(Questions)
FAQ
What people ask us, from insurance and building rules to paint finishes and Artex ceilings.
Frequently asked questions
(01)
General
Is there a call out fee?
No. Bakhodirjon visits to look at the job and gives you a clear price before any work starts, with no call out fee and no obligation.
Do you supply the paint?
Either way works. We can supply the paint, usually Dulux Trade, or use paint you have already chosen.
Do you paint single rooms?
Yes. There is no minimum job, so a single room is as welcome as a whole home.
Can you paint while we are living there?
Yes. Floors and furniture are covered before any work starts, and everything is cleaned away at the end of each day and at the end of the job.
How long does a full house take?
It depends on the size and the preparation needed. A full repaint of a three bedroom house over three floors in Poplar took four to five days. Your quote visit gives you a time for your own home.
Which areas do you cover?
Homes across East London, from Canary Wharf, the Isle of Dogs, Poplar and Limehouse to Stratford, Hackney, Shoreditch and Greenwich. If you are unsure, just ask.
(02)
Credentials
Are you insured?
Yes. Baha Brush holds public and products liability insurance with Markel International, with a limit of £1,000,000 for each claim. The current policy runs from 15 October 2026 to 14 October 2027.
Can I see proof of your insurance?
Yes. We send the insurer's confirmation on request before any work starts. Many Canary Wharf buildings ask for it before a contractor is allowed in, so it is ready to forward to your building management.
Who will actually paint my home?
Bakhodirjon, the owner, does the work himself. On bigger jobs he brings help, and he stays on site and responsible for the finish.
Do I get a fixed price before work starts?
Yes. The free quote visit gives you a clear price for the job before anything begins, so there are no surprises at the end.
Where can I read reviews?
Customers review us on MyJobQuote, where our rating is five stars, and on Checkatrade. You can see finished work on our Instagram, and we are happy to put you in touch with a past customer.
Are you vetted by Checkatrade?
Yes. Baha Brush has been a Checkatrade member since October 2026, after passing up to 12 vetting checks, including identity, address and financial checks. Checkatrade jobs also come with its £1,000 guarantee, terms apply.
(03)
Canary Wharf homes
Do you work in apartment buildings with a concierge and building rules?
Yes. Most Canary Wharf buildings have contractor rules: notice to the concierge, a booked goods lift or loading bay, and set working hours. We work to those rules, and send our insurance confirmation if the building asks for it.
Do I need permission to repaint my flat?
Redecorating inside your own flat rarely needs permission, but your lease and building rules have the final say. It is worth telling your building management a contractor is coming, as most like advance notice.
Can you paint my flat's front door?
Flat entrance doors are usually fire doors, and the outside face often belongs to the building. Check with your management first. When we paint a fire door, the intumescent strips and seals round the edge are never painted over, because that stops them working.
Can I decorate a new build flat straight away?
You can, but new plaster needs to be dry and sealed with a mist coat first. New builds also settle in their first year, so small cracks at corners and ceilings are normal. Many owners repaint at the end of the defects period, once those cracks have been filled.
Do you work for landlords and letting agents?
Yes. We repaint flats between tenancies and for a fresh start before a let, with a fixed price agreed first and the flat left clean for viewings.
Which days do you work?
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 6pm. Quote visits can be in the evening or at the weekend, so you do not have to take time off work.
(04)
Paint, finishes and drying
What finish do most people paint walls with?
Matt emulsion, by a long way. It hides small marks in the wall and looks calm in daylight. Modern durable matts can be wiped clean, so you no longer need silk or eggshell on walls to keep them washable.
Is eggshell too shiny for walls?
For most rooms, yes. Eggshell has a low sheen that shows every dent and roller mark on a wall. It belongs on woodwork, or on walls that take real wear, such as a hallway or a child's room.
Why can't you touch up eggshell paint?
Because the sheen shows the patch. A touch up dries with a slightly different shine to the paint around it, so it reads as a shiny square in side light. Matt emulsion touches up far better, which is one reason it suits walls.
How long does paint take to fully dry?
Water based emulsion is touch dry in about an hour and ready for a second coat in two to four. It takes around two weeks to cure fully and reach its full hardness, so treat new paint gently for the first fortnight.
Can I sleep in a room while paint is drying?
With modern water based paint and the window open, many people do. If you can, sleep elsewhere for the first night, keep the room ventilated, and keep babies and anyone with asthma out until the smell has gone.
Do you need a mist coat on new plaster?
Yes. New plaster is very thirsty, and a full strength coat dries on the surface and peels. A mist coat is emulsion thinned with water so it soaks in and seals the plaster. Plaster needs to be fully dry first, which takes days to weeks depending on the room.
(05)
Ceilings, damp and mould
Is Artex the same as asbestos?
No, Artex is a textured coating, but coatings applied before 2000 may contain asbestos, which was banned in the UK in 1999. It is only a risk when disturbed, so never sand, scrape or drill an older textured ceiling before it has been tested.
Can you paint over an Artex ceiling?
Yes. Painting does not disturb the coating, so it is the safe way to freshen one up. A good roller and a paint suited to textured ceilings gives an even finish across the pattern.
Does painting over mould stop it?
No. Paint hides mould for a few weeks and then it comes back through. The mould has to be killed with a fungicidal wash and left to dry, and the cause fixed, usually poor ventilation, before an anti mould paint goes on.
What is the best way to remove mould from a bathroom ceiling?
Use a mould remover made for the job and follow its contact time, then rinse and let the ceiling dry fully. Bleach whitens mould on the surface but does not reach the roots in porous plaster, which is why it often returns.
Should I paint my ceiling flat or satin?
Flat or matt, almost always. Sheen on a ceiling catches the light from the window and shows every lap and roller mark. The exception is a steamy bathroom, where a kitchen and bathroom paint copes better with moisture.
How do you avoid roller marks on a ceiling?
Keep a wet edge. Work in strips away from the window, overlap into paint that is still wet, and do not go back over areas that have started to dry. Cutting in a strip at a time, rather than the whole room first, helps too.
(06)
Woodwork, radiators and kitchen cupboards
Should skirting boards be gloss or satin?
Satin is the modern choice. It is tough and wipeable like gloss, but with a softer sheen that shows fewer marks. Gloss still suits period homes where a traditional shine is part of the look.
Do I need to sand skirting boards before painting?
Yes, a light sand. It gives the new paint something to grip and knocks back old drips and dust. Fill dents first, sand smooth, wipe the dust away, then paint.
Can I just paint over painted skirting boards?
Usually, if the old paint is sound. Clean off grease, sand lightly, and use a primer first if you are going from oil based gloss to a water based paint, or the new coat may peel.
What type of paint do I use on a radiator?
A paint made for radiators, or a heat resistant enamel. Ordinary emulsion cracks and yellows with the heat. Always paint a radiator cold, with the heating off.
How soon can I put the heating on after painting a radiator?
Leave it at least 24 hours, or longer if the tin says so. Heating the paint before it has hardened can make it blister, wrinkle or smell.
Is painting kitchen cupboards a good idea?
It can transform a kitchen for a fraction of the cost of new units, as long as the doors are sound. Preparation is everything: degrease, sand, prime with a bonding primer, then use a hard wearing furniture paint.
(Ready when you are)
Painting Homes with Care
A free quote visit, with no call out fee. Evenings and weekends too.
“All done to a very high standard.” Matt, reviewed on MyJobQuote
Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun, 8am to 6pm