Your Checklist Before Hiring a Painter and Decorator in Newcastle

Hiring a painter and decorator seems straightforward until you're actually comparing quotes and trying to work out who's genuinely worth booking. Town and Country Decorators, covering residential and commercial jobs across Newcastle, Ponteland, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, put this checklist together from the questions worth asking before you commit. Work through it before you book anyone.

Before you get quotes

Know roughly which rooms or areas need work, and whether it's interior, exterior, or both. Decide whether you're changing colours entirely or refreshing the existing scheme, since this affects how much prep and how many coats are needed. Take photos of any problem areas — damp patches, cracks, peeling paint — so you can show them when getting quotes.

When comparing quotes

Check whether the quote includes materials or just labour, since this changes what you're actually comparing. Ask whether prep work — filling, sanding, masking — is included or charged separately. Confirm how many coats are included in the price, since one versus two coats makes a real difference to both cost and finish.

Checks worth doing before booking

Ask to see photos of recent, similar jobs rather than just a general portfolio. Check reviews specifically for reliability and tidiness, not just the finished result. Confirm they carry public liability insurance, particularly for larger jobs or anything involving exterior work at height.

Questions to ask about the job itself

Ask how long the job is expected to take, and what happens if it runs over. Ask whether furniture needs to be moved by you beforehand or whether that's included. Ask how they handle unexpected issues found once work starts, such as damp or unstable plaster behind old wallpaper.

Getting ready for the day work starts

Clear the room of anything fragile or in the way, even if moving furniture is included in the quote. Agree on working hours and access in advance, especially if you'll be home during the work. Set aside a well-ventilated space to air out the property while paint cures.

Colour and finish decisions worth making early

Test paint samples directly on your walls, not just on a card, and look at them at different times of day. Decide on finish as well as colour — matt, silk, eggshell — since this affects both look and durability, particularly in high-traffic areas like hallways. Don't leave this decision until the decorator arrives; it slows the job down and limits how carefully you can consider it.

After the job is done

Walk through the finished work in daylight before final payment, checking edges, skirting boards and corners carefully. Ask about touch-up paint being left behind for minor marks later. Leave a review if you're happy — it's genuinely how good local decorators get found by the next customer.

Town and Country Decorators, based in Gosforth and rated 4.9 stars from 32 Google reviews, covers residential and commercial decorating across Newcastle, Ponteland and the wider North East. Working through this checklist before you book takes most of the guesswork, and the risk, out of hiring a decorator.