Most of the time on a decorating job goes into preparation. Cracks are filled, surfaces rubbed down, bare plaster and timber primed, and the agreed number of coats applied.
Older Welsh houses take longer to prepare. Walls are often lime plaster, woodwork carries many coats of paint and ceilings may have textured coatings, and each of these decides the filler, the sanding method and the paint used.
What the work covers
Plaster and plasterboard filled, sanded, primed and painted.
Doors, frames, skirting, stair spindles and window boards prepared and finished in gloss, satin or eggshell.
Rendered and brick walls cleaned, minor defects repaired and painted in a finish suited to the wall.
Timber boards rubbed down, primed and painted, or uPVC boards cleaned.
Rooms repainted in a neutral, hard-wearing finish after a tenant moves out.
Mould washed off with a fungicidal solution before painting, with mould-resistant paint in kitchens and bathrooms.
Questions people ask
How is a decorating job priced?
By the rooms or walls involved, the preparation they need, access for work at height, whether furniture stays in place and the paint chosen.
How do I know if my old paintwork contains lead?
A test kit or a lab test on a paint chip will tell you. If the house was built before the 1960s and has original layers, it is sensible to assume lead may be present until tested.
Can an Artex ceiling be removed?
Have it tested for asbestos first. A coating that tests clear can be skimmed or removed. One that contains asbestos is work for a specialist.
Do I need to move furniture before work starts?
Clear small items and ornaments. Say in the form if large furniture will stay in the room, so the job can be planned around it.
What time of year is outside painting done?
Paint needs dry surfaces and mild temperatures to cure, so exterior work is usually planned between late spring and early autumn.