Is it worth DIY painting a flat?

redonion

How long should it take one person to paint a 2 bedroom flat?

If I can get it done in a weekend - even a 3 day weekend - that's one thing, but if it's going to be a multi-week ordeal for this inexperienced decorator, maybe I'm making a mistake not getting the professionals in...

It's empty now so I don't need to shuffle furniture etc. around.

lee111s

Not long at all. I use paint pads, they give good coverage and are pretty quick. I'd imagine you'd be able to paint it all in 3 days. Can you not ask someone to give you a hand and reduce the time it takes?

ACG

If its just painting and you get your head down it could be done it 3 days assuming its not massive.

If its decorating then i would say probably more like double that.

I_have_spoken

5 days realistically

1) Wash all the paintwork with sugarsoap to degrease
2) Remove any handles/locks from door etc so they don't get painted over
3) Fill any holes in wood; sand all the surfaces to be painted and thoroughly hoover to remove dust
4) Masking tape on all the edges to get clean lines
5) Undercoat - leave to dry
6) Sand undercoat and thoroughly hoover to remove dust
7) Top coat finish, doing door panels in correct order
8) Leave until touch dry then remove masking tape
9) Once fully dry, replace any fittings

googler

Depends on what you're painting, surely?

Walls
Ceiling
Coving/Cornice
Skirtings
Door Facings
Doors
Windows

How long it takes is largely dictated by (for instance) waiting for ski ratings and door facings to dry so that you can paint the walls

Also whether or not you're just doing a top coat on the skirtings etc, whether or not walls and ceiling need more than one coat

bsms1147

I_have_spoken wrote: »

5 days realistically

1) Wash all the paintwork with sugarsoap to degrease
2) Remove any handles/locks from door etc so they don't get painted over
3) Fill any holes in wood; sand all the surfaces to be painted and thoroughly hoover to remove dust
4) Masking tape on all the edges to get clean lines
5) Undercoat - leave to dry
6) Sand undercoat and thoroughly hoover to remove dust
7) Top coat finish, doing door panels in correct order
8) Leave until touch dry then remove masking tape
9) Once fully dry, replace any fittings

Who really does all that though?

I_have_spoken

Who really does all that though?

Anyone not bodging?

katejo

bsms1147 wrote: »

Who really does all that though?

I did most of those things when painting my first flat (except removing door handles). It was perfectly doable and I was on my own. Couldn't afford to pay anyone. I only tackled one room at a time though. Was pretty pleased with the results.

PasturesNew

Things most people leave out:

I_have_spoken wrote: »

1) Wash all the paintwork with sugarsoap to degrease
2) Remove any handles/locks from door etc so they don't get painted over
3) Fill any holes in wood; sand all the surfaces to be painted and thoroughly hoover to remove dust
4) Masking tape on all the edges to get clean lines

6) Sand undercoat and thoroughly hoover to remove dust


9) Once fully dry, replace any fittings

Most people would just wipe it down and crack on .... getting the sort of finish that makes you say "I'm rubbish at this, won't do that again".

redonion

ACG wrote: »

If its just painting and you get your head down it could be done it 3 days assuming its not massive.

If its decorating then i would say probably more like double that.

I've always heard "painting and decorating" as a single thing, not two specific separate things. In other words P&D is just the whole process of cleaning and stripping everything down in preparation and then painting.

What does "decorating" mean on its own, then?

pinkteapot

As above, just walls won't take long. However, if you're covering a dark colour with a light one then you'll need to allow drying time for four coats (two white as its cheaper and covers best, two in your chosen colour).

You don't need undercoat if you're doing emulsion over emulsion. That mainly applies to woodwork.

I'd say work on the assumption of a room per day so you don't have to rush it and muck it up.