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brayleyboy
Junior Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Reading Berkshire
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 Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:53 am Post subject: Painting Walls & Ceiling on staircase |
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I have had 3 quotes to do some painting in my house and am not sure what to do.
The job in question is to paint the walls (emulsion) of one staircase and the walls and ceiling of another plus a small landing 1mx0.5m. They are fairly standard size staircases in a 1960's maisonette.
All the woodwork has been glossed and one staircase has fresh lining paper while the other has fairly good walls (there is 1 hairline crack about 8-12 inches long to sort out) so little prep is needed
The only reason I'm getting a 'pro' in is because on the upper staircase there is a drop of 2m+ from ceiling to stair that i am not confident trying to take on.
Given the right equipment I'm pretty sure the job shouldn't take more than a day.
The main problem is the variation in the quotes I've had.
The cheapest was £90 (1 days work) which was given over the phone so am a little nervous as it seems unprofessional to quote that way even though it is a small job.
The 2nd quote was £150 (1 days work) from a local P&D. She seemed nice and genuine and explained exactly what she was going to do (i.e. seal any gaps with caulk, smooth the hairline crack)
The 3rd was from another local P&D who quoted £260 (2-2.5 days work). He seemed genuine and again explained what needed doing.
I now have the problem of choosing which one to go for (or get some more quotes)
I've pretty much discounted the £90 quote as it was over the phone and £90 for a decent days work seems too good to be true!
I'm fairly happy with the £150 quote, seems reasonable for a days work and was very professional.
Main concern is that the other quote was for 2.5 days work. The money is not the main driver (although obviously don't want to get ripped off) but I'm wandering what could possibly need doing that might take an extra 1.5 days. I.e. if I take the 150 quote what will they not do that they should be doing (if anything?)
Just realised this is a very long post, sorry! |
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ultimatehandyman
Site Admin
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 9769
Location: Darwen, Lancashire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like the third one might of been exagerating the time it would take so that he could justify the high price.
Sometimes when you get quotes people that are busy will quote really high prices because they are not desperate for work, but if they get it at that price it is a bonus.
I'd go for the second one 
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 8043
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Hi - Hope this is not breaking the rules (don't think so !)
Friend of mine who lives in Wokingham got some quotes from local firms and they were all pretty high. She then put her job on Trusted Tradesmen and ended up with a firm who came from the south coast (Portsmouth) and did a reasonable job at 35% less cost then the locals and she said she would use them again.
May be worth considering - Reading/Wokingham area is not awash with bargain tradesmen!
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 8043
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Would you need two coats of paint, and if so, would this not involve the P&D coming back next day to allow time for first coat to dry?
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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. |
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brayleyboy
Junior Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Reading Berkshire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:52 am Post subject: |
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| It will need two coats, but doesn't it only take a few hours before its recoatable? |
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Welsh Decorator
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 4068
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Definate the second one.
No problem with drying times, a couple of hours.  |
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 8043
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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Oh right - I thought you had to leave it longer  sorry if I confused anyone
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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. |
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Welsh Decorator
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 4068
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 8043
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:38 am Post subject: |
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Lucky my wife doesn't read this - I would not be able to say "right - that's the first coat on, be straight back onto the second coat once it is dry enough, so week next wednesday"
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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. |
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Welsh Decorator
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 4068
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:50 am Post subject: |
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mazroy
Junior Member
Joined: 09 Oct 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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I'd say the second one m8 to be honest. As for the 1st one never accept a price over the phone, thats just askinf for trouble.
Just a side note here but it would have been easier to leave the glossing of woodwork till after the walls and ceiling were completed. Its easier to keep the walls free of gloss paint than the gloss paint free of emulsion when doing the walls. If you get my drift. |
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brayleyboy
Junior Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Reading Berkshire
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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only problem with glossing second is that I'd probably ruin the professionally painted walls by getting gloss all over them. This way round its the pro's responsibility to keep the gloss glean
Anyway isn't it much easier to wipe emulsion off gloss than the other way round? I thought that a damp cloth would do the trick if it was caught early enough (unlike gloss). Incedentally the glossing was done 3 weeks ago so has fully hardened now. |
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Welsh Decorator
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 4068
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Oh! don't start the debate about which first!!!!!
Had that on another forum.  |
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ultimatehandyman
Site Admin
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 9769
Location: Darwen, Lancashire
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Welsh Decorator wrote: |
Oh! don't start the debate about which first!!!!!
Had that on another forum. |
We have had that on here as well
everyone has their own way of doing things :grin:
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Welsh Decorator
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 4068
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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Was it as bad as an other site?  |
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