Decorating hall, stairs and landing

archie9uk

Quote for:
-Taking up (and disposing of) carpets
- Stripping wallpaper
- Filling walls as necessary (will need some filler under the stairs)
- Putting lining paper up
- Painting walls and ceilings with 2 coats emulsion
- Painting woodwork with gloss (banister/spindles and 6 door frames)
= £856


We live in the West Midlands. Our house is a 1950's 3 bed semi, with a pretty average sized hall, stairs and landing. Quote was from a handyman, NOT a professional painter/decorator. Quote was about twice what I would have guessed! but is it fair? (Can't possibly afford it if it is. Will have to give it a bash ourselves...)

Procrastinator333

Decorating is more expensive than you think....

The carpets is no cost, just a bit of time. He will just put them in his car and off to the local tip. So depends how far it is as to how long it will take.

My guess is there is £200-250 ish of materials (assuming decent dulux etc) to do that work. Maybe a bit more or bit less depending on the size.

So assuming that is included in the quote, that leaves £600 ish for labour. So what 4 days work?

It depends on the size, but that doesn't sound unreasonable - If it were a decorator doing the work.

Unless it is tiny. I don't see how you could get a quote of £400-£450ish. Materials will be half that. Unless you use cheap rubbish. Which will then mean you will just have to do extra coats, extra labour and probbaly repaint it in a few years.

How bad is the existing wallpaper? Not possible to paint over? It might need an extra coat, but that would save a lot of time in terms of stripping and then linning. I would be asking professional decorators about it.

SailorSam

If you're going to throw the carpets away, you're best leaving them down while you're decorating. Any mess will go on them.

archie9uk

Sorry, I forgot to say, emulsion paint for the walls is not included. The materials are only a small amount of filler, lining paper and paste, gloss and white emulsion for the ceilings. I can't imagine they would cost much at all....?


The existing wallpaper is terrible. It is thick embossed paper, and is peeling off in places. I would guess it has been on for at least 25 years.


I wanted the carpet taken up first because it's quite thick and I don't think it would be possible to properly paint the skirting with it down.

phill99

archie9uk wrote: »

Sorry, I forgot to say, emulsion paint for the walls is not included. The materials are only a small amount of filler, lining paper and paste, gloss and white emulsion for the ceilings. I can't imagine they would cost much at all....?


The existing wallpaper is terrible. It is thick embossed paper, and is peeling off in places. I would guess it has been on for at least 25 years.


I wanted the carpet taken up first because it's quite thick and I don't think it would be possible to properly paint the skirting with it down.

I always allow 4 days for hall stairs and landing, particularly with spindles. Removing the paper can take half a day or 2 days. It all depends on how easy it comes off. Even without coloued emulsion, he's still got £100 or so of materials.

I'm not convinced you are living in the same world as the rest of us.

archie9uk

phill99 wrote: »

I'm not convinced you are living in the same world as the rest of us.

What a kind thing to say, thank you! I'd rather not live in the same world as most people, to be honest!


We've never paid anyone for decorating work, we have two young children and a very modest income. We didn't really know how much to expect, but £856 is much more than we can afford. If that is a fair quote, then we can't afford it. Simple as that.

esmy

I'm half way through doing ours at the moment - including 8 doors in total and spindled staircase - and, today, I'd gladly pay £££s for someone else to do it!

handyman1963

Very difficult to say if this is fair because it really depends on the condition of the underlying walls and woodwork - in essence, how much preparation is required. The time required for the job could be anything from 3 to 6 days. I would be surprised if any quote would come in at less than about £550. I would hazard that you have been quoted for 5 days work plus about £150 for materials. To cut this down a little you could get the carpet up yourself (most councils have a free 'bulk collection' service) and have the walls painted without lining, if they're good enough.

Reece_

Procrastinator333 wrote: »

The carpets is no cost, just a bit of time. He will just put them in his car and off to the local tip. So depends how far it is as to how long it will take.

If this were the case he'd be breaking the law, it counts as trade waste so he can't (legally) just take it to the local dump. He should having a waste carriers licence and be taking to an appropriate waste centre where he in turn will have to pay to leave there.
Granted what you suggest is common and quite likely however not right.

The quote sounds reasonable to me OP, I'd dare say you may find a decorator that would be similar rather than a handyman however that's irrelevant since it's out of budget.

wallbash

(Can't possibly afford it if it is. Will have to give it a bash ourselves...)

And why not. You won't make a brilliant job, but you will learn lots.As long as the final result is acceptable to you , go for it.
And think of the money saved.

jonnyb1978

A handyman. £180 a day labour depending on location. What about sanding skirting, walls between coats if he is any good. Time consuming job. With decorating preparation is the key and you get what you pay for.

On another note. Why do people always think Dulux is decent. Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.