just wondering if anyone could give me a very rough idea how much a decorator would charge to decorate a 3 bed house? stripping all walls and then papering in lining paper and painting it and doing the gloss?
reason being a friend is having hers done by 2 neighbours who are charging an hourly rate and they seem to be taking a long time to do it and have already asked for a considerable amount of money and are nowhere near finished. as she works away during the week there is no-one who can supervise these chaps, but she thought she could trust them as she has known them for years.

I have always found it better to have a quote per job from professionals rather than have neighbours/friends to do the work.  If the neighbours aren't professional decorators, the job will take twice as long and therefore they are not 'daft' by quoting per hour! :)

I had a quote for my sitting room/dining room and to paint the ceiling re paper the walls (I was going to strip the old paper off) and paint 2 doors 1 side only and no other gloss was £840. The room is 23'x12 and I was supplying the paper but not paint. Was going to get other quotes but now having to move house.

Hate to think of a whole house being quoted!

> I had a quote for my sitting room/dining room and to paint the ceiling re paper the walls (I was going to strip the old paper off) and paint 2 doors 1 side only and no other gloss was £840. The room is 23'x12

gosh. that sound really expensive. Maybe what mt frien is paying is not so far out.

> I have always found it better to have a quote per job from professionals rather than have neighbours/friends to do the work. 

yes, and it is likely to cause bad feeling if she complains or tells them to stop too. she feels under a lot of pressure to contine paying. its a very awkward situation

To do a good job IS expensive. Even if the current paintwork is in good condition, it all needs rubbing down, then washing down etc before painting. Also, leaving to dry properly before putting second coats on (or third coats if having to undercoat etc). We do all our own decorating so I can't compare prices, but to get any professional in here will cost around £150 a day just for their labour (one person). City prices would probably be more.