Internal painting

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Robertos88

Original Poster:

155 posts

131 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Hi,

Just asked for some quotes to paint the walls and ceilings in a freshly plastered room and then the ceiling in another room that had just been plastered, both are 4x4m. I was amazed at the quotes I've been getting. They have been between £950 - £1200. Does this seem right ? I was budgeting around £500 for both.

blue bear

23 posts

117 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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I am a time served painter and decorator the correct way to paint your ceilings is 3 coats of emulsion, 1st coat is some what thin with some pva adhesive 2cnd coat is thicker but not much and then the final finishing coat
Good quality paint ie Dulux correct for the job at hand is about 50 quid pva £1
Probably have to come to the job 3 times, if you have an empty room can be done a wee bit quicker
I will be generous and say 3 hours a coat for both ceilings , , that's9 hours easy count make it 10
Now hear is the hourly rate, to roll out my bed and travel 5 to 10 miles I would charge £22 per hour, if I had to go further or I was pushing my luck it would be £25 per hour
What I am saying is try and get a good painter on your door step
Is that London prices I am at Aberdeenshire and that is dear
Sorry didn't notice that the walls are to paint also so here we go
Material £100 _£120
Labour 15 hours say at above
Remember I have not seen the job and you cannot propose to a wife you have never seen
This is just a basic guide without seeing the job and knowing what you want ect Don't ps off a brother of brush by quoting me
Good luck

Edited by blue bear on Tuesday 22 July 16:48

vescaegg

25,489 posts

166 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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OP do it yourself over a weekend and save the money.

Painting is not difficult to be competent at. Note I said competent not professional.


GG89

3,526 posts

185 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Why not save yourself 900 quid then and get the rollers out?

Seems mega expensive.

dazwalsh

6,095 posts

140 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Thats a royal piss take, i would do it myself on a weekend using some decent rollers and brushes.

Hardest part is deciding what radio station to have on.

Edited by dazwalsh on Tuesday 22 July 21:22

B17NNS

18,506 posts

246 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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If you can piss...

Spudler

3,985 posts

195 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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blue bear said:
I am a time served painter and decorator the correct way to paint your ceilings is 3 coats of emulsion, 1st coat is some what thin with some pva adhesive

Edited by blue bear on Tuesday 22 July 16:48
I don't care if you are time served, that is not the correct method.

PVA? Only someone with no idea would use that st.

Renovation

1,763 posts

120 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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I assume you must be central London.

£500 is more than generous.

Robertos88

Original Poster:

155 posts

131 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
quotequote all
I know. The more I'm thinking about this the more I think I could probably do this myself. I'm just worried about the finish.

greygoose

8,225 posts

194 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Robertos88 said:
I know. The more I'm thinking about this the more I think I could probably do this myself. I'm just worried about the finish.
If it is just emulsion then what can go wrong? A roller should give a nice smooth finish (if the walls are smooth) and as soon as you put a tasteful picture up of a tennis player scratching her backside no one will look at the paintwork anyway.

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Robertos88 said:
I know. The more I'm thinking about this the more I think I could probably do this myself. I'm just worried about the finish.
Decent paint, decent rollers and brushes and you're away, follow some guides on youtube and the web and you'll have it done in no time and save yourself a lot of money now and in the future.

blaineuk

2,614 posts

246 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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I would have thought 5-600 including paint would do that

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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I have never used a painter or decorator in my live.Not at those prices.Do it your self saves lot's of money>smile

Simpo Two

85,150 posts

264 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Having painted my first newly-plastered ceilings last year I'd say two normal coats of decent quality matt white emulsion would do it. I watered down the first coat like people said and it just made it patchy; I see no need to do this. If you get a roller with an extension handle you can do it all from floor level.

Then take the long handle off and do the walls. Home and dry for under £100.

Spudler

3,985 posts

195 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Simpo Two said:
newly-plastered ceilings -I watered down the first coat like people said and it just made it patchy; I see no need to do this.
Thought you would have known this.

It's not ment as a part of the finish, it's purely to soak into the plaster.
Ideally you'd apply two mist coats, the second slightly stronger.

marky911

4,417 posts

218 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Do it yourself OP!

It's the easiest thing in the world. As ever preparation is key but if the walls are freshly plastered that's the hard work done. I'm self taught but very fussy and I always get there in the end.

Last year we wanted to have the landing, stairs and hallway done. I was too busy and knew we were just tidying it up to move house, so we thought we'd pay. No work for ole' Marky and a perfect finish too. Not so! I could have done better myself. I'm not saying every decorator was like this guy but I've used a few over the years and I've only been happy when I've done it myself.

Take your time and you'll be fine. It's rewarding when you have the room all finished and you can look around and know it's all your own work.

GG89

3,526 posts

185 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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marky911 said:
Do it yersel' man OP!

It's the easiest thing in the world. As ever preparation is key but if the walls are freshly plastered that's the hard work done. I'm self taught but very fussy and I always get there in the end.

Last year we wanted to have the landing, stairs and hallway done. I was too busy and new we were just tidying it up to move house, so we thought we'd pay. No work for ole' Marky and a perfect finish too. Not so! I could have done better myself. I'm not saying every decorator was like this guy but I've used a few over the years and I've only been happy when I've done it myself.

Take your time and you'll be fine. It's rewarding when you have the room all finished and you can look around and know it's all your own work.
Often the case tbh. When it's your own house you might take 3 times longer than the painter who's on a price, but you can leave it totally flawless, take your time yet still save money.

Simpo Two

85,150 posts

264 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
Spudler said:
Simpo Two said:
newly-plastered ceilings -I watered down the first coat like people said and it just made it patchy; I see no need to do this.
Thought you would have known this.

It's not ment as a part of the finish, it's purely to soak into the plaster.
I know the theory, but having tried it I found it merely jeoparidised proceedings. I should have ignored 'advice' and followed my instincts!

Little Lofty

3,275 posts

150 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Simpo Two said:
I know the theory, but having tried it I found it merely jeoparidised proceedings. I should have ignored 'advice' and followed my instincts!

My mates a painter and just uses two coats straight out of the tin, he usually uses Leyland Super Leytex for new plaster, Leyland do recommend the first coat should be 9-1 but he never has any problems with two 'full' coats. It covers new plaster easily with two coats, he can knock out a 3 bed semi in one day, excluding woodwork obviously, did I read earlier one coat on a ceiling = three hours confused
OP don't use PVA, it was used on some home makeover show years ago and some now think its the norm, no paint manufacturer recommends its use.

Pferdestarke

7,179 posts

186 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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You don't need pva on plaster. It stops it breathing.

A watery coat then as many as it takes to get good coverage thereafter. Take your time. Save the money.