Painting and decorating, inside and out

Interior painting ranges from a quick refresh of sound walls to a full redecoration with cracks raked out, new lining paper and every door and skirting rubbed down. New plaster needs a mist coat before normal emulsion, and fresh plaster has to dry out first. Woodwork is slower than walls: old gloss often needs keying, knots may need sealing, and a proper finish on doors and frames takes several coats with drying time in between.

Wallpapering is a separate skill. Heavy or patterned papers need accurate pattern matching, walls that are sound and flat, and sometimes lining paper underneath. Removing old paper can reveal damaged plaster that needs repair before anything goes back up.

Decorative finishes such as polished plaster, limewash or specialist effects are usually done by a smaller number of decorators who specialise in them. Say so in your request if that is what you want.

Outside, the paint has to cope with rain, frost and sun. The job depends on the surface: masonry paint on render or pebbledash, microporous paint or stain on timber, and specialist systems on metal railings or gutters. Most exterior work needs dry weather and sensible temperatures, so good decorators book it for the warmer months and may postpone days at short notice.

Access is often the largest cost. Ladders suit low work; anything higher usually needs a tower or scaffolding. If scaffolding goes on the pavement, the scaffolding company must hold a licence from the council, and you should check that it covers the whole job. Scaffolding must also be inspected before first use and regularly while it is up.

Listed buildings need care. Changing the colour of a listed building, or painting previously unpainted brick or stone, can need listed building consent, and conservation areas may have their own restrictions. Ask the council before you pick a colour.

The general sale of lead paint in the UK was banned decades ago, so older layers on doors, windows and skirting in pre-war and many post-war houses may contain lead. Dry sanding or burning off lead paint produces harmful dust and fumes, which is a particular risk for young children and pregnant women in the house. A competent decorator tests suspect paint and uses methods that keep dust down.

Asbestos was used in buildings until it was banned in 1999, including in some textured decorative coatings on ceilings and walls. Sanding, scraping or drilling a textured coating in a house built before 2000 should not happen until it has been checked. A decorator who finds it should stop and arrange testing.

Paint does not fix damp or mould. If a wall is stained, flaking or growing mould, the cause is usually condensation, a leak or failed pointing or render outside. Painting over it hides the problem for a few weeks. A good decorator tells you when a job needs another trade first.

Source: hse.gov.uk

• which rooms or elevations, and the rough size of each
• walls, ceilings, woodwork, radiators, or everything
• the condition: cracks, stains, flaking paint, wallpaper to remove
• the age of the property and whether it is listed or in a conservation area
• whether you will choose and buy the paint, or leave it to the decorator
• furniture: will rooms be empty or does the decorator move and cover things
• for exterior work: height, access for ladders or scaffolding, parking
• for businesses: working hours, whether work must happen out of hours, and site rules

A clear quote names the products and the number of coats, describes the preparation for each surface, and says whether the price includes filling, caulking, sanding, stain block, primer and undercoat. It should say who pays for materials and whether they are included at cost. For exterior work, it should cover access equipment and what happens if bad weather causes delays. Ask what the decorator will do about repairs discovered along the way, such as rotten timber in a window frame, and whether a joiner is involved.

You describe the job once and confirm your phone number and email address. Painters and decorators in your area see the request without your name or contact details. One of them can buy it, and once that happens it is off the list for everyone else. The decorator pays Offrano; you pay nothing.

Before any of your details are released, we email you the decorator's name, address and phone number. No decorator is obliged to buy a request, and if none does within 21 days it is withdrawn. We check that buyers are registered businesses; we do not judge their brushwork, so ask to see recent jobs and check insurance for exterior work before you agree.