Painting, Decorating and POP Ceilings Level 2

About this module

Level 1 taught you to make one room look good. Level 2 teaches you to make a house last, finish a ceiling, and run the job like a professional.

Who it is for. People who have finished Painting, Decorating and POP Ceilings (Level 1), or who can show the same skills. National Proficiency II covers varied work, mostly routine, under limited supervision.

CTVET status. No CTVET painting-and-decorating competency programme was found in Ghana. CTVET lists Fine Art painting, which is a different subject. NVTI runs trade tests in "interior decoration" inside a domestic module. This module is not a CTVET curriculum. It follows CTVET's format so it can be put forward later. Phone CTVET and NVTI to ask whether a painting standard exists.

Read the tin first. Almost every figure in this book (coverage, thinning, drying time, temperature) comes from foreign product data sheets, because no Ghana data sheet was found. They show what a data sheet looks like. The data sheet or the tin you are holding always wins. Ask the dealer for the data sheet. Items marked (general practice) are normal trade practice that this book could not match to a listed source; confirm them with your trainer or a Takoradi dealer.

Bridge from Level 1: what you already know

Safety at height; ladder basics; PPE for painters
Types of paint and how to read the tin
Surface preparation: clean, fill, sand, prime
Brush and roller work; cutting in; keeping a wet edge
Mixing and tinting colours; estimating litres for one room
Faults and fixes: peeling, blistering, efflorescence, mould
Starting a small painting business; before-and-after photos

Level 1 stayed mostly indoors and mostly with emulsion. Level 2 goes outside, overhead and onto other materials: exterior masonry, wood, metal, waterproof coatings, POP and gypsum ceilings, spray, texture and wallpaper. It also teaches you to price a whole job and to lead a helper.

How the module works

Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent. About 70% of the time is hands-on practice.

Every unit ends with homework and a Check yourself of three questions. At the end of the book is a 12-question quiz.

Unit 1 · Exterior and specialist finishes in the humid coastal climate

The coast tests paint every day: sun on top, salt in the air, damp from below, rain from the side. A good exterior job is mostly preparation and weather.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
1.1 Choose a safe weather window	decides whether to paint today using the tin, the sky and the wall
1.2 Prepare and coat exterior masonry	washes, treats, repairs, primes and applies a masonry system with enough coats
1.3 Coat wood and metal	follows the wood and the metal preparation sequences and coats in the right order
1.4 Apply waterproof coatings	prepares and coats a small area safely and states when to call a specialist
1.5 Work safely	uses the right respirator, handles old paint and rags and disposes of waste

Range. Exterior block or sandcrete walls; a timber door or fascia board; a metal gate or window grille; a small bitumen-coated area. Evidence. Observation on a real or test wall; test boards; coating schedule; logbook.

Why the coast is hard on paint

Your wall has four enemies. Heat: strong sun on fresh paint can make it blister. Damp: moisture in or behind the wall makes paint blister and peel. Salt: white powdery salts push out of masonry and are called efflorescence. Mould and algae: they grow where the wall stays damp and shady. Akwidaa and Takoradi are hot and often very humid, so preparation and timing matter more than the brand on the tin.

Read the tin: the checklist

Before you open any tin, find these on the label or ask the dealer for the data sheet. Write them in your logbook.

Surface: is it for exterior masonry, wood or metal?
Primer or sealer: does it need one first, and which?
Thinning: is any water or thinner allowed, and how much at most?
Temperature and humidity limits for painting
Touch-dry time and recoat time
Coverage per litre per coat
How long new plaster must cure before painting
Number of coats
Cleaning brushes and tools (water or thinners)

To show how different one maker can be from another, here are figures from four foreign data sheets. They are examples, not Ghana numbers.

Data sheet (country)	Coverage	Recoat	Notes
Tetralux emulsion (Greece)	12 m² per litre per coat	2 to 3 hours	Apply between 10 °C and 35 °C
Gold Star contractor emulsion (Tanzania)	12 to 14 m² per litre	4 hours	Depends on how porous the wall is
Sandtex Trade High Cover Smooth (UK)	up to 16 m² per litre	3 to 5 hours at 20 °C and 65% humidity	Do not apply if rain is likely or humidity is above 80%
Nippon Economy Exterior (Singapore)	not captured	not captured	Wall moisture must be under 4%, measured with a meter

The Sandtex humidity limit of 80% is a problem on our coast, where the air is often wetter than that. That is why you read your tin, then choose the driest part of the day, and never paint just before rain.

Choosing the weather window

Use this simple test every morning.

Look at the sky. Do not start if rain is likely.
Check the wall. Touch it. It must be dry, not cool and damp. If you own a moisture meter, use it and compare with the tin.
Check the sun. Avoid painting a wall while the sun is beating on it, because heat can blister fresh paint. Work on the shaded side and follow the shade around the house (general practice).
Start after the morning dew has dried and stop early enough that paint can touch-dry before evening damp (general practice).
Write the weather in your logbook: date, time, sun, wet or dry wall.

Humidity and your tin. A UK data sheet says "no paint above 80% humidity". On the Western Region coast, that could mean never painting. No Ghana limit was found. Do what the tin says, avoid obvious dampness and rain, and keep a note of conditions. If a customer complains, your record shows you chose the weather with care.

Preparing an exterior masonry wall

Follow these steps in order. Do not skip step 1.

Exterior masonry preparation

Is the wall ready? Two Indian data sheets say new plaster should cure at least 3 months before painting, and Nippon asks for under 4% moisture on a meter. Ghana's cure time is not verified, so use the tin and a dry wall as your rule.
Look for the water source. If the wall is damp, find the leak, rising damp or cracked gutter and stop it first. Paint over damp will blister and peel.
Brush off salts. For white powder (efflorescence), brush with a stiff brush and wipe with a dry cloth, then coat with an alkali-resisting primer. The wall must be completely dry before repainting, which can take weeks.
Treat mould and algae. Scrub in a fungicidal wash with a nylon brush, scrape off dead growth, then rinse before painting. Nippon asks you to leave the anti-fungus solution at least 2 hours. One Indian sheet uses bleach (2 kg in 50 litres of water) left 24 hours, then rinsed. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Never mix bleach with other cleaners (general practice).
Scrape and sand flaking paint back to a firm edge. Remove loose paint, dust, dirt and grease.
Repair cracks. Cut the crack open, remove all dust and debris, fill with a suitable filler, then sand flush. Cracks from plaster drying or building movement are common.
Prime bare or chalky areas. A chalky surface needs a bonding liquid. Prime as the label of the paint says.
Coat in order. Prime, then first coat of masonry paint, then second coat. Where the tin allows thinning, never exceed its limit. Over-thinning reduces film thickness.
Give flat ledges extra coats. Sunshades, parapets and window tops need three or more exterior coats because water sits on them.
Record coats, product, batch number and weather in your logbook.

Do not add fungicide to the paint or primer unless the tin says so. A forum post warned it can void the warranty. Use the wash as a separate step.

Old paint may contain lead

Ghana's limit for lead in paint is 90 ppm under standard GS 180 for solvent-based paint, compulsory since February 2023. The EPA says the standard exists but there is no law to enforce it, and a draft regulation was expected in Parliament before the end of 2026. A 2023 study found 6 of 59 home paints (10%) above the limit. Buy from reputable dealers, and treat old paint on any older house as possibly leaded. There is no known safe level of lead exposure, and children are most at risk.

Safe habits when working on old paint:

Never dry-sand, burn or water-blast old paint; mist the surface and wet-sand.
Cover the ground with plastic; keep children and pets away.
Do not dry-sweep; bag the waste.
Wash hands before eating; do not take dusty work clothes home.

Wood: the coating sequence

Doors, fascia boards and window frames are common jobs.

Painting an exterior wooden door or board

Sand with 120-grit paper along the grain.
Wipe off dust with white spirit. Do not use white spirit on water-based paint.
Degrease knots with methylated spirits and give them two coats of knotting solution.
Fill holes and sand again.
Apply primer and then an undercoat, or one combined primer-undercoat if the tin allows (the guide mentions one that is ready in 4 hours; read your tin).
Apply gloss from the top downward and sand lightly between coats.
Outdoors, a tradesperson recommends two coats of gloss.
Do not thin pigmented gloss using a varnish thinning schedule. Thin only a little and follow the maker.
Paint the edges and bottom of a door too, where water enters (general practice).

Resin bleeding and flaking of dark colours on sun-facing surfaces are known causes of failure, so avoid very dark colours on sun-facing wood and ask the dealer for advice.

Metal: the coating sequence

Gates, grilles and roof sheets rust fast near the sea. Salt-air specific product advice is not verified, so ask the dealer.

Painting a metal gate

Brush off flaking and powdery rust with a wire brush or wire wheel. Wear eye protection and a dust mask.
Degrease the metal.
Optional: use a rust converter in thin coats. It turns rust to a black coating, but it does not work on aluminium, copper, stainless steel or galvanised metal.
Apply a metal primer as the label says. Ask the dealer for a rust-inhibiting primer; the names of the best types were not verified here.
Apply gloss in thin coats after the primer has cured.
Touch up any scratch quickly, because the sea air will find it (general practice).

Waterproof coatings

Some roofs, parapets and walls need a waterproof coat. A bitumen-based waterproofing product is sold in Ghana: Jiji sellers list a Berger Bitushield bitumen coating (15 kg) at GH¢760 to GH¢780, and bitumen waterproofing in 20 L tins at GH¢750 to GH¢900 (asking prices, 9 October 2026, mostly Greater Accra). One Jiji listing offers a "wet wall treatment" at GH¢300 per piece, with the unit unclear. Prices for other brands were not found.

For a small area such as a short parapet or a bathroom wall:

Applying a waterproof coating (small area)

Find the leak first. A coating over a leak only moves the damp.
Let the surface dry, brush off dust and loose bits, and remove old flaking paint (general practice; read the tin).
Fill cracks and holes.
Apply the coats exactly as the tin says: the number of coats, the time between coats, and whether a primer is needed (general practice: the tin wins).
Bitumen products are solvent-heavy: work in open air, keep flames and sparks away, and dispose of rags safely (see below).
Large roofs, flat roofs and tanks are specialist jobs: tell the owner a trained contractor should do them.

Solvents, rags and waste

Solvent-soaked rags are a fire hazard. Spread them flat outdoors to dry, or keep them in a sealed metal can with water.
Leftover water-based paint can be dried with sawdust or similar in a ventilated place for 3 to 7 days before it goes into the rubbish. Never pour paint into a drain or onto soil.
Solvent-based paint and thinners are hazardous waste and need collection (foreign guidance).
Ghana's Environmental Protection Act 2025 (Act 1124) replaced Acts 490 and 917, and the Environmental Protection Authority now regulates hazardous waste. Whether household or trade paint waste is listed, and what permit applies, was not found. Ask the Western Regional EPA office. Do not burn paint tins.
For paints with isocyanates (some polyurethane and single-pack moisture-curing paints), read the label and safety data sheet. Spraying them is higher risk than brushing.

Respirators. A thin dust-mask with a carbon layer only takes the edge off odours; it does not protect against solvent vapour. For solvent paint, a reusable half-mask with A1P2 cartridges is the foreign guidance (A = organic vapour, P2 = dust). Change cartridges when you smell or taste solvent or breathing gets hard, and check the fit; a beard breaks the seal.

Should we paint today?

Decide for each: (1) Wall damp to the touch after two days of rain. (2) Dry wall, clear morning, 9 am, the sun has not reached it yet. (3) Dark clouds building at 2 pm, wall dry. (4) White powder on the plaster. (5) A flat parapet top: how many coats?

Look at a wall

Photograph three exterior walls near your home. For each, write the fault (peeling, mould, white powder, cracks), the likely cause, and the first thing you would do. Bring the photos.

Check yourself: Unit 1

Name two things to check on the tin before painting outside.
What do you do first when you find white powder on an exterior wall?
Why must you never dry-sand old paint?

Unit 2 · POP and gypsum ceilings

A ceiling is the first thing a customer notices and the last thing they forgive. It is also the work that falls on your head if you do it badly.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
2.1 Mix POP correctly	mixes small batches to a creamy mix, uses retarder sparingly and cleans tools
2.2 Fix a gypsum board ceiling	sets a level line, hangs the frame, fixes the boards with staggered joints
2.3 Fix a cornice	measures, cuts, bonds and finishes a cornice joint
2.4 Finish and paint	tapes, fills and sands joints, primes and paints without visible joints
2.5 Work safely overhead	uses a stable platform, dust protection, team lifting and leaves wiring to a licensed electrician

Range. A small room ceiling (about 12 m²) in gypsum board on a light frame; a short POP cornice; patching a POP ceiling. Evidence. Observation; a finished test ceiling or a half-size frame; logbook; photos.

What you are working with

POP (plaster of Paris) is calcium sulfate hemihydrate. When water is added it hardens to the dihydrate.
Gypsum board (also called plasterboard or drywall) is a board of gypsum between two layers of paper. It is screwed to a frame, and the joints are taped and filled.
Board sizes sold in Ghana and the names of local dealers (Gyproc and others) in Takoradi were not verified. Ask a dealer for the sizes and prices of boards, channels, screws and cornice, and note them in your logbook.
A Jiji plasterboard-ceiling advert in Greater Accra showed GH¢85 "per piece" while its text said "per m²", so the unit is unclear. There is no reliable installed price per m². Do not copy one number. Build your own price (Unit 4).

Tools and materials

Level instrument or water level; chalk line; plumb line; tape; pencil
Wall angle (edge trim), carrying and furring channels, hanger wires or rods, clips and screws (frame system as sold by your dealer)
Plasterboard; board knife; saw; drill-driver with screw bit
Joint tape; joint compound; filler knives (6 in, 8 in and 10 in)
Bucket (a clean one for POP); mixing paddle or stick; clean water
Cornice and cornice bonding compound or POP
Sanding block, 120-grit paper; primer; roller; brush
P2 dust mask; goggles; gloves; hat; sturdy platform or trestle

Mixing POP

POP sets fast, so mix small batches you can use before it hardens. Fresh POP with no additive sets in about 30 minutes. The bag instructions always win; the ratio below is only a practice figure.

Mix a batch of POP

Wear a dust mask and gloves at all times when mixing POP.
Use a clean bucket and clean water. Old set material makes new mix set faster.
Pour the water in first. Sprinkle the powder in by hand and let it sink.
Stir slowly until smooth and creamy. Stirring too hard puts in air bubbles.
For practice use about 2 parts POP to 1 part water by volume. A thin mix of 1:1 is weak and porous and is not for ceilings. The ceiling-grade ratio on the bag was not verified.
Use it within the working time. If it thickens, do not add water; throw it away.
To get more working time, a retarder can be used sparingly: vinegar (about half a teaspoon per cup of mix, from a forum post) or borax. Warm water of 40 °C shortens working time compared with 20 °C. Test on a scrap before a real job.
Clean tools right away. Do not wash POP slurry down a drain or sink, because it sets and blocks the pipe (general practice). Let it set in a bucket and put the lump in the rubbish.

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Sets too fast	Dirty bucket or old set material; warm water; mix too thick	Clean bucket and tools; cooler water; try a little retarder
Never gets hard	Too much retarder or too much water	Start again with less
Weak, powdery, porous	Too much water (a 1:1 mix is weak)	Use less water; follow the bag
Bubbles and pits	Stirred too hard	Stir slowly; tap the bucket

Fixing a gypsum board ceiling

These steps follow foreign specifications and a method sample, because no Ghana specification was found. Ghana practice is not verified. The manufacturer's instructions for your frame and board always win.

Fix a plasterboard ceiling (about 12 m²)

Plan from the roof and the services. Before you board, check that nothing above leaks and that any cables or pipes are in place. A licensed electrician (see below) must install the wiring and light boxes.
Mark the ceiling level. Use the level instrument or water level to mark the same height on every wall and join the marks with a chalk line.
Fix the wall angle along the marked line.
Hang the frame. Put suspension wires at about 600 mm spacing, and fix the carrying and furring channels across each other. Keep the ceiling framing independent of the walls and braced.
Check the frame is level and flat with a long straight edge before any board goes up. A ceiling shows every dip.
Board the ceiling. Ceilings are boarded before walls. Two people lift each board. Use a board lifter or props to hold it while you screw it (general practice).
Screw the boards. An example spacing is 300 mm maximum between screws for a single layer on metal or wood framing, using 25 mm drywall screws, with board joints staggered and edges tight. Closer figures such as 150 mm and 400 mm were not confirmed for ceilings. Set each screw just below the paper without tearing it (general practice).
Leave a movement joint about every 15 m on large ceilings. A small bedroom does not need one.
Cut openings for lights and vents using the electrician's marks. Do not cut into any cable.
Record the board count, the frame spacing and the photos.

Wiring and lights. Wiring a house is done only by a Certified Electrical Wiring Professional (CEWP) under the Energy Commission's licensing rules. You may fix the boards and cut openings; you do not install cables, light fittings or fans. Never screw or cut near cables you cannot see. Switch off at the mains and ask the electrician first.

Jointing: tape, fill, sand

Joints and screw heads are what the customer sees. Each coat must harden and dry before the next, and drying is slower in humid weather.

Finish a joint

Spread a thin layer of compound on the joint with a 6 in knife.
Press the tape into it and embed it with an 8 in knife. Feather the edges beyond the tape.
Let it harden and dry fully.
Apply the final coat with a 10 in knife on joints and a 6 in knife on screw heads.
Sand only when fully dry. Wear a P2 dust mask and goggles.
Do not use setting compound over drying compound. Do not mix compounds, or old with new.
Prime plasterboard with a water-based primer before painting.
Look along the ceiling with a torch held low (a raking light) to find ridges and hollows before you paint.

Cornices

A cornice is the decorative strip where wall meets ceiling. It also hides a small crack at the angle.

Fix a cornice

Measure the wall length, add a little for cutting, and cut a mitre at inside and outside corners. Dry-fit each piece on the floor first (general practice).
Mix the bonding compound as the bag says.
Put a bead along the full length of the cornice back. Press it into the wall-and-ceiling angle until excess squeezes out.
Hold it with a few temporary nails at the top and bottom.
Wipe off the excess. When set, remove the nails.
Fill the joints and nail holes with stopping compound, slightly proud, trim, and finish flush with a steel trowel.
Sand lightly when dry, prime and paint with the ceiling.

Patching and finishing a POP ceiling

Many Takoradi houses already have POP ceilings or decorative POP shapes. For a cracked or stained section:

Patch a POP ceiling

Find the cause. A brown stain means a leak above; fix the roof or pipe first.
Scrape off loose POP and paint; dust off; wet the edges of the hole lightly (general practice).
Fill with a fresh small batch of POP, working quickly, and level with a straight edge.
Let it set, sand with 120 grit, prime and paint.

Safe at height, safe in dust. You will work with your arms above your head, with dust falling in your face. Use a stable platform or trestle, never an unsteady chair or a bucket. Take breaks. Wear goggles every time you sand overhead. Level 1 rules for ladders still apply, and Unit 5 covers more.

Ceiling quantities

A room is 4 m by 3 m. A board is 1.2 m by 2.4 m. (1) How many boards for the ceiling (before waste)? (2) With 10% waste, how many boards? (3) The room needs cornice all round. How long is the cornice run? (4) Cornice comes in 3 m lengths. How many pieces?

Dealer visit

Visit a Takoradi dealer (or phone). Write down: the board size, the price of one board, one length of cornice, a bag of POP, and a bag or tin of joint compound. Note the dealer's name and the date.

Check yourself: Unit 2

When mixing POP, do you add the water to the powder or the powder to the water?
Why do you stagger the board joints?
Who may install the wiring and light fittings in a new ceiling?

Unit 3 · Spray painting, textured finishes and wallpaper basics

Special finishes make a plain room look expensive. They also hide mistakes badly, so practise on a board first.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
3.1 Understand spraying	names the spray hazards, the respirator needed and what not to spray
3.2 Spray a test board	sets up, masks, tests a pattern and cleans the equipment
3.3 Apply a textured finish	prepares a wall and applies a ready-mixed textured finish on a test panel
3.4 Hang wallpaper	prepares a wall, marks a plumb line, pastes and hangs drops with matched pattern

Range. Water-based paint only; a test board; a sample wall panel; a plain or patterned wallpaper roll. Evidence. Observation; test boards; photos; logbook.

Spray painting: what you must know

Spraying is a fast way to cover a large area, but it is also higher risk and more wasteful.

Ghana-specific airless spray practice and machine settings were not found. Treat spraying as an advanced topic. Follow the maker's manual for your machine and practise on scrap.
Spraying makes a fine mist that you breathe in. For spraying, the foreign guidance is a respirator with A2P3 cartridges and eye protection. A paper dust-mask is not enough.
Some paints contain isocyanates (polyurethane and some moisture-curing paints). HSE says air-fed breathing apparatus should be used for spraying them, and that brush or trowel application is lower risk. At this level you do not spray 2-pack or polyurethane paints. You may spray water-based emulsion only, or leave spray work to a trained specialist.
Spraying near people, food, vehicles and open water is a problem because of overspray. Mask everything (general practice).
Never spray near flames, pilot lights or sparks, and never in a closed room without airflow (general practice).

No spraying of 2-pack or polyurethane paints. If a customer asks, say it needs a trained applicator with air-fed breathing equipment.

Spray a test board (water-based paint only)

Read the paint tin for any spray thinning. Thinning depends on the equipment, so test on scrap.
Mask the area: tape, plastic sheet and paper over windows, floors, door frames and anything you do not want painted (general practice).
Put on the respirator, goggles and gloves. Check the respirator fit.
Strain the paint into the container to remove lumps (general practice).
Do a test spray on cardboard. Look at the pattern: no spitting, no heavy edges, even mist (general practice).
Hold the spray gun square to the board, at the distance the maker recommends, and move your arm, not your wrist (general practice).
Start moving before you pull the trigger and release after you stop moving. Overlap each pass by about half (general practice).
Do thin even coats. A thick coat runs.
Clean the equipment straight away with water for water-based paint.
Remove the masking tape before the paint has fully dried so it does not tear the edge (general practice).

Textured finishes (graffiato)

Textured finishes such as graffiato give a groove or trowelled pattern, made with a trowel or comb. Ready-mixed 20 L tubs are sold in Ghana. One Jiji listing showed GH¢295 for 20 L (dated listing not verified) and another GH¢449 for a Delta graffiato 20 L. A graffiato dealer exists in Takoradi on BusinessGhana (name and price not captured).

A detailed Ghana step-by-step method was not found. The wall should be clean, sound and primed, and you follow the tin for coverage and drying. The steps below are general practice. Ask a Takoradi dealer to demonstrate, and add what you learn to your logbook.

Apply a textured finish on a test panel

Prepare the panel exactly like a wall: clean, fill, sand, prime.
Read the tub: working time, coverage, thinning and drying (general practice: the tin wins).
Stir the tub well. Use the same tub for one wall so that the colour matches (general practice).
Mask the edges with tape.
Spread the finish in a coat with a steel trowel in small sections you can finish while it is workable (general practice).
Make the pattern with the trowel or a comb while still soft, using the same stroke direction and pressure over the whole wall (general practice).
Work from a corner to a natural break such as a door frame, never stopping in the middle of a wall (general practice).
Let it dry as the tin says. Clean tools with water if the finish is water-based.
Photograph the panel and record the litres used. Calculate the coverage.

Texture quantity

A feature wall is 3.6 m wide and 2.7 m high. The tub says it covers about 2 m² per litre (example). (1) Area? (2) Litres needed? (3) With 10% extra? (4) Cost if a 20 L tub is GH¢295 (the Jiji listing)? Answer to the nearest pesewa.

Wallpaper basics

Wallpaper is not common on our humid coast, but customers ask for it. Humidity effects on paste and curling in a coastal home were not verified, so test a small patch first and tell the customer about the risk.

Hang wallpaper

Prepare the wall. Clean it, fill holes, sand glossy spots. Prime, or hang lining paper on uneven plaster.
Measure and count drops: see the exercise below.
Mark a plumb line about 50 cm from the corner for a 53 cm roll. Do not trust the corner to be straight.
Cut the first drop with extra at the top and the bottom. Number each drop on the back.
Paste the wall with a roller, a couple of centimetres wider than the strip. (Some papers are pasted on the paper; follow the roll.)
Hang the first drop on the plumb line. Smooth from the centre out and do not stretch the paper.
Match the pattern at every drop. Cut the next drop to match before pasting.
Trim top and bottom with a sharp blade and a straight edge, and wipe off paste from the paper and the skirting.
Keep the doors and windows closed for the drying time on the paste instructions (general practice), and check the room for damp patches.

How many rolls?

A wall is 4 m wide and 2.7 m high. The roll is 0.53 m wide and 10 m long (example; read the label). (1) How many drops across the wall? (2) How long is each drop if you allow 10 cm for trimming? (3) How many drops can you cut from a roll? (4) How many rolls?

Texture sample

Make a small sample board (30 cm by 30 cm) of a textured finish or hang a short strip of wallpaper on a board. Photograph it and write three things you would do differently next time.

Check yourself: Unit 3

Which respirator cartridges does the foreign guidance suggest for spraying?
What must you not spray at this level, and why?
Why do you mark a plumb line before hanging wallpaper?

Unit 4 · Estimating, measuring and quoting jobs

A good painter who cannot price a job will work hard and lose money. A fair quote protects you and the customer.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
4.1 Measure a job	measures walls, ceilings and openings and sketches the plan
4.2 Work out quantities	calculates net area, litres, boards and cornice, with coats and waste
4.3 Build a price	adds materials, labour, overhead and profit to find a quote
4.4 Write a quote	gives the customer a clear written quote with terms

Range. One room, one house exterior and one ceiling; whole numbers and decimals; a calculator or phone. Evidence. Measured sketch; calculation sheet checked by an assessor; written quote.

Step 1: measure properly

Measure a room

Draw a sketch of the room (not to scale). Write the room name and the date.
Measure each wall length with a tape or measuring wheel. Write each one on the sketch.
Measure the height from floor to ceiling in two places and use the larger.
Measure each door and window (width × height). Write whether it is painted or not.
Note anything special: high ceiling, stairs, cornice, textured wall, damp, old paint that may contain lead, tall areas that need a platform.
Take photos of each wall and ceiling.
Ask the customer which areas are included, how many coats, and which paint brand or finish they want.

Step 2: work out the quantities

You need three ideas.

Gross wall area = the distance around the room (the perimeter) × the height.
Net wall area = gross area − the areas of doors and windows. State your rule in the quote. In the USA, the trade body PCA does not deduct small openings but does deduct floor-to-ceiling wide ones, and ceilings, trim and doors are priced separately. In Ghana, say which rule you used.
Litres = net area × number of coats ÷ coverage per litre, then add waste.

Coverage. Real coverage depends on the surface, the method and the weather. One estimating guide says interior acrylic emulsion gives 9 to 11 m² per litre per coat, that on site you get about 80 to 90% of the theoretical figure, and that you add 5 to 8% for losses on trim and brush work. Use the tin's figure and stay cautious: one maker's sheet gives 10.25 m² per litre at a film thickness of 40 microns, but 6.4 m² per litre if you want 50 microns.

Coats. A typical job is 1 primer coat + 2 finish coats. New surfaces and dark colours may need more than one coat. A written Ghana standard for the number of coats was not verified, so say your number in the quote.

Worked example A: one room (example numbers)

A room is 4 m × 3 m and 2.7 m high. The door is 0.9 × 2.1 m and the window is 1.2 × 1.2 m. We take 10 m² per litre (example) and 2 coats.

Step	Working	Result
Perimeter	2 × (4 + 3)	14 m
Gross wall	14 × 2.7	37.8 m²
Openings	0.9 × 2.1 + 1.2 × 1.2 = 1.89 + 1.44	3.33 m²
Net wall	37.8 − 3.33	34.47 m²
Ceiling	4 × 3	12 m²
Walls, litres	34.47 × 2 ÷ 10	6.89 L
Ceiling, litres	12 × 2 ÷ 10	2.40 L
With 10% waste (example)	(6.89 + 2.40) × 1.10	10.2 L

The sources give 5 to 8% for trim losses, so 10% is a cautious example. Sensitivity. If the real coverage is only 8 m² per litre, you need about 12.8 L; at 14 m² per litre about 7.3 L. That is why you read the tin.

Cost. Jiji asking prices for 20 L emulsion range from GH¢320 to GH¢750 (9 October 2026, mostly Greater Accra). So 10.2 L would cost about GH¢163 to GH¢383 in paint, but you buy a whole tin, so ask your dealer for the actual price in Takoradi. Brand quality differences were not verified.

Worked example B: a house exterior (example numbers)

A small house is 10 m × 8 m and 3 m high to the eaves. It has 6 windows of 1.2 × 1.2 m and 2 doors of 0.9 × 2.1 m. We use 1 primer coat at 8 m² per litre and 2 finish coats at 10 m² per litre (examples), and 10% waste.

Step	Working	Result
Perimeter	2 × (10 + 8)	36 m
Gross wall	36 × 3	108 m²
Openings	6 × 1.44 + 2 × 1.89 = 8.64 + 3.78	12.42 m²
Net wall	108 − 12.42	95.58 m²
Primer	95.58 × 1 ÷ 8 = 11.95 L; × 1.10	13.1 L
Finish	95.58 × 2 ÷ 10 = 19.12 L; × 1.10	21.0 L

So you would buy about 16 L of primer (four 4 L tins) and about 24 L of finish (a 20 L tin plus a 4 L tin). Add extra for flat ledges such as sunshades, parapets and window tops, which need three or more coats. Painting exterior walls from a ladder or scaffold also costs more time (Unit 5).

Worked example C: board and cornice count (example)

For a 4 m × 3 m ceiling with boards of 1.2 × 2.4 m (2.88 m²): 12 ÷ 2.88 = 4.17, so 5 boards before cutting waste. Cornice length is the perimeter, 14 m. In 3 m pieces, 14 ÷ 3 = 4.67, so 5 pieces. Board sizes sold in Ghana were not verified.

Step 3: build the price

The steps are: measure each wall, subtract openings (state your rule), work out litres and cost, add labour, add a share of overhead, then add profit. One US contractor example adds 30% profit; set your own.

Labour. No published per-m² painting rate for Ghana was found. Jiji painting adverts mostly say "contact for price"; a few examples are GH¢50 per service for a concrete floor (Dome), GH¢350 per service for "painting work" (Nsawam) and GH¢2,000 per service for a POP and painting specialist, with the units unclear. Paylab Ghana says 80% of painters earn between GH¢1,629 and GH¢6,107 gross a month, but it comes from fewer than 20 verified respondents and has no date. The national daily minimum wage in 2025 was GH¢19.97, which is only a floor. Do not copy any of these as your rate. Collect three real quotes from painters in Takoradi and build your own.

Worked example D: a full quote for Example A (all prices are examples)

Item	Working	GH¢
Paint: 10.2 L from a 20 L tin at GH¢350 (example)	10.2 ÷ 20 × 350	178.50
Tape, filler, sandpaper (example)		60.00
Labour: 2 painters × 2 days × GH¢150 a day (example)	2 × 2 × 150	600.00
Direct cost	178.50 + 60 + 600	838.50
Overhead share 10% (transport, phone, wear on tools)	838.50 × 0.10	83.85
Total cost	838.50 + 83.85	922.35
Profit 25%	922.35 × 0.25	230.59
Quote	922.35 + 230.59	1,152.94

The daily wage of GH¢150 is not from a source. In real life you would buy a whole tin and charge for it; here we price only the part used to show the method.

Worked example E: your rate per square metre (example)

A painter finishes about 25 m² of wall in a day with two coats (example). Day wage GH¢150 (example). Paint 0.2 L per m² (2 coats at 10 m²/L) at GH¢350 per 20 L, so 0.2 × 350 ÷ 20 = GH¢3.50. Sundries GH¢0.50 per m².

Item	GH¢ per m²
Labour: 150 ÷ 25	6.00
Paint	3.50
Sundries	0.50
Direct cost	10.00
Overhead 10%	1.00
Total cost	11.00
Profit 25%	2.75
Rate	13.75

At 13.75 per m², a 120 m² wall area is 1,650 and a 50% deposit is 825. These are examples only. Your own figures will be different.

What a written quote must say

Your name, phone, date, the customer's name and address
What is included: which rooms, walls, ceilings, doors and trim; how many coats; the paint brand and colour
What is not included: repairs, scaffold hire, moving furniture, extra coats, removing old paper
The rule for subtracting openings
The total price, and what is paid: deposit, a payment in the middle for large jobs, the balance on handover
Start date and how long the job will take; weather delays
Variations: extra work is quoted before it is done
How long the quote is valid

Quote a room

A room is 5 m × 4 m, 2.7 m high. It has 1 door (0.9 × 2.1 m) and 2 windows (1.2 × 1.5 m). Paint walls and ceiling with 2 coats. Coverage is 9 m² per litre (example). Add 10% waste. (1) Net wall area? (2) Litres for walls, litres for ceiling and the total with waste? (3) Paint cost from a 20 L tin at GH¢400 (example)? (4) Add GH¢80 for sundries and labour of 2 painters × 3 days × GH¢150. Add 10% overhead and 25% profit. What is the quote, and what is a 50% deposit?

Measure and quote a real room

Measure a room at the training centre or a volunteer's home (with permission) using the steps above.
Work out net wall area, ceiling area, litres with waste, boards or cornice if there is a ceiling job.
Phone or visit a dealer for real prices of the paint and sundries.
Build the price with the table in Example D and write a one-page quote using the checklist.
Swap with a partner. Check each other's arithmetic with a calculator.

Three real quotes. No Ghana per-m² rate is published. Ask three painters or contractors in Takoradi for their price for one room. Write down their answers and compare them with your own build-up. If you are far lower, you are not paying yourself; if you are far higher, check your waste and overhead.

Your own price list

Measure the room where you sleep. Work out the paint needed for two coats with 10% waste, using the coverage on the tin of any paint you can see. Then write what you would charge, with the working in a table like Example D.

Check yourself: Unit 4

How do you work out net wall area?
A wall area is 40 m², you want 2 coats, and the tin gives 10 m² per litre. How many litres, before waste?
Why must a quote say what is not included?

Unit 5 · Scaffolds, ladders, quality control and supervising a helper

The best finish is worth nothing if somebody falls for it. And a helper who is not shown how will copy your mistakes.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
5.1 Work safely at height	selects, sets up and uses ladders correctly; knows when to hire a scaffold
5.2 Control quality	inspects a finished surface, lists defects and fixes them
5.3 Supervise a helper	briefs, demonstrates, checks and corrects a helper's work safely

Range. A stepladder and an extension ladder; a low trestle or platform; a team of two. Evidence. Observation; ladder checklist; snag list; briefing script; logbook.

Working at height

Level 1 covered ladder basics. Here is the HSE (UK) guidance in more detail. HSE is a UK source; Ghana's own rules for ladders and scaffolds were not verified.

A ladder is the last choice, used only when the risk is low and the job is short. Alternatives are a platform or a tower.
A leaning ladder goes at 1 in 4 (about 75 degrees). It should extend at least 1 m or 3 rungs above where you step off or work. Do not work off the top three rungs. Secure it so it cannot slip, rest it on a strong point and not on glass or plastic gutters, keep three points of contact and stay at least 6 m from overhead power lines unless they are dead or insulated.
Stepladders: all four feet on firm level ground with the locks engaged. Do not stand or work on the top three steps unless there is a handhold. A stepladder is for short, light work, an older summary says up to about 30 minutes and 10 kg.

Scaffolds and towers (foreign summary, not Ghana rules): guardrail at least 950 mm, no gap over 470 mm, toe boards 150 mm, fully planked platforms, a firm base, wheel brakes on towers, never ride a moving tower, and inspect before each shift. Only trained people build a tower or scaffold.

Do not build a scaffold or a tower at this level. For an exterior job above ladder height, hire a scaffold gang and put the cost in the quote. Do not paint from a roof. Do not work near power lines.

Ladder checklist

Check the ladder: no cracks, rungs and feet firm, locks working, no loose parts. Tag any fault.
Choose the ground: firm and level. Do not put it on sand, loose boards or a slope.
Set the angle: one unit out for every four up (see the exercise).
Make sure it extends at least 1 m above the landing or work point.
Secure the top, or have someone foot the ladder, so it cannot slip.
Climb facing the ladder, three points of contact, tools in a bag or belt.
Never lean out. Keep your belt buckle between the side rails (general practice). Come down and move the ladder instead.
Do not use a metal ladder near electricity, and keep 6 m from overhead lines.

Ladder maths

You must paint a fascia board at a height of 4.8 m. (1) How far out from the wall should the foot of the ladder be (1 in 4)? (2) To reach the point and extend 1 m above, how long must the ladder be at least?

Quality control: inspect before the customer does

A job is finished only when you have inspected it. Use a good light and look from different angles. A torch held low along the wall or ceiling (a raking light) shows ridges, brush marks, joins and dents (general practice).

Inspect and snag

Walk the job with the customer, or alone first. Open the curtains or doors for good light.
Look at each wall from two angles: straight on and from the side.
Check for: misses (holidays), drips and runs, brush or roller marks, uneven sheen, patchy colour, lap marks, rough spots, dust or insects in the paint, paint on glass, handles or floors, and tape lines that are not straight.
Run your hand lightly over the surface to feel grit and ridges.
Mark each fault with a small piece of masking tape and write it on a snag list (room, wall, fault).
Fix each fault in the right order: sand, spot-prime if needed, recoat the full panel to the corner so that the patch does not show (general practice).
Re-inspect, and sign the snag list with the date.

Fault	Cause	Fix
Peeling or flaking	Moisture trapped; powdery, dirty or greasy surface; movement in the wall; resin in knots	Scrape to a firm edge, spot prime, recoat; strip large areas
Blistering	Moisture; strong sun on fresh paint; resin	Remove the moisture; scrape and sand blisters; treat knots; prime
Efflorescence	Salts rising through masonry	Brush, dry wipe, alkali-resisting primer, fix the water, let it dry
Chalking	Weathered film or salts	Stiff brush, stabilising primer, repaint
Mould or mildew	Damp; poor sun and ventilation	Fungicidal wash, rinse, dry, repaint with a suitable paint
Mud cracking	A thick coat that was not thinned on a textured surface, or matt over silk	Apply thinner coats
Plaster cracks	Drying or building movement	Cut out, clean dust, fill, paint

Photograph your own tests. Paint a sample panel the customer approves in daylight, keep a record of batch numbers and keep the tin label. If a fault comes up in a year, your record shows the product and the weather.

Supervising a helper

At this level you may have one or two helpers or an apprentice. Your job is to get good work out of them safely and fairly.

Brief, show, watch, correct

Plan the day before you start: the job, the order of work, the PPE, who does what.
Brief the helper in five minutes: the job, the hazards (height, dust, solvents), where first aid and water are, what to do if unsure ("ask me").
Match the task to the skill. Give a new helper simple tasks first: cleaning, masking, filling, sanding with a mask and goggles, cutting in at low height, rolling. Keep ladder work, spraying, lead-risk sanding and mixing solvents for people who are trained (general practice).
Show the first piece. Do a metre of the work yourself and explain why you do it that way.
Watch the first 15 minutes of a new task. Praise what is good. Correct a mistake early and calmly.
Check the work at set times, not only at the end. Use the quality steps above.
Rest and water. Plan breaks in the hot hours. Heat and dust tire people and lead to errors (general practice).
Say what you will pay and when, before the job. Pay what you promised, on time.
Never send a helper to do what you would not do safely yourself.

A helper's age and conditions are covered by the Labour Act. Age limits for young workers on ladders or spraying were not verified here; ask the Labour Department. Do not give ladder or spray work to children or untrained people.

Helper pay and time

You hire one helper at GH¢100 a day (example) for 12 working days. The main job quote is GH¢1,771.74 (from the last unit's exercise). (1) What is the helper's pay? (2) What share of the quote is that, to one decimal place? (3) The helper learns to cut in and your job finishes one day earlier, 11 days. How much do you save in helper pay, ignoring your own wage?

Write a briefing

Write a one-page briefing for a new helper on a one-day exterior job. Include the hazards, the tasks, the PPE and the rules for the ladder. Practise reading it aloud to someone at home.

Check yourself: Unit 5

How far above the landing point should a ladder extend?
What should you do first when a job is higher than a ladder can safely reach?
Name two things to check on a finished wall with a raking light.

Unit 6 · Customer care, colour advice and handover

People forget the paint brand. They remember whether you turned up, kept their house clean, and told the truth.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
6.1 Look after the customer	greets, listens, protects property and keeps the customer informed
6.2 Advise on colour and finish	explains how light, sheen and drying change a colour; makes and records a tint
6.3 Hand over the job	walks through the job, signs off the snag list and explains care
6.4 Handle a complaint	listens, checks, finds the cause and agrees a fix

Range. A real or role-played customer; a small test tint; a handover sheet. Evidence. Role play; colour record; handover sheet; logbook.

Before the job: the customer visit

First visit

Greet with respect, say your name and the name of your business. Arrive when you said you would.
Listen first. Ask what the customer wants, what they have used before, who will use the room and what worries them.
Look and measure. Use Unit 4. Look for damp, cracks, mould, old paint and anything you will not be able to fix by painting.
Tell the truth about causes. Paint over damp or salt will fail. Say so now, and offer the repair as a separate item.
Agree colour, finish, coats, and the days of work.
Give a written quote within a day or two (Unit 4).
Take a deposit only against a written quote.

Colour advice

You do not need to be an artist. You need to help the customer avoid a colour they will regret.

Light changes colour. A colour in a tin, under a shop light, looks different on a sunny wall or in a dark room. Always test on the wall.
Wet paint dries to a different shade. Emulsions dry a different shade, so judge a dry test patch, not a wet one (general practice).
Sheen matters. Gloss shows every fault, matt hides them but marks easily. Ask the dealer for the sheen of each product.
Dark colours on a sun-facing exterior wall may flake or fade faster. Say so.
Same batch. Use the same batch tin for one room or wall so the colour matches (general practice).

Tinting: keep a record

Painters sometimes add a tinting concentrate to a white base. A maker of a universal tinting concentrate gives these maximums: 10% for latex or emulsion, 6% for acrylic paints, 3 to 5% for clear lacquers and stains, and 3% for silicate or silicone paints. Use the minimum that gives the colour. Too much colorant weakens waterborne paint; one failure case involved about 14% by volume. Read the tin for the limit on your product.

Make and record a tint

Pour 0.5 L of white base into a clean tin or bucket.
Add a small, measured amount of tint (for example 15 mL from a syringe), and stir well.
Paint a test patch on a board and let it dry. Compare in daylight.
If it is too pale, add a very small amount more, and note each amount.
Write the final recipe in your colour record: base, tint colour and brand, amount, date, and the customer's name.
Scale up with a calculator (see the exercise). Mix the full amount in one container and stir well.

Scale up a tint

Your test mix was 0.5 L of base and 15 mL of tint. (1) How many mL of tint per litre of base? (2) How much tint for 18 L of base? (3) What percentage is that of the base? (4) Is it within the 10% maximum for emulsion in the example above?

During the job

Protect the customer's things. Cover floors and furniture. Do not store paint in the kitchen or the bathroom without permission.
Tell the customer what is happening each day, in a short message or chat. A photo helps.
Keep the site tidy. Sweep and bag waste each day. Never wash brushes or POP into a drain used by the house.
Respect the house. Ask where to wash your hands and where to put your tools. Keep your phone and music quiet. Do not bring friends.
Be careful with money. Count the materials with the customer. Give receipts. Never take payment for materials you did not buy.
Call early if you will be late or cannot come. People forgive bad news that comes early.

Handover

Hand over the job

Walk the job with the customer. Use the snag list from Unit 5.
Show each room in good daylight and in lamplight.
Fix small faults while the customer is there, if you can.
Hand over a labelled touch-up tin with the colour name, date and room (general practice). Tell the customer to keep it closed and cool.
Explain care: how long to wait before washing and hanging pictures, as the tin says. Washing time was not verified, so read the tin.
Give an honest statement of what you guarantee. Do not promise what the tin does not promise. A peeling wall is often caused by damp or surface preparation, not the paint alone.
Get the signature or a WhatsApp "yes, I am happy" on the snag list.
Get paid the balance, and give a receipt.
Ask for a review or a referral, and for permission to photograph the finished room.

Complaints

Handle a complaint

Listen without arguing. Let the customer finish.
Thank them for telling you.
Look at the problem. Take photos.
Find the cause. Use the fault table in Unit 5. Is it damp, preparation, a thin coat, weather, or the customer's use?
Agree the fix and the date. Put it in writing.
Fix it and thank the customer. If the cause is damp from a leak that is not yours, explain kindly and offer the repair as a new quote.
Write it up in your logbook so you learn from it.

Your name travels fast. Most new work in a small town comes from people who knew the last customer. Honest handovers and a quick fix matter more than a cheap price.

Role play

Write a short script (about 10 lines) for a handover between you and a customer who finds a missed patch behind a door. Practise it with a friend.

Check yourself: Unit 6

Why should you judge a colour on a dry patch, not a wet one?
What is the maximum tint share for emulsion, according to the example maker?
Name two things you give the customer at handover.

Unit 7 · Location, small business ideas, marketing and accessibility

You can paint beautifully and still go hungry if no one knows you exist, or if your price does not cover your costs.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
7.1 Choose a place to work	names places where painting and ceiling work is in demand and says why
7.2 Think up business ideas	proposes a business idea with price, customer and first step
7.3 Market yourself	sets up a simple WhatsApp Business profile, portfolio and a sign
7.4 Do the money maths	calculates a monthly profit from a rate per m²
7.5 Include everyone	plans work and customer service for people with disabilities

Range. A one-person or small-gang painting and ceiling business in or near Takoradi or Akwidaa. Evidence. One-page plan; mock WhatsApp profile; money maths; logbook.

Know the market

Competition. Jiji Ghana, 9 October 2026: about 715 painting-service results and 318 POP-ceiling adverts in Greater Accra, and in Takoradi only one seller (Riche Monde) with POP and interior-decoration adverts, "contact for price". Takoradi and Akwidaa demand numbers were not verified: the figures above show how Accra looks, not our area.
Most adverts say "contact for price", so a clear starting price with conditions can stand out.

Location settings that give good returns

These are ideas from general trade sense. Takoradi and Akwidaa demand data were not verified, so check each one yourself.

New estates and building sites, where houses need first-time painting and ceilings
Hotels, guesthouses and restaurants near the coast, where salt and sun force frequent repainting (general practice)
Schools and churches, which paint in holidays and before big events
Landlords and estate agents who repaint between tenants
Shops and offices along a busy road
A stall or small shop near a market or a building-materials area, for paint, brushes and sundries

Business ideas and ingenuity

Painting gang: you and two to four workers, jobs from houses and landlords (general practice)
Subcontractor to a builder: price per m² or per room, paid in stages
Specialist: POP and gypsum ceilings, graffiato, waterproofing
Yearly exterior maintenance for guesthouses and shops: wash, treat mould, touch up and recoat, agreed in advance (general practice)
Rainy-season check: inspect roofs, parapets and walls before the rains and fix cracks and leaks
Colour advice service: a paid visit with sample patches
Snag-fix and touch-up visits for other painters or builders
Ceiling repair for stained or cracked POP ceilings
A supply shop: stocks paint, brushes and sundries (Jiji shows shops sell 20 L tubs and graffiato; margins were not verified)

Market yourself

Portfolio. Take before and after photos with your phone, from the same angle and in daylight. Write the room size and the time taken. Ask the customer's permission.
WhatsApp Business. It has a business profile with hours and address, a catalogue and automatic greeting and away messages.
Google Business Profile. Set up a free profile so that people searching nearby find you. Verification can be by phone, email, video call or a postcard taking about 14 days.
Price post. Instead of "contact for price", post "from GH¢x per m²" with your conditions (what is included, number of coats). The Jiji adverts mostly hide the price.
Signboard and shirt. A simple sign on your tricycle, your gate or the site, with your name and phone. A tidy shirt with your business name helps people trust you.
Referrals. Ask every happy customer for the name of one friend or neighbour. Give a small thank-you.
Never claim a certificate, brand dealership or guarantee you do not have.

Do the money maths

Monthly profit from a rate

Use the example rate from Unit 4: total cost GH¢11.00 per m² and a quote rate of GH¢13.75 per m². In a good month you paint four jobs of 120 m² of wall each. (1) Income? (2) Total cost? (3) Profit? (4) In a slow month you get only 3 jobs. What is your profit then? (5) What is your profit margin on cost, as a percentage?

For registration, tax and bookkeeping, Level 3 covers the steps and current fees.

Accessibility

Ghana's Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) requires a person who provides a service to the public to provide facilities that make it accessible to persons with disability. The Assemblies' disability share of the Common Fund rose from 3% to 5% from 2026, with more focus on skills and assistive devices. Ask the Disability Desk at your Assembly about help with tools or training.

What the evidence says about painting is thin. A Brazilian study on construction jobs, including one painter, found that workers with hearing impairment could do tasks without adaptation, while leg or foot amputees needed suitable prostheses and adaptations. A deaf painter in the Solomon Islands holds a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, runs his own business and gives work experience to other deaf people.

The suggestions below are the author's judgement, not from a source; check each with the person concerned.

Group	Workable tasks	Helpful adjustments
People who cannot climb or stand for long	Mixing and tinting, filling and sanding at bench height, cutting cornice on a bench, casting POP ornaments, estimating, writing quotes, managing the portfolio and WhatsApp, shop work, supervising with a ladder spotter	Seated work; extension poles for low cutting-in; a stable low platform; short tasks with rests
People who are deaf or hard of hearing	Most painting tasks, measuring, quotes	Show the task; written quotes and WhatsApp messages; hand signals on site; visual alarm; clear eye contact
People with low vision	Limited: mixing and tinting by measures, bench work; this is not verified	Good lighting; large print; tactile marks on tools; avoid ladder work
Anyone	Mixing, estimating, customer service	Plan tasks with the person; never assume

Tasks that involve ladders, scaffolds or spraying are not suitable without adaptation. Seated and bench roles lower risk for everyone.

Plan and portfolio

Write a one-page plan: your service, your customer, your area, your starting price with conditions, how you will advertise and one first step this week.
Set up a mock WhatsApp Business profile (name, hours, address, a catalogue of three services with starting prices) and sketch a signboard.
Photograph one before-and-after piece of work from this course for your portfolio.
Add one idea that would let a person with a disability work in your business.

Local scout

Walk or ride through one neighbourhood near you. Write down: five buildings that need paint, two that need ceilings or exterior repairs, and one business that could be your first customer. Write the name of a shop that sells paint.

Check yourself: Unit 7

Give one reason to put a starting price on your advert.
If a job costs GH¢4,000 and you want a 25% profit on cost, what is the quote?
Name one task a person who cannot climb ladders could do in a painting business.

Glossary

Term	Meaning
Competent / Not Yet Competent	The two possible results of a CBT assessment
TDS	Technical data sheet from the paint maker: coverage, thinning, drying and limits
Masonry paint	Exterior paint for block, sand-cement and render
Efflorescence	White powdery salts that come out of masonry
Mist coat	A first coat of thinned emulsion on new plaster
Primer	A first coat that seals the surface and helps the next coat stick
Knotting	A sealer on wood knots to stop resin bleeding
Rust converter	A liquid that turns rust to a stable black coating on iron and steel
Bitumen coating	A black waterproof coating, often used on roofs, parapets and tanks
POP	Plaster of Paris: calcium sulfate that hardens when mixed with water
Gypsum board	A board of gypsum between paper layers, also called plasterboard or drywall
Cornice	A decorative strip where the wall meets the ceiling
Retarder	A small additive that slows the setting of POP
Wall angle	A metal trim fixed to the wall to carry the ceiling edge
Graffiato	A textured wall finish made with a trowel or comb
Isocyanate	A chemical in some polyurethane paints that harms the lungs; needs special respirators
A1P2, A2P3	Respirator cartridge codes: A for solvent vapour, P for dust
Raking light	A light held low to show ridges and marks on a surface
Snag list	A written list of small faults to fix before handover
Net area	Area of walls after taking away doors and windows
Overhead	Costs shared by all jobs: transport, phone, tool wear
Margin	Profit, as a percentage of cost or of price (say which)

Logbook

Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.

Unit 1: tin checklist; weather record; exterior preparation record; wood and metal coating schedules; waste disposal notes
Unit 2: POP mixing record; frame and board plan; jointing photos; cornice photos; dealer price list
Unit 3: spray test notes; textured panel record; wallpaper plan and photos
Unit 4: measured sketch; calculation sheet; written quote; three local quotes
Unit 5: ladder checklist; snag list; helper briefing
Unit 6: colour record; handover sheet; role-play script
Unit 7: one-page plan; mock WhatsApp profile; money maths; local scout notes
Every homework, dated

Self-check quiz

Name three things to read on a paint tin before painting outside.
What should you do first when you find white powder on a wall?
Why must old paint never be dry-sanded?
In what order do you coat bare wood?
Which metals does a rust converter not work on?
When mixing POP, what goes into the bucket first?
Who may wire and fit lights in a new ceiling?
Why is spraying 2-pack paint not allowed at this level?
A wall is 30 m² net, you want 2 coats, and the tin covers 10 m² per litre. How many litres, before waste?
How far out should a ladder foot be when the ladder reaches 4.8 m up?
Name two things to check on a finished wall with a raking light.
Name two things you give the customer at handover.