painting advice

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How Do You Price A Painting Job?

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One of the most important decisions you'll make when planning a painting project is how much to spend.

The cost of a painting project can be determined by several factors, including the size of the project, the type of paint you select, and whether or not you hire a professional painter.

In this blog post, we'll discuss how to estimate the cost of a painting project so that you can make an informed decision about your budget.

How to Estimate the Cost of a Painting Project

Whether you're planning to paint your home's interior or exterior, the cost of the project can vary greatly depending on a number of factors.

To get a ballpark estimate of what your painting project might cost, consider the following:
The size of the area to be painted: The larger the area, the more paint you'll need and the higher the overall cost will be.
The type of paint: Higher-quality paints will cost more than lower-quality options, but they'll also last longer and provide a better finish.
The number of coats: More coats of paint will obviously cost more than fewer coats.
Any special finishes or effects: If you want a textured finish or special color effects, that will add to the cost.
Once you have a general idea of these factors, you can start to get quotes from painters in your area to get a more accurate estimate of the cost.

The third thing to consider is the time of year. Painting projects during the summer months will typically cost more than projects during the winter months.

How to Get an Accurate Estimate of the Cost of a Painting Project


It's important to get an accurate estimate of the cost of a painting project before starting the work. Here are a few tips on how to do that:
Get quotes from multiple painters. This will give you a good idea of the going rate for the project.
Make sure to factor in the cost of materials. Paint, primer, and other materials can add up quickly.
Consider the size of the project. A larger project will obviously cost more than a smaller one.
By following these tips, you can be sure to get an accurate estimate of the cost of your painting project.

How to Save Money on a Painting Project


One way to save money on a painting project is to purchase high-quality paint. This may cost more upfront, but it will last longer and require fewer coats, which will save you money in the long run.

Another way to save money on a painting project is to prep the area to be painted properly. This includes removing any old paint, sanding down any rough edges, and cleaning the surface. Proper preparation will allow you to get the most out of your paint and save you money in the long run.

A good rule of thumb for estimating the cost of a painting project is to consider the cost of the paint, the size of the project, and the complexity of the project. To get an accurate estimate of the cost of a painting project, it is important to get quotes from multiple contractors.

Thank you for spending the time to read our Blog, if you are considering a decorating / paint spraying project and you’d like some help or advice please feel free to get in touch. Call Trevor on 07532 778861 or email trevor@tjdecor.co.uk - TJ Painting and Decorating, Alton / Petersfield Hampshire

www.tjdecor.co.uk

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The 4 Colours You Should Never Paint Your Kitchen

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Choosing the right colour can be a real headache for some people.

The colour you choose will be a part of your home for several years – meaning you need to find something modern enough to stay in style, but timeless enough to avoid feeling outdated in the years to come.

Here are four kitchen colours to avoid if you a redecorating your kitchen in 2022


RED

Has always felt like something of a controversial choice in the kitchen, 

The kitchen is a place where you should unwind and relax while cooking, eating, or having friends round. For many, the colour red is to powerful and distracting 

Therefore, despite its reputed ability to enhance your senses (and potentially make your food taste better), for many this passionate shade is best used outside the kitchen.

YELLOW

When painting a kitchen, the one colour I always advise against is bright yellow, As with the colour Red, Yellow can be over powering and detact from the other more subtle colurs in the Kitchen.

BEIGE

While beige can feel like a safe choice that will stand the test of time, It could leave your kitchen looking boring and lifeless. Beige is often bland and has a safe and conservative feel to it,

DARK GREEN

While the look of your kitchen is always a priority, some colours can impact your house value.

Amongst the most prominent of these is dark green. 

Colours to be avoided are the darker shades of green, blue, red, and purple, which will cast a shadow on food and darken the space. 

So, if you’re thinking of selling your home with a dark green kitchen, you may want to re-evaluate your colour choice.

Thank you for spending the time to read our Blog, if you are considering a decorating / paint spraying project and you’d like some help or advice please feel free to get in touch. Call Trevor on 07532 778861 or email trevor@tjdecor.co.uk - TJ Painting and Decorating, Alton / Petersfield Hampshire

www.tjdecor.co.uk

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Painting the Outside of Your House - 7 Signs That The Exterior of Your Property Needs Attention

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A question we get asked every year from about Easter until October is - I’m not sure if the oustide of my house needs painting, I was hoping you could help me?

Hopfully this short guide will help answer a few of those questions and concerns?

Masonry Blistering / Bubbling

If the previously applied masonry paint on the exterior of your home is starting to blister and bubble, then this is a sure sign that moisture is getting behind the paint and pushing away from the wall area.

There are reasons for the moisture getting behind the paint. 

  • It could be moisture coming from within the property,

  • it could be coming in via cracks in the masonry,

  • Rising damp due to an ineffective damp proof course.

  • Even rainwater penetrating through the aging paintwork.

Dealing with these blisters / bubbles early is important because when they begin to burst and peel off, it will leave the surface exposed and will eventually make the problem worse.

Chalking

Chalking is very easy to identify, if you rub your hand over the surface of any previously painted wall area, and there is a chalky powder on your hand you have Chalking.

Chalking means that the resin in the paint have started breaking down. This is typically caused by UV light from the sun.

Essentially resin is the glue that holds all the other paint ingredients together.

Once the resin breaks down, the powders and pigments are no longer bonded together. So, they simply turn back to a fine powder.

Some paints are more resistant to UV breakdown than others but over time this will happen to all paints.

When a paint starts chalking it is at the end of its life cycle and needs to be re-painted. If left untreated the paint will start to come off and leaves the surface underneath exposed to the elemnts.

It is common to see this sort of thing on garage doors that have been neglected, as well as masonry surfaces.

Cracked or Blown Render

Cracked and blown render are typically caused by rainwater penetrating a wall, then expanding through freezing and thawing.

This is why it is essential that you keep your guttering and downpipes in good condition and free from leaks

You can easliy identify blown render by running a ring spanner across your masonry is a quick and easy way to identify blown areas.

Any areas that sound hollow have ‘blown’. Which essentially means the render has come away from the surface underneath.

Repairing cracks and blown render is essential to maintaining your property and should be done before any painting takes place. Most good Plasterers should be able to repair any damaged render for you.

If the blown render is not dealt with, water will still be able to get in behind the paint and cause further issues.

Peeling / Flaking Paintwork

If your paintwork is peeling and flaking this means there is an issue with the adhesion. (The paint has not stuck to the surface properly).

This can be caused by several things. Including incorrect products being used or the surface being damp, dirty or dusty before the paint was applied.

Dealing with this promptly will ensure your property does not remain exposed to further weather damage causing the timber underneath to rot.

Rotten Windows and Doors

When moisture does get into wooden doors and window frames it can cause a lot expense and damage. Including making them rotten. Regular maintenance is the best way to stop this happening and avoid having to replace windows and doors unnecessarily.

It can also mean windows and doors swell, making it impossible to close and secure them properly!

Mould / Dirt Pick Up

You can easily identify mould or dirt pick up on a painted surface, Areas or patches of green on a wall is mould and dirt pick up is usually more uniform and just looks grubby and well dirty.

Organic growth, such as mould, algae and lichen need moisture to survive and grow. If you have this on your walls then it means the surface has become porous and is holding moisture.

This is a good sign that the paint is coming towards the end of its life and needs to be re-painted soon.

Faded Colour

Another issue caused by UV light from the Sun is colour fading. Certain pigments in paint can fade over time and depending on which areas of your home get more sunlight than others you can start to see areas becoming patchy.

Investing in higher quality paints can reduce this issue.

What other benefits are there to painting the exterior of your home?

Painting the exterior of your home doesn’t just protect against these issues, it can also transform the look giving your home ‘kerb appeal’

This can be brilliant for the value of your property…plus it’ll make the neighbours jealous!

Final Thought

More often than not, prevention is way cheaper than cure.

Regular maintenance to the exterior of your home is essential.  

Not only to improve the look but also save you money in the long run.

If you need further help or advice please feel free to contact Trevor TJ Painitng and Decorating 01420 88910 or trevor@tjdecor.co.uk

Are You Thinking of Selling your House?

The No. 1 Decorating Job that can add 25% to the value of your property

When you start thinking of how you can add value to your home, the usual ideas spring to mind. Projects such as -

An Extension

Garage Conversion

New Kitchen or Bathroom.

Now these are all “big” projects to undertake and take a lot of time, energy, planning and the most importantly MONEY!!

However I think you might be surprised to find out you can get a lot more “BANG FOR YOUR BUCKS”

Dulux have some good news if your budget won’t stretch to costly transformations. A straightforward paint job could be all you need to impress potential buyers.

According to new research from Dulux, a fresh coat of paint could increase a home’s perceived value by nearly a quarter, since almost a third of Brits expect to pay 25 per cent more for a freshly painted home.

Kerb Appeal is more important than ever (Image credit: Dulux)

Kerb Appeal is more important than ever (Image credit: Dulux)

Painting your exterior walls or front door isn’t just about keeping up with the Joneses any more.

Social media plays a big part, with 2.6 million Brits admitting they post photos of house exteriors to their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts at least once a month.

That perhaps explains why an Instagrammable exterior is so crucial to potential buyers, and the fact that 93 per cent of Brits are more likely to attend a viewing if the exterior of the house is well maintained.

A jungle of a garden and windows are among our top bugbears, but what irritates us the most is a drab front door.

Image credit: Dulux

Image credit: Dulux

Not only that, research reveals we will take an average of 10 seconds to make a judgement on a person having seen the colour of their front door. 10 Seconds?

So while you may spend months debating what colour to paint the living room, or whether to redecorate your bedroom,

it might be time to give your outside walls and doors more thought.

When is the last time you painted the house?

Despite the big difference painting the exterior can make, most Brits haven’t refreshed the exterior of their house in more than eight years, while one in five admit it’s been more than 15 years.

Most proffesional Decorators recommend re-decorating exteriors between 3 and 5 years as it is the most cost effective way to look after the outside of a property.

Hiring a Painter and Decorator to do the job for you will set you back anywhere between £1000 and £5,500, depending on the size of your home, the condition of the property and the number of storeys that it has.

Image credit: Dulux

Image credit: Dulux

What Colour add the most £££ ?

Embracing Blue apparently adds an average of £4,000. 

Shortly behind blue is white, which adds roughly £3,400 to the value of a house.

Red comes in third, adding £1,800.

Image credit: Dulux

Image credit: Dulux

So if you’ve always dreamed of a pink front door or a freshly white-painted exterior, now’s the time to give your home a facelift.

Top 5 questions to ask your Decorator to help avoid hiring a "cowboy"

With so many people out there advertising themselves as builders or decorators, how can you possibly choose which one is right for you?

Here are five really important things to ask before you hire them and a few pointers on how to spot

con-men, chancers and cowboys.

Whenever you plan to have some home improvement work carried out on your property, remember you are essentially letting a stranger in to your house.

It is essential to make sure that you are happy with who will be working on your home, that they know exactly what they are doing, and you know that they will do the work they say they will do, for the final price that was agreed.

With a bit of common sense, it can be easier to spot a cowboy builder, and make sure that you do not employ them.

How to spot a cowboy.

People generally think they are confident in spotting a rogue trader but sometimes it is not that easy. Remember the definition of a con man is a confidence trickster so be wary of sleight of hand, confusing quotes and over enthusiasm or over familiarity.

Be careful what company you choose…….

A bad tradesman can seem legitimate when you firdt meet them they could be polite and friendly, always returning your calls, coming round to see you very quickly and promise a start date to the work which fits in with exactly what you want.

They can even produce fake ID’s, fake membership of trade bodies and all sorts of other trickery, so follow up any promises with a few phone calls.

Of course this does not just relate to builders, there are a host of tradespeople out there who are, in main, very good, but there are plenty of bad ones too, and that includes painters and decorators, roofing firms, carpet fitters, gardeners and tarmac gangs

The signs that something is not quite right

  • A cowboy generally will not produce a contract, schedule of works, or any type of written agreement, or if they do, it will be vague, handwritten and/or have a fake address.

  • Door knocking or cold calling for work is often the sign of someone who is “just working in your area” and will take your money and scarper. Any good tradesman will not have to knock people’s doors for work.

  • If they do produce a schedule of works, a document detailing what they will do, they may not actually stick to that and will cut many corners.

  • They may claim that they have worked for a prestigious local firm, or will provide fake references, so follow them up, and tell him that you will follow them up. If they are fake, he may start the sales patter to dissuade you.

  • Talking of sales patter, a true cowboy builder is a master of tall tales so check any claims made by them and take what any builder or contractor says with a pinch of salt until the facts are verified.

  • A true cowboy builder will often say that they can give you large discounts on the price if you pay in cash notes, knocking off the VAT is a common example.

Stay clear of cowboy builders

5 Questions to ask, to avoid a disaster

Generally, if you can get someone who has been recommended by a friend, neighbour, workmate or at least someone you know, then that can often avoid any problems, although sometimes it is not possible, especially for very specific and specialists jobs.

You should ask your builder the following questions. Don’t worry, any professional will gladly provide the answers to you, but if your potential tradesman is evasive, or doesn’t answer the questions, or even gets aggressive at the intrusion, they are not worth taking on.

1. How long have you been in business?

This is a very important question to ask. Obviously a tried and tested builder who you know has been trading in your town for many years, you may have seen his van around for example, then there won’t be a problem.

However bear in mind people’s careers can change from time to time and maybe he has just started self employment after working for another builder for many years. Once again, check the claims, they could be true, but check anyway.

2. Are you fully trained and experienced in this line of work?

It’s a good question to ask someone and it is worth finding out, especially if the work to be done is potentially hazardous such as asbestos removal or demolition. The last thing you want is to have to drive some bozo to hospital as he didn’t realise that paint stripper was harmful to his eyes as he didn’t bother wearing any protection!

Ask also if he has all the correct tools or does he need to hire them and is that included in the price.

3. Can I see a proposal of the work to be done, in writing?

Always a give-away if they can’t answer this one. A true professional contractor will always and without fail have, at least, a specification of exactly what work he plans to do (e.g. paint the exterior walls, or remove and replace a flat roof for example), and the paper will also include the price.

4. Can you give me references of previous work?

Once again this is important as you need to know how good the chap is.

When a builder does a good job for someone they often get referral business from it, via word of mouth. Bad jobs spread even quicker so ask around and see if anyone has heard of him.

Follow up the references, to make sure his work is good, and his previous clients were happy and ask if he has photo’s of previous work

 5. Do you have insurance?

This is by far, one of the most important things to ask your potential contractor. In some cases, even letting someone work on your property without insurance renders you liable if anything goes wrong too.  In some cases, it can be a criminal offence not to have the right insurance or permits, like for example, getting rid of waste. It has to be done correctly.

If they offer a guarantee, make sure it has a 3rd party insurance policy with it, make sure he has public liability insurance and make sure that the whole job is “on the books” and completely “kosher” and above board.

If your builder can answer the above questions and meets your approval then you have saved yourself a lot of time and money in choosing the right contractor to carry out your home improvements this year.