Prices for Decorating a Lounge

Leodogger

We are moving house shortly and there is a lot of work to do on the property we are moving to. My husband is 67 and after an operation on his left hand (the one he uses the most) he finds it difficult to do most jobs. The lounge in the property badly needs an overhaul. It is 16ft 9in x 10ft 9in and we would like it stripping, decorating and new plaster coving put up. Can anyone give me an approx. price we would expect to pay?

We have a lot of quite big jobs to do that will cost us a lot and our savings are limited, so if this is going to be too expensive we might have to manage ourselves but I don't want my husband making himself ill to carry out the work (his spirit is willing but old age is catching up !;)).

Any idea of Labour costs only would be appreciated as we would possibly buy the materials ourselves if the decorator cannot provide at better cost.

evoke

So we're looking at stripping off the existing wallpaper, painting/papering the ceiling and walls, I imagine painting the woodwork too and putting up the coving.

Assuming no plumbing (radiators moved) or electrics (new switches, sockets), I would suggest this is quite an easy and straightforward job for a decorator.

The only complication that I can foresee is that walls might need skimming (a thin coating of finishing plaster) to make them smooth if they are in bad shape underneath the wallpaper and if you're looking to get the walls painted.

In terms of labour, i'd estimate as follows:

1. A day to strip the walls
2. A day to make good the walls and ceiling
3. Half a day to put up the coving
4. 1.5 days to do two coats of emulsion on the walls and ceiling
5. Half a day to paint the woodwork

So that's around 4.5 days of work and add in 0.5 days to allow for any delays/complications, and you're looking at a week's work for a decorator. At £150 per day labour, that's £750.

You'll also need materials - emulsion, gloss, plaster, coving, etc - perhaps around £200 - £250? You might need new skirting boards which could add up. I think a lot depends on whether you need the ceiling and walls skimmed - that would add quite a bit to the final price.

So you're likely to end up at around £1,000 for the job.

Leodogger

evoke wrote: »

So we're looking at stripping off the existing wallpaper, painting/papering the ceiling and walls, I imagine painting the woodwork too and putting up the coving.

Assuming no plumbing (radiators moved) or electrics (new switches, sockets), I would suggest this is quite an easy and straightforward job for a decorator.

The only complication that I can foresee is that walls might need skimming (a thin coating of finishing plaster) to make them smooth if they are in bad shape underneath the wallpaper and if you're looking to get the walls painted.

In terms of labour, i'd estimate as follows:

1. A day to strip the walls
2. A day to make good the walls and ceiling
3. Half a day to put up the coving
4. 1.5 days to do two coats of emulsion on the walls and ceiling
5. Half a day to paint the woodwork

So that's around 4.5 days of work and add in 0.5 days to allow for any delays/complications, and you're looking at a week's work for a decorator. At £150 per day labour, that's £750.

You'll also need materials - emulsion, gloss, plaster, coving, etc - perhaps around £200 - £250? You might need new skirting boards which could add up. I think a lot depends on whether you need the ceiling and walls skimmed - that would add quite a bit to the final price.

So you're likely to end up at around £1,000 for the job.

Actually the ceiling looks OK and would probably just need paintaing. The property is approx. 50 years old and looks like it has been maintained quite well though we are not sure about the wiring as all the sockets are not sunk in. There is one radiator to be taken off to decorate, so assuming the plaster is OK, what do you reckon ?:)

evoke

^ Things like taking a radiator off to decorate all add up. The system will have to be topped up and bled and that takes a little time.

I still think you're looking at the sharp end of £1,000 for labour and materials for a good job.

If there's not much making good to be done then you could knock off a day to 1.5 days bringing the labour down to around 3 days, which would be around £450 at £150 per day. Maybe materials might come in at £100 to £150 all in?

Leodogger

evoke wrote: »

^ Things like taking a radiator off to decorate all add up. The system will have to be topped up and bled and that takes a little time.

I still think you're looking at the sharp end of £1,000 for labour and materials for a good job.

If there's not much making good to be done then you could knock off a day to 1.5 days bringing the labour down to around 3 days, which would be around £450 at £150 per day. Maybe materials might come in at £100 to £150 all in?

Well that wouldn't be too bad, will have to see how the budget goes when we have carried out the other essential work.

Thanks for the advice