Walls and ceilings, one colour (2 coats)

Painting walls and ceilings in one colour with two coats is the most common decorating job in flats: freshening up after a tenant, a new colour in the bedroom, white ceilings after a renovation. It is priced per square metre painted, and the result depends largely on what happens before the tin is opened.

What the service includes

• covering floors, furniture, windows and sockets, unless that was booked separately;
• minor prep: filling plug holes and hairline cracks and sanding them smooth;
• painting the ceiling first, then the walls, with two coats of one colour;
• clean lines at the ceiling, skirting and door frames, cut in by brush or with tape;
• removing tape and covers once dry.

Priming, a full skim coat, or several colours on one wall are separate lines in the price list.

Why two coats

One coat rarely covers evenly, especially when going from a dark colour to a light one or painting fresh filler. The second coat evens out the colour and removes roller marks. Strong colours such as deep green or navy sometimes need a third, and the handyman will say so after the first coat.

Choosing the paint

Ceilings are usually done in white matt emulsion, which hides imperfections. Walls in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways do better with a more scrub-resistant paint. Work out the quantity with some spare: two coats over the wall and ceiling area, from the same batch, so the colour matches exactly.

Common questions