What it costs
| Job | Example price |
|---|---|
| Period reception room2.9 m ceiling, bay with 2 sashes, 1 door, woodwork | £910–£1,440 |
| Hall, stairs and landingTwo-storey terrace, walls, ceilings, woodwork | £1,250–£2,250 |
| Three-bedroom Victorian terraceWhole interior incl. hall, stairs and 8 sashes | £4,840–£7,980 |
Illustrative examples, not quotes: each assumes the job described, good condition, a similar colour and trade paint included. Your own price comes from the Instant Quote, based on your answers. How our prices are worked out.
What makes period homes different
Victorian and Edwardian walls are often lime plaster on lath. It moves with the seasons, so filling hairline cracks is routine rather than a sign of trouble. Ceilings in the main rooms are typically 2.8 to 3.2 metres, which means more wall area per room and platforms for the cornice. Decorative plasterwork may have decades of paint and distemper clogging its detail. Whether to clean it back or simply paint over it is a decision that affects both cost and result.
Sash windows
A sash window is the slowest thing in the house to paint well. The sashes must be eased and painted in position so they still run, the parting beads kept free, and the glazing putty sealed at the edge of the glass. A good decorator paints every face. Exterior faces are priced separately from the interior. Where timber has rotted, it needs a joiner, and we will say so rather than paint over it.
Cornicing, ceiling roses and panelled doors
Crisp detail comes from paint going on thinly, not thickly. Four-panel doors need each moulding cut in. If yours have been painted many times, stripping back a door may be worth pricing separately. Ask in the quote.
Conservation areas
Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Highgate, Hornsey and Stroud Green all have conservation areas. Many of their streets also have Article 4 directions. Repainting an interior never needs consent. On some streets, though, changing the colour or finish of the front elevation, windows or front door may need planning permission. If you are unsure, check with Haringey Council's planning team before choosing an exterior colour.
What to send for a remote quote
- A photo of each room showing the full ceiling height
- Close-ups of cornicing, and of any cracked or flaking areas
- The number of sash windows, and whether they open freely
Questions
Can you paint over old distemper?
Not directly. Soft distemper, common on period ceilings, rubs off as a chalky powder and must be washed off or sealed with a suitable primer, or new paint will flake. Tell us in the quote if your ceiling is powdery.
Should I use breathable paint on lime plaster?
On original lime plaster that has never been sealed, a breathable mineral or clay paint is often better than vinyl emulsion. Where the walls already carry many coats of modern emulsion, there is little benefit. We will advise on your walls.
Do you repair sash windows?
We ease sticking sashes and paint them so they run. Replacing sash cords, splicing rotten timber or draught-proofing is joinery, which we can note in the brief for a specialist.