Painting and decorating is a significant part of renovation works – their effect can significantly influence the mood of the users of particular space. Whatever is the scope of the project – either only facade and interior or a big commercial space – only a qualified team of painters and decorators can cope with it. What to pay attention to when choosing the contractor for painting and decorating works?
Leading a company for years, we’ve come to know that the final decision depends on many factors. The final selection of the team should be carefully analyzed, particularly when it comes to decoration and renovation works, big-space commercial objects, or equipped interiors.
On the Internet, you can find various offers of companies and self-employed professionals that carry out painting and decoration works. The amount of them can be overwhelming for a potential customer. Meanwhile, it turns out that a significant part of these contractors is not able to meet the demands of the client, not respecting his time and funds. Taking this into account, we advise what to pay attention to when choosing painters and decorators in London.
There exists a general conviction that painting and decorating works don’t require any special skills. We often noticed that through the years of work, receiving applications of potential employees convinced of their abilities to perform this job. However, not many of them managed to pass through the trial period with success, what confirms that this work is not for everybody. How can the team of two professionals cope with the realization of a big project? There is a probability that they won’t finish it on time, and if they will, the effect may not be perfect. An experienced painter and decorator together with a well-coordinated team can work effectively, approaching even the most demanding project.
The budget is a key aspect when choosing a painting and decorating team. Before launching the works, it’s important to talk to the contractor and present all your expectations. That’s the way every painter and decorator in London should approach the project – focusing on exploring the customer’s needs. The professional company can adjust the estimated budget to its services, providing a high-standard finishing with the use of high-quality paints and materials. The importance of specifying the client’s needs is crucial – this way the team can adjust their work style and tempo to them.
Years of practice equals knowledge – the most successful companies know it well. It applies also the construction and restoration industry, especially to exterior works. The beginner can make mistakes which result from the lack of competences. For example, he could prepare the surface incorrectly what would result in a quick cracking of the paint. Many of these mistakes are made unconsciously. Another common one is masking humid or rotten wood with fillers when they should be cut out and replaced with new elements (wood or epoxy resin). The incorrectly performed work is tied with the risk of additional costs and a time loss, as corrections are necessary. A reliable and experienced company won’t allow it to happen, knowing how expensive and time-consuming can be to put back all the scaffoldings and correct all the defective elements.
You will get to know more about renovation, decoration, and painting the exteriors from this article.
Choosing a few companies and comparing the total estimated price is a common practice in between clients. It is difficult to judge which company will turn out to be the most effective in the end, as various variables are influencing the valuation. What influences the final price? It’s not only the materials but also the number of members of the team and the declared deadline. Deciding to hire the cheapest painters and decorators in London, the client can be disappointed in the final count. The companies have their tricks, such as using cheaper paints and materials of lower quality. Noticing this practice is almost impossible for the client. It often turns out that the works have been done very briefly because of a looming deadline and limited budget. That only confirms that the painter and decorator should be selected not only on the basis of the price.
A professional company can prepare a valuation that contains a detailed description of the planned works. The document which contains the following stages of the project allows us to avoid misunderstandings between the client and contractor. It includes:
The document has to include full data of the company that will provide the service. It’s important to check if it contains the name and address of the company, value-added tax number, and contact data. The valuation is a document that protects both the client and the contractor. It is also a basis to apply for a refund if the company gives a guarantee for the services provided by their painters and decorators.
The construction and restoration business is one of these, in which the risk of an accident is the part of the deal. Taking this into account, it’s worth checking if every painter and decorator hired in the chosen company has adequate insurance. The best solution is an accreditation Safe Contractor or Chas (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme), which confirms that the company meets all the requirements in the field of insurance, qualification to safe management of human resources, and first aid. The company that offers painting services should also have a document allowing them to build the scaffoldings and work on lifts at their disposal.
Another important thing is the Health and Safety documents which include the Politics of health and safety. They explain how the employer provides safety in his company, and how he manages the health of his employees. Another document which every company hiring painters and decorators in London should have, is the Risk assessment. It defines the risk factors which can influence the safety of workers during the works. If the risk impossible to eliminate is included in the project, the document points out the methods of its control.
Another important document is the Method Statement that defines the way of performing the work to make it safe for both the contractor and the client. The professional company should also have COSHH Assessment at their disposal. It identifies the risks tied to using substances in the workplace.
It’s the right of the investor to inspect all the documents mentioned above. The law clearly indicates that the company is obliged to have them if the project is carried out by the group of at least five painters and decorators.
Finding a good team of painters is often a difficult task for the investor. It’s worth to start the search from the recommendations from the closest circle of family and friends. A reliable painter and decorator in London will have excellent references. You should verify the experience of the professionals, the standard of their services, and attention to quality before the launch of any project. It’s good to visit the headquarters of the company or invite the team members for a preliminary interview during which you can check how do they approach the safety aspect and which procedures do they implement.
In many cases, it will be enough to check the company’s website and portfolio. A significant experience can confirm that the workers know their trade. If the contractors have a lot of big projects in their portfolio, they will surely cope with the smaller ones.
One of the best methods to check the effectiveness of the team is to call their previous clients. Any company that doesn’t doubt the quality of its service should provide you with the contacts to the previous investors.
There many painters and decorators in London that provide high-quality service. To select the best offer, you should:
After the work is finished, you can settle with the contractor, making sure that the team has cleaned up and fulfilled all the aspects of the agreement. Now it’ s time to enjoy the beautiful, refreshed space!
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