Painter & Decorator · Surrey & Sussex · Since 2001
Dean Ongley has painted and papered homes across Surrey and Sussex since 2001. Every job is quoted and carried out by Dean personally - not subcontracted, not rushed.
⭐ 167 five-star reviews on Checkatrade · TrustATrader Verified · over 25 years experience
Independently verified & trusted by homeowners across Surrey & Sussex
Specialist decorating services for homeowners and developers across Surrey and Sussex
From period properties to new builds. Smooth walls, crisp woodwork, perfect coving - every room finished to a standard you'll notice.
Explore interior painting →
Weatherboard, brick, render, soffits and fascias. Properly prepared and painted to last - protecting your home, not just coating it.
Explore exterior painting →
Factory-smooth finish on kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, doors and joinery. Dean holds a City & Guilds qualification specifically in spray application.
Explore spray painting →
Pattern matching, feature walls, full rooms, delicate papers. Hung to hang straight, meet clean, and last years without lifting at the seams.
Explore wallpapering →
About Dean
Dean has been decorating professionally since 2001. He holds City & Guilds qualifications in both painting and decorating and specialist spray application - qualifications that the vast majority of decorators in Surrey simply don't have.
When you book Dean, Dean turns up. There are no gangs of labourers, no apprentices left unsupervised, no subcontracting to whoever's available. Every quote, every job, every finish is Dean's personal responsibility.
He works across the full Surrey and Sussex area including Horley, Crawley, Reigate, Redhill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, and has completed projects ranging from one-bedroom flats to 7-bedroom oak frame barn conversions.
167 verified reviews on Checkatrade · 17 reviews on TrustATrader
"Dean painted our entire house interior - ceilings, walls, all woodwork. The finish is exceptional, better than we hoped. He's tidy, professional and reliable. Would recommend to anyone."
"The spray finish on our kitchen cabinets is absolutely flawless - like a brand new kitchen at a fraction of the cost. Dean explained the whole process and the result speaks for itself."
"Brilliant wallpaper hanging - a tricky large pattern match that other decorators had refused. Dean got it perfect first time. Very neat, no gaps, no bubbles."
Simple, straightforward, no surprises
Dean visits, sees the job properly, and gives you a clear written quote - no guesswork, no add-ons later.
You pick the start date, Dean confirms. He'll discuss preparation requirements and paint or paper choices.
Dean arrives as agreed, protects your home, does the job properly, and keeps you informed throughout.
Dean doesn't leave until you're happy. The result is a finish you're proud to show off - and that lasts.
Do you work alone, or do you bring a team?
Dean works alone on all jobs. You deal with one person from quote to completion. There are no subcontractors, no agency workers, no apprentices left unsupervised - just Dean, whose name and reputation are on every job.
Are you insured?
Yes. Dean carries full public liability insurance, verified through TrustATrader. This protects your home and contents throughout the work.
What areas do you cover?
Dean works throughout Surrey and Sussex, including Horley, Crawley, Reigate, Redhill, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and surrounding villages. If you're unsure whether your location is covered, just get in touch.
Can you match existing paint colours?
Yes. Dean can work from a paint code, a pot reference, or take a sample to a paint supplier for colour matching. Most major brands including Crown, Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Dulux and Johnstone's are used.
What's the difference between brush painting and spray painting?
Brush and roller painting suits walls, ceilings and most surfaces. Spray painting produces an ultra-smooth, factory-quality finish ideal for kitchen cabinets, fitted wardrobes, doors and joinery. Dean holds a City & Guilds qualification in spray application.
How long does a typical decorating job take?
It depends on scope. A single room typically takes one to two days. A full house interior is usually one to two weeks. Dean will give you a realistic timeline at the quote stage so you can plan around it.
Do you provide a written quote?
Yes, always. Every quote is free, carried out in person after a visit to see the job, and provided in writing. Dean doesn't quote over the phone — seeing the surfaces, understanding the scope, and checking for any prep work needed is the only way to give you an accurate price with no surprises.
How far in advance do you book?
Dean typically books three to six weeks in advance, though this varies by season. Summer and the run-up to Christmas tend to fill fastest. If you have a specific date in mind — around a house move or a renovation handover — it's worth getting in touch sooner rather than later to secure the slot.
Serving homeowners and developers throughout Surrey & West Sussex
RH10, RH11
RH2
RH6
RH19
RH1
RH16
RH12, RH13
RH13
Doing it yourself? Here's what the professionals know.
Use an angled brush to cut in around edges, cornices and skirting before rolling the main wall. Do it while the paint is still wet so the join blends in rather than leaving a visible line.
Fill holes, sand back any flaking paint, wipe walls down with sugar soap and let them dry fully. Paint applied over grease or dust will fail within months — often within weeks.
Most emulsions need at least 10°C to cure properly. Paint applied in cold conditions stays tacky, picks up dust and won't reach full hardness. Heat the room for at least an hour before you start.
A thick coat sags, drips and takes far longer to dry. Two thin coats dry faster, cover more evenly and give a harder, more durable finish. Wait until the first coat is properly touch-dry before applying the second.
Plastic tray liners cost almost nothing and mean cleaning up takes seconds. They also stop paint skinning over in the tray during a long job — just fold the liner over the tray when you take a break.
Gloss and satin raise the grain slightly as they dry. A light sand with 240-grit between coats knocks back any nibs and gives each subsequent coat something to key into. Wipe off the dust before recoating.
Good ventilation speeds drying and removes fumes. But a draught blowing directly onto wet paint can cause it to dry unevenly or pick up dust. Keep air moving gently — a slightly open window is better than a wide-open one.
On a feature wall, find the midpoint and hang your first drop there. Work outward in both directions so the pattern stays balanced. Starting from a corner almost always results in a misaligned pattern by the time you reach the other side.
Shine a torch at a low angle across freshly painted walls while the paint is still wet. Missed patches (known as "holidays") show up clearly. Far easier to catch them now than when everything has dried.
Fresh plaster is highly absorbent. Apply a mist coat first — one part emulsion to four parts water — and let it dry fully. Skipping this step causes your finish coat to dry patchy and porous, no matter how many coats you apply on top.
Paint a large A4-sized patch directly on the wall and live with it for 24 hours. Colours look completely different under artificial light than in the shop. What looks perfect on a tester card can look completely wrong on a north-facing wall at 7pm.
If you're using multiple tins of the same colour, pour them all into a large bucket and mix together before you start. Even same-brand, same-colour tins from the same shop can vary slightly between batches — a difference you won't see until it's on the wall.
Pull masking tape off at a 45-degree angle while the paint is still slightly wet. If you leave it until the paint has fully dried, it bonds to the surface and tears the edge when removed — leaving a ragged line that needs touching in.
Paint ceilings first, then walls, then woodwork, then skirting. Any splashes or drips from upper surfaces fall onto areas you haven't painted yet. Working bottom to top means constantly touching in drips on surfaces you've already finished.
If you're taking a break between coats, wrap brushes and rollers tightly in cling film rather than cleaning them. They'll stay workable for several hours and you won't waste time and water on unnecessary cleaning mid-job.
