Why quotes vary so much
Two rooms with identical floor sizes can take very different amounts of time. A bedroom with sound walls, one door and a single window may only need a light sand, a couple of coats on the walls and ceiling, and a fresh coat on the skirting. A hallway of the same footprint could have a double-height stairwell, eight doors, a run of spindles and hairline cracks along every corner. The labour, and therefore the cost, is not comparable.
That is why you will see such wide ranges in online price tables. They are useful for a rough idea, but a proper quote starts with someone looking at the surfaces, asking what finish you want and working out how long each stage will genuinely take.
Preparation: the biggest hidden factor
Most of the difference between a finish that lasts and one that looks tired within a year happens before any colour goes on. Filling cracks and dents, sanding back flaking paint, sealing stains, caulking gaps around frames and cleaning greasy kitchen walls all take time. Walls that have been patched repeatedly, or that show blown plaster, may need skimming before they are worth painting at all.
When comparing quotes, ask each decorator what preparation is included. A cheaper figure that skips filling and sanding usually costs more in the long run, because defects show through the new paint and the room needs redoing sooner.
Woodwork, doors and details
Walls and ceilings are relatively quick to roll. Skirting boards, architraves, doors, window boards, banisters and spindles are slow, precise brushwork, and they often need sanding, filling and an undercoat before the top coat. Switching woodwork from a yellowed oil gloss to a water-based satin or eggshell can also mean extra coats to get an even colour.
If budget is tight, one option is to decorate walls and ceilings now and schedule the woodwork later, or the reverse. A good decorator will explain which order makes sense for your room.
Paint quality and colour changes
Trade emulsions, premium designer brands and specialist products such as scrubbable or moisture-resistant finishes are priced very differently. Strong colours, or a big jump from dark to light, can need an extra coat. Fresh plaster needs a diluted mist coat to seal it before normal coats, which adds another stage.
Many homeowners choose the paint themselves; others prefer the decorator to supply it. Either way, be clear about brand and finish so every quote is comparing the same thing.
Access, furniture and timing
High ceilings and stairwells need ladders, stair platforms or towers, which slows the work and takes careful setting up. Rooms full of furniture have to be moved, covered and worked around. Occupied homes where rooms must be usable every evening take longer than empty properties. Travel distance and parking can also play a part for larger regional coverage.
How to get an accurate quote from LJAY’s
Send a few details through the quote form or call Louise: which rooms, what surfaces (walls, ceilings, woodwork), the current condition and your ideal timing. Photos help. Louise will then talk through the job and give you a clear quote tailored to your project. For bigger jobs, combining several rooms into one booking is usually more efficient than decorating a room at a time.