Painter & Decorator Preparation Checklist

Decorators need access to every wall. Moving furniture takes time — if they do it, you pay for it.

Everything off the walls. Remove curtain poles if ceilings are being painted. Remove light shades.

Test pots on the actual wall, in actual light (daylight and evening). Confirm before the decorator orders. Changing your mind costs time and paint.

Walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, radiators, exterior? Be specific. Write it down and agree.

Damp must be treated before painting — paint over damp peels. Cracks may indicate movement. The decorator should see these before quoting.

Confirm the decorator covers floors and masks off areas not being painted. Good decorators do this automatically — check.

If removing wallpaper first: who does it? Wallpaper removal is labour-intensive. Steam stripping old paper in Victorian houses takes much longer than expected.

Ask the decorator to leave the tin clearly labelled with colour, brand, finish, and room. Worth its weight in gold when you need to touch up in a year.