Painting and Decorating across Thurrock, Essex, London and Kent
Interior and exterior decorating for homes, landlords and businesses. Proper preparation, professional finish — and repairs co-ordinated under one roof when the walls need it.
- Agreed scope and records
- Family-run business
- Transparent pricing
- Before & after photos
- Digital job records
- Cleaning & maintenance under one roof
Painting & Decorating Pricing
Decorating is quoted by project rather than by hour because the right price depends on what you need done — not just how many rooms. A realistic quote requires a proper scope. We provide all quotes free with no obligation.
Painting & Decorating
Per room — free written quote first
- Interior & exterior work
- Walls, ceilings & woodwork
- Professional preparation included
- Trade paint & materials included
- Landlord, void & commercial projects
- Free quote — no obligation
What affects the price?
Every decorating quote is built around your specific project. Here are the factors that shape the cost — understanding them helps you give us accurate information and get a more precise quote first time.
- →Room or property size and ceiling height
- →Surfaces included — walls only, or walls + ceilings + woodwork
- →Number of interior doors, windows, and metres of skirting
- →Surface condition and preparation required
- →Existing colour and new colour — dark-to-light changes need more coats
- →Number of coats required to achieve the agreed finish
- →Wallpaper removal or hanging
- →Repairs or making-good before painting begins
- →Paint specification — trade paint vs customer-specified product
- →Property occupied or empty during the works
- →Exterior surfaces — access, scaffolding, and condition
What We Paint
Is Your Project Covered?
From a single feature wall to a full property redecoration — find your project below.
Walls
- ✓Fresh colour over existing paint
- ✓Colour changes — including dark-to-light
- ✓Repaired or replastered walls
- ✓Feature walls in contrasting colours or finishes
Ceilings
- ✓Standard ceiling refresh in white or colour
- ✓Stained ceilings after appropriate repair
- ✓Repaired or newly plastered ceilings
- ✓Coving and cornice painting
Woodwork
- ✓Skirting boards and architraves
- ✓Interior door frames and doors
- ✓Window boards and sills
- ✓Stairs and banisters
Complete Rooms
- ✓Bedrooms — walls, ceiling, and woodwork
- ✓Living rooms and open-plan spaces
- ✓Hallways, landings, and stairs
- ✓Kitchens and bathrooms in appropriate coatings
Complete Properties
- ✓Houses — full redecoration inside and out
- ✓Flats and apartments
- ✓Rental and void properties
- ✓Offices, studios, and commercial interiors
Exterior
- ✓Exterior walls — masonry and render
- ✓Front and back doors
- ✓Timber windows and sills
- ✓Fences, gates, and garden structures
Every Quote Is Defined in Writing
What’s Included in Your Painting Quote
Your quote specifies exactly what surfaces, preparation, and materials are covered. No surprises during the job.
Included as Standard
- ✓Dust sheets protecting all floors and furniture
- ✓Surface preparation — filling, sanding, and priming
- ✓Mist coat on fresh or highly absorbent plaster before emulsion
- ✓Two topcoats as standard (additional coats quoted where a colour change demands it)
- ✓Woodwork: skirting boards, architraves, door frames, and doors (where in scope)
- ✓Careful masking for crisp, clean edges between surfaces and colours
- ✓Radiator painting with heat-resistant enamel (on request)
- ✓Trade paint and standard materials
- ✓Removal of all protective sheeting and paint waste
- ✓Final walkthrough with you before we leave
Not Included by Default
- ✕Wallpaper hanging or removal — quoted separately on request
- ✕Plastering or re-skimming — surface must be stable; we can arrange repair through our carpentry team
- ✕Active damp treatment — we flag damp during prep but will not paint over a live moisture problem
- ✕Structural repairs to walls or ceilings
- ✕Exterior painting in frost, rain, or temperatures below 5°C
- ✕Specialist or premium paints (e.g. Farrow & Ball) — materials cost adjusted in quote
- ✕Moving heavy furniture — we protect what is in place; prior arrangement needed for large items
- ✕Window glass cleaning after exterior painting
Repairs discovered during prep?
If we uncover damage that needs attention before painting, we advise you before touching it — and can co-ordinate the repair through Multrex rather than asking you to find another trade.
A Multrex Advantage
Repair. Prepare. Decorate.
Most decorating projects uncover something that needs fixing first. A standalone decorator will ask you to sort it. Multrex handles it under one roof.
Repair
Decorating regularly uncovers damaged plaster, cracked skirting, sticking or damaged doors, holes from removed fixtures, or previous water damage. Where repairs are needed, Multrex can co-ordinate the right trade — carpentry, plumbing, or handyman — before the decorator arrives.
- →Damaged plaster and cracked walls
- →Broken skirting and architraves
- →Door and frame repairs
- →Holes from wall-mounted items
- →Minor plumbing damage
Prepare
Preparation is the stage most people underestimate and most decorators are tempted to rush. Filling, sanding, priming, and caulking correctly — before a drop of top coat is applied — is what determines whether the finish lasts two years or ten.
- →Filling cracks and surface damage
- →Sanding and keying surfaces
- →Stain blocking where required
- →Priming bare or changed surfaces
- →Caulking gaps at walls and woodwork
Decorate
With surfaces repaired and properly prepared, paint goes on a stable, smooth base and the finish holds. We apply the agreed coatings, mask carefully for clean edges, and hand the room back clean, complete, and ready to use.
- →Agreed surfaces and coats applied
- →Crisp edges between colours
- →Woodwork finished to a hard-wearing standard
- →Full quality check before sign-off
- →Clean handover and walkthrough
This is not a promise that every repair is automatically included in a decorating quote. It is a genuine operational advantage: where work beyond decorating is identified, Multrex can assess and co-ordinate the appropriate service — so you are not left managing multiple contractors on the same job.
Interior Painting & Decorating
Interior decorating covers walls, ceilings, woodwork, and radiators across all types of rooms and property sizes. We work in occupied homes, between tenancies, during refurbishments, and in commercial interiors — adapting the schedule to cause the least possible disruption.
Walls and ceilings
Typically finished in emulsion — matt for ceilings and most rooms, eggshell or satin in kitchens and bathrooms where a wipeable surface is more practical. Two coats as standard, with additional coats where a significant colour change or a poor existing surface demands it.
Woodwork
Skirting boards, architraves, door frames, window boards, and doors are finished in gloss or satinwood depending on the look required. Woodwork needs to be sanded back, nibs and drips removed, and primed if bare or changing colour. Done correctly, the result is a crisp finish that holds up to daily use.
Feature walls
A well-executed feature wall adds character without redecorating an entire room. Whether that is a bolder colour, a deeper shade, or a contrasting finish — we create a clean, proportionate result that lifts the space.
Radiators
Radiators require a specialist heat-resistant enamel that withstands temperature cycling without yellowing or cracking. We sand, prime where needed, and apply a suitable finish that stays fresh for longer.
Exterior Painting & Decorating
Exterior paintwork protects timber, masonry, and metalwork from moisture, rot, and UV. In the British climate, neglected exterior surfaces deteriorate quickly — and repainting before serious damage sets in is always far cheaper than repairing afterwards.
Exterior painting is weather-dependent. We schedule work during suitable conditions and advise honestly if the forecast makes a booking unworkable. Spring through early autumn is the most reliable period — though suitable working days occur through winter during dry spells.
Preparation: The Foundation of a Lasting Finish
The single biggest factor in how long a paint job lasts is how well the surface was prepared. Paint does not hide problems — it highlights them. Every unfilled crack and unprimed patch becomes more visible once painted.
Filling
Cracks, holes, and surface damage in plaster or timber are filled with an appropriate product, allowed to cure fully, then sanded flat before painting begins.
Sanding
Surfaces are sanded to a smooth, even key so paint adheres properly. Woodwork is flatted between coats to remove nibs and ensure a smooth build.
Priming
Bare plaster, bare timber, and stained areas are primed before topcoats are applied. Primer seals the surface, improves adhesion, and evens out porosity for a consistent finish coat.
Mist coats
Freshly plastered or highly absorbent walls receive a diluted mist coat before full emulsion is applied — preventing the finish coat from being drawn into the surface unevenly.
Stain blocking
Water stains, nicotine, and marker bleed-through need a shellac or specialist stain block before painting — otherwise they will show through any number of emulsion coats above them.
Caulking
Gaps between skirting boards and walls, around door frames, and at internal angles are caulked before painting. A correctly caulked room looks noticeably more finished than one that was not.
Choosing the Right Finish
The right paint for a surface depends on what it is, and how the room is used. Using the wrong product leads to early failure — even when applied well.
Colour changes — what you need to know
- →Dark to light changes usually require a tinted primer or an additional coat to achieve even coverage
- →Very strong or saturated colours need more coats for full, consistent coverage
- →New plaster must be mist-coated before emulsion — applying standard emulsion direct to new plaster causes uneven absorption
- →Stains from water, smoke, or nicotine will bleed through emulsion unless sealed with a shellac or stain-block primer first
- →Surfaces previously painted in oil-based paint need appropriate preparation before water-based topcoats are applied
Landlords & Letting Agents
Check-Out → Repair → Decorate → Clean → Ready to Let
Between tenancies, time is money. Multrex co-ordinates the full turnaround so the property reaches viewing standard in one organised programme.
Why landlords use Multrex for decorating
- ✓One company handles repairs, decorating, cleaning, and flooring — co-ordinated so each trade follows the right sequence
- ✓Void decorating is easier — no occupied furniture, no need to work around tenants
- ✓Less co-ordination pressure on you — we sequence the trades and manage the timeline
- ✓Neutral, durable finishes on your instruction — warm whites and eggshell/satin for kitchens and bathrooms stand up to tenant use far longer than standard matt
- ✓We work quickly between tenancies without cutting corners — our goal is a property that photographs well, shows well, and holds up for the next tenancy
The void property advantage
Decorating during a void is significantly easier than working around occupied rooms. Access to every area, no furniture in the way, no need to restrict work hours, and easier co-ordination with cleaning and flooring in the correct sequence.
For landlords managing multiple properties, our landlord maintenance service provides full co-ordination across all trades. A single point of contact for every property in your portfolio.
Commonly combined in a single void programme
Commercial Decorating
Commercial decorating comes with different pressures. Disruption matters. Access windows are tighter. Finishes need to be more durable. We work in offices, retail premises, restaurants, schools, care homes, and managed accommodation across Thurrock, Essex, and East London.
Minimising disruption
We can work outside business hours — evenings or weekends — so normal operations continue without decorating dust and fumes in a working environment.
Phased programmes
For larger offices or retail spaces that cannot be taken out of use entirely, we can phase the work across sections, completing areas in sequence while the rest remains usable.
Durable commercial finishes
High-traffic commercial environments need scrubbable, washable finishes — not standard trade emulsion. We advise on appropriate products for reception areas, corridors, stairwells, and wet areas.
Portfolio contracts
For letting agents and property managers with multiple commercial units, we can establish a standing relationship for redecoration between tenants — consistent quality, reliable scheduling.
Period Properties
Period properties require a more considered approach. Original cornicing, ceiling roses, panelling, and timber mouldings demand careful preparation — stripping back multiple layers of accumulated paint is painstaking but necessary to preserve the detail. We avoid filling over fine decorative features and take care to replicate the original character of older properties where that is the customer's aim.
Preparing for Your Decorator
Before We Arrive — Useful Things to Do
Getting these sorted before the quote saves time and helps us give you a more accurate price at the first visit.
Decide on colours early
If you have a colour in mind, get a tester on the wall before we quote. Seeing it in your light — not on a chip — gives you confidence and avoids changes mid-job.
Send photos
Photos of each room accelerate the quoting process. Include the surfaces you want painted, any damage or staining, and ceiling height if unusual. More information means a more accurate first quote.
Identify surface damage
Mark or note any cracks, holes, water stains, or areas of loose plaster. We will assess them at the quote stage — but knowing in advance means we can allow for them from the start.
Tell us about damp or leaks
Active damp must be resolved before decorating. If you know there has been a previous leak or persistent damp, tell us so we can assess it rather than paint over a problem that will return.
Confirm furniture arrangements
Tell us if large furniture cannot be moved. We work around it with dust sheets — but for a full room repaint including ceilings, it is genuinely better if furniture can be moved to the centre or removed.
Disclose wallpaper
If there is wallpaper under existing paint — common in older properties — tell us. It affects how we approach preparation and may affect the quotation.
Note access constraints
Parking restrictions, stairwell access, high ceilings requiring tower or scaffolding — flag these at the quote stage so we can price and plan properly.
Confirm paint or not
Tell us whether you have already purchased paint or whether you would like us to supply materials. Both options are available; it affects the quote.
Recent Projects
Genuine Decorating Evidence
We document real projects across Thurrock, Essex, London and Kent — showing the preparation and process, not just the finished wall.
Before & after photography
coming soon
Void property redecoration · Grays
Full interior — walls, ceilings, woodwork, and doors. Tenant changeover completed within void window alongside cleaning and flooring.
Before & after photography
coming soon
Office redecoration · Basildon
Three-phase programme completed outside business hours. Washable finishes in all communal corridors and meeting rooms.
Before & after photography
coming soon
Victorian terrace · Tilbury
Period cornicing preserved. Multiple layers stripped and replastered before full redecoration. Interior and exterior doors.
Genuine project photography is added as work is completed. We do not manufacture project evidence.
You Might Also Need
Decorating works best when the surfaces beneath are sound and the room is properly finished. These services are commonly arranged alongside painting.
Carpentry & Surface Repairs
Paint highlights every defect. Replacing damaged skirting, rehanging sticking doors, filling split architraves, and repairing cracked window boards before painting means the finished result is seamless rather than patched.
Silicone Renewal & Tiling
In kitchens and bathrooms, tired silicone lets down a freshly painted room. Renewing silicone around baths, basins, and splashbacks — while the room is already in use — is worth doing at the same time.
Flooring
New flooring and fresh paintwork transform a room together. Installing flooring after painting is the correct sequence — we co-ordinate both trades in the right order.
End of Tenancy Cleaning
For landlords, a full end of tenancy clean paired with redecoration means the property is spotless, freshly painted, and ready for viewings in one programme.
Handyman Snagging
After decoration, small items often remain — replacing a fitting, adjusting a door, fixing a curtain rail. A handyman visit after the painters finish resolves the full list.
Post-Works Deep Clean
Painting generates fine dust that settles throughout the property. A post-decoration clean before new tenants move in — or before a photo shoot — removes dust from all surfaces.
Our Process
What You Can Expect
From your first call to the finished job, here is how our painting & decorating service works.
Tell us about the project — rooms, surfaces, desired finish, property type. Send photos where possible: they accelerate the quote and help us understand scope before we arrive.
We assess the surfaces in person or from photos, advise on preparation needs, finishes, and paint types, and give you a clear written quote defining exactly what is included.
Floors and furniture are protected with dust sheets before any work begins.
Surfaces are filled, sanded, caulked, and primed — the preparation stage that determines whether the final finish lasts two years or ten.
Paint is applied in the agreed finish over the agreed number of coats, with careful masking for crisp, clean lines between surfaces and colours.
Final quality check — coverage, cutting-in, edges, woodwork, and any agreed areas — before we remove all sheeting and waste.
We reinstate the room, walk the finished work with you, and hand back clean and complete.
Insider Advice
Helpful Hints & Tips
Preparation is 80% of a good finish
Paint highlights every bump it covers. Filling, sanding, and priming correctly is what separates a finish that lasts a decade from one that peels within eighteen months. Never skip or rush the prep.
Test colours on the wall — not the tin lid
Paint a large swatch — at least A4 — and look at it in morning and evening light. Colours shift dramatically between daylight and artificial light, and between different wall orientations. Many people choose a colour from a chip and are surprised by the result on the wall.
Resolve damp before decorating
Painting over damp or mould hides it temporarily and makes the problem harder to find later. Find and fix the moisture source first — a leaking gutter, cold bridge, or ventilation problem — otherwise the new finish will fail within months.
Neutral tones in rental properties
Bold colours narrow the appeal of your property. Warm whites, soft greys, and neutral off-whites appeal to the widest range of tenants, photograph well for listings, and are easier to touch up between tenancies without a full redecoration.
Our Workmanship Guarantee
Repair and maintenance work carried out by Multrex Maintenance Ltd is guaranteed against defects in workmanship for 12 months from the completion date. If the same fault recurs due to our workmanship within this period, we will return to investigate and rectify it at no charge. This guarantee covers Multrex labour — it does not cover faults arising from pre-existing conditions, customer-supplied materials, normal wear and tear, or damage caused after completion.
- 12 months workmanship guarantee from completion date
- Same fault recurring from our work? We return at no charge
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions or customer-supplied parts
- Unrelated new faults are a separate job
Common Questions
Painting & Decorating — FAQs
While We're There
You Might Also Need
Why Multrex
Preparation First. Finish Second.
The right preparation, the right paint, and one company that handles the repairs too.
Preparation Is Part of the Price
We fill, sand, caulk, and prime as standard — not as an optional extra. The quote defines what preparation is included. The finish lasts because the surface beneath it was done properly.
Repairs Without the Co-ordination
When decorating uncovers a repair — damaged plaster, rotten timber, a door that needs rehanging — you do not need to find another contractor. Multrex handles carpentry, plumbing, and handyman repairs through the same company.
Domestic, Landlord, Commercial
One project or a full portfolio. A single room or a complete void turnaround. We adapt the scope, scheduling, and materials to the customer — not the other way around.
Get a Quote
Painting & Decorating Quote
Tell us about your project in three steps — then send us the details and we will come back with a clear, written quotation.
Step 1 — What kind of project is this?
Request a Quote
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