Why would a decorator charge more for painting in colour?

[Alan Medic]

I can't get my head around this. Supplied the paint, but to do it was charged a not insubstantial amount for something that wasn't white. I even asked and was more or less told that was less than he would normally charge. I didn't get an explanation that made sense.

I'm sure someone knows why and will let me know.

[Charl70]

Cutting in takes longer (ceiling to wall ) if you told him room was white to start then changed to have a colour on walls ,,it would take longer

[Alan Medic]

Don't know what cutting in is, though ceiling and wall were going to be the same colour. He did an undercoat in white on new plaster which I expect is the norm. Still don't understand why it would take longer.

[Jeremy]

"Cutting in" = painting the edges

If wall and celling are same colour - and you supplied the paint yourself - it sounds rather unusual to me too.

[Seabag]

How dark is it?

Cost is based on number of coats and change of colour wall/ceiling

Are the skirting & doors being done, if so is it oil or acrylic paint and the same or different colour?

[Alan Medic]

Quite light in colour. No skirting or door to do.

[Seabag]

It should be costed by the coat then

X 2 or 3 even. Can't see why colour is different, but by how much?

[Alan Medic]

?70 and it a very small bathroom.

[Seabag]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> ?70 and it a very small bathroom.

Get another quote

[Sue]

Did you ask him the reason for the difference in price, and if so did his answer make sense?

[ed_pete]

Brushes for coloured paint cost a lot more and have a shorter lifespan - that'd probably explain it.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Was it tartan paint?

[Jeremy]

ed_pete Wrote:

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> Brushes for coloured paint cost a lot more

I assume that was a joke...

[*Bob*]

Who knows, but if that's his price, does it matter why? Take or leave.

Trades quotes can often be somewhat unscientific. 'Other tradespeople are available'.

[Alan Medic]

Sue Wrote:

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> Did you ask him the reason for the difference in

> price, and if so did his answer make sense?

Yes and no Sue. As this was the last part of refurbishing the bathroom I wasn't going to argue about ?70 having spent several thousands on it.

[Alan Medic]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Who knows, but if that's his price, does it matter

> why? Take or leave.

>

> Trades quotes can often be somewhat unscientific.

> 'Other tradespeople are available'.

As explained above/below I wasn't really in a position to take it or leave it. I am just genuinely puzzled by it.

[malumbu]

Odd question. ?70 quote. Collectively if we costed our time at ?25 an hour the loss of productivity as the thread is considered and replied to costs more than the quote. I am multitasking watching Pointless so my great views come free.

Did work in a paint factory once and opacity (ie coverage) varies greatly by colour and by make. High quality whites with titanium dioxide as the pigment cover very well.

But why not have a ditch auction, force the cost down to a few quid, cash in hand, that someone working illegally living in a squat does, and then have a thread complaining when it all goes wrong.

[Alan Medic]

Did you read the question?