Painter & decorator across West Norfolk.
Interior and exterior painting, prep and finish, done properly. Low-VOC paints by default, dust extraction during sanding, and furniture and floors fully protected. The room stays yours throughout the job.
What I decorate
Interior work covers the lot: walls, ceilings, woodwork, skirting, doors, frames, radiators, staircases and specialist surfaces, from a single room through to whole-house jobs sequenced over a few weeks. Most of it happens in occupied homes, with your day-to-day life carrying on around the work.
Exterior work covers render, brick, timber, fascia, soffits, guttering, doors and window frames. It’s weather-dependent, so usually booked between May and early October when surfaces are dry and warm enough for paint to bond. Interior or exterior, I quote by the room or the project, not by the day.
For kitchens, the cabinet finish is a separate service: kitchen spray painting covers cabinet respray and freestanding furniture, while the walls, ceilings and skirting sit within general decorating and can be done at the same time.
How I work a room
Survey and quote (free)
I measure the room, look at the surfaces, talk through colours, finish and paint system, and send a written quote with the cost laid out clearly. No pressure.
Protect the room
Floors and furniture covered, fittings masked, fixed items protected, the room sealed off so dust doesn't travel through the house.
Prep the surfaces
Holes filled, cracks raked and re-filled, joins caulked, surfaces sanded with dust extraction, washed and primed. Knots sealed; any damp or mould flagged before paint goes near it.
Undercoat
New plaster takes a mist coat, bare wood a primer, stained walls a stain-block. The undercoat is what makes the finish coats stick and stay.
Top coats
Two coats minimum, three for darker or stronger colours, with full drying time between each so the finish doesn't streak or show roller marks.
Woodwork and detail
Skirting, frames, doors and detail taken in turn, cutting in by brush, rolling the larger surfaces, sanded between coats.
Final tidy
Masking off, fittings unwrapped, furniture back, dustsheets folded, room swept and cleaned. I walk you round and leave it cleaner than I found it.
Three standards, every time
Low-VOC paints by default
Water-based, low-odour systems (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade, Tikkurila and similar), suitable for homes with children, pets, or anyone sensitive to paint smells.
Dust extraction during sanding
Proper extraction kit on the sander, not a domestic vacuum, keeping airborne dust to a minimum so the rest of the house stays clean.
Cleaner than I found it
An end-of-day tidy and an end-of-project clean. The handover should feel like a finished room, not a building site.
How I price
Decorating is quoted by the room or the project, not a day rate. Day rates reward slow work; project rates reward efficiency, which is fairer for you.
Paint is costed separately and broken out in the quote. No survey charge.
“Wayne has done several large painting jobs for us and we could not rate more highly. Fantastic job, attention to detail is top notch and more than accommodating to individual requests. As long as Wayne is painting, we will always go to him!”Rob Cooper
Decorating, answered
How much do decorators charge per day in the UK?
UK decorators typically charge £250–£350 a day, depending on region and complexity. I quote by the room or project rather than a daily rate, because day rates reward slow work. The total reflects the size of the job, the condition of the surfaces, the paint specified and any prep required. Quotes are free and written up after the survey.
What's included in a decorating quote?
Labour, paint, masking, dust-extraction, floor and furniture protection, and end-of-job cleanup. Specialist materials (lining paper, fillers, primers for difficult surfaces) are broken out separately so you can see where the money goes. If you'd rather supply paint yourself, the quote reflects that. No charge for the survey.
What's the best time of year for exterior decorating in the UK?
May to early October is the ideal window in Norfolk. Surfaces need to be above 8°C and dry for paint to bond, and rain within four hours can ruin a finish. I avoid exterior work from November to March unless there's a settled dry spell. Booking in early spring secures a slot before the summer rush.
Do you use low-VOC paints?
Yes, low-VOC, water-based paints are my default for interior work. Less odour, faster drying, and comfortably within UK indoor air-quality expectations, suitable for homes with children or pets. Solvent-based paints remain where extreme durability matters, but modern water-based ranges perform as well in most homes.
How long does it take to decorate a room?
Most living rooms and bedrooms take two to three days for a full decorate. Hallways, stairs and kitchens often take three to four because of awkward access and more surfaces. Whole-house jobs are sequenced so you always have somewhere to live. I quote the day count honestly at survey.
Can you decorate while we're still living in the house?
Yes, most of my work is in occupied homes. The room is sealed off with dustsheets and masking, dust extraction keeps sanding dust down, and the rest of the house stays yours. I clean up at the end of each day, and larger jobs are sequenced room by room.
Get a decorating quote
Tell me about the room or project and I'll send a written quote, usually within a few days.
Get a decorating quote
Phone, WhatsApp, or send a message. Photos of the room help me ballpark before the survey.