Painter Decorator London: Everything You Need to Know — Complete FAQ Guide

The Complete Guide to Hiring a Painter Decorator in London

Everything you need to know about hiring a painter and decorator in London — from what services they offer and what they cost, to how long projects take and what questions to ask before you hire. This comprehensive guide answers every common question London homeowners have about painting and decorating, based on over a decade of experience serving every London borough.

What Services Does a Painter Decorator Offer?

A professional painter decorator in London typically provides:

• Interior painting: Walls, ceilings, and woodwork throughout your home. All preparation included — filling, sanding, caulking, priming. Two coats minimum on every surface using trade-quality paint. Our interior painting service covers everything from single rooms to whole houses.
• Exterior painting: Masonry, render, woodwork, fascias, soffits, windows, and doors. Includes power washing, fungicidal treatment, scraping, sanding, filling, priming, and two coats of weather-resistant exterior paint. Our exterior painting service works around UK weather conditions.
• Wallpapering: Hanging all types of wallpaper — standard paper, paste-the-wall, vinyl, designer, and hand-printed. Includes stripping old wallpaper, preparing walls, and hanging to a flawless standard. Pattern matching, seamless joins, and clean edges are standard. See our wallpapering service.
• Commercial painting: Offices, retail spaces, restaurants, healthcare, and education facilities. Out-of-hours and phased working to minimise business disruption. Full health and safety compliance (RAMS, COSHH, CDM 2015). Our commercial painting service works around your business.
• Specialist finishes: Venetian plaster, polished plaster, limewash, colour washing, rag rolling, and other decorative paint effects. These are specialist crafts requiring specific training and experience. See our specialist finishes service and our Venetian plaster guide.
• Preparation and repairs: Filling cracks, repairing plaster, treating damp (identifying the source, not just painting over it), and preparing surfaces for decoration. Read our complete preparation guide.

How Much Does a Painter Decorator Cost in London?

London painting costs in 2025:

• Single room: £400–£700
• Two-bedroom flat: £2,500–£4,500
• Three-bedroom house: £3,500–£6,500
• Exterior terraced house: £3,000–£5,500
• Per day (labour only): £200–£300 per painter

These are ranges for professional work using trade-quality paint. All include preparation, materials, and VAT. For a detailed breakdown by property type, room, and location, see our complete London painting cost guide. For exterior pricing specifically, see our exterior painting cost guide.

How Long Does Painting Take?

Realistic professional timelines:

• Single room (walls and ceiling): 1–2 days
• Single room (including woodwork): 2–3 days
• Two-bedroom flat (entire interior): 8–12 working days
• Three-bedroom house: 10–15 working days
• Four-bedroom house: 15–20 working days
• Exterior (terraced house): 5–8 working days (weather dependent)

These assume professional painters working full days with proper equipment. DIY typically takes 2–3 times longer. For a full breakdown including drying times and how to schedule painting around daily life, see our room-by-room timeline guide and project planning timeline.

How Do I Choose the Right Painter?

The key criteria for selecting a London painter decorator:

1. Insurance: Minimum £2 million public liability (ask to see the certificate — never take their word for it)
2. Written quote: Itemised, specifying rooms, surfaces, preparation, paint brands, number of coats, and duration
3. References: From clients in the last 6 months — call them and ask specific questions
4. Experience with your property type: Period properties, new builds, and commercial spaces all require different expertise
5. Professional accreditation: PDA membership, Checkatrade/TrustATrader, Dulux Select Decorator are all positive signals

For a detailed step-by-step process, see our guides on choosing the right painter decorator and how to find a good painter in London.

What Paint Do Professional Decorators Use?

Professional painters in London predominantly use trade paint — sold through trade centres, not DIY retail stores. Trade paint has higher solids content (38–45% vs 28–32% in retail paint), better coverage, and superior durability. The most commonly used brands:

• Dulux Trade: The professional standard — excellent coverage, massive colour range (1,200+), colour-matching service for any brand. Diamond Matt for high-traffic areas, Bathroom+ for bathrooms.
• Johnstone's Trade: Competitive alternative to Dulux Trade with excellent coverage and durability. Covaplus Vinyl Matt is a favourite for walls and ceilings.
• Crown Trade: Good quality at a slightly lower price point. Clean Extreme is their scrubbable matt.
• Little Greene and Farrow & Ball: Premium brands for specific client requests and period properties. Beautiful colours, higher cost per litre.

For a detailed comparison of paint brands, see our brand comparison guide. For choosing the right finish for each room, see our paint finishes guide.

Do You Cover All of London?

Yes. We cover all 551 London areas across every borough — from central London (Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea) through inner London (Islington, Hackney, Wandsworth, Lewisham) to outer London (Croydon, Bromley, Enfield, Romford). See our full coverage map to check your location. Specific area pages include North London, South London, East London, and West London.

Do You Offer Free Quotes?

Yes. We provide free, no-obligation quotes for all painting and decorating projects. The process:

1. Contact us via our online quote form or call 020 8088 3213
2. We arrange a convenient time to visit your property — we need to see the surfaces, assess the condition, and understand your requirements in person. A proper quote cannot be given from photos alone.
3. We provide a written, itemised quote within 48 hours of the visit, specifying every room, surface, paint product, number of coats, preparation details, duration, and cost
4. There is absolutely no obligation to proceed. The quote is free and detailed — use it to compare against other painters or to plan your budget

What Insurance and Guarantees Do You Provide?

• Public liability insurance: £5 million — above the industry standard of £2 million, reflecting the value of London properties we work on
• Workmanship guarantee: 2 years against peeling, blistering, or premature failure (excluding normal wear and tear and damage)
• Paint manufacturer's guarantee: Quality trade paints come with 5–15 year manufacturer guarantees when applied according to specification. We apply all products according to the manufacturer's instructions, ensuring these guarantees are valid
• Employer's liability insurance: All our painters are directly employed and fully insured

Do You Work on Period Properties and Listed Buildings?

Yes — period property painting is a core specialism. We have extensive experience with Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian properties across London, including Grade II listed buildings. We understand lime plaster, breathable paints, listed building consent requirements, and period-appropriate colour schemes. Read our complete period property painting guide for detailed information.

Do You Offer Eco-Friendly Painting?

Yes. We offer low-VOC, zero-VOC, and natural paint options from Little Greene, Earthborn, Graphenstone, Farrow & Ball, and other eco-conscious brands. We can specify an entirely eco-friendly paint specification for your project. Read our eco-friendly painting guide for detailed product comparisons and recommendations.

What Preparation Do You Do Before Painting?

Preparation is the foundation of every professional paint job. For every project we:

• Protect all floors with canvas dust sheets and furniture with protective covers
• Fill all cracks, holes, and imperfections with quality filler
• Sand all filled areas and the entire wall surface to create a smooth base and a mechanical key for the new paint
• Caulk all joints — where walls meet skirting, door frames, window frames, and at internal corners
• Wash walls with sugar soap (or specialist degreaser in kitchens) to remove dirt, grease, and contaminants
• Apply primer or mist coat where necessary — new plaster, bare surfaces, covering dark colours, or stain blocking
• Mask all skirting, switches, sockets, and fixtures with quality low-tack masking tape

Read our complete wall preparation guide for the full step-by-step process.

Can You Work Around My Business Hours?

Yes. For commercial clients, we offer:

• Out-of-hours working: Evenings, overnight, and weekends — your business operates as normal during the day
• Phased approach: Section-by-section painting so your business continues uninterrupted throughout the project
• Full health and safety compliance: RAMS, COSHH assessments, CDM 2015 compliance, and fire-rated paint specifications where required

Read our commercial painting guide for detailed information on minimising business disruption.

Do You Help With Colour Selection?

Yes. We offer a free colour consultation as part of our quotation process. We bring fan decks from all major brands, assess the light in each room at the time of our visit, discuss your preferences and lifestyle, and guide you toward colours that work for your space. We can also colour-match any colour from any brand in Dulux Trade paint for durability and value. Read our colour selection guide and our 2025 London colour trends for inspiration.

What's the Process from Quote to Completion?

1. Contact us for a free quote — online form or phone
2. Site visit — we assess your property in person, discuss your requirements, and provide colour advice
3. Written quote — detailed, itemised, delivered within 48 hours
4. Booking — confirm your dates with a small deposit (10–20%)
5. Preparation — we protect your home, prepare every surface, and keep you informed throughout
6. Painting — quality trade paint applied to professional standards
7. Inspection — we walk through the completed work with you, address any snags, and ensure you're completely satisfied
8. Aftercare — we leave you with labelled leftover paint for future touch-ups and our contact details for any questions

For a detailed week-by-week timeline, see our project planning timeline.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Get a free, no-obligation quote today. We'll visit your property, discuss your ideas, and provide a detailed written quote. No pressure, no obligation — just honest, professional advice from London's trusted painting and decorating service. Call 020 8088 3213 or request your quote online.