Who's On First?
#1
04-03-17, 03:29 PM
Join Date: May 2016
Location: USA
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Who's On First?
The new owner of an empty co-op hired me to paint the walls & ceilings before he took residency. A second contractor was going to be hired to remove the old carpet & refinish the floors, after I finished. The floor guy told the owner that he had to do his work first, to avoid dust on the walls. The owner told me that I had to wait. I refused. My labor price was based on the fact that I didn't have to take the time to worry about paint on the floor or the old carpet. To be fair, I asked them to give me time to paint the ceilings & do some patch work. They refused so I cancelled.
What is the best practice, refinish the floor or paint first?
What is the best practice, refinish the floor or paint first?
#2
04-03-17, 05:27 PM
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I see no issue with some dust on the freshly painted walls. A quick wipe and and no more dust. 
From your stand point you would want to paint the walls first. As you pointed out, it will be easier for you not have to worry about getting paint on the floor. I hope you told him that your price was biased on you not having to cover the floors.
The floor sander guy would want to do his job first. He would then not have to worry about getting dust/damaging the walls.
IMO - I would rather paint first, then finish the floors. If there was any damage to the walls call the painter back to touch up. It is harder to "touch up" the floors.
From your stand point you would want to paint the walls first. As you pointed out, it will be easier for you not have to worry about getting paint on the floor. I hope you told him that your price was biased on you not having to cover the floors.
The floor sander guy would want to do his job first. He would then not have to worry about getting dust/damaging the walls.
IMO - I would rather paint first, then finish the floors. If there was any damage to the walls call the painter back to touch up. It is harder to "touch up" the floors.
#3
04-04-17, 03:07 AM
You always start from the top and work your way down when it comes to finishes .... so other than touch up the floors would be last. That said there have been many jobs where scheduling caused me to do the painting after the floors were finished. IMO it's not that big of a deal although if the scheduling conflict isn't my fault and there is a good bit of prep involved I reserve the right to charge extra.
Floor sanding does create a lot of dust but I've never seen it be an issue to have to dust off the walls.
Floor sanding does create a lot of dust but I've never seen it be an issue to have to dust off the walls.
#4
04-04-17, 08:28 AM
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I was called first & looked at the job first. It wasn't until the floor guy gave his estimate that he convinced the owner how to do the job the "right way". The owner left me a message to which I responded, No. Both the owner & the floor guy ignored me so I walked.
#5
04-04-17, 09:00 AM
An old contractors' trick to get things moving is to tell everyone the carpet layers will be here Monday.
And sometimes the best thing you can do for your reputation is walk away from a job.
Everybody wants to be first so he does not have to protect the other trades' work.
Dust is only dust.
And sometimes the best thing you can do for your reputation is walk away from a job.
Everybody wants to be first so he does not have to protect the other trades' work.
Dust is only dust.
