Painter & Decorator in Bhisho

Good ones do — prep is most of the job. Standard prep includes filling small cracks and holes, sanding, caulking gaps, and spot-priming. What's usually excluded: major plaster repairs, water-damage remediation, and wallpaper removal, which are quoted separately. Ask the quote to state the prep level explicitly; 'paint over as-is' versus 'fill, sand, and prime' can be half the price difference between two quotes.

Look for painters in Bhisho with recent reviewed jobs similar to yours, ask two or three for itemised written quotes on the same scope, and compare the scopes rather than the bottom line. Local paint stores are an underrated source — staff know which professionals buy quality materials regularly. A painter who measures up in person and asks about prep will almost always outperform one who prices sight-unseen.

Homes painted before the late 1970s-1980s (exact cutoff varies by country) may have lead-based layers under newer paint. The danger is sanding or scraping it into dust. If your home predates the local cutoff, ask the painter how they test for and handle lead — wet sanding, containment, or encapsulation rather than dry-sanding. Several countries legally require certified lead-safe practices for pre-cutoff homes.

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.

Expect roughly R50-R150 per square metre for interior work depending on prep, or R1,200-R4,500 per standard room. A full 3-bed interior typically runs R12,000-R45,000 and exteriors R15,000-R60,000 with plaster repair the big variable. Johannesburg and Cape Town price at the top.

Freestanding houses generally yes, but sectional-title complexes and estate HOAs almost always control exterior colour schemes — repainting outside the approved palette can force a redo at your cost. Get body-corporate approval in writing before buying exterior paint.