How much does interior painting cost in Verona?+
The price depends on how much work there is before the paint: a sound wall that needs freshening up, one that needs filling and skimming, and one with mould to be treated are three different jobs, and the colour costs the same in all three. That is why the figure comes after the site visit, which is free, together with the timescale we commit to.
What is the difference between a washable paint and a breathable one?+
They are two qualities that answer two different problems. A washable paint has a tighter, more compact surface: it resists rubbing and can be cleaned, which is useful where walls get touched and dirty (hallways, kitchens, children's rooms). A breathable paint, on the other hand, lets water vapour through, so the moisture that forms inside the house does not get trapped under the finish. The more washable a paint is, the less breathable it tends to be: that is why the choice is made room by room, looking at how the wall is used and what state it is in.
Can you paint over a wall that is already coloured?+
Almost always yes, but it depends on what is underneath. If the existing finish is well bonded and does not chalk, the base is prepared and we proceed. If it is coming away, feels chalky to the touch or has blisters, it has to be removed: new paint applied over an unstable base comes off together with the old one. Going from a dark colour to a light one takes more coats, and some very saturated shades remain visible through the new paint unless the base is sealed first.
When does a wall need skimming, and when is a coat of paint enough?+
Skimming is needed when the problem is the surface itself. An uneven plaster, full of patches, old wall plugs or shrinkage cracks cannot be hidden with paint: raking light shows them up, and the more satin the finish, the more they show. In those cases the wall is skimmed to bring it back flat. If instead the wall is sound and even, we fill what needs filling, sand and paint.
Do the site visit and the quote commit me to anything?+
No. The site visit is there to look at the wall with our own eyes: to understand what state the substrate is in, whether there are cracks, damp or old finishes to remove, and which steps are really needed. Only then can a quote be put together that stands up. Until that point there is no commitment to make.
Do I have to move out while you work?+
Hardly ever. We work room by room: an area is cleared, protected, sealed against dust, and we move on, so the house stays liveable. The order of the rooms is agreed together before starting, taking into account where people sleep and eat. We ask you to leave the house empty in two cases only: when the rooms are cramped and there is no way of working round things, and when there are several people at home. The less commotion, the better and the faster the work goes.
How long before I can sleep again in a freshly painted bedroom?+
It depends on the product and above all on how much the air is changed. With the water-based wall paints we use, the smell is very limited compared with solvent-based products, and the widespread good practice is to wait at least one night with the room aired, two if you can. If the smell lingers, it is worth airing a little longer before using the room again.
Do you move the furniture?+
We move it, cover it and protect it: it is included. What cannot be moved goes to the middle of the room and is covered, and the floors are protected completely: protection is part of the job. Working in empty rooms remains the best condition, and if we need you to clear the property we tell you at the site visit.
Matt finish or washable?+
They are two opposite compromises, and the choice is made on the wall in front of you. Matt forgives the imperfections of the base but marks more easily. Satin and washable finishes stand up to cleaning but under raking light show every flaw in flatness, so they need a better-skimmed base. A hallway with children and a bedroom wall do not need the same thing.
How much dust does a painting job make?+
It makes some, and almost all of it comes from the preparation: sanding, filling, skimming. It is managed by containing it as it is produced: rooms not being worked on closed and sealed, openings protected, and the protection taken down and cleaned at the end of every day.
