How should I handle a painter’s sloppy work and the unpaid bill?

Put the problem in writing, calmly and specifically. Make a room-by-room list that connects each issue to the agreed scope, and take clear photos before anything gets changed. Ask for a written plan to address the defects and damage, with a reasonable time to respond.

Keep communication in email or another form you can save. If they offer to return, agree on exactly what they will fix and how the floor will be protected. Don’t rely on a general promise that they’ll make it right.

I wouldn’t assume that holding back the entire bill is automatically allowed, even if the work is poor. What you can withhold, and what happens if payment is delayed, can depend on your contract and local rules. Check the payment terms and consider getting local legal or consumer-protection advice before deciding what to pay.

That doesn’t mean you should ignore the defects. Send a written notice explaining what is incomplete or damaged, and keep a record that you tried to resolve it. If there’s an undisputed portion, ask a local adviser how to handle that rather than guessing.

Get another painter to inspect the work and give you a written estimate for correcting it. For the fresh wood floor, I’d also get advice from a flooring professional before anyone tries to scrape or clean the paint. A rushed cleanup can make the damage worse.

If this was booked through a larger franchise, contact the main office as well as the local operator. Send the contract, photos, your list of issues, and any reply you’ve received. Treat that as another route for resolving the dispute, not a replacement for checking your payment obligations.