I recently had my 1922 Bungalow painted by a local company where I supplied the paint. Unfortunately, I found out that they didn't pressure wash the stucco before painting, despite the contract stating that it was required. They contracted the cleaning and painting to different groups and there was a miscommunication, leading to the job being done improperly. Now I'm wondering what my options are for addressing this situation.
3 Answers
From my experience with stucco, the surface should ideally be cleaned before painting, but power washing can actually damage it. It sounds like they might have skipped it purposely. If you've got video evidence showing they didn't follow the contract, you can negotiate a better price or ask for a refund. If they’re uncooperative, a little review bombing could motivate them to resolve things.
Thanks for the tips! They did admit to the miscommunication and are offering me a $500 discount plus a 2-year warranty. But I got the evidence on camera showing that they didn't do the cleaning right. Hope that helps!
As a fourth-generation house painter, I would be livid about this! The initial appearance may seem fine, but without proper adhesion, you’ll face long-term issues like mildew forming under the paint. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay them at all.
Just a heads-up: Painting without pressure washing can cause the paint to fail sooner than expected because dirt and debris can prevent proper adhesion. While you can try other methods like hand washing, pressure washing is the most effective way to prepare the surface.
With the traffic on my street, I definitely feel like power washing was necessary. I'm just glad I caught it in time!