Painter pricing in Brighton

Interior 2-coat: £18-£32/sqm for standard Brighton (North Laine BN1, Preston Park BN1, Hanover BN2, Lewes Road BN2), £28-£55/sqm for premium (Hove BN3, Kemptown BN2, Seven Dials BN1, Roedean BN2). Exterior £30-£85/sqm depending on substrate, scaffold, and height. Regency stucco lime-wash specialist £250-£480/day. Day rate £200-£380 standard, £300-£500 premium. Brighton rates 10-20% below central London but above other UK coastal. State 'minimum 2 coats' and brand spec on every quote, VAT 20% itemised separately.

Not legally mandatory but recognised trust signals in Brighton. Painting and Decorating Association (PDA) membership, Dulux Select Decorator, and Farrow & Ball Approved Decorator status differentiate at Hove BN3 and Kemptown BN2 tier. Annual fees £200-£600 total; recovered in 3-5 premium bookings. PDA membership requires CITB CSCS card.

Yes, niche premium revenue at 50-100% premium. Brighton's Regency terraces (Adelaide Crescent, Brunswick Town, Sussex Square, Royal Crescent, Kemptown squares, Royal Pavilion Estate) have stucco facades requiring lime-wash specialist skills. Quote Regency stucco repair + lime-wash (£250-£480/day specialist labour, £55-£120/sqm material + application). Listed Building Consent often required (LBC application £950-£2,400 separately). Brighton and Hove conservation officers enforce period-correct lime products (Lime Green, Cornish Lime Company, Ty-Mawr Lime). Build portfolio with conservation officers.

Channel salt air corrodes paint systems on seafront Regency terraces (Marine Parade BN2, Kingsway BN3, Brunswick Terrace BN3, Madeira Drive BN2) within 3-5 years vs 7-10 years inland. Quote marine-grade paint systems (Dulux Weathershield Smooth, Sandtex Trade, International Yacht Paints for ironwork) and accelerated service intervals (every 3 years instead of 7) on every seafront property. State 'marine-grade specification' on the quote.

Yes, recurring volume. Brighton has the UK's highest short-let density outside central London plus Universities of Sussex (Falmer) and Brighton student demand driving July-September turnover and constant Airbnb turnover. Quote per-property (£320-£850 for studio/1-bed turnover, £600-£1,500 for 2-bed) at landlord and short-let manager portfolio rates. Build relationships with 5-10 letting agents and short-let managers in BN1 North Laine, BN1 The Lanes, BN2 Kemptown, BN3 Hove.

Hourly rates are £22 to £50 in the US, £22-55 in the UK, A£31-100 in Australia, R150-450 in South Africa, and C£22-85 in Canada. Most painters prefer to quote per square metre or per room because it is more transparent and avoids scope-creep disputes.

The big variables are coat count, paint grade, and how much prep is included. A 'cheap' quote is usually one coat of builder's-grade paint over no prep. A premium quote is two coats of washable paint over proper prep. Compare what is in the line items, not just the total.

A 3-bedroom interior with a 2-painter team is 5-7 working days for walls, ceilings, and trim. Furniture-out is faster (4-5 days); furniture-in adds 1-2 days for masking and movement.

Usually no. Painters buy paint at trade pricing 15-30% below retail and pass some of that on. Bringing your own paint also voids most coverage warranties. The exception is if you want a specific designer brand the painter cannot source.

A 4L tin covers around 30-40sqm in one coat for smooth walls, less for textured or porous surfaces. Always buy enough for 2 coats plus 10% for touch-ups. Your painter should quote the total litres needed on the quote.