DIY painting or hiring a painter: compare the actual work

List walls, ceilings, doors and skirting, existing condition and desired finish. Separate washing, local repairs, extensive filling, primer and topcoats. Do not compare a paint basket with a quote including repairs. No local quote sample establishes a professional average or claimed saving here.

Add actual painted areas: theoretical litres = area × coat count ÷ coverage per litre per coat. Pure arithmetic example: 35 m², two coats and assumed coverage of 10 m²/L give 7 L, not 20 L. Actual coverage depends on product and substrate; calculate primer, losses, pack sizes and colour trials separately. Floor area alone does not determine walls and ceiling.

The consulted Sikkens sheet separates touch dry, recoatable and final properties and makes coverage substrate-dependent. It is a dated example, not a universal schedule. Check the current chosen product sheet, temperature, ventilation and precautions for existing coatings.

Damp walls, changing cracks, peeling coatings or unidentified old materials need assessment before sanding or covering. For ceilings and stairs, consider access and physical capability too. You can outsource diagnosis or a technical part without outsourcing the entire home.

Choose colour and sheen using a sample in the room. Buildwise explains that painting cannot correct overall flatness and minor imperfections may remain visible under raking light. Agree preparation and inspection conditions rather than promising no defect under any lighting.

For DIY, count products, tools, protection, access equipment, travel, waste and available time. For a contractor, check scope, exclusions, schedule and agreed remedial work. You can value your time for decision-making without treating it as an invoice. No documented rate here supports the claim that one in three DIY jobs needs professional rework.