How much should a decorator cost?

[Catz]

I'd be really grateful if anyone knows how much c 1 week of work for a decorator should cost.

We are having a bedroom decorated, it's not huge (about 3.5m sq) and we just want it painted but because of the state it's in it looks like it'll take a week. It needs layers of paint/wallpaper taken off the walls and ceiling. Then it's quite likely that the walls will need some repair/lining paper then there'll be the painting itself. Also we're taking out some grotty fitted wardrobes, currently the coving goes round them so it will need redoing and the ceiling painting. So although all we want is an average sized room painting we're told it'll probably take a week or so. The quotes I have are all between £500 and £750 (inc materials etc) it seems a bit steep for one painted room but not so much if it's a week of work for someone.

Does this sound outrageous or reasonable (am in SE and have had problems getting people to even give a quote as everyone seems to have loads of work so probably a case of 'like it or lump it).

a good decorator in SE charge about £120-£140 per day so a 5 day job would be about £600 plus materials of about another £100 so your quotes sound reasonable to me.

Thanks Molly, that's very helpful.

Yes, breaking it down as a daily rate it is quite reasonable it's just a lot because the previous owners made such a mess of everything it takes ages to fix (which is one of the reasons we're not doing it ourselves!)

Seems reasonable (Brighton based)

I would've said £750.00 so sounds ok to me.

Sounds about right to me.

It might be worth getting quotes from an odd job man (if you can hear of a good one through word of mouth) as you tend to pay more for a proper decorator. Our friends had their hall stairs and landing done by an odd job man recommended to them; he was brilliant and charged £60 a day as opposed to the £130 a day the decorating firm wanted.

Thanks all for the replies, that's very helpful. I'm a bit of a novice at this so not sure what is reasonable. Certainly it looks as if business is booming round here anyway.

Thanks Sidge, will ask around and see if anyone can recommend anyone.

Dh did say to ask whether your price includes painting all the woodwork.

Thanks for the reply pesto, yes it does, sanding and painting (is your DH in the business?)

No, but we have just had an extension and are currently in the process of having our whole house redecorated. Painter's in the living room as we speak!

We just had a bedroom done and cost £380. No idea how many days it took him as we had the work done while we were away. We had stripped the walls of paper so he needed to prep them (they were quite bad), line an paint them. He also prepped and painted all the woodwork and ceiling which for some bizarre reason had all been painted in a yellow-y/cream gloss. He said it took him 5 coats to cover!

He is doing a large kitchen diner for us as the mo, effectively 2 rooms. Again all woodwork, 4 sets of doors, all walls and ceiling and it is £250. It will take him 2 full days. So around £125 a day I suppose. We are in Cheshire.

Also I bought all the materials separately so if they include materials I would say your quotes are quite reasonable.