Services · Painting and decorating
Hire a painter and decorator
Walls, ceilings, exteriors, fences and decks. Describe the rooms and surfaces once and verified local painters can answer.
Most of a good paint job is preparation: filling, sanding, washing and protecting what should not get paint on it. Two quotes that look far apart often describe different amounts of prep, so the most useful thing you can do is say what you expect.
A posted job with photos of each room or surface lets painters price the same thing, which makes the replies comparable.
What painters on Taskovery do
- Interior walls, ceilings, doors and trims
- Exterior walls, weatherboards and render
- Fences, decks and outdoor timber
- Wallpapering and wallpaper removal
- Preparation: filling, sanding and repairs before painting
What to put in your job post
- Each room or surface, with photos
- Rough sizes, or the number and size of rooms
- The condition: peeling, cracks, stains or bare timber
- Who supplies the paint, and the colors if you know them
- Furniture that needs moving, and how high the ceilings are
License rules and checks, by country
Painting is unlicensed in most of the six countries, with two things worth knowing.
- United States: A few states license painting contractors above a set job value. In homes built before 1978, the EPA requires most paid renovation and painting work that disturbs old paint to be done by a lead-safe certified firm.
- Everywhere else: Painting is not a licensed trade, but older homes in every country can have lead paint. Ask how the painter will handle sanding and stripping old paint, and keep children and pets away from the dust.
Whatever the rules, look the number up yourself on the regulator’s own site rather than following a link the contractor sends. How to check a license and insurance walks through it.
How pricing works
Painters price by the room, by the area, or with a day rate, and the quote should say how many coats and how much preparation it includes. Exterior work depends heavily on access and height.
Agree who supplies the paint and the brand and finish, so a cheaper quote is not a cheaper paint. Then compare quotes line by line.
How it works on Taskovery
- Post the job for free. Say what needs doing, where, and when. Photos help more than anything else.
- Hear from verified contractors. Only contractors whose checks have passed can answer: a government photo ID, plus a business registration for a company or a proof of address for a sole trader. It is not a criminal background check and we do not check insurance, so ask for those yourself when the job calls for them.
- Choose who does it. Compare replies, profiles and past work, and pick the person you want.
- Pay them directly. You agree the price with the contractor and pay them, not us. Customers never pay Taskovery anything.
Guides that help with this job
Questions
Questions people ask about hiring a painter
Who buys the paint?
Either can. Painters often get trade prices and include paint in the quote; if you buy it, agree the brand, color, finish and amount first. Write down which you have agreed.
How many coats will I get?
Ask, and get it in the quote. A color change, fresh plaster or bare timber usually needs a primer and two coats.
Is old paint dangerous?
It can be. Homes built before lead paint was phased out may have it under newer layers, and sanding it makes harmful dust. Ask how the painter will deal with it before work starts.
Ready for a fresh coat?
Posting is free, and you decide who does the work.
Are you a painter? Answering jobs is free, and there is no commission on the work you win. See how Taskovery works for contractors.