Tips & Advice

So you want to make the transition from amateur DIY to becoming a professional painter or decorator. Well if you are good with your hands and can provide a reliable and consistent service then setting up your own business could be the way forward. In this article we will take you through the ins and outs of setting up a painting and decorating business.

Step 1

The first step is to make sure that you have the skills and experience to be able to undertake either residential or commercial work. This is where experience really plays a key part and we would strongly advise that before setting up on your own you try and get experience working for an established company. Not only will you be able to learn the skills needed for the trade but you will also gain valuable on-site experience.

Step 2

Once you have the experience you can now start to think about setting up on your own and becoming a self-employed painter or decorator. While commercial jobs offer

It often comes as a surprise to most people that there is actually a difference between trade quality and retail quality paint. In fact as most of the big DIY chains only stock retail paint, a huge amount of customers do not even realise that there is such a thing as trade paint and assume it is the same thing but the trade just get a discount.

This could not be further from the truth. Trade paint is of a much higher quality than general retail paint and it will not only go further when covering a wall but it will also need less coats to produce a high quality finish. Because trade paint has a different formulation and uses a different pigment it offers much greater coverage and a better overall finish than retail DIY paint.

There is a reason that professional painters and decorators use trade paint and it isn’t because it’s cheap. The quality of trade paint can often mean that it costs more than retail paint but because painters and decorators buy bulk sizes they

If you want to get the best results when decorating a room then you need to know what colours go together and how they can be combined in a room to help highlight the features. There are a few techniques that can be used to create colour schemes that work and we will run through these below for you.

Using a colour wheel

A colour wheel is a simple tool which shows a range of colours in circle format. As well as showing tones the colour wheel can be used to show colours that: complement each other, are closely related and are harmonious. There is a great online colour wheel that can help you find matching colours that can be found at: https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/

Analogous colours

Analogous colours are colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel and are closely related. These colours naturally work well together and are particularly suited to rooms where you want

The 2016 Dulux colour palette has a warm and friendly feel but with the addition of a dark mysterious element. Bright colours have a softer tone, think coral not orange and ochre instead of yellow. By looking at trends and the various disciplines of design Dulux puts together colour palettes that capture the mood of the moment.

‘Looking both ways’ is the overarching theme for the year ahead which aims to celebrate the beauty in contrast. Some of the themes encompassed within this include: Words & Pictures, The Grid & Letting Go, Dark & Light and Heritage & Future. All of these combine elements of equal and opposites which can be put together for a stunning visual effect.

For 2016 the Dulux colour of the year takes some inspiration from 2015’s colour and ties into the ongoing trend of using metallic tones in paint. The colour for 2016 is ‘Cherished Gold’ which is a beautiful next step and natural evolution of last year’s ‘Copper

The winter months may seem like the worst time to paint the interior of your house but if you are looking to pay a painter to do the work for you then this could be the best time of year to choose. Not only are the winter months generally quieter, meaning you should be able to get the work done quickly, but because the air is a lot less humid, the paint will dry quicker too.

If you are looking to get a professional in to do the work then make sure you get a quote from at least 3 decorators so you can compare the prices and get the best deal. Unless you are on a very strict budget, price should not be the limiting factor for choosing a painter. Some of the questions that you should ask include: Is the painter licensed and insured? What brand and grade of paint will be used? How many coats will be applied? What surface preparation will be done?

To get the job done, tradesmen need the right tools. Whether stripping wallpaper, or washing down industrial surfaces, you’d be surprised the difference that the right product will make – which is why everyone should understand the exact product for their needs.

To discover those products that you need to know for all manner of cleaning and removal, continue reading below:

Paint and Varnish Removers that Pack a Punch

Whether removing a poorly painted wall design or cleaning the surface prior to slapping down a few coats, the right paint stripper can be a Godsend – providing that you choose the right one for your environment.

Are you stuck, unsure of which is the most effective varnish remover? Fear not, Homestrip’s Paint and Varnish Remover will come to your rescue. The effective, water-based, vapour-free varnish remover can remove as much as five coats from a single

When choosing a paintbrush there are a number of things to consider, first of which is what you are looking to paint. The surface that you are looking to paint will play an important part in what brush is right for the job. There are a huge range of brushes available to choose from and this guide will help you pick the right paintbrush for the job.

Our first tip is that a good quality paintbrush will not only last longer, but will deliver a better finish than a cheap brush. If you are looking to get professional results then you need the right tool for the job and a cheap synthetic brush simply won’t be up to the job.

When painting with oil-based paints you should always use natural bristle brushes as they absorb a lot of paint and offer a smooth and soft uniform finish. Bristle brushes are also best for use with oil based stains and varnishes.

For latex paints, acrylic paints and water based stains a synthetic brush will give the best results. These brushes are

We are all guilty of falling into the trap of using the wrong tool for the job. Whether cutting wallpaper with kitchen scissors, or using a pointing trowel to touch up some plaster, it soon becomes clear that these tools are not made for the job. In this guide we will help you find the right tools to make the job easier and get the perfect finish.

Step One: Preparation.

The key to any job is preparation and this is especially true for professional decorators. The difference between a nice clean finish and a poor finish is almost always down to the preparation of the surface prior to decoration. This is why it is so important that you have the right tools to make your job easier. Some of the most essential tools for preparation include the following:

Filling Knives – Ranging from 1 inch through to 4 inch a flexible filling knife is a must have essential for applying all types

If we say "paint" to you, one of two images is going to leap into your mind. The first, is a lovely idyllic scene of a hobby painter. She's got an easel, perhaps there's a sunset, and she's painting a lovely scene of rural beauty.

The other isn't a scene that'll make it into any gallery. It's you. Perched atop a stepladder, with a paintbrush in hand, frozen in that split-second after you've failed to juggle two tins of paint without climbing back down. One of those tins – probably the multi-surface paint - is hurtling towards the floor, and you're not totally convinced that the bedsheets protecting your carpet are up to the task.

Yes, mention paint to any reluctant home decorator, and you'll trigger at least one painful memory.

We're here to stop that. We're going to make painting your home a breeze. We're going to take the pain out

A bad workman blames his tools, or so the old proverb goes. But even the best workman (or workwoman) will struggle if they're using the wrong tools for the job. So before you start slapping on that expensive paint with the first paintbrush that comes to hand, make sure you brush up on the basics of choosing the right painting tools for your task.

Let's start with a simple question. What should your brush be made of?

Synthetic or Bristle Paintbrushes?

Trade 1st stock both traditional bristle paintbrushes and more modern synthetic paintbrushes – and with good reason.