The Paint Job Doesn’t Look Right
The painters have left, and looking more closely at your walls, you notice the colour isn’t even, the substrate shows through in places, or the small cracks that were there before the work has already resurfaced. Yet you paid for a two-coat job, as stated on the quote. You question the painter, who assures you two coats were applied, or plays it down by saying “you can only see it in raking light, that’s normal.”
You’re left facing a situation that’s hard to settle on your own: how do you prove only one coat was applied once everything is already dry and there’s no witness to how the job was carried out?
Why It Happens: The Technical Causes
Applying a single coat of paint instead of two is a common defect, often linked to a desire to save time on a job that was underpriced. Technically, a single coat almost always lets the substrate show through in a light/dark pattern, especially with dark colours or a surface that wasn’t properly neutralised beforehand.
Another very common cause of trouble after painting: lack of surface preparation. Unsanded filler, a missing bonding primer, or a crack simply painted over without being treated with joint tape or a suitable filler will inevitably resurface within a few weeks, under the effect of temperature and humidity changes. It isn’t the paint itself that’s at fault, but the lack of proper preparation beforehand.
What You Can Do Now
Before wrongly accusing anyone or letting a genuine defect slide, a few checks are worth making:
- Look at the wall under several types of lighting, especially raking light from a torch, which reveals thickness irregularities and preparation flaws.
- Check the shade in a corner or a less visible area and compare it with the main surface: a difference in tone often points to a single coat.
- Note any cracks that reappear: check whether they follow exactly the path of the original cracks.
- Keep the original quote specifying the number of coats agreed, it’s your contractual reference.
- Get a technical assessment done before paying the balance or letting the painter hastily add a coat “to settle the complaint” without addressing the real cause.
This last point is often what prevents a bad compromise: a new coat applied in haste, without redoing the preparation, doesn’t solve anything long-term if the real problem is a substrate defect.
How an Independent Expert Can Help
The practice steps in to give an objective view on this type of dispute, very common but hard to settle without a technical eye. With 15 years of experience in public works and project management, he knows the trade standards for building paintwork and can identify whether the defect comes from the number of coats, poor substrate preparation, or a deeper structural issue (active crack, damp).
He uses his Trotec moisture meter to check whether abnormal dampness in the wall explains the rapid reappearance of defects, a point often overlooked even though it’s decisive. His thermal camera can also, in some cases, reveal variations in thickness or residual moisture beneath the paint. All these observations are recorded in a written, illustrated report that clearly states the origin of the defect found.
Cassini Expertise carries out no painting work and sells no materials: the assessment provided is therefore entirely neutral, letting you discuss the matter with the painter on factual grounds rather than a simple battle of opinions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I prove only one coat was applied?
The substrate showing through in a light/dark pattern under raking light, along with shade differences between areas, are strong indicators. An expert can confirm this objectively.
Does the painter have to redo the work for free if it’s a proven defect?
Yes, if the quote specified two coats and that wasn’t respected, the redo is their contractual responsibility, at no extra cost to you.
Why do cracks come back after painting?
Most often because they were simply painted over without prior treatment (joint tape, suitable filler), which doesn’t address the cause of the movement.
Does it take long for these defects to appear?
No, preparation or primer defects generally show up within a few weeks, particularly with the first seasonal changes.
Contact Cassini Expertise
Have doubts about the quality of your interior paintwork? An independent technical opinion can settle the matter clearly. Call us on 04 22 46 06 04 or reach us via /contact/ for a free quote in Antibes and the surrounding area (Alpes-Maritimes and Var).
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📅 Last updated 02/11/2026 - Cassini Expertise, independent building expert – departments 06, 83 and 13.