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Original poster

Does £2500 sound reasonable for this decorating job?

84 replies

Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 19:48

I have just finally managed to find a painter and decorator to do some decorating. I have accepted his quote but it seems a very large sum for the work based on last painting job I had done in my previous home/area that was similar work and under £1000

I’m in northwest- middle of road in terms of property price. And the job is for the landing, stairs and a sitting/diner/kitchen open plan room. Walls in white emulsion ( already white but dirty ) and white gloss woodwork including banisters and 7 doors in total.

Does this sound about right - am I being over charged? Compared to prices right now.

If I am being overcharged I have to do it myself and I’m fed up of painting- 4 rooms done by myself and I’ll have another 2 rooms to do even after getting someone to tackle these! I’m so fed up with painting😥 so I’m hoping it is ok, but it is just so much more than I expected and can really afford.

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beggingforsleep · 20/08/2021 19:52

That does seem like a lot but I'm also in the middle of painting and I really wish I'd just paid someone to do it.

How many days did he say it would take and does it include materials?

I'm in the south east and decorators charge up to £200 a day. So is he doing 12+ days work?

Sprig1 · 20/08/2021 19:53

It sounds ok to me. That's a lot of work.

TheCanyon · 20/08/2021 19:57

It is a lot yes, does that include materials?

My dh is a painter and has just finished a 3 bed house, every single room and woodwork, wallpaper in 2 rooms and that was £2100 including materials.

He charged half of what his best friend (also a painter) charged though....

Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:00

So includes all the emulsion, coverings for floors/carpets but not the gloss paint as I wanted oil based and have loads of it I purchased anyway to do the job myself.
He said it would take about 5-6 days- 2 man job … so I’d say about 11 days work,.
Includes vat.

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Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:03

I suspect they know I’m not going to get anyone else at lower prices or any price! I’ve asked about 5 companies to do it and either they can’t book in until November or even next year, or say they are too busy. He’s only guy I found which also makes me wonder how good he is😱🤦‍♀️. He was on rated people though with some nice reviews so hoping it will be ok

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Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:05

It’s really more of whether I have to suck it up and do it myself as it is an outrageous price I really shouldn’t spend- i have limited funds for work on the new house that includes essentials like new roofs!

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OnTheBoardwalk · 20/08/2021 20:06

Including VAT then I reckon it’s a good quote. £175 per person per day

I’m in the NW and have had to pay £250 a day

ElizaDoolots · 20/08/2021 20:09

That sounds like a huge amount to me. I’d be asking how they reached that number, presumably it’s a day rate, and then you’ll have a better idea of how reasonable it is.

ElizaDoolots · 20/08/2021 20:11

Oh sorry, should have read your last post properly. Can you get some other quotes to compare to? There is no way I’d be paying that much to have two rooms decorated.

UnGoogled · 20/08/2021 20:17

I wouldn't do it, but I've been burned by a bad decorator in the past and I can't tell you all the shortcuts, drips, splatters, misses, etc etc that I was stuck with. It was a big job I couldn't do myself, but I wish I could have because it's just rubbish seeing all the flaws that are 100% down to poor workmanship.

Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:17

@ElizaDoolots

Oh sorry, should have read your last post properly. Can you get some other quotes to compare to? There is no way I’d be paying that much to have two rooms decorated.
They are the biggest rooms! The open plan room is really the size of a large sitting room, small dining and galley kitchen equivalent. In fairness to them. And the landing is gallery with a lot of bannisters.
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Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:20

@UnGoogled

I wouldn't do it, but I've been burned by a bad decorator in the past and I can't tell you all the shortcuts, drips, splatters, misses, etc etc that I was stuck with. It was a big job I couldn't do myself, but I wish I could have because it's just rubbish seeing all the flaws that are 100% down to poor workmanship.
Now I’m getting worried 😢….I showed him a room I’d done and he said I’d done nice job on the door, but pointed a tiny drip I’d missed at time (yeh I saw it after it dried😡 there’s always one that gets away🙄) and said he would do a better job…I said I hope so too given he’s the professional 🤣
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Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:23

@ElizaDoolots

Oh sorry, should have read your last post properly. Can you get some other quotes to compare to? There is no way I’d be paying that much to have two rooms decorated.
I’ve tried to get quotes….no one interested….is it just me or is getting ANY workman in to do anything nearly impossible right now? Took 9 weeks to get a small bit of plastering done…still can’t find electrician…6 week wait on carpet fitting…it’s completely bonkers right now
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BlueMongoose · 20/08/2021 20:26

Landing, stairs and banisters can be a big job, if it's done properly. If it's a gallery landing even more so. Just rubbing down the banisters alone will be a big job if they are fancy and it's done right.
And some staircases need scaffolding to do properly if they are high, which makes a job slow and awkward. If it's a tall space and there's coving (and ceilings?) as well, it starts to look less than I might have expected if anything.

Even if the space isn't high, if they are sanding all the woodwork down and doing it properly, I'd say it's not unreasonable.

EvilEdna1 · 20/08/2021 20:26

I am having similar done but with some wallpaper and tiling in loo. It's about 1k more but I live in a really expensive area where everything is over priced. Couldn't even get anyone else to quote!

UnGoogled · 20/08/2021 20:26

I have given up and just do it myself, YouTube stuff to figure out tricky bits. I've not gotten so far as roofing, but as I was recently quoted almost 1k for my shed roof, so I'm going to have to!

BlueMongoose · 20/08/2021 20:29

You're doing well to get a plasterer in a mere 9 weeks. We've been waiting for ours for longer than that, and still two weeks to go before he's supposed to start. And we've had to do the battening ourselves, because the very idea of trying to get a carpenter in right now and fitting that in as well round the plasterer and electricians is beyond us.
Yes, it really is bonkers at the moment.

Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:31

@BlueMongoose

Landing, stairs and banisters can be a big job, if it's done properly. If it's a gallery landing even more so. Just rubbing down the banisters alone will be a big job if they are fancy and it's done right. And some staircases need scaffolding to do properly if they are high, which makes a job slow and awkward. If it's a tall space and there's coving (and ceilings?) as well, it starts to look less than I might have expected if anything.

Even if the space isn't high, if they are sanding all the woodwork down and doing it properly, I'd say it's not unreasonable.

Yes, agree that it will be fiddly and a lot of prep- it’s partly why I feel overwhelmed with having to do it myself and finally reached point when I wanted to get someone in to do it.
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Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:32

@BlueMongoose

You're doing well to get a plasterer in a mere 9 weeks. We've been waiting for ours for longer than that, and still two weeks to go before he's supposed to start. And we've had to do the battening ourselves, because the very idea of trying to get a carpenter in right now and fitting that in as well round the plasterer and electricians is beyond us. Yes, it really is bonkers at the moment.
Ha yes,. I gave up on carpenter. I got family member to help me demolish something and then got creative with IKEA hacks! Not what I really wanted but absolutely no carpenter to be had!
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Original poster
Aprilinspringtimeshower · 20/08/2021 20:37

@UnGoogled

I have given up and just do it myself, YouTube stuff to figure out tricky bits. I've not gotten so far as roofing, but as I was recently quoted almost 1k for my shed roof, so I'm going to have to!
The thing is I’m fed up with being in limbo in a new house in a new area. Since early March I have asked exH for divorce, got the divorce completed, prepared and cleaned old family house for sale, sold it, bought new house myself during stamp duty manic period in June, cleaned the new house (disgusting state), painted some rooms…I’m just so exhausted with none stop listening of stuff to do and want to be able to feel more settled and starting my new life properly. My to do list is just so overwhelming and I’m on my own in getting it done. Hence my panic about being fiddled over pricing…I was married for 30 years so I’m making decisions like these on my own for first time
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HollowTalk · 20/08/2021 21:34

Which part of the Northwest are you in? That seems very very high to me and I am on the Wirral.

TiddleTaddleTat · 20/08/2021 21:53

It really depends on whether you can afford to pay it / have the time to do the job yourself. You mentioned upthread that you shouldn't really be spending it as needed to prioritise other jobs eg roof ? I would certainly not be paying a decorator rather than anything to do with the roof... it's purely cosmetic surely?
Personally I find the worst bit about decorating is moving the furniture out of the way and all the prep...

TiddleTaddleTat · 20/08/2021 21:56

Oh and totally hear you re. it being impossible to get any trades atm. My experience too. Been a nightmare actually. Multiple no shows to quote, cancellations, delays etc. Makes me think it would be quicker to learn to plaster or do carpentry myself. And when I am getting quotes they are hugely inflated.

Elouera · 20/08/2021 22:11

Not an exact comparison, but I recently had my 2 bed flat repainted. 2 largish bedrooms and lounge, small kitchen, hall, bathroom and inside 2 storage cupboards. I had to buy the paint- about £200. 2 quotes- 1 £2700, the other £2600. This also included minor plaster repairs from a roof leak. Also plain emulsion and gloss to doors/windows.

That is in central London (between zone 1-2) though, but in terms of walls/rooms actually seems more than the area you want painted, so your quote does seem expensive.

Yellow85 · 20/08/2021 22:17

If it’s any help at all, I’ve just paid £800 for stairs and landing, large kitchen diner to be painted in white emulsions and woodwork in acrylic eggshell. Painter provided emulsion, I provided the eggshell. Didn’t include any doors though as we are replacing those, so just facings and skirtings. Took 2.5 days (1 person) - took 4 coats!

I’m in Scotland.

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