Quote for exterior woodwork painting. Wondering if this is reasonable or not.

[Frazzled2207]

We have recently moved into a modern (2007) 5 bed property, built in a somewhat older style with small wooden windowframes and sills throughout. Previous owners never did any maintenance of any description on anything (whole other thread) - we were aware of this before we moved in.

Anyway generally speaking all the woodwork is in reasonably poor condition and certainly not been looked at all since house was built. I am not of the opinion that it is critical (I don't have a clue tbh) but DHis worried about rot setting in etc and us potentially having an even more expensive problem if we don't sort it out. I don't disagree but he does seem to err on the side of caution for any house maintenance type matters. Always rather fix stuff before it needs to be replaced etc.

So we need someone to do from scratch renovation of all window frames, roofline, french doors, front door and garage door (last two are hardwood and very weathered). About 10 window fames in total though they are not very large.

We have a quote for £4k before scaffolding. I nearly fell off my chair tbh. It seems more reasonable when you consider that the guy thinks it will be about 17 days work. But he is saying 5 alone for the hardwood (single) garage and front doors? plus around 12 for everything else. Seems an awful lot of time.

We can't get anyone else to give us a quote. He has a good rep but I feel this is very expensive. Wondering what the property experts at mnet think as DH is keen to book him asap.

5 days for a professional to sand back/strip and paint a single front door and garage door does sound excessive, yes.
Is it all rotten though, with wood that needs to be cut out & replace?

Sorry I missed it was a 2007 build so likely the wood is still perfect. Yes, I'd say that is expensive and it shouldn't take that long, bit supply/demand probably means that's what people are currently paying so you're sort of stuck unless you're willing to wait for demand to drop.

Thanks Furier.

as you say very difficult to make a judgment when you can only get one quote but agree the time involved seems ridiculous. My husband thinks he will do a great job- that might well be but five whole days to do a garage and front door!

So 4k for 17 days work and I assume this includes materials?

Say 400 (generous) for materials thats 3600 for 17 days work. Approx £200 a day. Not too far off what is quoted here depending on where you are in the country.

www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/painter-decorator-prices/#jump-header-2

I was quoted £8k for a 4 bed in 2020. It was last done about 2014 for about £1,850.
I was totally staggered, and said no.
House was built 1998 and tbh the frames are showing signs of wear so I decided to leave it and replace them in a few years.
Do need to get the conservatory done though.

Our house has far too many windows and some are very large and for scaffolding to go right round it and for painters to do all the windows and soffits and fascias is going to cost £20,000 inc. VAT. It’s old and it’s listed and we have no choice to not do it. But I must admit it’s a terrifying amount of money and if we have to do that every 7 years, I think we are selling it in a few years. Have just bought it.

going to do it once properly and then I’m taking it on myself. Or selling up.

So I think it’s a very costly business. Just get a few quotes to compare with.

my parents didn’t maintain their windows properly and after 30 years had to replace them. Another listed building and theirs was the wrong call I think!

About right I'd say (sadly) we have the same issue, and quoted 4.5k, including a replacementbit of the garage and been quoted 5k for the scaffolding!

I got a quote for doing similar work on a Victorian 5 bed - came in at 7700+VAT. Prepare, prime, undercoat, 2 x gloss for all of it. It seemed so much and I was going to replace the original guttering so thought I'd save some money by painting the new gutters myself.

By the time I'd primed and given them 3 coats (it's a light colour) I was thinking that the quote was pretty good value! I don't mind doing painting work but it took much longer than I expected.

Scaffolding is expensive too, and it’s mostly charged by the day.

OP having gone to the trouble of sanding, painting and giving a second coat to our own house (windows only, just 6 of them) in my younger days I can tell you it was long, back breaking work and not something I would ever repeat.

I think you need to take into account that there may be unforeseen rot that is hidden and he will be taking that into account.

He also needs to prep, then prime, then undercoat, then topcoat x 2. Don't underestimate how much work is involved. He also has to factor in dodging the weather.

Jeez my painter dh is taking on the wrong jobs. Just quoted 1k for soffits, fascias, Windows and wood cladding. Probably a 3/4 day job.

Can he come and do mine please TheCaynon???

Agree daily rate is fine imm just staggered that it will be 17 days including a week just for two doors.