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Verified ProOver 50 ReviewsMember for 3 year(s)

Colt Property Improvement

74 review(s)
Based in: Dunstable, LU6 2PP
We are a family orientated company established in 1994. Utilising only the best quality materials and a highly skilled wo...
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Trueven decorators

0 review(s)
Based in: London, SE26 6EB
Painting and decorating on commercial and residential properties
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As a third-generation painter with 22 years of experience in the industry, I am thrilled to announce the launch of my own ...
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BD Bathrooms

0 review(s)
Based in: Surbiton, KT5 9QL
Hi, I'm a experience buldier / tiler with many years of experience. All my jobs are clean and finished to highest standar...
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Seb's Handyman Services

0 review(s)
Based in: Reading, RG2 0HX
Dear Madam, Dear Sir, Our company, based in Reading, specialises in the Extension, loft conversions, Refurbishment, Gar...

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How much do Decorator services cost?

How much do Decorators charge? Prices for Decorators in 2024 can differ depending upon the sort of task that you need to have carried out in your house. It's the question we receive asked a great deal "how much do Decorators charge?".

Are you planning to hire the services of a decorator for your home or property? If yes, then you’d probably want to know just how much a professional will charge to help get your project over the line. While some home and property owners may prefer to take care of the decorations themselves, there are a number of benefits you stand to derive by calling in a reliable decorator. Not only will you be able to achieve the look and feel you want for your space, but you’d also get more options and varieties to choose from. In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into decorator charges in the UK to help you make informed decisions moving forward. Let’s take a look!

Firstly, it should be noted that there are a lot of factors that determines the price charged by decorators to complete a project. These factors include the difficulty of the task, the materials required, the location of the property, the qualification and experience of the decorator and lots more. For example, if you happen to reside in the South East ( especially London), you can expect to pay a higher fee than other areas in the country such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and more.

In general, to hire a decorator in the UK will cost you within the range of £17 to about £30 per hour. However, it should also be noted that you can come across a number of methods of determining cost such as per hour, per day, per M2 or even per bedroom.

View our Decorator cost guide View our Decorator advice

The average price
of a Decorator is:

£2,149

Decorator job Decorator cost in 2024
Painting and decorating £263-£3,488
Exterior painting and decorating £558-£3,570
uPVC Window Spraying £150-£4,500

Decorator service qualifications and accreditations

Decorators breathe a new lease of life into everyday spaces. They beautify through preparation and application of paint, wallpaper as well as other finishes inside and out. Decorators do not only plan, but they also implement decoration schemes for both residential homes and commercial establishments like offices, shops, hotels, restaurants and the likes. They design and plan the overall aesthetic of a space while also supervising and coordinating the activities of tradesmen which includes painters as well as carpet layers.

There are a number of ways to become a decorator such as through a college course, an apprenticeship or a job training. These routes can be explored so as to find the one which is most suitable for you. As expected, some of these routes have some certain qualifications, however many employers are actually more interested in individuals who are enthusiastic, willing to learn and also follow instructions.

As a decorator, to be able to work on a construction site, you’ll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). However, it should be noted that it’s very possible to work as a decorator without qualifications. However, several employers usually prefer individuals with qualifications in the field as it assures them of a top quality work. To achieve this, you can consider the following:

  • You can complete a qualification in Interior Decoration which could be a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration ( MSF40113 ) or a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration ( MSF50213 ).
  • You can also consider getting an assistant role so as to build your practical experience as well as body of the entire decoration work.
  • Create a portfolio of work to show to prospective clients as well as employers.

Services offered by Decorator

A decorator is simply an individual trained in the beautifying a client’s home by dictating its look and feel through the selection and placement of decorative elements which includes textiles, paint, furniture and more. This profession involves meeting the client directly so as to get a sense of how they intend to make use of their space and also how they want it to feel. Decorators work within their clients’ budget to breathe a new lease of life into any particular space or property. The role of a decorator is often confused with that of a designer but the main difference is that decorators don’t make architectural changes but rather work to improve an existing space or property. You’ll find a lot of decorators to be freelancers or consultants, while others work within bigger organizations. In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into some of the roles of a decorator. Let’s take a look!

Decorator FAQs

What questions should I ask a decorator?

Hiring a decorator for your project always seem easy until you get started. With a wide range of decorators available today, it can be quite tricky separating the boys from the men and selecting the right tradesman for your unique project. There are a number of things to put into consideration, questions to ask and lots more to ensure your decorating job is awarded to the right tradesman. In this post, we’re going to give you an insight on some of the essential questions to ask to make sure the prospective decorator is a good match. Let’s take a look!

  • What qualifications do you possess? With the pool of decorators around in the industry today, qualifications are needed to help you determine the true specialists. A qualified decorator gives you an assurance (to some extent) that a quality work would be done to your requirements. Decorators, generally, can earn a degree which includes course work in architecture and are also licensed.
  • How do you help me identify and communicate my style to you? If you have an idea and know what you want for your space, a good decorator should be able to get it out of you by showing you pictures and asking questions which can vary widely.
  • Do you have examples of previous work that are similar to my project in style, scope as well as budget? A decorator that answers yes to this question is a good indicator that they can handle your project. If they don’t, you can ask for pictures of projects they feel is quite similar to yours
how to prepare exterior walls for painting?

How To Prepare Exterior Walls For Painting?

For a great and smooth exterior finish, preparing the walls before painting is crucial. A great painting job melts the heart and even more so if its done by you. This is a relatively easy task that can be completed without much hassle by an expert DIYer. However if you lack the needed confidence to pull off your exterior wall painting preparation task, then hiring the services of a reliable professional who can guarantee the best result would be your best bet. In this step by step, we aim to take you through the steps involved in preparing exterior walls for painting.

Before you get started, you need to make sure you have the necessary tools in place. These includes a filler and filling knife, sandpaper, soap, sponge, wide paint brush, masking tape as well as drop sheets.

✓ Ensure a smooth surface with a filer and sanding. This includes removing and replacing any rotten or decaying timer, proper sanding as needed, scraping off of peeling areas with sanding and filling of cracking areas with the help of exterior grade filler. Once the above is completed, you can then proceed to filling any holes or cracks in your exterior surface with a top quality exterior filler ( the application should be done with a putty knife).

✓ Cleaning. With the help of a quality and soft brush, clear out the dirt and cobwebs on the exterior’s surface. Then wash the walls with a good detergent to remove any remaining dirt and grease. You can use a bristled brush and a high pressure cleaner to make the process easier.

✓ Mask the area. This involves using a top quality masking tape along the edges you do not wish to paint and pushing the tape’s edges down firmly in such a way to get straight edges.

how to paint exterior walls?

How To Paint Exterior Walls

Painting of exterior walls is a value adding task which can be done by any competent DIYer. So if you’re confident enough to pick up a brush and roller, then all you need to do is to follow the instruction in this step by step guide and you’d be glad you did. Painting your exterior walls yourself can save you lots of money that would rather have been spent on hiring the services of a professional painter and decorator. However, if you don’t feel confident enough to pull this off, then it’s advisable to call in a reliable painting specialist who can guarantee the best results for help. Here, we’ll take you through the needed steps to complete the painting of your exterior walls.

✓ Surface Preparation. This involves protecting all fencing and exterior wall component that’s not to be painted with a drop cloth or masking tape. You’ll also need to completely wipe out any dust before you start to paint a plaster surface. If it’s a previously painted wall, you’ll also need degrease it and remove or scrape off any loose areas of the plaster.

✓ Priming. This involves preparing the primer as instructed in the manufacturer’s guide. Then start to prime the surface by using a brush or a small paint roller to prime the corners, little items as well as all surfaces that are difficult to reach. Once done, then you can tackle the larger surfaces using a larger paint roller.

✓ Painting. To start painting your exterior walls, you’d have to prepare the product first by missing it thoroughly as instructed in the manual. Once done, you can repeat the same process as given in the priming stage above using your paint this time. Once done, you can decide to apply a second layer within a minimum of 4 hours after applying the first layer.

can you spray upvc windows a different colour?

The quick and simple answer to this question is yes, you can definitely spray upvc window with a different colour. In fact, this represents a much more cost effective mean of changing the upvc windows colour. Back in the days people used to simply replace their upvc windows, doors, fascias, gutters, garage door conservatories and the likes which is actually a much costlier option.

 

Generally, upvc window frames are known to have a lengthy lifespan, however the common misconception is that the colour you pick originally and install is the colour you’d have to keep till you have them replaced. Typically, people will have white upvc windows, however in recent times there has been more colours coming on in the market such as anthracite grey, black, brown and many more when it comes to replacing. However, replacing your upvc window frames come with a greater associated expenses, building works, a lot of hassle as well as mess. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of people looking for upvc painting and recoloring as this costs a lot less than replacing existing frames up to 80% in several cases. From the savings that’ll be made by spraying and painting upvc window frames, it makes absolutely little sense replacing the frames. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to have your upvc windows sprayed and painted by an experienced professional who can guarantee the best results the first time.

How should I prepare for exterior painting and decorating?

Exterior painters and decorators will prepare the areas to be painted for you. This will involve washing and cleaning the area and making sure that it’s a good quality surface. Cracks or holes should be filled in. In some cases, you may wish to have rendering redone before the painting is done.

can you spray upvc windows?

The quick and simple answer to this question is yes, you can definitely spray upvc windows. The upvc looks incredibly great when new and still got that fresh look and smell to it, but like every other thing, with time it begins to fade and look dull. And once it starts to look scruffy there’s no going back no matter how much you cleaned or maintained it. Now instead of going for a replacement upvc windows which can be very costly, you can spend just a fraction of the replacement cost by spraying the upvc windows. The only instance where you’d not be able to paint your upvc window is if the upvc is new or just fitted. This is largely due to the fact that a special type of upvc paint is required. The upvc paint, generally, forms a type of seal and bonds itself to the upvc window. However, it has great difficulty binding to a new upvc but as a large extent of the upvc in the UK is established rather than new, this shouldn’t be a headache for most home and property owners.

 

Another common reason why people decide to update their upvc with painting is due to the sheer number of colours you can incorporate in the painting. With the wide range of available colours, home owners are spoilt for choices and would opt for the colour that’ll add further accent and style to their homes. What’s more? If you don’t find the specific colour you want in your provider’s catalogue, you can always ask for a mixed colour.

What’s the best time of year to carry out exterior painting and decorating?

Most companies will recommend that exterior painting and decorating is carried out in the summer months. However, advances in paint technology mean that some paints can be applied in low temperatures and even when it’s raining. Check the can for the best conditions in which to apply or ask a professionals advise.

how to paint exterior window sills and frames?

How To Paint Exterior Window Sills And Frames?

Painting your exterior window sills and frames can be a very joyful and fun-filled activity if you know what you’re doing. It’s a task that can be completed in little time by an experienced DIYer, however if you do not have the confidence to pull off this project, then you’d be better off calling in a professional for help to avoid costly mistakes. In this guide, we’ll take you through the exterior window sills and frames painting process.

✓ Prepare the window sills and frames. This includes, brushing the surfaces with warm water and gentle soap, scrubbing the windows to ensure all the edges and cracks are free from all forms of dirt, rinsing it with water and use a soft, clean cloth to wipe off any excess liquid and finally, drying it off with a towel or leaving it to dry off by itself before you start to paint.

✓ Remove any signs of moulds and moss, fill in the cracks between frame and glass using a multi-purpose filler, sand the frame and wipe out any dirt or dust on or around it using a vacuum cleaner, a clean cloth or soft brush. Once done, you can then apply a coat of water-based primer and let it dry off before painting.

✓ Painting. Firstly, you’ll have to sand your primed windows to make an even, smooth surface and apply an undercoat evenly to the surface. Once completed, you can then apply at least 2 coats of paint using a quality brush. Make sure you sand the first layer carefully before you apply the second to get a great finish.

✓ Once dried, you can the finish with a top coat (make sure you go for a weather proof paint for the exterior). For the window sills, you’ll have to apply the exterior paint gently with masking tape around the edges to protect the walls from the dripping paint.

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