Category: DIY

If you’re planning a decorating or DIY project, it’s a reasonable assumption to think that going it alone will be the cheaper option – but could hiring a professional decorator to do the job actually work out cheaper in the long run? As with many things, it can all depend on your objectives and individual circumstances…

Of course you may accuse us of being bias, but we’ve compiled some valid reasons why the professional touch may be gentler on your pocket.

5 ways a professional decorator could save you money

1. Cheaper products – while you can find plenty of bargains in DIY stores, if you’re a stickler for quality, you’ll probably want to be sure that your paint and other materials are pro-standard. You can still buy higher end products in the shops, but with what kind of mark-up? A professional decorator will have a trade account, sometimes working directly with manufacturers, which means lower prices – savings they can pass on to you. They’ll also insist on quality.
2. The cost of all the kit – if you’ve done plenty of DIY before, when the time comes get all the bits and piece out, you often find brushes and rollers that have deteriorated or hardened beyond repair, masking tape that’s almost finished and ladders that have seen better days. If you’re new to decorating, you’ll need to invest in all the peripherals before you even think about the paint and wallpaper! A professional decorator will already have everything required for any type of project, which could balance out other costs, especially when you consider the point above too.
3. Putting right mistakes – while it may be true that pretty much anyone can paint a wall, when you think about all the preparation such as stripping, sanding, masking off, caulking and the application, such as priming, sizing, glossing, emulsioning and wallpapering you start to realise just how much skill is involved – and if you don’t do things correctly, those mistakes can start costing you money. Additionally, there are plenty of bigger jobs and general planning that if badly done, can amount to more than just a few quid and a bit of extra time to put right. If you’re selling your home, a professional finish rather than a bodged DIY job can even add a bit more value to your home and make it more appealing to buyers.
4. Saving time – not all costs can be measured in cold hard cash, there’s the investment of your time to consider – and no matter what you’ve accounted for, you’ll often find that the job takes a lot longer than anticipated! If you’re decorating over the weekend but you’re still not finished on Sunday night, you’ll potentially be living in a mess for at least a week! Also, many people use up their precious holiday leave to do the work – but why take that hit when a professional can do it in half the time?!
5. Smarter solutions and advice – during the initial consultation visit, a good decorator will listen to your ideas and offer advice accordingly, often suggesting things that will reduce your costs without affecting the quality. They’ll have specialist equipment for more unusual or difficult jobs too, or simply to enable a much better finished result – which may be preferential to hiring or buying yourself.

Ultimately, whether you choose to hire a professional decorator or go the DIY route will often come down to your budget – but it’s certainly worth assessing the costs of both before you make a decision. Even if it does end up costing a little more overall, the reduction in stress and hassle, and the assurance of a perfect finish could be worth its weight in gold!

Planning on a spot of decorating and confused about the different types of interior paint on offer? We take a look at the different finishes available and explain when and where they’re best used.

One of the most common questions we hear when quoting for work or getting ready to start a job is ‘What type of paint should I use?’

While we’re happy to help our clients select their paint (and even purchase it for them), we thought that we’d give you the lowdown on interior paints, to help you make a decision if you’re going down the DIY route.

Matt/flat finish paint

This is one of the most common types of paint used for interior decorating. The matt finish doesn’t reflect light, so it can be a good option if your walls are slightly less than perfect, as it won’t show those little lumps, bumps and cracks as much as a light-reflecting paint. Used for walls or ceilings, it’s very easy to apply using a brush or roller, but you may need more than one coat – especially if you’re covering a darker colour with a lighter one. This type of paint is easily marked though, and while you may be able to remove some of these with a damp cloth, you’ll need to be prepared to retouch it occasionally to keep it looking fresh and clean.

Matt enamel

This is a more durable version of regular matt paint, so it’s a great option for kids’ rooms or kitchens. It’s easier to wipe down and remove marks and can be applied using a brush or a roller.

Satin finish

In terms of finish, satin paint sits somewhere between matt and gloss, resulting in a slight sheen. It offers greater coverage in terms of square footage compared to matt paint and is easy to clean – but if you’re painting the walls of an older house, be aware that it will show imperfections more readily. It can also be used on woodwork if you want to avoid the high-shine finish of a gloss.

Eggshell

An eggshell paint will give a subtle sheen but doesn’t have as smooth a finish as satin paint. It’s a good option if your walls are in very good condition but not quite perfect, and it generally only requires one good coat to get a nice even coverage.

Gloss

Gloss paint is very hardwearing and produces a very shiny finish. While you can use gloss on walls, it’s much better for use on woodwork because it’s more difficult to apply and generally needs more than one coat. It’s easy to clean – just use a rag or sponge with soapy water.

Kitchen and bathroom speciality paint

Kitchens, and especially bathrooms, can create a moisture-rich atmosphere, so these paints have been developed to help combat mould growth. They usually have a matt finish, although satin options are also available, and it’s easy to apply with a brush or roller and can cope with regular cleaning.

Floor paint

Another speciality paint, floor paint can be used on floorboards or concrete (make sure concrete has fully dried and cured before applying). They are generally solvent based, although you can get organic or water-based options – but these tend to be more expensive. You can find floor paints in a range of finishes; matt, satin or gloss. They’re very hardwearing, so they’re great for heavily trafficked floors.

Metal paints

These are suitable for both internal or external use and come in hammered, smooth or gloss finishes. They’re similar to gloss paints to apply, so take it smooth and steady. One great advantage of most metal paints is that you can apply it directly over rust if needed.

It’s important to note that depending on what you’re painting, you may need a primer or a ‘first coat’ paint to give a good base. It’s also with noting that if you’re concerned about the strong smell that can linger after paint application, there’s now an extensive range of low VOC paints available on the market.