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Painters and decorators - what you need to know

Painting and decorating sometimes feels like the kind of job most people can tackle themselves, and many people do. If you’ve got the tools, patience, and attention to detail, it can be very rewarding to give it a whirl.

If you choose to hire professional painters and decorators, there are lots of advantages. First off, you’ll get someone who can do it in record time. After all, why waste a weekend if your local decorator can take care of it while you’re at work.

Painters and decorators will also have a full range of tools to get the job done. It’s not just brushes and paint tins. They’ll have:

• Plastic and fabric to protect floors.
• A full range of brushes, rollers and sprays.
• Wallpaper strippers.
• Masking tape so their lines are perfect.
• Large A-frame ladders or scaffolding for high ceilings.

They’re also well versed in calculating how much paint they’ll need to complete the job, so there’s no unnecessary spending on tins, and definitely no last-minute dashes to the shops.

When decorating bathrooms, a pro knows which materials work best and won’t be too affected by damp or water.

A quality local decorator will even be able to help you pick colours or find the perfect match of shade that you’re looking for.

All-in-all, you’ll get a slick, professional finish. Not only that, you have the creative eye of someone who does it for a living too.

Common painting and decorating costs

Painter and decorator prices will ultimately depend on:

• The size of the room, wall or ceiling.
• The condition of the room to start with.
• If old wallpaper needs stripping first.

Planning permission for painting and decorating jobs

Planning permission is not generally required for internal decorating. If you live in a listed building, however, you should contact your Local Planning Authority.

Insurance for painting and decorating jobs

Most tradespeople should have public liability insurance to cover them against any damage done to your home – always ask your painter decorator this before you hire them. 

Questions you should ask a painter and decorator

• Do they have public liability insurance and what does this cover?
• How long have they been trading for?
• Will they give a guarantee/warranty for the work and how long does it last?
• Will they source all materials and equipment?
• Can they help with colour schemes and/or matching colours?
• Do they have examples and references for previous work?

Painting and decorating ideas

Here are 5 things a painter and decorator can do for you. Don't forget to have a look at how to break decorating rules with wallpaper and paint effects too.

Lastly, why not check out how to cheer up your home with a bit of yellow?