House painting question / legal question

[Lancer]

I put a third coat of paint on a house today, the first two coats had three days of drying prior to today. Five hours after finishing the third coat it started to rain, and it's rained for a solid 6 hours until now.

The paint was latex, will it be a mess in the morning or ok?

If it's a mess, as the contractor, am I at fault or is it an 'act of god'?

How would you handle it?

[Japher]

wait and see... if it's a mess then it's really up to you I guess. As the customer I also wouldn't want to be held responsible for acts of God. I would probably call a couple of local painters and find out what they do when this happens, as it's probably I general occurrance in the Northwest.

[Lancer]

I think it will likely be ok, I haven't heard anything yet.

[Zkribbler]

Is there are written contract. If so, does it mention what happens in case of rain?

I have to be honest. I'd love to be able to sue the idiot who last painted the inside of my "library" at home. It's a horrible job! Unfortunately, he is me.

[DaShi]

You took a painting job and didn't know about the paint you were using?

[Zkribbler]

No. He didn't know that it was going to rain.

[DaShi]

Surely, he should know how his paint would behave in the rain.

[PLATO]

After 5 hours, latex should be okay. Not knowing the product you, as a professional painter, are applying is not okay.

Further...most painters make their living on recomendations. Should the paint application be poor and you use the "act of God" excuse to not redue the final coat, then don't expect your business to be booming any time soon.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by PLATO
Should the paint application be poor and you use the "act of God" excuse to not redue the final coat, then don't expect your business to be booming any time soon.

You might even have to leave the country.

[Lancer]

I do know the product. It's friggin latex paint However, who knows how it would behave after 5 hrs?

The guy was super happy with the job I did. Besides, I painted his entire small home three coats in three days and the labor for all this only cost him $375. He's kinda poor so I gave him a $ break and worked without taking any breaks. As to the paint, well he supplied that.

Word of mouth.

[East Street Trader]

Five hours seems like a long time to me. I should think it will be OK.

Why not call by and say you would like to check the finish? That puts the initiative in your hands if the rain did any damage. And it won't do your reputation any harm either.

[rah]

Unless you really globbed it on. 5 hours should be enough.

And yes, call over and ask to take a look at it.
It will be worth the good will.