Your Painting and Decorating Questions, Answered by Above & Beyond

Booking a decorator raises a lot of practical questions, especially if it's not something you do often. Above & Beyond Painting and Decorating, a family-run business based in Longbenton with over 10 years of experience across Newcastle and the North East, answers the same handful of questions on nearly every enquiry. Here they are.

How do I know if I need one coat or two?

Two coats is standard practice for even, long-lasting coverage, particularly when changing colour or painting over a darker existing shade. A single coat can look fine immediately after application but often shows patchiness once it's fully dry and viewed in different light.

Do I need to move my own furniture?

This varies by decorator and should be agreed and priced upfront. Many will move furniture to the centre of the room and cover it, but valuables and anything fragile are usually best moved by the homeowner beforehand regardless of what's agreed.

How long does a typical room take?

A single, well-prepared room usually takes one to two days depending on size, the amount of prep needed, and drying time between coats. Larger jobs covering multiple rooms or a full exterior naturally take longer, and a decorator should be able to give a realistic estimate once they've seen the property.

Can decorating be done while I'm still living in the house?

Yes, this is the norm for most residential jobs — work is typically done room by room so the rest of the house remains liveable throughout. It's worth discussing access, noise, and ventilation needs upfront, especially if anyone in the household is sensitive to paint fumes.

What's the best time of year for exterior painting?

Spring through early autumn is generally the reliable window in the North East, since exterior paint needs dry conditions and reasonable temperatures to cure properly. Booking exterior work for winter usually isn't advisable regardless of how flexible a decorator's schedule is.

Do you supply the paint, or do I choose and buy it?

Both approaches are common — some homeowners prefer to select and buy their own paint to be certain of the exact colour, while others are happy for the decorator to supply it as part of the quote. Either way, agreeing this upfront avoids confusion on the day work starts.

What happens if I'm not happy with a colour once it's on the wall?

This is exactly why testing a sample patch directly on your wall beforehand matters so much — colours read very differently on a small paint chart than across a full wall in your room's actual light. A reputable decorator will always encourage this step rather than working straight from a swatch.

Is a family-run business different from a larger decorating company?

Often the main difference is continuity — the same people who quote the job are usually the ones doing the work and handling any questions afterwards, rather than the job being passed between different teams. For many homeowners, that consistency is part of the appeal.

Above & Beyond Painting and Decorating, based in Longbenton and rated 5 stars from 16 Google reviews, brings over a decade of family-run experience to interior and exterior decorating across Newcastle and the North East. These are the questions worth having answered before any job begins.