Is this the going rate for painting a room???

[Starseeking]

I've just moved house, into a very nice area, which I absolutely love.

Handyman company came to visit to provide me with a quote to paint my living room, dimensions as attached. Ceilings are approximately 8ft high, it's a 1930's solid semi.

He quoted me £1,250 plus VAT, so £1,500 in total plus the cost of the paint. F&B £94 for 5 litres he said, so most likely another £200 on top. He said it would take 2 days maximum.

I honestly thought painting a room would cost £500-600 for labour, plus materials. Am I out of touch, or is this the going rate? I've now got another few companies coming to quote, as I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Does the quote sound reasonable or completely bonkers? Location is West London suburb, if that makes a difference.

No way he's taking liberties.
a consultant from farrow and ball themselves wouldn't cost you that 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Bloody hell OP. You clearly have a better job than me (and I have a good job!). I'm also a single mum to 2dc, 1 with additional needs and work full time. I would struggle to justify paying someone even a few hundred to paint the living room, let alone anything close to that quote! Might be why my house is still unfinished 5 years after we moved in.

But seriously, my current living room is fractionally bigger and it took 2 afternoons to paint. Use the £1500 on a holiday with the DC instead! I haven't had one of those in 5 years. I need a new career 😂

Had our hallway, stairs and landing, ceilings, woodwork done in 2019 cost us £400. We provided wall paint they provided ceiling and gloss. Can't believe how much it costs now.

I'm so confused as to why they'd give me a ridiculous quote to avoid doing the job...why not just say they're too busy/can't fit me in for months?!?

I'm not planning on accepting this quote, as having asked on here, you've all confirmed my initial thoughts. It's such a shame as I was planning on using this company for lots of house jobs I have, but after them pulling this stunt, I'll be looking elsewhere.

I'm happy to pay up to £500 for labour, plus paint on top for my living room as that seems reasonable for 2 days work (I know this room would take 2 days to paint because Mr Extortion told me!).

My decorator charges £800 including VAT and paint. If I want a paint he can’t get it’s still
the same price but he can get most colours made up.
That is in the South East.

That includes ceiling and all woodwork and normally takes three days and he does all the furniture moving and puts the room
back together.

We're in the east, near a big city. We've just paid £2500 for lounge, kitchen/diner/utility, hallway up and down, stairs and large spare room including all wood work and paint. We're very happy with his work, had to wait five months for him but worth it!

Had a box room quoted - remove wallpaper, remove wardrobe and chest of drawers which had been screwed to the walls, some missing skirting, and paint - £800. I said no thanks and have done it all myself 😄 didn’t take long as it’s a small room. but now looking at this thread maybe £800 was the going rate - just waaaaay more than it was worth to me.

Tbh if you did one coat in the morning, you could do another in the afternoon, so not 2 days.
Go to a local newsagent and look at cards. Someone will do it for less. Go on FB and see there too.

He is chancing it, he thinks you have money

We have just extended on the back of our house to have large kitchen diner which is 6.5mx6.5m. one wall is 95% glass, one wall is not to be painted as going to be fitted bookcases and storage, one wall is kitchen cabinets and worktop going up to the wall units. So it's really 1 and a half walls. I've been quoted 2k - walls, ceiling, skirting and architrave and does include f&b paint. Everything is brand new, plastered walls and ceiling etc. So not a lot of prep! Madness!

Have you got the Nextdoor app ? Advetise the job on there and say you are willing to pay £500 for everything and i bet you get lots of responses. And don’t pay until you’re happy with the job.

I got 2 bathrooms , 4 bedrooms done for £1200

That's extortionate what he is charging you.

If you live in a very nice area he’s probably quoting the price he thinks you can afford. Shop around. Ask for recommendations on your local Facebook site.

Just got a quote for kitchen/ dining area and conservatory..so a lot of glass there. Includes ceiling in conservatory and kitchen has extremely high ceiling with a good bit of walls here and there. 450 euro and l supply paint. I did it myself before and couldn't move my shoulders afterwards from so much reaching up. Never again! But happy with that price and he comes recommended.

Your quote is excessive. Can anyone in your family help as my dB did hall/ stairs/ landing for me and l gave him 500 euro as it was a very tricky job with extremely high bits. He did a perfect job.

I'm so confused as to why they'd give me a ridiculous quote to avoid doing the job...why not just say they're too busy/can't fit me in for months?!?

It is ridiculous and very annoying but that's what some tradespeople do. I'm very thankful to have built up a list of excellent people who do a good job for a fair (not cheap) price.

I recommended one of them to a friend and he was honest enough to say he wasn't quoting for any more work for the next four months as he's snowed under. I wish they would all be upfront like that.

He is charging £850 inc VAT per day.
Cheeky Fucker

I have just painted my sitting room and kitchen diner with some help from DS. He is 6ft 5 so didn’t need a ladder :) Going rate here is £150 per day plus materials, I wasn’t happy to pay even that. Have you ever decorated? It’s all about the prep the actual painting is pretty quick.

We used low odour emulsion and gloss that was water based, was very pleased with the results. Do you have no one who could help you or who you could leave children with for a whole weekend and DIY.

Wow. Delusional. Although looking at this thread, I guess I'm delusional too. I would have said no more than £200 for an individual room excluding materials (even that seems high to me!)

How much do you get paid a day, OP? It would take you longer than it would a professional, but a certain point it becomes more cost effective to take the time off work and DIY it, especially if you don't need to purchase any specialist equipment (which you don't really, for painting).

That is very expensive! We use a decorator, we'd get 5 days work out of him for that price.

As a side note, B&Q have 3 for 2 on farrow and ball until Monday so buy your paint now rather than getting the decorator to provide it!

Eta: If anyone is decorating, I would really recommend Earthborn clay paints. You don't even have to stir them before using! Very easy to paint with, and amazing coverage - have never done a second coat. The price is fair for the quality; the only downside is that scrubbing at the wall will remove the paint.

We’ve just decorated our living room and kitchen/ family room. Both of them are large rooms. Most of the time was taken with prep, but DH is very fussy about that. Both were done in about three days each.

No way, would I pay that money for the job. The paint mixing chap said that F&B isn’t all that now they’re owned by someone else. You could get paint mixed to an F&B colour instead.

The paint that’s constantly advertised on Mumsnet the V 700 one that they match with Farrow and Ball would be my first choice of paint. I’ve actually got two tins of farrow and ball that I’m seriously considering take back.

Ridiculous. I would expect to pay about 400.

Is this for 2 people x 2 days? If so, London rates for a professional company, it’s reasonable.

Omg no that is bonkers