Which surfaces need attention?
I help with interior walls, ceilings, doors, skirting and smaller room refreshes. List the surfaces separately, with approximate dimensions and anything to leave untouched. These are different scopes, even within one room:
Scroll across to see both columns.
| Your job | What to include in the enquiry |
|---|---|
| A wall or room refresh | The current colour and finish, approximate area, surface condition and proposed paint. |
| Doors, skirting or other woodwork | Whether the surface is painted, varnished or bare; damaged edges and adjacent flooring to protect. |
| Making good after a fitting | The holes or damaged patch, any known cause and whether the finish should be a local touch-up or a wider repaint. |
Close-up photos show peeling, cracks and old repairs; a wider view shows the room and access. The skirting-board guide explains preparation and protecting the floor, including where carpet meets the woodwork.
A good finish starts underneath.
Small holes and surface defects may need filling and finishing before paint. Newly plastered areas, varnished wood and sound painted walls need different preparation. Recurring cracks, moisture, loose plaster or failing coatings need their cause assessed first; painting over damp damage does not solve it.
Confirm which repairs, cleaning, surface protection and furniture moving are included. Tell me about old or unknown coatings before any sanding is planned. If specialist assessment is needed, that must happen before surface preparation proceeds.
Choose the paint and allow for drying.
Send the exact brand, range, colour and finish rather than just "white emulsion" or "satin". If you have already bought paint, include a photo of the label. Check the product's suitability for the surface and agree who supplies paint, primer and other materials before buying more.
Drying and recoat times belong to the exact products. They affect the visit sequence and when the room can return to use. A dry-to-touch surface is not necessarily ready for a second coat or routine cleaning. See the paint recoat guide for named product examples and the distinction between drying and curing.
Agree the finish and the visit.
A quote needs the surface area, condition, preparation, access and intended finish. Discuss filled areas, woodwork, edges and the extent of repainting. A local touch-up may remain visible against older paint, so decide whether a wider wall repaint is preferable.
- Send room photos, approximate dimensions and the surfaces to include.
- Identify repairs, damp history, stains and previous coatings if known.
- Include paint details and the date you need the room usable.
- Agree protection, moving items, materials, work and price.
Keep drying and curing instructions after the job. Moving furniture back against fresh paint or cleaning it too early can damage a finish even when the decorating work is complete.
Plan the room around the decorating.
Separate preparation, coating and return to use when agreeing the schedule. Filling and priming may add drying stages before the finish paint begins. Furniture, curtains and wall fittings can also affect access to edges and woodwork; agree what needs moving or removing and who will do it.
Before the room returns to normal use, check the agreed surfaces and keep the exact paint details for future maintenance. A finish can be dry enough for another coat before it is ready for washing or repeated contact. Follow the product's care instructions rather than treating the end of the appointment as the end of curing.
Clear rates, agreed before the work.
- First hour, including VAT
- £50
- Each additional 30 minutes, including VAT
- £25
- Materials, before VAT
- Net cost + 10%
The minimum labour charge is £50 including VAT, even if the work takes less than an hour. Materials use their VAT-exclusive cost plus 10%, then 20% VAT. There is no separate travel or parking charge. Where parking is difficult, please arrange a suitable space or permit if possible and let me know before the visit.
Send the complete job list, photos and postcode. We will discuss the scope, expected time and materials before agreeing the work.
Help in your borough.
I cover Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames and Merton, including Wimbledon. Send your full postcode to check the location and discuss availability.
Useful guides for the job.
- Preparing and painting new plaster
- Painting skirting boards, including beside carpet
- How long between coats of paint?
- Filling holes before painting
