Do painter and decorators not normally include radiators in their quotes?

[BretonStripe]

Just curious really. We got a quote for £1250 to decorate our large living room-dining room area. They've stated "all ceilings, walls and woodwork" in their email, but then the guy who turned up said "oh, do you want me to do the doors as well?" I replied a bit confused "yes, they're woodwork aren't they?".

It's almost finished but radiators haven't been touched. Hadn't thought about until now. Is this normal? Been over a decade since we had a decorator in and can't remember..

Builders etc regularly tell you what they do
forgetting it’s not their money!

When a builder stuffs my specification in his back pocket when I hand it to him I hand him another. It’s the contract!

Im always surprised how regularly here on mumsnet posters say they left the plumber to pick the fittings for a bathroom!! Why would anyone not want to chose what they want. Why is it the plumbers choice?! Is he moving in ?🤣

So you are not alone
Remember you are in charge.
They are working for you.
It’s your money
Give them a kettle and the spec, job done
😁

Radiators require special paint - so I would not assume they were included.

If your radiators have already been painted and they are chipping and cracking I wouldn’t expect them to be included as that’s a lot of work and you would have alot more to pay than £1250.

I’ve never had painted doors ….always reclaimed oak….wouldn’t cross my mind that a quote would include doors

@BrownTroutBluesAgain haha, I despise choosing all the things as there's far too much choice in everything! I am notoriously indecisive and over-think everything, hence us leaving it so long in-between doing jobs on the house.

I remember once buying a wash hand basin for an en-suite and the guy in the plumbing store asking if I'd like a waste and chain with that? A what now? Umm, yeah? Why would I buy a basin and not have a plug...and then alll the options of a sodding plug and chain 😭

Very nice! Love reclaimed oak ❤️

That's an outrageous amount for a living room however big. I've just paid less than that for hall and staircase in which all 8 doors, stairs and bannister which were previously brown wood were painted. They did the radiators as well.
I have never had a decorator who didn't do the doors and radiators.

Yeah when we got everything decorated (purchased house but didn't move straight in) woodwork just meany skirting boards, door frames and any cornicing. Emulsion the walls alone. They didn't paint the radiators or the doors (although they are natural wood - old doors - so wouldn't have been a question really). I'd have thought when they came to quote they'd have told you/asked you if you wanted them included. If in doubt, always be super specific and ask lots of questions e.g. (do you use/provide sustainable sheets, do you buy paint or me, do you do doors/radiators etc, how long will it take, does it include vat etc etc). They don't mind answering questions.

No to radiators - , sometimes doors but sometimes only one side e.g the room side it its the room , hall side if its the hall. ps £1,250 is insane unless it is a massive room with lots of ceiling details. My decorator is here now. He did my living room which was state needed a lot of filling and repairs. He was on it for 5 days and it was £500. He was going the hall stairs and landing at the same time and that was only 850 that iclude 8 doors stairs bannisters skirting and walls. He leaves everything cleaner than when he left and even put the curtain rails etc back up for me .

Doors are obvs made of wood but not always included in the price. Woodwork refers to skirting boards / arcotraves mainly. I think it's good that they asked you to confirm if you wanted them doing without just going for it if it hadnt been agreed. But they should surely have discussed it all with you properly!

As for the radiators- definitely not normal to be included.

Where are you @insomniacalways ? I'm in the south of England, and quotes for the living-diner (it is big - is approx 28ft x 12ft -has a dado rail, cornicing and high ceilings).

I'm not happy because the guy who came to do the quote isn't the one doing the work. Not sure what the point of me meeting the first guy was, talking the job through with him (early Dec), researching his reputation, liaising with him etc only for him to turn up the other day and introduce him to a random family member who he then just (said he'd be back in a couple of days but didn't actually come back at all to help).

We have just had our bedroom done for £800 was quoted for the room not time it will take to do although it has taken him longer than expected (8 days being there everyday all day) due to extra bits that needed replastering then needed to dry. He did the door and radiator which we werent expecting and even said to him didnt need doing but he insisted. He has done an amazing job and only asked for extra £50 when we asked due to taking longer than the inital expected 4-5 days. We were just glad he kept going and finished it.

I wouldn't say doors or radiators would be included in a standard quote unless specified

Our painter included the doors in her quote and painted them when I asked for woodwork and banisters to be painted (she was doing the landing/stairs/hallway so did all doors off it).
She didn’t do the radiators and I wasn’t expecting her to. Tbh I wasn’t actually expecting her to do the doors, I didn’t realise she’s included them until she started painting them

Maybe I’m super fussy, but when I decorate a room, the radiators are removed so they can be painted/ papered behind and then put back and reconnected afterwards, sometimes with new ones if they are looking tatty. I would not be expecting them to be painted.

we recently had our upstairs landing painted. The decorator painted all doors and woodwork facing the landing. Not not the sides of doors facing into the rooms off the landing, iyswim.

he also painted radiators.

I think doors would have to be done (as long as they are painted doors) as they could look dingy next to the new woodwork.

I had to ask specifically for radiators to be included and price adjusted accordingly.

@BretonStripe Won’t all the doors loom yellow? Won’t they all need painting? To have woodwork not go yellow, use eggshell for interior wood. A good brand like Farrow and Ball won’t change colour or age. Don’t use gloss or oil based paint. Dont paint a white radiator black - yuk!

If doors are already painted i would expect them to be repainted as part of the job. If they are oak doors I wouldn't expect them to be included.
I've never painted a radiator on my life so would never expect that to be included.

Yeah, that's what I thought re: doors. I told the guy nothing had been touched for 13 years, and he was clearly including the frames. They're all eggshell paint in white. Ergo, the doors would definitely look grubby against the fresh walls and frames. He's sending the guy back to do them next week.

Thanks for all the comments everyone! Looks like it's a mixed bag, and I need to be very detailed oriented/specific next time I get someone in. Must remember to ask them to say what they don't do as standard like clean up after themselves

You found a good one!

P.s @OhDear111 don't worry, the painting the white rads black idea was immediately vetoed by DH! I am totally clueless and rubbish at these sorts of things ! They shall stay white.

He was! Did a great job. Could talk for England, though…