Idiots Guide to Painting....
Discussion
I've had a few quites from painter/decorators to paint pretty much every room in my place as I rarely get the time to do it; however after looking at just how much these people want I think I'll be mad not to give it a go.
My walls are in pretty good shape, they were all skimmed and painted about 4 years ago, so no worry about having to get rid of wallpaper/artex etc. I do have a fair few hairline cracks, which I'm assuming are from the new plaster?
Is there a simple step by step process I should follow before I just got throwing a load of paint at the wall? Also what paint do people reccommend? I was told the Dulux Endurance range would be best and probably Matt as my place is all solid brick walls so doesn't enjoy the clean straight lines of plaster board walls, and a silk paint would show off the imperfections too much.
My walls are in pretty good shape, they were all skimmed and painted about 4 years ago, so no worry about having to get rid of wallpaper/artex etc. I do have a fair few hairline cracks, which I'm assuming are from the new plaster?
Is there a simple step by step process I should follow before I just got throwing a load of paint at the wall? Also what paint do people reccommend? I was told the Dulux Endurance range would be best and probably Matt as my place is all solid brick walls so doesn't enjoy the clean straight lines of plaster board walls, and a silk paint would show off the imperfections too much.
Decorating isn't complicated but it is time consuming to do it properly and get a nice finish.
What are the quotes you have received?
Never tried endurance but Dulux paints are good.
Personally I always start with the ceiling, couple of coats of matt white emulsion applied with a roller. Use a brush for the edges. Get a bit of white onto the walls, don't worry about getting a neat edge, you will do that after when you do the walls.
Then onto the walls. Again, you should get away with 2 coats applied by roller assuming the colour change isn't major.
Minor cracks I would rake out, fill and sand prior.
Any cracks where plaster meets skirting or architrave I would use a flexible caulk.
Woodwork give a light sand for a key and then if it's not too yellowed you will probably get away with a coat of Once.
I always remove (or loosen) switches, sockets, light fittings etc.
With time and patience you will get a result the equal of a professional.
What are the quotes you have received?
Never tried endurance but Dulux paints are good.
Personally I always start with the ceiling, couple of coats of matt white emulsion applied with a roller. Use a brush for the edges. Get a bit of white onto the walls, don't worry about getting a neat edge, you will do that after when you do the walls.
Then onto the walls. Again, you should get away with 2 coats applied by roller assuming the colour change isn't major.
Minor cracks I would rake out, fill and sand prior.
Any cracks where plaster meets skirting or architrave I would use a flexible caulk.
Woodwork give a light sand for a key and then if it's not too yellowed you will probably get away with a coat of Once.
I always remove (or loosen) switches, sockets, light fittings etc.
With time and patience you will get a result the equal of a professional.
What sort of quotes were you getting for normal rooms - as in say, a lounge?
Prep ceiling and walls, emulsion ceiling and walls, prep woodwork undercoat and gloss.
This sort of job should be around the £160 - £230 price range including paint (Dulux)
1 to 1.5 days work.(assuming the window isn't of an intricate design)
Obviously depends on which part of the country.
Many of my customers would and have, given it a go - they always come back to me as I'll do it better and quicker than them.
They can earn more than they're paying me in the time it takes, and they get their weekends to enjoy the room I've just painted.
Prep ceiling and walls, emulsion ceiling and walls, prep woodwork undercoat and gloss.
This sort of job should be around the £160 - £230 price range including paint (Dulux)
1 to 1.5 days work.(assuming the window isn't of an intricate design)
Obviously depends on which part of the country.
Many of my customers would and have, given it a go - they always come back to me as I'll do it better and quicker than them.
They can earn more than they're paying me in the time it takes, and they get their weekends to enjoy the room I've just painted.
Edited by Zip106 on Tuesday 15th March 19:00
I had a couple of quotes, one was £2200 and the other £4200! It's to paint 2 reception rooms (approx 14' x 14'), kitchen (mostly tiled, so only a small area to paint, small WC, quite a large hallway/staircase, 2 double rooms about (14'x14'), 1 smaller bedroom, but still double and a bathroom again mostly tiled.
I was expecting about £1200-1500 including materials, but at the figures quoted above I'd rather give it a good go myself and just work on a room at a time. I'll probably get someone in to do the hall/stairs though.
I do have a picture rail in almost every room so I guess the woodwork is a bit more full on than in some properties. I did state to the companies that quoted that I wasn't after a perfect finish to the wood/Walls as I don't mind the odd knick in the wood as I think it adds character to a property that's over 80 years old.
I would have rather paid for it to be done, but the more I've been thinking about it I'm quite keen on giving it a go myself; might help me unwind after work!
I was expecting about £1200-1500 including materials, but at the figures quoted above I'd rather give it a good go myself and just work on a room at a time. I'll probably get someone in to do the hall/stairs though.
I do have a picture rail in almost every room so I guess the woodwork is a bit more full on than in some properties. I did state to the companies that quoted that I wasn't after a perfect finish to the wood/Walls as I don't mind the odd knick in the wood as I think it adds character to a property that's over 80 years old.
I would have rather paid for it to be done, but the more I've been thinking about it I'm quite keen on giving it a go myself; might help me unwind after work!
matc said:
I had a couple of quotes, one was £2200 and the other £4200! It's to paint 2 reception rooms (approx 14' x 14'), kitchen (mostly tiled, so only a small area to paint, small WC, quite a large hallway/staircase, 2 double rooms about (14'x14'), 1 smaller bedroom, but still double and a bathroom again mostly tiled.
I was expecting about £1200-1500 including materials, but at the figures quoted above I'd rather give it a good go myself and just work on a room at a time. I'll probably get someone in to do the hall/stairs though.
I do have a picture rail in almost every room so I guess the woodwork is a bit more full on than in some properties. I did state to the companies that quoted that I wasn't after a perfect finish to the wood/Walls as I don't mind the odd knick in the wood as I think it adds character to a property that's over 80 years old.
I would have rather paid for it to be done, but the more I've been thinking about it I'm quite keen on giving it a go myself; might help me unwind after work!
8 -9 days work approx. £1200 plus materials, approx. £300.I was expecting about £1200-1500 including materials, but at the figures quoted above I'd rather give it a good go myself and just work on a room at a time. I'll probably get someone in to do the hall/stairs though.
I do have a picture rail in almost every room so I guess the woodwork is a bit more full on than in some properties. I did state to the companies that quoted that I wasn't after a perfect finish to the wood/Walls as I don't mind the odd knick in the wood as I think it adds character to a property that's over 80 years old.
I would have rather paid for it to be done, but the more I've been thinking about it I'm quite keen on giving it a go myself; might help me unwind after work!
You're right - they're expensive!
I'd wager that at least one of the companies didn't want the work
Good luck with the painting (can't stand doing my own house, but there you go...
)Look for a local paint shop to buy all the paint, rollers, brushes etc instead of one of the DIY warehouses. Most stock Leyland paint which is about half the price of Dulux and I think just as good. They'll also be able to mix colours from a Dulux/Crown paint colour chart in Leyland paint.
Get a decent roller frame and a couple of mediun pile quality roller sleeves.
For small areas and around kitchen units I've used a 4 inch roller, either a standard short frame one or the long ones meant for getting behind radiators. An extension poles for rolling the ceiling means you don't have to use steps to reach it.
Get a decent roller frame and a couple of mediun pile quality roller sleeves.
For small areas and around kitchen units I've used a 4 inch roller, either a standard short frame one or the long ones meant for getting behind radiators. An extension poles for rolling the ceiling means you don't have to use steps to reach it.
im just finishing the interior painting of my house before i move into it (first house so very proud of myself) and i have used the B and Q Colours range pretty much throughout the house, goes on fine and reasonably drip proof the the point i stopped covering carpets
Does sometimes need two or three coats depending on what you are covering though
Does sometimes need two or three coats depending on what you are covering though
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