Many thanks for the replies, some very interesting comments there. I was particularly interested in the comment about using emulsion under the gloss.
The story that I was being fed, was that Dulux water based paint had been used over the existing oil based paint, and that a reaction had occurred. I know nothing about painting, so that kind of sounded plausible to me, but given the way that they just toshed over everything yesterday including leaves and cobwebs, the use of emulsion sounds highly likely. The paintwork that is peeling is powdery and dry underneath.
In respect of me being taken for a ride, the main contract was handed out to a local builder, whose work and skill I have no question with. He is a perfectionist of the old school, but sadly the main paintwork contract was given by him to a supposed reputable local company. By memory, the builder was away when the painting was carried out, and I was up on the roof working and never gave the paintwork a second thought.
The builder did replace a fair bit of wood work and he and his son painted all the replacement timber themselves. They primed and undercoated both the back and front of each piece before fitting, and their work is as good as new.
I have sort of calmed down a bit, although not alot, and my next stage is to get an independant surveyor around to inspect the old work that the painter missed, and the new work as well. I also intend to get three quotes to do the work properly, and will be hitting the builder and painter with these quotes. I'm not going to let this matter drop, and I will be making sure that this painters days of ripping people off come to end one way or another. The gallows are be designed in my head as write this, along with thoughts of drilling knee caps and elbows, or using a paslode first fix nail gun with 90mm fitted. I also feel a letter to HMRC coming on.
