Painter & Decorator in Ammochostos

For small interior jobs, many painters ask nothing up front or a token booking fee. For larger jobs, 10-30% deposit is typical, sometimes with a materials payment when paint is purchased. Be wary of demands for 50%+ before any work starts. Stage payments for multi-week jobs are fine; hold back the final payment until you've inspected the finished work in daylight.

Two topcoats is the professional standard for a proper finish, plus a primer or sealer coat on new plaster, stains, or strong colour changes. Be suspicious of quotes that assume one coat — it rarely covers evenly and is the classic way a cheap quote wins then disappoints. Dramatic colour changes (dark to light) can need a tinted primer plus two coats.

Three checks: recent photos or addresses of comparable jobs (ask specifically for work 1-2 years old — fresh paint always looks good), reviews that mention prep and cleanliness rather than just price, and the quote itself — a detailed written scope with prep level, paint spec, and coat count signals a professional; a one-line price signals corner-cutting. Cutting-in lines around ceilings and trim are where skill shows.

Not always — this is the biggest source of quote confusion. Some painters quote labour-only with you supplying paint; others include mid-range trade paint and itemise upgrades. Materials typically add 15-25% to a labour-only price. Always ask: is paint included, what brand and line, and how many coats? Two quotes can differ mostly because one includes premium paint and the other assumes you buy it.

Interior painting typically runs €6-€16 per square metre or €150-€400 per room, with a whole 3-bed interior around €1,200-€4,000. Exterior repaints of a typical house run €1,500-€6,000 depending on render condition and access. Expat-focused firms in Paphos and Limassol quote at the top of the range.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) — summer wall temperatures cause masonry paint to dry too fast and fail, while winter brings rain and damp render. A painter proposing exterior work in July on a sun-exposed wall either plans dawn starts or doesn't plan for durability.