Painting and decorating in Cirencester

A scuff on the hallway. A patch where a picture used to hang. A tired skirting board. A ceiling that needs freshening up. These are the jobs that sit on the list for months because booking a full decorator feels like overkill. I handle small-scale painting and decorating across Cirencester.

What is included

Touch-ups and patch repairs. Single-room repainting (walls, ceiling, woodwork). Skirting boards, architraves, doors, window frames, radiator covers. Ceiling repaints. Door repaints (on or off the hinges). External woodwork where accessible from ground level or a step ladder. Caulking and filling before painting. Filling small holes, cracks and old picture hook marks.

Surface preparation is included. Light sanding, filling, wiping down, masking off edges and covering floors. Preparation takes time, and it's where a good finish comes from.

What is NOT included

A full house repaint, new build first-time decoration, wallpaper hanging on any meaningful scale, and specialist finishes like lime wash on heritage Cotswold stone are better handled by a full-time decorator. If your job is one of those, I'll say so and can often recommend someone local.

How long it takes

A touch-up session is usually an hour or two. A single bedroom (one coat on walls, one coat on ceiling, skirting boards repainted) is typically a full day, sometimes a day and a half depending on drying time and how many coats the old colour needs to cover. A single door, off the hinges, taken flat and rolled: about two hours plus drying.

Pricing

The first hour is £55 and includes getting to you if you're within five miles of Cirencester. After that it's £35 an hour, charged in half-hours. Got a longer list? A half day (4 hours) is £125 and a full day (8 hours) is £230. Most small decorating jobs work out best on a half-day or full-day rate. Paint can be supplied by you or picked up at cost. Dust sheets, masking tape, filler, sandpaper and basic tools are included.

Common questions

Do I need to buy the paint first? You can, or I can pick it up from Johnstone's, Brewers, Dulux or your preferred supplier. Tell me the brand, colour code and finish you want.

Will you move the furniture? Small items yes. Larger items can be pulled away from the wall and covered. A full room clearance is something to plan separately.

Will the job be dust-free? Sanding creates dust. There is no avoiding that. I use dust sheets and vacuum at the end, but a light wipe-down the next day is sensible.