Having your house painted: a step-by-step plan

You want your house painted, inside, outside or both, but where do you start? The difference between a job that runs smoothly and one full of frustration usually lies in the preparation: knowing what you want, asking the right questions and agreeing clear arrangements beforehand. In this step-by-step plan you will read how a painting job in Amsterdam, Zaandam and the surrounding area runs from start to finish, and what you should look out for yourself at every stage.

1. Decide what needs doing

Start by walking calmly through and around your home. Note which rooms need a new colour or a fresh coat, and outside, look at the window frames, windows, doors and fascia boards. Flaking paint, bare patches and wood that feels soft are signs that the exterior painting cannot wait much longer. Inside it is more often a matter of taste: a colour you no longer like, marks on the ceiling or doors with grubby edges around the handle.

Take photos of anything that catches your eye. They help later in the conversation with the painter, and you can also send them along with the quote form. Not sure exactly what you want yet? That is no problem. A good painter thinks along about what is needed now and what can wait a few more years, so you spread your budget sensibly.

2. Request quotes in a targeted way

A painter who knows his trade comes to look before he names a price. At Oranje Kwast, our painter visits in person for a free advice session. He checks the surface, asks about your wishes and advises which paint suits the job, such as Sigma, Sikkens or Wijzonol. After that short walk-round you receive a written quote within 48 hours, free and without obligation.

If you ask several painters for a price, do not compare the total alone. A good quote should at least include:

• a description per item, with interior and exterior listed separately
• the preparation, such as sanding, degreasing and primer
• the number of coats and the paint brand being used
• the guarantee and the terms and conditions that apply

In comparing painters' quotes you can read point by point what to look out for. As a market indication, painters charge roughly €40 to €60 per hour excluding VAT; read more under what a painter costs per hour. Oranje Kwast does not work by the hour but with fixed prices per m² and per item, for example €17 per m² for walls, excluding VAT and with a minimum of €300 per job. The final price for your home follows from the quote after the advice session.

3. Plan the right moment

Exterior painting needs dry weather and temperatures that are not too low. That is why painters' diaries fill up quickly in spring and summer. If you book an advice session in winter, you have more choice in the planning. Interior painting can be done all year round, although paint dries best in a well-ventilated, heated room.

Think about your own diary too. If you are going on holiday, interior work can sometimes be done just then. If you are staying at home, it is good to know in advance which rooms will be out of use and when. Practical tips for this can be found in painting while you live at home. For business projects, weekend work is possible by arrangement.

4. Prepare your home

The clearer the room, the more smoothly the work goes. Remove small items, pictures and curtains in advance and push furniture to the middle of the room. Outside it helps if planters, bikes and garden furniture are moved away from the window frames and doors. The rest should be taken care of by the painter: floors and furniture are carefully protected and edges are neatly masked.

A handy overview of what you can do yourself can be found in the checklist for preparing painting work. Also agree where materials can be stored, whether a tap and a socket are available and how the painter can get in and out of the house. In an Amsterdam walk-up building with a narrow staircase, that is far from a pointless question.

5. Handover and aftercare

At the end you go over everything together with the painter. Look in daylight for crisp lines along ceilings and frames, even coverage and clean windows and floors. If you see a spot that could be better, mention it straight away. A professional fixes that without argument, and the work area should be left clean and swept.

Afterwards, ask which paint and which colours were used and keep those details with the quote. That makes touching up later easy. Oranje Kwast is a member of De Betere Schilder and Koninklijke OnderhoudNL and gives a guarantee on all work. What that means in practice can be read under guarantee on painting work. Looking for a skilled painter close by? Take a look at a painter near you.

In practice this topic belongs with interior painting and exterior painting. There you can read about the approach and the options, or request a free, no-obligation quote straight away.

Further reading: What does wood rot repair on frames cost?, Interior painting in Amsterdam, Interior painting in Zaandam.

Frequently asked questions