5 questions you should ask your painter and decorator

Hiring a painter and decorator to do a job for the first time can seem daunting. You want to find someone with the right qualifications who is reliable and trustworthy, but it's difficult for your average Joe to tell one business from another.
 
To help you navigate the waters, we've laid out some questions that all homeowners should ask when seeking a painter and decorator so that you can hire with confidence:
 
1. What experience do you have and what training do you offer your employees?
This is a deceptively simple question that can give you a lot of information. A good painter and decorator should be able to provide examples of previous jobs – take note if they're happy to show you pictures or invite you around the house/office/shopfront to see their work.
 
They should also be able to talk about their training in-house, not just on the job but at school or college too. Finally, if you're hiring for a big job like an extension or refurbishment, ask them if they have any professional accreditations so you know that they are up to scratch with health and safety regulations and best practices.
 
2. How long have they been in business and their certifications?
This question is very straightforward and the answer should also be straightforward. A good painter and decorator will have a good idea of how long they've been running their business, usually regarding how long they've been trading. If they seem unsure or start waffling on about how they've been doing things for a long while, it's your warning sign that the business might not be in order.

​Do they have personal and liability insurance? Is there safety certifications? Are there any warranties for their jobs?
 
Even though you may not think of a decorator as being 'dangerous', accidents do happen, which is why it's worth asking if he or she has public liability insurance, and whether you should take out your own.
 
A warranty is essential too, even if it is only for a month because this is your guarantee that should there be any faults you can go back to them for between one and five years.
 
3. Who will do the work?
It sounds simple, but you should always ask who exactly is going to do the work and what experience they have. You don't want to find out after they've started that the person who will be doing your work has only been with the company for a week and doesn't have much experience under their belt. Of course, if you're hiring a team (which is usually the case) then ask what each member of staff does and how long they've been working in that position.
 
It is also key to ask "What happens if something goes wrong?" Being forewarned is being forearmed, so it's always good to know what the plan is should something go wrong after you have commissioned your decorator. High on your list should be who has to pay for any further work, if any other costs are arising from mishaps or mistakes - and whether or not these are capped in value terms.
 
4. Will I have to be in during the work and how long will the work take?
Most decorators will only require you to vacate the premises for one day, but some - particularly those who are working on outside surfaces - might ask you to move out for longer. If that is the case, then it's worth asking whether they delete any existing decoration before commencing.
 
How long do you expect the work to take? That's an important question because it allows you to check whether your decorator is planning on charging extra if he or she finishes early.
A good rule of thumb is that a small job should normally take no longer than a day to complete, while a major project - new kitchen, bathroom or bedroom - may take several weeks.
 
5. How the job is priced and payment terms
There are no set methods of working out how much something should cost. Some decorators charge by the room, others work on an hourly rate or make up their fee using a combination of these two methods.
 
Do they need a deposit? This is fairly standard practice in most renovation projects, so don't be offended if your decorator asks you to stump up some cash. Also, do you have to pay the whole amount up front or can it be done in stages?
 
A deposit is a standard requirement for any decorator to take on a job. There are no set rules about when the final payment should be made, but it's often done in stages.
Finally, find out what materials they will use for the project and if they have recommendations about any paint type. Many decorators simply use their own stock or purchase from a local hardware store, but it is worth checking whether your quote includes the cost of materials. In addition, ask who is responsible for waste disposal so that you will know if you will have any extra costs at the end of the project.
 
The answers to these key questions should help decide whether you want to use a painter and decorators service. The more positive answers you get, the more comfortable you should feel about hiring them for a project. Checking online references etc is also another good strategy of assessing a painter decorator for a project.