How long should painting a room take?

Liza Minelli

Does anyone know how long on average it should take to paint a room? We've moved into an old house, high ceilings etc and were recommended a painter by a friend of a friend. He's very good and very reasonable but I'm starting to think it's not worth it now, it's taking so bloody long. He's been here a month and has only completed the kitchen (it is quite big and there is a stairwell down to it with a high wall that had to be done too). There are three other rooms to be done and also the hallway but if he continues at this rate he'll be with us all year. He seems very particular about prepping and doing it all perfectly with at least three coats but I feel like he's taking the p!ss, maybe as he's on a daily rate. I've no problem telling him to get his act together but only if I'm justified.

Hootanany

How big any Dimensions

jeepers101

Yes he's taking the piss. Had a painter in to do the hall stairs and landing after being plastered; Ceilings, walls, door frames and skirting. Took two days. And they were short days.

ted1

What state were the walls in, sometimes its easier th get them skimmed instead of trying to fill each piece. I'd put a stop to it now and agree on a fixed price,

michael999999

Can you put up a few pics?

Three coats seems excessive if he's painting over previously painted walls. Unless hes covering a red or a blue.

When your on day rate, the motivation is not there to get the job done fast. But a month for a kitchen sounds mad!

Why did you not get him to price the job originally?

dartup

3 days

cardwizzard

michael999999 wrote: »

Can you put up a few pics?

Three coats seems excessive if he's painting over previously painted walls. Unless hes covering a red or a blue.

When your on day rate, the motivation is not there to get the job done fast. But a month for a kitchen sounds mad!

Why did you not get him to price the job originally?

This

DublinDIYguy

That's gone beyond taking the piss,
How much money have you given him so far?
Most painters would do 2 or 3 average sized 3 bedroom houses in a month..
Even if it's a very big kitchen with loads of work in it should never go over 1 week..

Liza Minelli

Thanks for the replies, just confirmed everything I thought anyway! He's just about finished a bedroom now, that one was in a pretty bad state and had to have the walls and ceiling plastered. We got a guy in to do that though so it wouldn't have affected the painter. The bedroom would be 14 ft high. The kitchen however was new by comparison to the rest of the house. It would have been originally the basement so had low ceilings etc but with a high ceiling over the stairs down to it. I've attached a pic. The bloke is very good and a proper perfectionist but we're going to let him go tomorrow. It's annoying but it was just inexperience on our part, definitely getting it done on a room by room basis this time!

Thanks again.

Merch

He's right, preperation is key and its 90% of the job.

If he is doing it on his own, its going to take a while based on what you are saying ie high ceilings, its slow going working on your own.
From what I can tell, the work looks ok if thats it done, but its hard to say just from those images.

If you want a rush job work away,
I did my own hall stairs landing and a bedroom ceilings and walls last year, mostly on my own and its slow going doing it right but worthwhile. Preperation is a lot of the work.
3 coats might seem a lot and it could be, but have you given him the paint? what quality is it? what was the colour prior to this colour?

If you were unhappy with the finish, Id say bring it up, still you could mention the timeframe, but if the quality is good?? you cant have it every way.

cardwizzard

Liza Minelli wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, just confirmed everything I thought anyway! He's just about finished a bedroom now, that one was in a pretty bad state and had to have the walls and ceiling plastered. We got a guy in to do that though so it wouldn't have affected the painter. The bedroom would be 14 ft high. The kitchen however was new by comparison to the rest of the house. It would have been originally the basement so had low ceilings etc but with a high ceiling over the stairs down to it. I've attached a pic. The bloke is very good and a proper perfectionist but we're going to let him go tomorrow. It's annoying but it was just inexperience on our part, definitely getting it done on a room by room basis this time!

Thanks again.

Very nice kitchen BTW.

Looks like he has done a decent job at first glance. However to be there that long is beyond funny. It looks handy enough with out any major problems and there isn't a ton of detailed woodwork to do. My guess would be he knows the boot is coming soon.

Next time around get it done on a fixed price rate, by a painter who is recommended and provides you with a reference list. Don't be afraid to ask akward or diffuclt questions while getting quotes, get a timeframe and a contract before you proceed.

We all live and learn.

michael999999

Liza Minelli wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, just confirmed everything I thought anyway! He's just about finished a bedroom now, that one was in a pretty bad state and had to have the walls and ceiling plastered. We got a guy in to do that though so it wouldn't have affected the painter. The bedroom would be 14 ft high. The kitchen however was new by comparison to the rest of the house. It would have been originally the basement so had low ceilings etc but with a high ceiling over the stairs down to it. I've attached a pic. The bloke is very good and a proper perfectionist but we're going to let him go tomorrow. It's annoying but it was just inexperience on our part, definitely getting it done on a room by room basis this time!

Thanks again.

Why don't you get Him to price any further work for you. The next painter may not be as good!