Our plasterers, painters and decorators work across London for homeowners who want a genuinely flawless finish and for landlords and letting agents redecorating between tenancies. As one accountable contractor we handle everything from re-skimming and period cornice restoration to designer paint systems and hand-painted kitchens — one team, one fixed written quote, one five-year workmanship guarantee. Whether it is a Victorian terrace in Islington, a mansion-block flat in Kensington or an ex-LA conversion in Hackney, the preparation is what we are really selling.
Written Guarantee: 5 Years
|
Average Timeline Range: 3 days - 3 weeks
Preparation Is Ninety Per Cent of the Finish
The gap between an average paint job and a flawless one is decided long before the first coat of colour. Because our plasterers and decorators work as one team, we can put the substrate right rather than paint around it: walls are raked out and re-skimmed where they are patched or blown, ceilings replastered where old lime has crazed, woodwork rubbed back to a sound base, and tired gloss keyed or stripped instead of buried under another coat that will flake in a year.
In London’s period stock — Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Georgian townhouses, mansion-block flats — the detail is what people are really paying for. Ornate cornices and ceiling roses are stripped of decades of paint build-up so the mouldings read crisply again, and sash windows are eased, re-corded where needed and painted so they still open rather than being sealed shut by careless gloss.
We work happily with the systems London interior designers specify — Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library — and we will tell you honestly where a trade emulsion gives an identical result at half the price. What we will not do is skip the boring middle: the filling, caulking and sanding that nobody sees and everybody notices when it is missing.
Decorating Occupied Homes With Minimal Disruption
Most of our homeowner clients live in the property while we work, so our site discipline is built around that reality rather than treated as an afterthought. Furniture is moved to the centre and wrapped, floors are protected with breathable dust sheets rather than slippery plastic, dust is contained room by room, and every space is vacuumed and reset at the end of each day so the home stays liveable throughout.
Low-odour, low-VOC paint systems are our default in bedrooms and children’s rooms, which means a room decorated on Tuesday is usually habitable the same evening rather than needing days of airing. We sequence the work so most of the house stays usable — you are never locked out of your own kitchen for a fortnight.
As a guide, a two-bedroom Central London flat decorated throughout takes five to eight working days; a whole townhouse two to three weeks, in line with the timelines we quote. Where you want to save the cost of a new kitchen, we hand-paint existing cabinetry in a sprayed or brushed two-pack finish that takes daily use without chipping — typically £1,800 to £4,000 against £15,000-plus to replace. Every conversation about programme is a real one: we would rather tell you a job needs an extra two days than rush the last coat.
Redecoration for Landlords and Letting Agents
For landlords and letting agents, redecoration is a commercial decision measured in void days, and we treat it that way. Our end-of-tenancy service is built for speed without cutting the corners that come back to bite: damaged walls re-skimmed, nail holes and scuffs filled, and full redecoration in hard-wearing landlord-spec emulsion so the property photographs well and goes back on the market in days rather than weeks.
We coordinate access directly with your managing agent or inventory clerk, work to the void window rather than the tenancy, and can turn a standard flat around in a few working days when keys and clearance are arranged in advance. Standardising on one durable emulsion colour across a portfolio pays off twice — future touch-ups between tenancies match the existing batch, so you repaint a wall rather than a whole room.
Because we operate as a single accountable contractor, redecoration can be bundled with the trades that usually surface at check-out: minor plastering, a re-grout, a flooring patch or a smoke-alarm fix, all under one fixed written quote and one point of contact. That matters when an agent is juggling twenty properties and does not want to chase four different tradespeople for one flat. Every job carries our five-year workmanship guarantee, which for a landlord is a document, not a slogan.
Exterior, Communal and Insurance Reinstatement Decoration
Beyond interiors we redecorate London facades, railings, porticos, stucco frontages and communal hallways for private clients, freeholders and managing agents. Exterior work is quoted with access built in — towers, scaffold or rope access as the elevation demands — and specified with masonry and metalwork systems matched to London weather and traffic grime, not the cheapest tin on the shelf. In conservation areas and on listed frontages we work to the colours and materials the consent allows, because the wrong sheen on a stucco terrace is a planning problem as well as an aesthetic one.
Communal decoration in mansion blocks and converted houses carries its own etiquette: agreed working hours, escape routes kept clear, residents notified, and staircases left safe overnight. We sequence landings so the block stays usable while we work through it.
We also carry out a steady flow of insurance reinstatement decoration — rooms stained by leaks, escapes of water or smoke — where the real skill is blending new paint invisibly into existing decoration. Because we work alongside our own leak-repair teams, we know the substrate is genuinely dry and correctly stain-blocked before any colour goes near it, which is precisely why our repairs do not ghost back through the ceiling six months later.
Plastering, Re-Skimming and Fixing Tired Walls
A large share of what makes a redecoration look expensive is plastering the client never sees as a separate line. London’s older walls move: lath-and-plaster ceilings sag and crack, lime plaster blows off the brick, artexed ceilings need over-boarding, and decades of patch repairs leave walls that read every ripple under a modern matt emulsion and low-energy lighting.
We skim over sound backgrounds, bond and float where the plaster has failed back to brick, and over-board ceilings that are too far gone to save. Corners are beaded, reveals squared, and new plaster given proper drying time before it is sealed with a mist coat — rushing that stage is why cheap jobs flash and peel. Guide pricing for re-skimming runs £18 to £30 per square metre depending on how much making-good sits underneath.
On period property the plastering is often conservation as much as repair: reopening a cornice choked with paint, running a section of missing moulding, or matching a ceiling rose so the repair disappears. Getting the plaster right is not a luxury add-on — it is the foundation the whole decorative finish stands on, and skipping it is the most common false economy we are called back to correct.
How to Choose a Painter and Decorator in London
Choosing well is mostly about reading the quote rather than the reviews. Start with the scope: a serious quote itemises preparation — filling, caulking, sanding, any re-skimming — separately from the coats of colour, because that is where quality lives and where cheap firms cut. A single low number with no preparation line almost always means paint straight over the defects.
Second, match the trade to the property. A landlord flat wants durability, fast turnaround and standardised colours; a period family home wants someone who understands cornice restoration, sash windows and how designer emulsions behave; a communal block wants a firm comfortable with access, residents and freeholder sign-off. Ask to see work of the same type, not just any finished room.
Third, check the paperwork that protects you: a fixed written quote, current £5m public liability insurance, a proper VAT invoice, and a written workmanship guarantee — ours runs five years. Be wary of cash-only pricing, large upfront deposits and same-day pressure to commit.
Finally, value single accountability. A contractor who can also handle the plastering, the leak that caused the stain, the flooring and the compliance certificate means one quote and one company to hold responsible if anything is wrong — rather than four trades blaming each other across your ceiling.
What Plastering, Painting & Decorating Costs in London (2026)
Item
Typical London Price
Notes
Decorator day rate (labour)
£250 – £350 per day
Per skilled decorator in Central London; two-hander teams for larger rooms.
Standard bedroom redecoration
£450 – £800 per room
Walls, ceiling and woodwork; assumes sound plaster and minimal filling.
Large reception / living room
£800 – £1,500 per room
Higher ceilings, cornices, more woodwork and heavier preparation.
Full two-bedroom flat, throughout
£3,500 – £7,000 per property
5–8 working days depending on condition and paint system.
Re-skim / re-plaster walls
£18 – £30 per m2
Skim over sound backing; battered walls needing bonding cost more.
Hand-painting kitchen cabinetry
£1,800 – £4,000 per kitchen
Two-pack sprayed or brushed finish; against £15,000+ to replace.
Period cornice / ceiling rose restoration
£40 – £90 per linear m
Stripping paint build-up to reopen detail; run-in-situ repairs extra.
Exterior / communal redecoration
£1,500 – £6,000+ per project
Access included; masonry, railings and hallways quoted per scheme.
Guide prices for Greater London in 2026, inclusive of materials, dust protection and daily reset. Every job is quoted as a fixed written price after a site visit — access, scaffolding, lead-paint stripping and period detail can move the figure.
Insider Tips Before You Commit
Sample your top two colours on the actual wall and view them morning and evening — a north-facing London room can turn a warm white cold and grey.
Budget the real money for preparation, not paint: re-skimming, filling and caulking decide the finish far more than which designer tin you buy.
In leasehold flats and mansion blocks, check whether communal hallways and the exterior are the freeholder’s responsibility before you pay to redecorate them.
For pre-1978 period stock assume old paint may contain lead — insist it is wet-sanded or chemically stripped, never dry-sanded, and kept off children and pets.
Ask for low-VOC, low-odour systems in bedrooms and children’s rooms so the space is habitable the same evening rather than airing out for days.
Landlords should standardise on one hard-wearing emulsion colour and keep the batch code, so future touch-ups between tenancies match without repainting whole walls.
Never let anyone paint over a leak stain until moisture readings confirm the plaster is dry and it has been stain-blocked, or it will ghost back within months.
Book end-of-tenancy redecoration to overlap the void period, not the tenancy — a three-day turnaround only works if access and keys are arranged with the agent in advance.
How Not to Get Scammed
London has more rogue traders than any other UK market. These are the warning signs we see most often — and exactly what to do when you spot them.
Cash-only, no VAT invoice and no written scope of works.
Insist on a fixed written quote itemising preparation, coats and materials, plus a proper invoice — it is your only recourse if the finish fails.
A large deposit demanded upfront before any materials are on site.
Pay a modest materials deposit at most, tie payments to completed stages, and never settle the balance until you have inspected the work in daylight.
Quote is suspiciously cheap and skips mention of preparation.
A price with no line for filling, sanding, caulking or re-skimming means they intend to paint over defects — ask exactly what preparation is included.
Mid-job “we found more problems” pressure to release extra cash immediately.
Ask for photos and a written variation before agreeing any extra; genuine issues are documented, not sprung on you for same-day cash.
No proof of public liability insurance for work in your flat or block.
Ask to see a current £5m public liability certificate before work starts — a paint spill onto a communal stair or a neighbour’s car is expensive uninsured.
Dry-sanding old paintwork in a period property with no dust control.
Pre-1978 paint can contain lead; require wet-sanding or chemical stripping with sheeting and a clean-down, and walk away if they wave the risk off.
Standards & Compliance
Every project is delivered to current British Standards and Building Regulations, with works documented for building control and HMO licensing sign-off — backed by fixed written quotes and a written guarantee.
BRITISH STANDARDS · BUILDING REGS COMPLIANT · FD30/FD60 FIRE DOORSETS · BS 5839-6 ALARMS · WRITTEN GUARANTEE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much do painters and decorators charge in Central London?
Expect £250–£350 per day per decorator in Central London, or fixed per-room prices: typically £450–£800 for a standard bedroom and £800–£1,500 for a large living room with woodwork, depending on preparation. A full two-bedroom flat redecoration usually lands between £3,500 and £7,000. We quote a fixed written price after viewing, so the figure does not move once work starts.
How long does it take to redecorate a flat or house?
A two-bedroom Central London flat decorated throughout typically takes five to eight working days; a whole townhouse two to three weeks. Heavy preparation — re-skimming, stripping old gloss, restoring cornices — extends that. We sequence the work room by room so most of an occupied home stays usable, and we give you a written programme with the quote rather than a vague estimate.
Do you work with designer paints like Farrow & Ball?
Daily. We brush and spray Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library systems, and we sample your chosen colours on your actual walls in your actual light before you commit. Colour behaves very differently in a north-facing London room, so we would rather you test two shades on the wall than repaint a whole room because the swatch lied.
Can you paint our kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them?
Yes — hand-painting existing cabinetry in a durable two-pack finish typically costs £1,800–£4,000 depending on kitchen size, against £15,000-plus for replacement. Doors and frames are degreased, keyed, primed and finished, sprayed or brushed, to take daily use without chipping. It is one of the highest-value jobs we do for homeowners updating a dated but structurally sound kitchen.
How soon can you repaint after a ceiling leak?
Only once moisture readings confirm the plaster is genuinely dry — usually two to four weeks after the leak is fixed. Painting too early traps moisture and the stain ghosts back through the new coat. We stain-block with the correct primer first, and because our own teams often repaired the leak, we know the substrate is sound before colour goes near it. The result carries our five-year guarantee.
Do you offer a fast turnaround for end-of-tenancy redecoration?
Yes. For landlords and letting agents we run a fast void service: scuffed and damaged walls re-skimmed, holes filled, and full redecoration in hard-wearing landlord-spec emulsion, with the property ready to photograph and remarket in days rather than weeks. We coordinate keys and access with your managing agent and work to the void window. Standardising on one durable colour across a portfolio makes future touch-ups quick and seamless.
Can you re-skim and plaster as well as paint?
Yes — our plasterers and decorators are one team, so we skim tired walls, bond and float where plaster has blown back to brick, and over-board failed or artexed ceilings before decorating. Re-skimming runs roughly £18–£30 per square metre depending on the making-good beneath. Handling both trades under one quote is why our finishes are flat and why patched walls do not telegraph through the paint.
Do you decorate communal areas and building exteriors?
Yes, for freeholders, managing agents and private clients. We redecorate facades, railings, stucco frontages and communal hallways in mansion blocks and conversions, with access — scaffold, tower or rope — included in the quote. We work to agreed hours, keep escape routes clear and, in conservation areas or on listed frontages, to the colours and materials the consent permits. All exterior systems are chosen for London weather, not the cheapest tin.
Are you insured, and is the work guaranteed?
Yes. We carry £5m public liability insurance and provide a fixed written quote and a proper VAT invoice before work starts, plus a written five-year workmanship guarantee on decoration. That combination matters most in flats and blocks, where a spill onto a communal stair or a neighbour’s property is expensive uninsured. Ask any decorator to show the certificate before they lift a brush in your home.
How do I know a decorating quote is honest?
A trustworthy quote itemises preparation — filling, caulking, sanding, any re-skimming — separately from the coats of colour, because that is where a finish is won or lost. Be cautious of cash-only pricing, large upfront deposits, no written scope, and mid-job pressure to release extra cash. We give a fixed written price after a site visit, so the number does not creep once the dust sheets are down.
Our Written Guarantee
We provide a fully comprehensive, written 5-Year guarantee covering all structural reinstatement, moisture boundaries, and finish coatings.
100% Insurance Protected
Request an Elite Assessment
Secure a rapid, high-precision physical survey by our team. Fill out our briefing engine instantly.
Plastering, Painting & Decorating Across Greater London
We deliver plastering, painting & decorating across all 33 London boroughs — from the City and Central London out to the M25. Tap any marker to see coverage and local postcodes.
