Painter & Decorator in Vanderbijlpark

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.

Clear small items, valuables, and wall hangings yourself; painters typically move large furniture to the room centre and sheet it as part of the job. Confirm this when booking — some charge extra for furniture moving, and empty rooms are always cheaper and faster to paint. For whole-house jobs, discuss room sequencing so you can keep living around the work.

Sheen level. Matt hides wall imperfections best but marks more easily — the default for ceilings and low-traffic walls. Eggshell and satin have a slight sheen and wipe clean, suited to halls, kitchens, and kids' rooms. Gloss and semi-gloss are the hardest-wearing, used on woodwork, doors, and trim. Higher sheen shows surface flaws more, so prep matters more as you go glossier.

Usually yes for high-traffic areas and exteriors. Premium lines cover better (sometimes saving a coat), scrub clean without burnishing, and hold colour longer outdoors. On a professional job, labour dominates the price — upgrading paint might add a small percentage to the total while meaningfully extending repaint intervals. Save budget paint for low-traffic ceilings and rental refreshes.

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.