Painter & Decorator

What Affects the Cost?

• •Level of preparation required (filling, sanding, repairs)
• •Quality of paint selected (trade emulsion vs Farrow & Ball)
• •Wallpaper hanging and removal
• •Height and access (scaffolding for exterior work)
• •Working hours (day vs weekend/evening)

Areas We Cover

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to paint a room?

A standard room in good condition — walls, ceiling, and woodwork — costs £400-£650 including preparation and two coats of quality trade paint such as Dulux Trade Diamond Matt. Rooms needing heavy preparation such as crack filling, plaster repair, sanding, or lining paper with 1400-grade lining stock cost £650-£1,000. A full 2-bed flat typically costs £2,500-£4,500 and a 3-bed house £4,000-£7,500, depending on condition and ceiling height. The single biggest factor affecting price is the amount of preparation needed — a freshly plastered room takes half the time of one with crumbling Victorian plaster and decades of paint buildup. Premium paint brands like Farrow & Ball or Little Greene add approximately £150-£300 per room over standard trade paint. These prices are based on projects completed across South East London boroughs since 2020. We provide a fixed price after a site visit so you know exactly what to budget.

What prep work do you do before painting?

Proper preparation is the difference between a paint job that lasts 2 years and one that lasts 10. We fill all cracks, holes, and dents with flexible filler such as Toupret or Gyproc, sand surfaces smooth by hand and with orbital sanders to 120-grit finish, wash down walls to remove grease and dust, scrape and sand flaking paint back to a sound edge, apply stabilising solution to chalky or powdery surfaces, mask off all woodwork, fittings, and flooring with low-tack tape, and apply primer or undercoat where the surface demands it. On older London properties — particularly Victorian and Edwardian terraces common across Lewisham, Bromley, and Southwark — we often find layers of distemper, blown lime plaster, or hairline cracks from settlement. We address all of these before any top coat goes on. Most decorators skip this work because it is slow, but it is what makes the finish last.

What type of paint do you use?

We use high-quality trade paints as standard — typically Dulux Trade Diamond Matt for walls (which offers superior coverage and durability over retail equivalents) and Dulux Trade Satinwood for woodwork. For premium finishes, we work with Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion, Little Greene Intelligent Matt, and Paint & Paper Library — all of which we can colour-match if needed. We are happy to use any paint you prefer and can advise on the best product for each surface: matt emulsion for ceilings, eggshell or satinwood for woodwork and high-traffic areas like hallways, and specialist masonry paint such as Dulux Weathershield for exterior walls. For kitchens and bathrooms, we use moisture-resistant formulations like Dulux Trade Kitchen & Bathroom that resist mould and condensation. On exterior work across South London, we typically recommend a three-coat system — stabiliser, undercoat, and two top coats — to withstand the British climate.

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