Paint Issue - Solver Paint Used When Dulux Was Quoted

Penro on 12/07/2017 - 01:20

Hi all,

I had a quote from a painter for an investment property to do all internal walls which specified the use of Dulux products. In particular Dulux 101 Advanced on interior walls. A contract was signed specifying job to be done as per the initial quote. This was all fine.
I met the painter today to do an inspection and the job looks good. All walls and doors painted well.

However, when he goes to give me the left over paint, it's a Solver Ultra. I did question him at the time and he said the paint is just as good. I didn't think to question him on pricing and why he chose it instead of giving me what was quoted. I haven't managed to find an exact pricing on that paint, but I do believe it's more than likely cheaper than Dulux 101 Advanced. Why would a painter give me something more expensive than what they quoted. I'm assuming this is an investment property and he did not expect to be meeting me as keys were collected from the property manager. So they could have gotten away without anyone knowing any better. This is pretty dodgy practice and I guess is common in the trade industry as people try to cut corners wherever they can.

If there's any people out there who have used these paints, or are very familiar with prices, can you advise how much difference there would be in costs? The whole house quote was about $6000. Single low set, 4 bedroom house. All interior including ceilings, doors and internal walls, skirting.

I just found http://www.paintspot.com.au/paint/paint-interior.html?p=1&ps…, and for a 15L Dulux Wash & Wear Low sheen 15L is $212, a Solver Ultra interior acrylic low sheen 15L is $159.95. That's a difference of $52 already on only 15L. I'm thinking there's a few hundred dollars here in difference???

I hate being confrontational, but I do feel ripped off. I have yet to pay the final instalment.

Fellow OZB peeps, what would you recommend I do?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • airal3rt on 12/07/2017 - 01:53
    +3

    Approach him in a non-inflammatory manner initially and propose a discount on your bill of the estimated difference between the 2 types of paints, and possibly a further discount due to the inconvenience of having the work carried out in a manner not specified. If he refuses this simply indicate you will not pay the final installment until the ombudsman or the ACCC or some other relevant statutory body have been contacted and had an opportunity to investigate.

    Essentially, if you want to recoup some of your money(which you certainly should given the inferior paint used) you can maximise your chances by being tactful yet forceful in seeking your resolution.

  • garetz on 12/07/2017 - 02:15
    +1

    Usually in a painting contract they say duluxe or equivalent. Have a good read of what you signed first before making accusations. Also in most painting contracts, you should never depend on what they supply as paint, you should buy the paint you want, and just pay for labor, it ends up being cheaper for you, and this dodgy stuff doesnt happen because you control what they use.

    Most painters use whatever is cheapest or they have what they can mix themselves for the best cost base. Just because the paint is in a Solver Paint bucket doesnt mean thats the paint they used. Obviously every cent they save on paint goes directly to their back pocket.

    The way you calculate the total cost of the work done is daily wage x days painted. So a professional painter of lets say 20 years experience usually gets about $350 day rate, so 6k divided by 350 = 17 days of full time work. If the job took less than that you definitely got ripped off.

    From my experience a job like that should take 2 weeks or so, and cost 4k with you supplying the paint. Did you haggle at all ? Or get multiple quotes.
    Haggling is frowned upon, but you should try to get the best possible price, if they have less than 10 years experience you can haggle down to $200-250 daily rate quite easily.

    • k-rokfm on 12/07/2017 - 08:26
      +1

      From my experience a job like that should take 2 weeks or so, and cost 4k with you supplying the paint.

      So what, like 6k with the painter supplying the paint sounds about right?

    • Penro on 12/07/2017 - 10:56

      I did get a couple of quotes, and this painter was recommended by a mate who own's a real estate agency. So he gives them lots of work. I felt his price was not the cheapest, but reasonable and decided to go ahead with him also because it was recommended. I did specify I wanted Dulux paints to be used when I organised the quote, and that's what he had written down in the quote too. There is no paint substitute/equivalent can be used on the quote. I've always found it hard to find a really good reliable trustworthy tradie. I could start several other forums with bad experiences I've had. I seem to keep getting dodgy ones all the time, in all sorts of trades.
      I did try haggling, but he didn't budge on price, so I thought as long as he does good job it'll be fine.

      • ihbh on 12/07/2017 - 12:16

        How big is your house? Are they small bedrooms? How many living areas are there? Did he paint inside the garage (usually one wall is plasterboard and ceiling)?

        • Penro on 12/07/2017 - 12:42

          It's not a very big house. Fairly basic 4 bedroom house. 1 combined lounge/Living area. 1 Dining area. 1 main bathroom. Smallest bedroom is probably 2.7x3m. Master bedroom is probably 4.5x3.5m with an ensuite. I think the house size is probably about 200sqm. The garage was painted as well.

      • ronnknee on 12/07/2017 - 17:30
        +1

        I did specify I wanted Dulux paints to be used when I organised the quote, and that's what he had written down in the quote too.

        Seems like there's been a breach of contract already. Regardless if Solver is equal or better than Delux (or not), he should've consulted you if he was going to use substitute paint.

  • jason101 on 12/07/2017 - 08:14

    Painting professionals and builders get rebates for using specific brands. I had the same issue on a front wall I wanted painted, I specified a brand and the leftover paint can supplied didn't match the spec. In the end the trade was aggressive So I let it go - life is too short sometimes and that tradesman now gets zero ongoing work and zero referrals.

    • Penro on 12/07/2017 - 10:58

      I think I don't deal with these things well, and it's hard to let go. But yes, letting it go sometimes and just move on is good from past experience. I will have a conversation with them today and see how I go first, but I don't want to let this drag on and go down a legal path. Headaches for everyone.

  • Ocker on 12/07/2017 - 08:22
    +1

    You will probably find the trade discount for Solver paints (owned by Wattle, now owned by Valspar Group, USA) is substantially higher that that offered by Dulux. So when you compared the retail price of the two products that is only part of the story. I don't know the trade discount on Dulux, but on Wattle products it can be up to 50%

  • ESEMCE on 12/07/2017 - 09:02

    Is Dulux referenced as the colour match or the paint specifically?

    IANAP (I am not a Painter) but Solver is highly regarded paint, so quality wise, I would expect it to be equivalent or better than Dulux.

    • Penro on 12/07/2017 - 11:03
      +1

      The quote was very specific on the paints to be used.
      Dulux Ceiling Flat
      Dulux Wash & Wear 101 Advanced
      Dulux Oil Base Undercoat
      Dulux Super Gloss Enamel

      I guess even if it's equivalent/more expensive/better the paint, it's not what I actually asked for and quoted.

      • ESEMCE on 12/07/2017 - 11:36

        Agreed.

  • frondono on 12/07/2017 - 09:06

    Solver is good paint. But I can understand you feel betrayed. Depends on how far you want to take this, how big of an issue it really is. The Painters Registration Board might be a good first stop.

    There are plenty of Solver stores around, give them a ring and get a quote for the product used. Some of their stuff is pretty expensive.

    • Penro on 12/07/2017 - 11:17

      Thanks, I guess I don't want to spend too much effort, but if I want a proper resolution, I'm going to have to work out paint costs of both brands from different stores to get a rough idea.

      • garetz on 12/07/2017 - 14:18
        +1

        Your comparing apples and oranges here, even if you can see the retail prices, he as a professional in the field and at worst can get supplier prices, maybe even distributer pricing, which is less than 50% of the retail cost.

  • stewartedin on 12/07/2017 - 09:23

    According to this Choice report on paint Solver Ultra scores better overall than Dulux 101

    https://www.livos.com.au/uploads/566/234/2011-choice.pick-a-…

  • sph on 12/07/2017 - 12:15

    I think the effort to resolve this won't be worth it. At the end of the day it is an investment property and you will yield the same profits regardless. If the painter did a good job, I would let it go but would provide more directions if using the same painter in the future.

    • Penro on 12/07/2017 - 12:47
      +1

      yep, I've already spent quite a few hours researching into this. I would have been happy to reuse the painter if he gave me the right paint. It breaks trust with the painter now. So don't know if I will get him to do any future jobs. I was pretty specific when I requested the quote to use Dulux, I called and made sure of this when quoting. His quote came back with Dulux specific paints. The only thing extra I could have done is be there when he started the job and made sure the paint used was actually Dulux. Or next time buy my own paints and just pay labour only.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2017 - 13:38

    Crooks the lot of them.

    I had them threaten to walk off the job and told them to get off my property and I'd see them in court. "The money's in my bank account and that's where it's staying."

    I drove off and 18 seconds later my phone rang with the owner of Crooks Inc on the line. It seemed what we'd agreed to 24 hours earlier could occur after all.

  • chumlee on 12/07/2017 - 13:43

    $6K is a good price. Just move on

  • LyndonBBear on 12/07/2017 - 20:16

    $6000 is a good price. Out of that he also has to pay 10% GST and of course any other expenses. Everyone is entitled to make a profit. If you were happy with the job, so be it. Solver is a really good paint.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 12/07/2017 - 20:38

    He'd be getting trade prices and rebates on his supplies anyways.

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