10 Questions to Ask a Decorator Before You Hire in London

Why the Conversation Before the Quote Matters

Most people evaluate a decorator on the price and how tidy they seem on a first visit. Both matter, but neither is the most important thing you can assess before committing. The most useful information comes from the answers to specific questions — and how readily and confidently those answers are given.

A professional decorator working in London has heard all of these before. The answers should be immediate and verifiable. Hesitation, vague responses, or resistance to putting things in writing are all worth noting.

1. Can I See Your Public Liability Insurance Certificate?

Not "do you have insurance?" — anyone can say yes to that. Ask to see the document. It should show the policy is current, the limit of indemnity (minimum £2 million for domestic work, £5 million for larger projects), and that the policyholder name matches who you are engaging.

If they say they will send it over later, wait until it arrives before signing anything.

2. Will You Give Me a Written Specification?

A quote is only useful if it specifies what is being quoted. A written specification should include: the rooms or areas covered, the preparation scope, the paint products by name, the number of coats on every surface, and any exclusions. A number without this context tells you almost nothing.

3. Which Products Will You Use, and Why?

A competent decorator should be able to explain why they are specifying a particular product for a particular substrate. "Trade emulsion" without a brand name is insufficient. "Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt for walls and Johnstone's Trade Quick Dry Satinwood for woodwork, because the property is tenanted and durability is the priority" is an answer that demonstrates knowledge.

4. How Many Coats on the Walls, Ceilings, and Woodwork?

One coat of emulsion is a maintenance finish, not a decorating job. The minimum for a standard repaint is two coats on walls and ceilings. Woodwork requires a primer-undercoat and two topcoats if it is being fully renovated, or one topcoat if it is a clean maintenance coat over existing sound paint. Dark or saturated colours require three coats to achieve full opacity.

Ask this question and listen for a specific answer. "As many as it needs" is not an answer.

5. What Preparation Is Included?

This is where the largest variation between quotes occurs, and where cheap quotes are usually cheapest. Ask specifically: Is filling included? How thorough — fine filling for a high-spec finish, or nail holes only? Is stain blocking included if water marks or nicotine staining is visible? Is a mist coat included for new plaster? Is back-sanding of woodwork included?

The answers determine the quality of the finished result. Preparation is not a nice-to-have; it is the job.

6. Who Will Be Doing the Work?

On single-person operations, the answer is clear. On larger firms, ask whether the decorator you are meeting will be on site, who will be supervising, and whether any of the work will be subcontracted. Subcontracting is not inherently a problem — but you should know the answer before work starts rather than after.

7. What Are Your Payment Terms?

Standard terms for a domestic job: a small deposit (10-20%) on acceptance, staged payments tied to progress, and a final payment on completion once you have inspected and are satisfied. Any contractor asking for more than 50% upfront on a standard interior job has an unusual payment structure that is worth questioning.

VAT status matters too. If a contractor is VAT-registered, their prices should include VAT or clearly state it is to be added. A contractor below the VAT registration threshold (currently £90,000 annual turnover) cannot charge VAT.

8. Can You Give Me Two References I Can Call?

Not names on a website — actual contact details for previous clients who will take a call. Ask for one reference from a similar project and one from a client they have worked with more than once. Repeat clients are the strongest quality indicator.

When you call, ask: Was the quote accurate? Did they keep to the agreed dates? Was the site kept tidy? Was there callback work needed? Would you use them again without hesitation?

9. How Will You Protect My Property?

A professional decorator will:

Cover floors with dust sheets or Ram Board before any paint is opened
Mask all surfaces not being painted (glazing, hardware, light fittings)
Remove or mask light switches and socket covers before cutting in
Not leave masking tape on surfaces overnight without checking it will not lift paint

Ask whether floor coverings are included in the price, or whether they expect you to clear and protect the space. Either is acceptable, but the expectation should be clear upfront.

10. What Is Your Start Date and How Long Will the Job Take?

A professional decorator manages their schedule. They should be able to give you a realistic start date and a confident estimate of duration. Vague answers ("depends how it goes" or "could be two or three weeks, hard to say") on a job that is clearly scoped suggest poor planning habits.

Ask also: will there be any days where no one is on site? If so, why, and when? Understanding the schedule in advance prevents the frustration of a job that grinds to a halt mid-completion.

The Underlying Principle

A decorator who is good at their job is also good at these questions. The skills are related: precision about what they are doing, clarity about timescales, and the professional confidence to put commitments in writing are the same attributes that produce a straight line, a clean edge, and a finish that holds up.