Skimming (and painting)

A question about : Skimming (and painting)

Please let me know your opinions:

Skimming up to picture rail (approx 2m) nothing above. Double bedroom. One side needs 70 cm high because it's just window. He won't remove radiator (not sure why) on other side.

Then, paint the lot, all plaster, picture rail, skirting, door.

He's a mate, has done good work, but quoted Ј800.

I think that's massive.

Best answers:

• Huge! Way too much in my opinion. Ask for a breakdown why it's so much.
• What the actual size plastering required plasterer and labour would be anything from 175 - 250 per day only 2 meters high on three wall 70 cm on4th (Sounds like slow days work) 50 pounds materials, Painting 100 - 150 labour a day one maybe 2 days dependant on woodwork again Ј50 material Does seam to be on the high side If there getting work plastering at 175 - 250 per day why would they paint for less and you wouldn’t pay a plasterers rate to a painter much as they’d love you too ?
• Sounds high to me. Plastering should be no more than one day's work - Ј250.
  The painting would be 1-2 day's work at most for a pro dec - up to Ј250.
  Materials : plastering Ј50, painting Ј40 for 5 litres emulsion, Ј20 for undercoat sand trim paints for wood.
  So Ј600 should cover it.
• I paid Ј400 for a full skim of my front room (3 walls, under a large bay window and ceiling) in a large period property a few months ago. Our picture rails are at approx 2m and there's probably another 0.5m above that.
  We're painting it ourselves but for me your quote does seem excessive.
• I am always astonished so many people are happy to offer opinions on pricing, when at best they are guessing and at worst they haven't got a clue.
  As a plasterer. I want to know if there is anywhere to park the van. Access to water , somewhere to mix and wash up that isn't miles away. It was said that it was a bedroom , how many flights of stairs to get to it , are there carpets down , that is hallway staircase and the bedroom, is there furniture in the bedroom. How many electrical points need moving and isolating ? Its been said that there is a rad in the room , is the plumbing surface mounted or boxed in . Existing walls , what is the quality like , straight ,rough , cracked made of what ? lime ,gypsum plaster , how much prep is required to get it to a point where it is skimable . Existing woodwork that's skirting ,architrave ,picture rail , are they coming off or staying on ? If staying on , how deep is the lip to work to? Reveals into the window and heads , been done ? When you know all that, you can then make an assessment on the value of the contract .
• Oh yes,,we must always get tut tradesfolk in cheap,keep an eye on 'em in case they nick anything and make them feel grateful we are keeping them in booze and fags. The ragged trousered philanthropists..
• Ј800 is not expensive
  All walls to be pvad first (probably twice maybe three times) floors need to be sheeted up. Four walls to be plastered (2 at a time taking approx 2.5 hours to get a nice finish) your window wall (unless the window fits to the ceiling and adjoining walls) will take longer to prep than the other walls as the plasterer has to bead the reveals and also skim the reveals into the window- including protecting the window frame. Plastering cost max Ј300 (including material)
  The other Ј500 is easily absorbed by the decorating. Ok above the picture rail hasn't been re plastered but surly will be redecorated. I'm assuming that as your decorating the walls that the ceiling is be decorated also.
  New plaster 1 coat watered down paint ( mist coat to absorb into plaster) then at least 2 coats of emulsion (4hours at least drying time between coats) the dec has a lot of cutting in (ceiling lines, both sides of your picture rail, skirting, archatrives, window) then he/she has to gloss or eggshell all of the wood work- this is not a five minute job as when your glossing you have to keep brushing the gloss for a top finish and to stop runs. The door alone could take upto 2 hours to get a nice finish. Your materials alone for decorating could easily run into Ј100.
  Give your mate a break I think he has actually charged you mates rates.
  If I quoted this It sounds like I wouldn't have got the job as it would have been more than Ј800.