Two houses on the same street, similar size and age, and two completely different quotes for exterior painting. Homeowners often assume they’re being overcharged. Usually, they’re just seeing what “surface condition” actually costs.
Paint itself is a small part of the bill. What varies is labour: how much preparation a surface needs, how many elevations there are, what access looks like, and what coating system you’re specifying. Two visually similar houses can have very different quotes because one had proper maintenance eight years ago and the other hasn’t been touched in fifteen.
Property size and elevation count set the baseline. A mid-terrace with one street-facing wall costs a fraction of a four-sided detached house. Surface condition matters more than most people expect: flaking paint, failed render or damp staining all need addressing before a topcoat goes on, and that prep work is where a lot of the labour hours go. Access is the other big variable. Ground-floor work needs little more than a ladder, but anything above that typically needs scaffold towers or full scaffolding, and tight streets sometimes mean a road closure permit too.
Spraying is usually more cost-effective per square metre on larger, simpler elevations, since it’s faster to apply. On smaller or heavily detailed sites, the extra masking work can bring the cost closer to manual application. Neither method is a shortcut to a cheap quote; the right choice depends on your property, not just your budget. See our guide to spray painting services in London for more detail.
If your property has attractive exposed brick or stone, a transparent breathable protector is often better value long-term than painting over it, since it avoids the expensive problem of reversing a colour decision later. Coloured systems make more sense on render or already-painted brick.
A proper quote comes from someone who’s actually walked the property, not a number generated from a photo. Our site surveys check surface condition, access requirements and any listed-building considerations, and the itemised quote breaks out labour, materials, access equipment and warranty separately.
A cheaper quote without a warranty isn’t actually cheaper if the paint fails in year two. A proper defect warranty covers issues arising from application or preparation, such as peeling, cracking or premature blistering, for a full seasonal cycle, which is when poor prep tends to show itself. It’s worth asking every contractor you’re comparing exactly what their warranty covers and for how long.
Line up quotes on the same basis: same coating system, same number of coats, same access provision, same warranty length. A quote that looks cheap but specifies one coat instead of two, or skips scaffolding for a three-storey property, isn’t actually comparable. For the wider picture on exterior work, including weatherproofing and how London’s climate affects paint lifespan, see our complete guide to exterior painting London.
Prima Decor offers a free site survey and a genuinely itemised quote, with no pressure and no vague “from” pricing. Booking early in autumn, before diaries fill ahead of the winter shutdown, also gives you more flexibility over start dates.
What’s a realistic budget for exterior house painting in London?
It depends heavily on size, condition and access, which is why we’d always recommend a site survey over a phone quote. The range between a well-maintained terrace and a neglected detached house is significant.
Does scaffolding add much to the cost?
Yes, particularly on properties above two storeys or on streets requiring a permit for road closure. It’s worth asking upfront whether your quote includes it.
Is spray painting cheaper than manual painting?
Often, on larger or more detailed elevations, though not always on small or heavily cluttered sites where masking time narrows the gap.
Why do quotes for similar houses vary so much?
Usually surface condition and access, not the contractor overcharging. A house that needs render repair or extensive scraping costs more in labour regardless of who’s doing the work.
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