Get a decorator or do it myself?

ka7e

I was tempted by Valspar colour mixing, but their reviews are very mixed. It seems if their paint isn't used exactly as prescribed, it can result in very poor results. F and B is like Marmite - the cheapest emulsion is not hard-wearing, so isn't suitable for high-traffic areas. But some of their colours are amazing with fantastic light-reflecting qualities and depth of tone. I have F and B Hay in my lounge and love it. I'd rate Johnstone's paint over off-the-shelf Dulux, but Dulux Trade Diamond Paint is very good.

I've no experience of other brands, but in the F and B price range are Craig and Rose, Little Greene and my decorator recommended Tikkurila.

There is a good article here, but it ranks the top 5 paints by popularity, which doesn't always reflect quality!https://www.coating.co.uk/25-best-interior-paint-brands-in-the-uk/

rob7475

I can recommend Crown trade scrubbable matt. Your local crown shop will mix it up to any colour including colours from other brands

Slinky

I used Valspar bathroom and kitchen last year, I think the tin of base paint must have been sitting unused in the shop for a long time. It absolutely stank of rotting fish. 4 weeks with the window opened and it still stank every time you came in from outside (it was our lobby and downstairs loo). Got my money back and painted over with Dulux. Fortunately the smell disappeared.

Will never use Valspar again.

ETA, the mixed colour wasn't a very good match either.

pjcox2005

I always end up going with simple square room I should probably paint myself - may not be perfect but really it's a skill to improve and not that hard unless you want perfection. Assumes fairly standard wall; not a load of filing or prep work.

Stairs and landing, way more fiddly, i'll get someone in to do that job.

Saying that, given I don't have loads of spare time with kids about then i've shifted more to paying given my earnings compared to buying back a days holiday from work.

Rosa_Damascena

Now I am the original delegator - ie dislike household maintenance - but painting is one thing I do myself (when I get motivated to do so). That includes stairs and landing. The awkward corner at the top? I duct-taped a paintbrush to the end of a wooden handle and the result was excellent, no risk of falling, just a gentle stretch that retained full co-ordination.

Okydoky25

Does that quote include the material? 

Personally having DIY and now in the position to pay someone else I would rather get in the professionals. 

woodsford

Okydoky25 said:

Does that quote include the material? 

Nope. They will provide the paint at cost.

Rosa_Damascena

woodsford said:

Okydoky25 said:

Does that quote include the material? 

Nope. They will provide the paint at cost.

This is a low-risk DIY job. You may not enjoy it but it will be useful to get some decorating experience in.

The quote is way too much money.

onomatopoeia99

ka7e said:

I was tempted by Valspar colour mixing, but their reviews are very mixed. It seems if their paint isn't used exactly as prescribed, it can result in very poor results.

I used Valspar in the most recent room I redecorated, mostly because they offered the colour I wanted via the mixer, whereas none of the other paints available in the local DIY sheds had anything that appealled.  It was for my "rarely used" spare bedroom that I intended to turn into a library, which would also be low traffic, but this was at the start of 2020 and in a couple of months it became high traffic as I'm in here all day every week day working from home.  Anyway, the paint, Valspar 700, went on fine, needed two coats as I was doing a bold colour ("spirit of sage" - who thinks of these things?) onto new plaster that had been mist coated and so far is holding up fine as well.  No nasty smells to report.

I've had success with Dulux trade diamond matt as well in other rooms.

Rosa_Damascena

onomatopoeia99 said:

ka7e said:

I was tempted by Valspar colour mixing, but their reviews are very mixed. It seems if their paint isn't used exactly as prescribed, it can result in very poor results.

 I was doing a bold colour ("spirit of sage" - who thinks of these things?) 

I was intrigued enough to google this shade. Its not unlike Dulux' Overtly Olive.