Is this decorator quote taking the mick?

[IfInDoubtPout]

Just got it sent through the post after he visited last week. We live in a normal three bed semi and it's for the downstairs hall and landing upstairs. Not a big area (the hall is thin and narrow) and includes lining paper, all paint etc etc and painting 8 doors. The hall downstairs have wood chip under wallpaper, so this all needs taking off. He said he doesn't use a steamer and does it by hand. He's very well recommended on check a trade and fully booked for months. It doesn't include wallpaper for upstairs landing. He said it would take him about a week and a half. We live in the South East in a village in the commuter belt.

Dh was expecting about 1.3k I was expecting nearer 2k. The quote has come in at 2.4 k. Is this right/ the norm? I'm

I didn't say trades people were lowly just that decorating is something most people can do albeit maybe not to a professional standard but still acceptable

On the other hand plastering, building work and certain other trades can not be done by most people without years of experience just like being a eye surgeon!

Yes, most people can 'do' decorating, of course. I'm not a decorator but I've done a lot of it, and it's something I notice. The difference between 'most people', a paid decorator and then a really good paid decorator is massive.

Given that a lot of people get paid £50k and above to think up annoying ways to sell us crud we don't need, I do think it's fair that a top notch decorator, who makes a home beautiful to live in and does a job that will last, could be paid that or above. Were I in a position to pay someone top rate, I would, because it's something I value - but I'm not so I do it myself!

Also, your comparison with junior doctors is a little off - the salary for a junior decorator would of course be much, much, much lower than a junior doctor. And of course a senior eye surgeon at the top of his game has a huge earning potential - and fair enough too, most would say. So the study, and early struggle is thought to be worth it as the potential payoff is greater, no?

No I guess I'm just thinking of terrible decorating done by so called "professionals" I've seen in the past... I think I need to find a good decorator

I did think about doing the woodchip myself, but with a preschooler around it's difficult to get stuck into it for any length of time. I've done decorating in the house but I'm not going to do this!

I'm happy for a decorator to earn that much if people are willing to pay that much for him, but we don't have enough spare cash to pay over the odds for a decorator, no matter how perfect he is.

Removing woodchip is an absolute bastard. We had two rooms full of it. If he's taking that off by hand it's quite a task, even with a steamer it's tough. I am surprised that decorators charge so much. We did the prep and paint ourselves and just had someone in to do the plastering and that was £600 for living room, hallway and downstairs loo.

They have to pay tax / Ni on their income so out of every 1000, 200 is tax and 100 for class 4 Ni, this has to be set aside to pay HMRC at the end of the year. They also have overheads like fuel, van depreciation etc and remeber they dont get holiday or sick pay ehich has to be factored in. What sounds like a lot of money is not so bad ehn you consider the bigger picture.

I think with decorating there is a vast difference between the quality of finish between one job and another, and between the state of the walls before and after - and that is reflected in the price. If you really want a decorator to remove existing coverings, rub down properly, fill all cracks, maybe even patch plaster areas, then paint so you can't see brushmarks and so every line is absolutely true, it takes time. If you just want a bit of colour slapped on the walls, it's a lot cheaper.

I paid £800 to have two rooms decorated (one double bedroom and a box room). It took the guy 5 days of solid labour. He did an amazing job, though, and took my walls and ceilings from a right state to pristine. I will now be able to decorate more cheaply in future, or even to do it myself, as I have a lovely blank canvas to work on.

My friend paid £2k to have his whole (huge, 4 bed, 3 floor) house done, but the job frankly wasn't worth paying for. Every problem that the walls had is still there, just in a different colour.