How Our Pricing Works: Transparent Decorating Costs Explained

One of the most common frustrations homeowners have with decorating companies is pricing — vague quotes, unexpected extras, and final bills that bear no resemblance to the original estimate. At Hampstead Painting Company, we have built our business on the opposite principle: transparent, detailed pricing that you can understand and compare. Here is exactly how our pricing works.

What We Price

Every quote we provide is based on a survey of the property — either in person or, for smaller projects, via photographs and measurements you provide. We price the following components separately:

• Preparation: filling, sanding, priming, making good damaged plasterwork or woodwork
• Walls and ceilings: priced per room, including number of coats
• Woodwork: doors, skirting boards, architraves, picture rails, dado rails, window frames
• Specialist work: cornicing, coving, panelling, spray finishing
• Materials: paint, primer, filler, masking tape, dust sheets

You can see exactly what you are paying for, and you can make informed decisions about which elements to prioritise within your budget.

What Drives the Cost?

Several factors influence the price of a decorating project:

• Condition of surfaces: a well-maintained room in good condition costs less to prepare than one with cracked plaster, bare patches, or layers of old oil paint on woodwork
• Paint specification: Farrow & Ball costs more per litre than Dulux Trade, but covers more evenly and often requires fewer coats
• Ceiling height: rooms with high ceilings require more time and scaffolding or specialist access equipment
• Number of coats: three coats of eggshell on woodwork costs more than two but lasts significantly longer
• Access: difficult access — deep basements, stairwells, external scaffolding — adds cost

What Is Always Included

Our quotes always include full dust-sheeting and protection of floors, furniture, and fittings; collection and disposal of paint waste; and a final clean-down on completion. We do not charge extras for these basics. We also include one post-completion visit to touch up any minor imperfections — something most decorating companies do not offer as standard.

How We Compare

We are not the cheapest decorating company in London, and we do not try to be. Companies that compete purely on price typically use lower-quality paints, rush preparation, and apply fewer coats than specified. The result looks acceptable initially but deteriorates faster, meaning more frequent redecoration and higher long-term costs. Our pricing is competitive for the quality we deliver — and our clients consistently find that our quoted price is the final price they pay.

Getting a Quote

The best way to understand what your project will cost is to get a quote. We provide free, no-obligation quotations for all projects. Request a quote online or call 020 3874 2670 to arrange a survey.