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construction
Painter & Decorator
Painters and decorators prepare and finish surfaces of buildings and structures with paint, wallpaper and other coatings. The work requires a good eye for detail, colour knowledge and the ability to achieve a clean, professional finish. You can work in residential, commercial or industrial settings, and there are opportunities to specialise in heritage restoration or decorative finishes.
What You'll Do Day-to-Day
- ✓ Preparing surfaces by filling, sanding and priming
- ✓ Applying paint using brushes, rollers and spray equipment
- ✓ Hanging wallpaper and applying decorative finishes
- ✓ Matching colours and advising clients on schemes
- ✓ Working on ladders and scaffolding
Qualifications You'll Need
- 📚 Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
- 📚 Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Decorative Finishing
- 📚 CSCS Card
Pros
- ▲ Lower barrier to entry than some other trades
- ▲ Creative work with visible results
- ▲ Strong self-employment potential
- ▲ Light physical work compared to other construction trades
- ▲ Steady demand for domestic and commercial work
Cons
- ▼ Fumes from paints and solvents
- ▼ Working at height
- ▼ Can be slow during winter months
- ▼ Repetitive tasks on large commercial jobs