The Decorators Den Podcast

This week, Jake and the crew dive into another packed episode of painting, decorating and everything that comes with the trade.

We take a trip back to the beginning as Jake reveals the story behind his very first business name: The Glossers. We then get into the bizarre tale of the psycho painter who left a customer so intimidated that the police had to be called. 😳

We also put Monarch brushes and the Tritec sprayer under the spotlight, talking tools, techniques and whether they really live up to the hype.

And finally, it gets a little more personal as Jake opens up about his footballer son, his progress so far and what the future could hold for him.

Another episode packed with trade stories, tools, laughs and a few moments you probably couldn't make up if you tried. 🎨⚽

This week on The Decorators’ Den, Baz and Sean catch up on the jobs they've been working on, get stuck into some honest product opinions, and discuss the everyday realities of life as a painter and decorator! 🎨

From paint that seemingly needs endless coats to products that promise the world, we're asking the questions every decorator wants answers to!

🔥 WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK:

🎨 McPherson Opacity – Has It Gone Downhill? Five coats to get the coverage?! We discuss our experience and ask whether the opacity is as good as it used to be.

👕 Overalls vs Whites What's your preference on the job? We get into workwear and what decorators should be wearing on site.

💨 Extra-Long Airless Sprayer Hoses – Are They Worth It? Thinking about using longer hoses for external spraying work? We discuss whether the extra reach is worth having and what it means when you're out on the job.

🏘️ The New-Build Estate Effect Ever worked on a new-build estate where, once you've done one house, suddenly everyone wants you? We discuss how competition between homeowners can lead to more work for decorators.

🧱 Caparol Tiefgrund Review We share our thoughts on this product and discuss where it fits into a decorator's arsenal.

🪣 HB42 Water-Based Primer Review & Scratch Test It's time to put it to the test! We discuss HB42 and see how it holds up when we scratch the surface.

🚐 Baz's New Van Signage Disaster! The new van has had its signage done, but there's just one problem… they've got the colour wrong! 😂

🛒 Gimmicky Decorating Products – Genius or Gimmick? The decorating industry is full of products claiming to make our lives easier. But which ones are genuinely useful, and which ones are just a waste of money?

As always, it's honest opinions, real-world experiences, a bit of banter and plenty of decorating trade talk!

👇 GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMENTS!

• Have you noticed a difference in McPherson Opacity?
• Have you tried Caparol Tiefgrund or HB42 primer?
• Do you prefer overalls or whites?
• What's the biggest gimmick you've ever bought for your decorating business?

Let us know below! We want to hear from decorators out there doing the job every day.

👍 LIKE the video if you enjoy honest decorating trade chat. 💬 COMMENT with your experiences and opinions. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to The Decorators’ Den for more decorating conversations, product reviews and trade banter every week!

#TheDecoratorsDen #PaintingAndDecorating #ProfessionalDecorator #DecoratorLife #PaintReviews

This week on The Decorators’ Den, we’re back with another proper mix of painting and decorating chat, opinions, laughs and a few controversial theories! 😂

We’re talking about our upcoming road trip and where we should head, before getting stuck into STAALMESTER brushes and putting brushes head-to-head in a little brush versus showdown. 🖌️

We also get into Superdec paint — including whether it really is as good as people say… and what happens when it potentially fails! 👀

Then Baz gets put to the test with a decorating history knowledge quiz. How much does he actually know about the trade? 🤔😂

And finally, Baz has come up with his own theory about MSP… and we're not sure whether he's onto something or completely lost the plot!

Another episode packed with proper decorator chat, products, opinions, trade stories and plenty of laughs.

If you're a painter and decorator, apprentice, DIYer or just interested in the decorating trade, you're in the right place.

👇 GET INVOLVED What should we cover on the next episode? Where should we take the road trip? And what do YOU think about STAALMESTALER brushes and Superdec?

👍 Like the video 💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments 🔔 Subscribe to The Decorators’ Den for more painting & decorating chat

#DecoratorsDen #PaintingAndDecorating #PaintersAndDecorators

In this episode of The Decorators’ Den, we’re joined by Nathan from NR Decorators.

Nathan takes us through his journey in the decorating trade, from where it all started to where he is today, sharing the experiences, lessons and challenges along the way.

We also dive into the history of decorating, looking at how the trade has changed over the years, the materials and techniques that have shaped it, and whether some of the old-school ways still have a place in modern decorating.

We also have an honest conversation about mental health in the decorating and wider trades, the pressures that come with working for yourself, and the importance of being able to talk about things when they aren't going right.

As always, expect plenty of trade chat, stories, laughs and a few opinions along the way.

🎙️ The Decorators’ Den 🎨 Decorating • Trade Life • Mental Health • History • Business

In this episode of The Decorators’ Den, we’re joined by Rob and his daughter, who is learning the trade as an apprentice, for a chat about what it’s really like starting out as a painter and decorator in 2026.

We talk about the reality of being a young apprentice, learning the trade, the challenges of working alongside your dad, and whether having a family member as your boss makes things easier or harder! 🎨

But it’s not all about decorating. We also get into her potential future singing career, the pressure and opportunities that come with finding your own path, and the ever-growing impact of AI on work, creativity and everyday life.

Expect plenty of trade chat, family stories, laughs, honest opinions and a few unexpected conversations along the way.

🎨 In this episode: • What it’s like being an apprentice in 2026 • Learning the painting and decorating trade • Working with your dad • The highs and lows of being a young decorator • Balancing work with future ambitions • A possible singing career 🎤 • How AI is changing the world of work • The future of painting and decorating • Plenty of laughs and honest conversations

This is The Decorators’ Den, where we talk decorating, tools, business, life, technology and everything in between.

🎙️ Subscribe to The Decorators’ Den and join us every week for another episode.

#TheDecoratorsDen #PaintingAndDecorating #Apprentice #Decorator #AI

🎉 THE DECORATORS’ DEN IS 1 YEAR OLD! 🎉

12 months. 48 episodes. Hundreds of conversations, plenty of laughs, some questionable decisions… and somehow we’re still here! 😂

In this special 1 Year Anniversary episode of The Decorators’ Den, Baz and Sean look back at some of the best, funniest and most memorable moments from the last 12 months of the podcast.

We’re watching clips from previous episodes, talking about how the podcast has changed, what we’ve learned along the way and some of the moments we completely forgot about!

We also get stuck into some of the biggest topics around the trade right now, including:

🤖 AI and how it could change decorating and the trades

📼 Toad Tapes and what they’ve been up to

🎬 Our favourite clips from the last year

😂 The funniest moments from the podcast

🎨 Decorating, tools, products and trade life

📈 What’s happened with The Decorators’ Den over the last 12 months

🔮 What’s next for the podcast

From the very first episode to where we are now, this is a proper look back at 12 months of The Decorators’ Den.

If you’ve watched, listened, commented, shared an episode or supported us at any point over the last year, thank you. ❤️

And if you’re new here, this is probably the perfect episode to see what The Decorators’ Den is all about.

🎙️ The Decorators’ Den

The podcast for decorators, tradespeople and anyone interested in the real world of working in the trade.

📅 New episodes every Monday

⏰ 7PM

👉 Subscribe and join us for the next 12 months!

#DecoratorsDen #DecoratingPodcast #PaintingAndDecorating #Decorator #TradesPodcast

Could The Decorators’ Den be heading across the Irish Sea? 🇮🇪🚐

This week Baz and Sean are joined by Gerry from Paintworks NI for a proper decorators’ chat covering everything from the possibility of a Paint It Forward road trip to Ireland, to the realities of pricing decorating work, professional spraying and, naturally, beers 🍻.

We get into how Gerry approaches spraying, pricing jobs in Northern Ireland, the differences between the UK and Irish decorating scene, and whether Baz and Sean really have the bottle to take The Den on the road.

Plus, plenty of laughs, trade talk and the usual unfiltered Decorators’ Den banter.

🎨 In this episode:

🇮🇪 Could Paint It Forward be coming to Ireland?

🚐 Planning a Decorators’ Den road trip

💷 Pricing decorating work

🎨 Spraying and spray equipment

🇬🇧🇮🇪 Differences in the decorating trade

🍻 Beers with Gerry

😂 Plenty of trade banter

Guest: Gerry | Paintworks NI

Sponsored by: Toad Tapes

#TheDecoratorsDen #PaintingAndDecorating #PaintItForward #PaintworksNI #Decorators #PaintingPodcast #Spraying #PaintingBusiness #DecoratorLife #Ireland

🎙️ THE DECORATORS DEN | JOHNNY FROM CROWN DECORATING CENTRE, SWORDS 🇮🇪

This week in The Decorators Den, we’re joined by Johnny from Crown Decorating Centre in Swords, Ireland 🇮🇪

We get stuck into a proper mix of decorating, products, trade chat and a few beers along the way 🍻

We talk about:

🎨 Crown Clean Extreme and the wider Clean Extreme family ⚡ Fast Flow paint systems 🔬 What actually happens when a Crown product causes a problem, including how products can be taken back to the lab to investigate and improve them 📅 The history of Crown Paints, dating all the way back to 1777 📱 The Irish Paint Fam WhatsApp group, where decorators help each other out, share advice and solve problems 💷 Late invoice payments and the headaches they cause decorators 🍺 And, naturally, a bit of beer chat!

A proper decorators’ conversation with plenty of product talk, trade stories and a look at how decorators on both sides of the Irish Sea are helping each other out.

The Decorators Den 🎙️ | Real decorators. Real stories. No bull.

This week on The Decorators Den, Baz & Sean get stuck into some of the biggest frustrations facing painters and decorators today.

We’re talking nightmare customers, customers crossing the line, van and tool theft, and the situations that can turn an ordinary decorating job into a complete nightmare.

From unrealistic expectations and difficult customers to the growing problem of decorators losing expensive tools and equipment, we share stories, opinions and plenty of trade banter along the way.

It’s an honest conversation about the good, the bad and the downright frustrating side of life as a painter and decorator.

🎙️ This week on The Decorators Den: • Nightmare customers • When customers cross the line • Van & tool theft • Dealing with difficult situations on site • Real stories from the decorating trade • Plenty of opinions, laughs and trade banter

If you’re a painter, decorator, tradesperson or simply interested in what really goes on behind the scenes of the trade, this one’s for you.

Listen, watch and let us know — what’s the worst thing a customer has ever done to you?

🎙️ This week on The Decorators' Den Podcast!

Baz & Sean are back with another proper chat about life as painters and decorators — and this week the conversation goes from masking tape and floor protection to a much bigger question...

Do decorators actually follow the rules?

The lads get stuck into a debate around stabilising solution, including a method Baz uses to make it easier to see exactly where he's applied it. But is it a clever real-world decorating trick, or should you always stick rigidly to the manufacturer's instructions?

That leads to a bigger discussion about data sheets, manufacturer recommendations and years of experience on the job — and whether what works in the real world always matches what's written on the tin.

There's also plenty of talk about masking tape, including Toad Tapes, Q1 and other decorating tapes, putting tapes to the test in difficult weather, and why the right tape can make such a difference on site.

The lads also debate floor protection vs traditional dust sheets, whether expensive protection is really needed on every job, and whether some decorators are using fancy products because they're genuinely useful... or because they look good on social media.

Plus plenty of the usual decorating stories, trade opinions, site chat and Baz & Sean banter along the way.

👇 We want to know what you think:

Do you always follow the manufacturer's instructions and data sheets?

Or do you trust your own experience and what you've learned on site?

And would you try Seans's stabilising solution method?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇

🎧 The Decorators' Den Podcast Your regular dose of painting, decorating, trade talk, opinions and plenty of banter from the world of professional decorating.