Painter & Decorator in Jurong East

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.

A standard bedroom (walls and ceiling, minor prep) takes a professional 1-2 days including drying time between coats. A whole 3-bedroom interior typically runs 4-7 working days for a two-person crew, longer with heavy prep, woodwork, or wallpaper removal. Exterior repaints depend on weather windows — expect 3-7 days of actual work spread over a longer calendar period.

In writing: which rooms and surfaces (walls, ceilings, woodwork), prep level, number of coats, paint brand and line (and who supplies it), protection of floors and furniture, cleanup and waste disposal, timeline, total price with tax status, and payment terms. For exteriors, add access equipment (ladders vs scaffold) and weather-delay terms. Missing detail is where disputes start.

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.

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.

Whole-flat packages typically run about S$650-S$1,100 for a 3-room, S$1,000-S$1,300 for a 4-room, and S$1,200-S$1,600 for a 5-room flat, usually including paint and two coats. Budget operators advertise from ~S$500 for smaller flats; confirm coats, sealer, and brand before comparing.

For bathrooms, kitchens, and poorly ventilated walls, yes — Singapore's humidity makes surface mould a recurring problem, and anti-mould lines from Nippon or Dulux meaningfully delay it for a modest per-room upcharge. Pair it with fixing the moisture source; paint alone won't beat a leaking or condensating wall.