I have just fired a crew from a student painting operation, the details being too numerous and bazaar to relate here. Another crew is coming in the morning 🙁
The problem: the first crew painted over the vents in the soffits with an exterior latex paint. How would one go about fixing that. I am concerned that they will poke through the holes and leave it at that.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
“The Wish,” II. 10-12
(1668)
Replies
What kind of vents are they?
I am attaching one up close and one in context.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
sorry to say, you get what you pay for.
I haven't paid for anything, yet. And $3,500 seems like it should get me a half decent job.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
you're worried about what they painted that they shouldn't have and not what thay didn't paint that they should have. go back and look at the photos you posted and see all they missed and what they got on the brick. and then you may rethink $3,500.00. just lookin out for ya.
The photo was useful to me for just that reason, but I didn't have to see everything to know that I had to stop the job. Mind you I new that from the start, I just didn't listen to myself. What they did and did not do is material for a novelette. And perhaps, when I am not so tired of thinking about it, I will tell you how it all began.
I have not paid them anything, as yet. I have someone who will help me finish painting if need be, in which case, I will pay the first guys for what they have done, less what I had to fix because of them.
Thanks for lookin' out for me.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
I looked at the pics again, and it looks like you are changing the color of the soffit material. If that is correct, would it make sense to paint the solid soffit and not the perforated? "Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I imagine a fairly dry roller would of been sufficient. However, all the soffits have been painted already.
The new crew is here and they are going to see if they can dissolve it. They appear more confident and interested in the details. We'll see.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
Latex Goof Off will take it off. the original Goof Off will not."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Thank you, I'll let them know.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
Here I am again. The Latex Goof Off did not work. Today someone else came to work at the soffits. She said she would use a gel stripper to take of the paint and then repaint. Unbeknownst to me, that did not work and so she proceeded to poke through the paint with a tool.
It started to rain and I saw that she was still out there working, so I went out to see what was up. I saw what she was doing and asked her about the gel and she said it didn't work. I told her that she didn't need to finish it today and she said that no one would get paid tomorrow if she didn't finish the work. I asked if that was dependent on her getting a cheque from me and she said yes. So, I told her that I was not going to give her a cheque and that she could go home.
Then I phone the guy in charge and told him the above. He asked what the problem was. I said that poking holes through the paint was not the same thing as getting the paint out. He wanted to know why not and said that on all the other houses they had painted over the holes and it was okay - why was I giving him such a problem. On and on. Anyway, I said that we had a heat gun and maybe that would work. He still wanted the cheque now, because that painting was done. I said, no. So he is very upset.
Responses, please.
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
Heat gun does not sound like a good idea. if you get the paint hot enough to soften it, I suspect you might soften the vinyl at the same time."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I'm having a hard time following the story. The someone else that was there today was from the first crew that got fired or this is a new crew? If she's from a new crew, how is it that her boss is the one who had a crew that painted over the holes in the soffit?
Were the soffits suposed to be painted? If so, you've got to expect a little paint in the holes. It happens. But yes, they could have been more careful. Do you still have sufficient venting? It's hard to tell from just 2 pics.
Yes, there's paint on the brick. Is this all of it? If there's a lot more, I wouldn't pay them either, but if this is the worst of it, It's not that bad.
All in all, my post is just a long-winded way of saying that I don't have nearly enough information to proffer an opinion.
You're right. Not enough info. Somethin's funny here.
Just glad that I hand pick my customers...still...
I'm more than happy to break even on my own projects than to lose money on someone elses....
Hmmmm.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Hey Belinda, I can't really see that the vents are all that clogged. Has anyone tried compressed air or a pressure washer? As bad as the other painting is that you've shown, it oughta blow off real eaasy!http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
You could pull the vents and replace them. Better yet would be to either cut continuous vents (maybe that's what you have?) or remove soffit and replace with perforated aluminum.
Edit: I'm an idjit--I see that your soffit is aluminum. Disregard everything I said--I just looked at the first picture and thought you had vents in a plywood soffit. What a mess. I guess others have given you good advice though, so....
Edited 6/13/2009 8:12 pm ET by Danno
How difficult would it be to remove just those pieces that are perforated? And, do they sell replacements in standard sizes?
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)
Probably comes in 10 ft lengths, cut to fit with tin snips or large scissors. (If you're only making one cut can you use a scissor?)"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Unless you know what you're doing it is very hard. It's hard even when you do know. The aluminum fascia has to be loosened, the soffit pulled out and a new piece inserted. It's not rocket science but it's fussy work.
If you have an air compressor give the plugged holes a blast.
If that doesn't work and there actually is an opening behind the vents to the attic I'd try a quick blast with pressure washer. Use one with 3500 psi and put it on max. Not much water actually comes out but be brief and start with the tip about a foot from the vent. Don't soak it. If you don't want to risk doing it installed, take out the panels and then hit the vents lying on a piece of plywood or something. A regular hose on high may even do it. Soaking it first will help soften the paint. - r
Greetings belinda.
the details being too numerous and bazaar to relate here.
We all love stories here and it sounds interesting if you care to share what happened.
Cheers
Thank you. Ahem...
May I a small house and
large garden have!
And a few friends, and
many books, both true,
Both wise, and both
delightful too!
ABRAHAM COWLEY,
"The Wish," II. 10-12
(1668)