A FRESH FINISH, THOUGHTFULLY PREPARED
Painting and decorating
in London
We paint and decorate homes and workplaces across London and the M25, from a single wall to a full room. We discuss the existing surfaces, the finish you want and how the room will be protected, then plan the preparation and painting around the actual condition of the space.
LET’S PLAN THE WORK
Share photographs, measurements and the changes you have in mind.
A finish for the whole room
We paint walls, ceilings and woodwork in houses, flats and commercial premises. Some enquiries concern a full redecoration; others involve a feature wall, a tired ceiling or woodwork that needs a fresh finish. We identify which surfaces are included before discussing the visit so a request to paint a room is not left open to interpretation.
Doors, skirting, frames and other trim need their own preparation and product choices. The room’s existing colours, light and fittings also affect how a proposed finish will look. We can discuss colour and finish options with you, but we need to know whether the job includes adjoining surfaces or only the wall shown in a photograph. That distinction helps us plan both materials and working time.
Preparation comes before colour
We inspect the condition of the surfaces before applying a new finish. The work may include filling cracks, preparing areas of plaster, sanding and removing unsuitable old paint layers. We discuss what is needed for the particular surface rather than assume a fresh coat can conceal every defect. Preparation affects the finished appearance as well as the sequence of the job.
Tell us about peeling paint, previous patch repairs or visible staining when you enquire. A damp patch or a continuing leak needs attention before a decorative finish is treated as the answer. We can explain where the paintwork ends and another repair may be required. We agree any additional preparation with you, including work that becomes apparent only once the existing finish is examined closely.
What is being decorated?
| Area | Work we assess | Information to send |
|---|---|---|
| Walls and ceilings | Preparation, coverage and edges. | Measurements and surface photographs. |
| Doors and trim | Condition, existing coating and operational parts. | Which items and faces are included. |
| A feature wall | Position and relationship to adjoining finishes. | Colour choice and any existing fittings. |
| Several rooms | Sequence and access between areas. | A room-by-room list. |
We make room for the work
Before painting starts, we discuss furniture, belongings and access to the surfaces. We protect the immediate floors, furniture and fittings as appropriate to the task, and consider how the room will be used during the work. A furnished flat, an empty rental and an occupied office each need a different arrangement around the same painted wall.
Please clear small and personal items from the work area before we arrive. Larger furniture, pictures and mirrors can be discussed as part of preparing the room, including where items can safely stand while work continues. Tell us about fragile pieces or objects that should not be moved. We need clear access to the surfaces and sufficient space to handle tools and materials without working around belongings that could have been identified earlier.
The right product for the surface
We work with finishes including matt, satin, silk and high gloss, with the choice discussed against the surface and intended use. Walls and woodwork do not automatically need the same product. The existing coating also matters: preparation and compatibility need attention before a different finish is applied over it. Send any paint details you already have so we can discuss them.
Our published service includes water-based silk finishes, solvent-based gloss and specialist products such as bathroom or anti-mould paints. Selecting a specialist paint does not remove the need to assess the underlying surface or deal with an ongoing source of moisture. We discuss the product, preparation and application requirements together. If you want us to supply paint or other materials, arrange the purchasing requirements before the appointment.
Planning the room
| Before work | During the work | At review |
|---|---|---|
| Identify furniture and delicate items. | Protect the immediate working area. | Discuss returning moved items. |
| Agree preparation and products. | Prepare surfaces and allow required drying. | Review the finish on agreed areas. |
| Confirm access and occupied rooms. | Follow the planned room sequence. | Explain relevant drying considerations. |
An orderly painting sequence
We prepare the surfaces, organise the working area and apply the agreed coating in a sequence suited to the room. Edges, large surfaces and trim need to be considered together so one part of the job does not interfere with another. We use appropriate brushes, rollers and other painting tools for the surface and finish rather than apply one method indiscriminately.
Drying between preparation and coats is part of the work plan. The product and surface conditions determine what can follow, so we do not attach a single completion time to every room. We discuss any periods when the area needs to remain available or undisturbed. If other trades are working in the property, tell us their planned tasks so dust, access or further repairs can be considered before the final finish is applied.
Clean lines where surfaces meet
Woodwork and edges often make the difference between a room that has simply changed colour and one that feels finished. We assess doors, frames, skirting and other agreed trim, prepare the relevant areas and apply the selected coating. We look at junctions with walls and floors, handles and fittings that affect access, and parts that need to remain operational.
If a door is sticking or a frame is damaged, mention that before booking the decoration. Painting is not a substitute for a carpentry adjustment or repair to the fitting. Our carpentry and repairs service can be discussed alongside the finish when appropriate. We plan that sequence so fresh paint is not immediately disturbed by work that should have been considered first.
A review before the room returns to use
We check the agreed painted areas for coverage, edges and the finish appropriate to the product. We review the work with you or a nominated contact and explain any remaining drying considerations. Some marks or variations relate to the underlying surface or the agreed preparation, so the review is based on the work discussed rather than an assumption that every wall began in identical condition.
Keep the paint brand, colour reference and finish details after the job. Where paint has been supplied, we can discuss what is left for future touch-ups. A matching colour name alone may not identify the exact product or sheen. We also review any fittings or belongings moved as part of the preparation and discuss the practical return of the area to normal use, taking the finished surfaces into account.
Decoration around people and property
For homeowners and tenants, we discuss which rooms remain in use and how access will work while the job progresses. In a rented property, confirm any required permission for a colour change or alteration to finishes before arranging the appointment. Let us know about stairs, lifts, restricted access and building rules that affect the use of the working area.
Landlords and letting agents can provide a room-by-room list of the surfaces to be decorated, any known damage and the person who can approve decisions. In offices and other workplaces, occupied areas, furniture and agreed access times need to be identified. We can then discuss the work in relation to the premises rather than expect the users of a busy room to adapt to an unplanned painting visit.
Finish the repairs before the final coat
Decoration can be combined with suitable repairs and fitting work when the sequence is planned. A room may need a door adjusted, a wall repaired after mounting work or storage fitted before its final decoration. Give us the complete list so we can discuss which work should happen first, who is needed and when the surfaces will be ready for paint.
For a wider room improvement, our tiling service covers tiled finishes that may meet the painted area. We can also discuss re-hanging pictures after the decoration has been completed and the finish allows it. Combining tasks is a planning option rather than a promise that every trade can be carried out by the same person or completed within the original painting booking.
Pricing the preparation as well as the painting
The size of the area, condition of the surfaces, preparation and chosen finish affect the work required. Jobs taking more than a day need an on-site viewing under our published conditions. Send photographs and measurements so we can discuss the room; we do not offer a single per-room price that ignores ceilings, woodwork or repairs. Materials are separate from labour.
For standard handyman appointments Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm, the published first hour is £83 with a one-hour minimum, then £36 per subsequent half hour. Half-day and full-day labour rates are £256 and £456 for up to four and eight hours respectively. Additional sourcing, parking or applicable congestion expenses follow the published rates and conditions. Weekend and out-of-hours rates differ. The cancellation and rearrangement policy asks for at least 48 hours’ notice.
- List the walls, ceiling and woodwork that need painting.
- Send photographs of peeling paint, stains or damaged surfaces.
- Identify any paint already supplied, including its finish.
- Tell us about occupied rooms, access restrictions and other trades.
What changes the amount of work?
| Factor | Example | Booking effect |
|---|---|---|
| Surface condition | Peeling paint or previous patches. | Additional preparation may be needed. |
| Included areas | Walls alone or ceiling and woodwork too. | Different materials and application work. |
| Access | Furniture or restricted working times. | The order in which areas can be completed. |
| Other repairs | Carpentry or tiling before decoration. | A coordinated sequence and appropriate trade. |
Planning this work at a London address?
Read the area notes for Walthamstow and Chiswick, or check our London and M25 coverage. Send your full postcode with the job details so we can review the work, access and relevant trade before arranging a visit.
BEFORE YOU ARRANGE THE VISIT
A few practical answers.
Can you paint only one wall?
We can discuss a single wall as well as a larger redecoration. Send its dimensions and photographs, including the edges and existing fittings. The condition of the surface and the requested finish still need assessment.
Can I use paint I have already bought?
Tell us the brand, product, finish and quantity available. We can discuss whether it suits the surfaces and intended work. Supplying paint does not remove preparation or drying requirements, and additional material may still be needed.
Do you prepare damaged paintwork?
We assess preparation including filling, sanding and removing unsuitable old coatings. Send photographs of the affected area before booking. We discuss what is required and identify other issues that should be addressed before a decorative finish is applied.
Will you move pictures and furniture?
We discuss larger items as part of room preparation and protection. Please clear small personal belongings and identify delicate pieces or items that should not be moved. The available working area is agreed around the property.
Can you decorate between tenancies?
Yes. Provide the room list, known defects and an access contact. Agree who can make decisions about colours, preparation and changes. The job can then be assessed against the property rather than a general description of a rental refresh.
How is the completion time decided?
The area, preparation, product and drying requirements all matter. We discuss those details before confirming the work. A fresh wall and a room needing several surface repairs cannot be assigned the same fixed completion time.
TELL US WHAT NEEDS DOING
Let’s plan
your visit.
Send your postcode, photographs and the full job list. We’ll discuss the work and the relevant booking arrangements.