The Trades Explained: The Decorator

Many self-builders – perhaps even a majority, and especially those on a low budget – choose to build using subcontractors.

In some ways this is like learning to swim in the deep end: choosing to build without the backup of a builder and taking on a project that in most cases is way outside their normal life experience. Most are successful. Most experience a very steep learning curve that involves mistakes, delays and misunderstandings on site, which the repeat self-builder will make certain never happen again.

Learning the sequence of events on a building site is invaluable. Learning what each trade does and where their responsibilities begin and end is vital. And learning that the critical path in building can so easily be thrown off course – and how to get it back on track again – is essential.

Listing the tasks of each trade is one thing. But all but a very few overlap to some degree and it’s important to understand the grey areas between, which can be the responsibility of a builder but which, in their absence, often falls to the self-builder.

The Decorator

What needs laying on?

Most decorators and tilers are labour only. Decorators require paints and materials including brushes, fillers and sanding paper to be on site. They may need scaffolding and will need a ladder. Ceramic tilers will require all tiles, spacers, adhesives and grouting to be available.

What do they do?

The decorator’s tasks on a typical job:

• Snag and rub down all walls

• Fill all holes

• Rub down and fill all joinery

• Knot all timber to be painted

• Prime or undercoat all internal and external joinery and second fix timber

• Gloss coat or stain all internal and external joinery

• Paint all walls with one mist coat and, usually, one topcoat

• Paint all ceilings with two-coat emulsion

• Paint all external render with two coats of proprietary finish

The ceramic tiler’s tasks on a typical job:

• Lay all floor tiles with the correct adhesive

• Grout all tiles

• Fix all wall tiles using spacers

• Grout all wall tiles

Timings

The decorator needs to come onto site at around the ninth week to paint any facias or soffits.

If the property is rendered they’ll follow the plasterers in the thirteenth week for about one week before running straight on to external joinery and windows. At the same time they’ll paint the back of any skirting or architrave before it’s fitted.

Although many will work when they can, it’s perhaps best for them to stay away and only commence internal decoration when all of the major trades have finished, starting around the twenty-third week and staying until the end, about three weeks later.

The ceramic tiler will start on the wall tiling as soon as the sanitaryware and kitchen units are fitted. Ceramic or stone flooring will normally be done after the second fix carpentry, around the seventeenth or eighteenth week.

What do they cost?

A painter will often give a lump sum price, labour only. Painters tend to work their price on a daywork rate of £110 per man.

Ceramic tilers tend to work on a rate per square metre of between £12 and £16.

Grey Areas

The decorator is responsible for snagging and making good many of the problems left behind by preceding trades.

They are not responsible for sweeping out and cleaning before they start but this is essential and, unless they agree to do it as an extra, the self-builder should make sure this happens.

Judging their work

The decorator is the last trade and their work must be good. Preparation is two thirds of their work and no amount of painting can cover up a badly prepared substrate.

Look for plenty of rubbing down and filling. Walls should be mist coated to show up flaws and then prepared again before the final coat. Joinery should be knotted, primed and rubbed down before painting. Wall and ceiling joints should be caulked.

Finding a Decorator

All of the usual channels and recommendations plus the Painting & Decorating Association (paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk).

Read about the rest of the trades:

• The Groundworker
• The Bricklayer
• The Carpenter
• The Roofer
• The Plumber
• The Electrician
• The Plasterer

Further reading:

• A Guide to Internal Finishes
• Find Painters & Decorators in the Homebuilding Directory