What’s the Cost of Painting Skirting Boards?

Painting skirting boards is one of those jobs that people either love or hate. Some people say it's a relaxing task, while others hate how intricate it is. That's why lots of homeowners choose to get a professional in to paint their skirting boards, window sills and other woodwork. But how much should you expect to pay?

How much does it cost to paint skirting boards?

The final cost of painting your skirting boards will depend on the size of your room, whether there is prep work involved and where you live in the country. But here are the average costs excluding paint for a 3m x 3m room:

Gloss paint costs

You will have probably heard people say that they're glossing their skirting boards or woodwork – that's because the most popular type of paint for skirting boards was gloss for many years.

Gloss paint gives a high-shine finish to your skirting boards and can withstand knocks and scuffs well. But in recent years, homeowners have opted for more muted finishes for their woodwork, and now satinwood and eggshell are popular paint choices. Eggshell gives a matte finish, while satinwood is somewhere between gloss and eggshell.

Expect to pay around £25 per litre for a good quality brand of skirting board paint.

Coving paint costs

You don’t need gloss paint for coving since it’s not made of wood. The normal water-based paint that you use for walls and ceilings will be perfect.

A good brand of walls and ceilings paint from a brand like Dulux or Armstead costs between £6-£10 per litre.

What affects the cost of painting skirting boards, window frames, picture rails and dado rails?

Size of the room

Of course, the bigger your room, the more you will pay in labour costs and paint. If you have a large room with lots of corners, a decorator may charge more as it will take longer to get a smooth finish.

Quality of materials

If you're painting the skirting boards in more than one room, the cost of woodwork paint will soon add up. It can be easy to fall into the trap of buying cheap homeware and DIY store brand paint, but you'll notice it in the quality.

It's worth spending a bit more on paint from a reputable brand like Dulux or Leyland. These are mid-range brands that are well worth the money.

It's up to you to decide whether it's worth spending more on premium brands like Farrow & Ball or Lick.

Where you live

Where you live has a large impact on the cost of painting skirting boards, and unfortunately you can’t do much about this one. The cost of living varies across the UK, so the hourly rate a decorator charges will differ depending on your location.

If you live in a major city or the south east of England, expect to pay more than people that live in other areas in the UK.

Can I paint my skirting boards myself?

Of course – painting and decorating is one of the top jobs that most people are happy to do themselves. But if you want a pristine finish, it's always best to call in the professionals.

A professional painter and decorator will know all the tricks to get the best finish. Skirting boards can be difficult to paint, leaving unsightly streaks and textures if you load too much paint on your brush or if the paint dries before you’ve finished. An experienced tradesperson will ensure that your skirting boards look perfect before they charge you. Plus, it will take them much less time to do the work than it would if you do it yourself, and they shouldn't leave any mess.

Make sure you get a range of quotes from reputable painters and decorators before choosing a professional to paint your skirting boards. Getting multiple quotes will help you compare prices and ensure you're getting the best deal.

Do you paint walls or skirting first?

It's best to paint your walls first to avoid dripping any paint onto your freshly painted skirting boards.  

Any good decorator will tell you that you should start at the top of your room and work down, so start with your ceiling and coving. If you leave the skirting until last, you can clear up any spots of paint from your walls or ceiling by sanding the boards down before you paint them.

How many coats of paint do you need on skirting boards?

How many coats of paint you need on your skirting boards will depend on their condition and whether they're brand new or bare.

If you've just fitted new skirting boards or you've sanded them back to bare wood, you should use one coat of primer and a coat of undercoat before adding one or two coats of topcoat.

If your skirting boards are already painted, after you've sanded you may be able to get away with one coat of topcoat. However, for the best finish, a decorator will always recommend that you use an undercoat first.

If you're not keen on painting your skirting boards and woodwork yourself, post your job on HaMuch. We'll put you in touch with reliable painters and decorators that can give you a quote for the work.

Estimates for common painter and decorator jobs;

Rates for other trades