painter liability for defects and quality assurance
A key part of receiving a quality service is the initial quote. A detailed quote should function as your quality assurance document.
- Specify Prep: The quote should detail the preparation method (e.g., ‘Sugar soap cleaning and fungicidal wash applied to bathroom ceiling’ or ‘All woodwork sanded and primed’). This sets the standard for the quality of the work.
- Specify Materials: It should list the exact paint system (e.g., ‘Dulux Trade Diamond Matt’ or ‘Tikkurila Anti-Mould System’). This helps with the ‘decorator quality assurance’ review.
- Final Walkthrough: Reputable professionals insist on a final walkthrough with the homeowner before final payment. This is your chance to identify any snags or issues (like missed spots or untidy lines) and agree on a clear snagging list.
If you suspect a failure is due to poor workmanship (e.g., the paint peels after a month), contact the decorator immediately and provide photos. An honest and reputable tradesperson will return to inspect and rectify genuine defects.
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