Painting and decorating: should I hire a professional or do it myself?
Your home occasionally needs a fresh coat of paint. What should you watch out for when painting the walls and when should you hire a professional? Comparis provides the answers.
13.06.2022
iStock / sturti
1. When is a new coat of paint necessary?
Whether your home needs a fresh coat of paint depends on the extent of wear and tear on the walls, ceilings, doors and windows. Discolouration, yellowing and blemishes impair the look and feel of your home. A fresh coat of paint improves its appearance and helps to preserve the value of the building.
Repainting is particularly recommended for:
Moisture damage on the walls
Efflorescence (salt deposits) on the masonry
Cracks in the wall
Open joints
Nicotine discolouration
What should homeowners watch out for?
As a homeowner, you can decide for yourself when a new coat of paint makes sense.
The following timeframes are recommended as a guide:
Interior: repaint every 8 to 15 years
Exterior: repaint every 15 to 20 years
What should landlords watch out for?
Tenants can expect from their landlord that the walls and ceiling are in an acceptable condition and comply with what is agreed in the tenancy agreement. In particular, nicotine stains, paint spattering and holes in walls are considered unacceptable. In this case, tenants can demand professional repainting.
What should tenants watch out for?
Do you live in a rented apartment yourself? If the condition of the walls and ceilings can be classed as normal wear and tear, you do not usually have to repaint the walls when you hand over your apartment.
If the wear and tear is extensive, the landlord can demand a financial contribution towards the repainting. However, this only applies if the expected lifespan (usually around 8 years) has not yet been exceeded.
Can I paint a rented apartment?
Painting the walls in a rented apartment represents a structural change to the property. This is particularly true if the choice of colour or material differs from the original wall colour. According to the Swiss Code of Obligations, the landlord must give written permission for the tenant to paint the apartment. It is not enough to give it verbally.
After such written consent, the landlord can only demand that the tenant return the walls to their original condition if this was also agreed in writing.
2. Doing the painting yourself: what to bear in mind
If you are going to paint the walls yourself, you should be well prepared. You need the right tools. You should also thoroughly check the condition of the surface to be painted.
What painting equipment do I need?
When doing your own painting, you usually need the following tools:
A sufficient quantity of paint in your chosen colour
Paint roller, paint stirrer, angled paintbrush, telescopic rod (e.g. for painting ceilings)
Dust sheets or other protective covering
Painter's tape
Paint tray and paint grid
Protective clothing
Screwdriver to remove skirting
Filler for wall plug holes and uneven surfaces
Brush for priming
How do I check the condition of the surface?
First, prepare the surface: perform a scratch test, abrasion test and absorbency test and then repair the surface. This ensures that the fresh paint will adhere perfectly after repainting. If in doubt, seek advice from a professional.
Scratch test: run a coarse brush over the surface. If the old paint starts to come off, you should remove it completely before repainting.
Abrasion test: rub the surface with a dark cloth. Do you see dust residue on the cloth? If so, you must clean the surface with water before painting. To do this, moisten some household paper or a rag. Important: the paper or cloth should be damp, not wet.
Absorbency test: run a wet sponge over the surface. If it absorbs moisture, primer is necessary before painting.
What if the walls are damaged?
Check walls and ceilings for cracks, holes and unevenness before painting. You can repair damage using filler. If in doubt, it's worth having the defects remedied by a professional painter and decorator.
3. Which paint do I need?
There are numerous types of paint available, such as emulsion, silicate and gloss. The choice of interior paint affects the look and feel of your rooms. If you are doing the painting yourself, get advice in a specialist shop or DIY store.
Water-based acrylic paints and solvent-based synthetic resin paints are particularly resistant and are suitable for window frames, doors, fences and shutters. When using solvent-based paint, always wear a respirator mask and goggles.
Emulsion paints are the most commonly used paints and are suitable for almost all large indoor surfaces. They usually adhere easily to wallpaper, plaster, wood and concrete. They are very user-friendly. As a rule, no special protective equipment is required.
Silicate paints are mineral paints. They are particularly durable, weather-resistant and environmentally friendly. They also prevent mould from forming.
Suitable substrates are mineral surfaces such as plaster, concrete and fibre cement. These paints are, however, difficult to apply. Non-professionals are therefore advised to use a dispersion silicate paint specially developed for DIYers.
How many coats of paint are needed?
If you are using light colours, one or two coats of paint are usually sufficient. When using dark tones, plan several coats of paint. High-quality colours with a high coverage rate are suitable (ideally the highest possible).
4. When should I hire professional painters?
Having the painting and decorating done professionally has advantages and disadvantages compared to the "do it yourself" approach:
| Advantages of professional painting | Disadvantages of professional painting |
|---|---|
| Less time taken by experienced professionals | Higher cost |
| Blemish-free, even results | Fixed dates, less time flexibility |
| Clean lines and edges | Project time and effort for requesting quotes, coordination, planning and inspection |
| Personalized advice and in-depth expertise | |
| No physical effort involved for the client |
When should I not do the painting myself?
Do you intend to paint window frames, doors or exterior walls as well as large surface areas such as walls and ceilings? This can be challenging for the average DIY painter. For especially demanding jobs, it is worth choosing a professional painting company.
You are generally advised to hire professionals in the following cases in particular:
Large-scale painting project
Very high rooms
Special surfaces and materials
Surfaces made of different materials
For elderly people with physical disabilities
For people with health risks
For people who are sensitive or allergic to ingredients in paints
Can I paint a façade myself?
In principle, you can also paint exterior walls yourself.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
Have the scaffolding set up by a professional.
Do not put leftover paint down the drain but dispose of it correctly.
Let the walls dry between multiple coats of paint.
Team up with others to work on exterior wall surfaces. This allows the surface to dry uniformly – for a blemish-free result.
Observe safety measures when working on the scaffolding and wear suitable protective gear.
5. How much does professional painting cost?
The cost of hiring professional painters varies: you can expect to pay between 18 and 45 francs per square metre for painting white walls and ceilings. If painting companies charge by the hour, you will pay around 40 to 70 francs per hour. You will also need to pay for materials on top. The use of coloured paints is usually more expensive.
How many square metres can a painter complete per day?
When painting walls and ceilings, a professional painter can complete 40 to 100 square meters per day in living areas (living room, kitchen, bathroom). In addition to experience, key factors include how much preparatory and masking work is required and whether it is necessary to paint one or multiple coats.
Why does the cost of professional painting and decorating vary so much?
The cost depends on the type of room and surface to be painted and individual customer requirements. For a precise calculation, you will need to answer the following questions:
How big is the area to be painted?
How many corners, edges and frames does a room have?
Do floors and skirtings need to be covered?
Do holes or joints need to be filled?
Do electrical wall plates have to be removed or taped off?
Do window frames and doors need to be painted?
What additional costs could arise?
There may be additional costs for preparatory and masking work, as well as for unforeseen events. In order to avoid misunderstandings and surprises, it's a good idea to arrange for the painter to visit your home beforehand.
Depending on the provider and driving distance, painters may charge a flat fee to cover travel or charge per kilometre travelled.
Painting apartments in which people have smoked often entails more work. A surcharge of up to 20% may apply.
Ancillary work generally costs extra. This includes, for example, repairing damage and cracks in walls, cleaning and additional covering work. Providers charge a fixed price or charge at cost.
Sometimes, one coat of paint is not enough. Depending on the agreement, painting companies may charge a surcharge of up to 20% for a second coat.
Painting and decorating quotes are usually based on the use of white wall paint. Coloured paints may cost extra.
Is the room full of furniture and decorative items? The painting company may charge extra for the additional work involved.