You would like to paint or decorate your place in London, but you do not know how to find the right contractor for you? Our tips may help you find reliable painting and decorating contractors in London.
Finding a contractor - particularly in the capital - can be challenging. There are numerous companies to choose from, and it does not make the search easier. A good place to start from is verifying the company's portfolio. It is worth doing quick research in your search engine and entering the websites of the contractors in your area. Look for their portfolio or for examples of the projects that they have completed lately. Do not limit yourself to the first positions in the search results - most of the time, the high rank is a result of good SEO rather than a good reputation.
An excellent contractor should have nothing to hide. The displayed reviews (which look authentic) prove their transparent approach. If their projects reflect your sense of taste, the next step is to check prices and see if they fit into your budget.
Quotation for the painting and decorating services - how to approach it?
When conducting your research, check whether there are any estimations of the cost of painting and decorating per square meter online. Note that in the case of decoration, it is much harder to define an estimated cost. Decorating involves many variables and various materials and products. Thus, it is worth thinking over the character and elements of your decoration before you contact the contractor. You should also know the size of the surface to decorate.
Usually, the contractors can provide you with an estimated scope of costs of a decoration service if you specify very well what you want. Thus, having a clear vision is particularly important if you are on a budget.
It is also worth making sure the company establishes deadlines and that it will not charge you more if the job is not finished on time. Commonly, this kind of service is paid per hour of work. Unreliable companies may extend the time on purpose to earn more. Obviously, it will cost you more in the end. Therefore, the best solution is to know the final price for the service and have the deadline set at the beginning.
How should the contractor prepare for the works?
Before the project kicks off, it is essential to be aware of the wall conditions. Make sure to ask the potential contractor about their preparation procedures before launching the works. The best contractors will assure you their professionals conduct expertise at the beginning. This way, they can define the scope of works and the products to use.
To make sure that they can meet your expectations, the contractors should discuss all the details with you. The company that offers you a final price before even visiting the place may not be the most dependable.
Painting and decorating services - how much do they cost in London?
Having received the estimated prices, take into consideration the average prices for the same service in London. Again, it is easier to estimate the price of painting than the price of decorating service. In the UK, the exterior painting of a three-bed house may cost between £800 and £1,200. Painting the bigger house can cost you £1,500.
On the other hand, to paint the interior of a two-bed flat would cost between £1,500 and £2,500, while a five-bedroom house could reach £5,000. The cost of painting just a single average-sized room would be around £400. It is always better to pay for everything at once and try to hire the same contractor for the exterior and interior works. It may come with some discounts.
The cost of painting and decorating services combined together may not differ much from the prices listed above. However, it all depends on the additional costs of the items you want to buy, and the works related to their installation. Note that the cost of the painting and decorating services in London is likely to be higher than in the rest of the UK.
Summing up, the best is to define your vision at the very beginning and share it with the contractor so that they can estimate the price of the service. Then, you can compare the different final prices distinct contractors give you based on the same information.
