Finishing work

Finishing work in a flat or house: how to order it honestly

Updated 20 October 2026

Where preparation ends and finishing begins

Finishing means the final layers: levelling and puttying walls and ceilings, priming, painting, wallpaper, textured plaster, finishing the window reveals. The quality of the finish depends almost entirely on the preparation of the base, so the first thing a tradesman judges is the state of your walls.

Uneven surfaces, cracks, old peeling paint, damp stains: all of these add to the work. So add photos that show the wall to your request and describe its state honestly: the offers will be more accurate.

What to put in your request

• Types of work — putty, painting, wallpaper, textured plaster, reveals.
• Area — walls, ceiling and reveals separately.
• State of the surfaces — even, uneven, old paint, stains, cracks.
• Level of finish — ready for painting, ready for wallpaper, rough or final.
• Materials — yours or the contractor's, the colour or brand needed.
• Site — number of rooms, ceiling height, furniture inside.
• Address, timing, budget.

Example: “Gqeberha, a two-bedroom flat. I need the walls puttied and painted, about 650 sq ft, uneven surfaces with old paint. Materials by the contractor, colour matt white. To be finished by the end of the month, budget up to R 4,900.”

How to compare offers

Don't look only at the price per square foot. Painting a wall “in two coats” and “with preparation” are different jobs. Check what is included:

• how many coats of putty and paint, and whether there is priming in between;
• whether the surface is scraped and sanded, or just covered;
• whether corners, reveals and the joints with the floor and ceiling are levelled;
• who protects the floor and furniture, and whether cleaning is included;
• the brand of the material: the look and durability depend on it.

Think about the sequence as well: first the ceiling, then the walls, with the floor and skirting last. The difference between neat and hurried work shows in the corners, reveals and joints, so ask the tradesman for photos of similar jobs.

How the search works on BlaBlaPrice

You describe the task once on the home page, and tradesmen and crews in your city reply with offers in chat. Each can see where his offer stands and can improve the price or terms. Reviews are shown next to the offers, and nobody sees your number until you choose a provider. More details are on the page How it works.

Common mistakes

Most often people save on preparation: they paint an uneven wall, and in side light every flaw shows. The second mistake is choosing a colour and material without seeing a sample on the wall. The third is starting the finishing before the electrics and plumbing are done: then finished surfaces have to be repaired.

If you are planning more than finishing, look at turnkey renovation. For preparing the walls you may need construction work, and for wiring electricians.