Decorator

20122013

I am not sure whether this is the right place to post.

Apart from personal recommendations, trust a trade, Which, checkatrade. Is there another way to tell if a decorator is good at decorating and reliable?or will a handyman be able to do the job just as well?

TroubledTarts

We have always gone for a dedicated professional one that just does the one job well rather than a multi skilled perhaps not the best at all jobs handyman.

Recommendations from frends is good and when we found our go to decorator he has decorated whole houses in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex for us.

stuart45

In general the best ones have served a recognised apprenticeship, although finding one might be tricky.

Alanp

try the age uk website or your local council, they vet the trades they use..

WIAWSNB

A DIYer worth their salt, and hence any ditto 'Handyperson', can paint as 'well' as a pro decorator - Ie achieve the same quality of finish, given enough time.That is not to say they all will, of course, and many will not. That is also not even to say that all pro decorators will achieve an acceptable finish - there are a number of examples on this forum of this failure.

(I do not include specialist finishes, spraying and suchlike in that, almost certainly requiring a pro.)

So what does a 'pro' bring to the job? I'd suggest, consistency, speed, advice, knowledge on how to tackle tricky issues, and stuff like that.

But I know that I, and clearly a good number of folk on this forum, given a section of wall and a skirting board, 'can' ultimately achieve the 'same' finish as a pro, but I'll take a lot longer, and will likely compromise more.

So, what you really need is someone who is conscientious, takes care, and is competent. And you evidence this by checking out their previous work and customers. Of secondary importance is whether they are labelled a 'pro' P&D.

Personal recommendations are the best, especially from actual customers, and once you've confirmed the work is neat, you can cite that with the P&D, "Cracking job at the Bunnies, and I know some parts needed a lot of prep with some rough walls. That's just what I'm looking for..."

The other thing I'd add, based on one thread in particular on here, is to make your expectations unambiguously clear. As you explain what you are after, point out obvious blemishes in your home, and ask that they are made good - listen carefully to the response.

And always bear in mind that in the event of any dispute, the price paid will have some bearing.

Mil had her whole bungalow painted when she moved in a few years back - walls, ceilings, woodwork. She used a recommended pro who came with good local reviews. Sadly can't remember the quote, but it was obviously £ks as a sizeable job. It looks great and was utterly transformative, but you can be 'picky' if you want - the odd embedded lump and old paint flake, a scratch not fully smoothed out before being painted, stuff like that. Does it matter? Not really, as you simply don't notice them in daytoday life. But if you sit back and stare at the ceiling, you will see a few, and wonder why they didn't, but hey.

So, ask about what they will do, but also be realistic in your expectations.

If one quote is twice another, and they state categorically that it will be perfect, flawless, blemish-free, then it had better be!

Albermarle

One issue I have found in the past is the very wide range of quotes for the same job.

For example some years ago we had a youngish lad around ( friend of daughters and son of a decorator) and he quoted something like £700 to do a bedroom ( walls, Ceiling, window frames, wooden cupboards, entrance door etc). Then we had an older chap who had a decorating business, and was part of a local group supporting local small businesses. He quoted something like £3k ! I guessed he would do a better job, but went for the cheapo quote and he did an adequate job. Once I retired , I did it again myself and did a better, but slower job.

EssexExile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954699#Comment_81954699

A wide range of quality too. We had a local firm do our last house and they were brilliant. I've just moved into a place I've had renovated and the decorators the builder used don't seem to have discovered sandpaper or dust sheets.

bjorn_toby_wilde

I do my own, but when my son’s fascia’s needed painting on a very tall Edwardian house I took one look at the ladders and thought “nah”.

I asked at the local Dulux Decorators Centre and they gave me a list of recommended pros. Found a very good lad who did an excellent job at a decent rate.

20122013

AGE UK

I have tried calling and checking their website but cannot find anything relating to decorating listed. Does anyone know whether / how to find decorators or painters linked to AGE UK?

goldfinches

As far as I can see on their website the local branches have Handyperson listings and then there is also a National list for companies that do repairs or adaptations to your home. I can't tell which sort of list you need and not all geographical areas are covered so you'll have to do a bit more searching yourself.