Knowledge Hub
Professional Painting
Interior and exterior painting with excellent technical training and attention to detail.
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Can I just paint over a damp or mouldy wall?No. Paint hides the stain for a while, but if the damp is still there it comes back and takes the new paint with it. First find the cause, then scrape back and repair the wall.Why is the paint peeling off my walls?Usually because of damp, or because it went on over a surface that wasn't holding: dust, loose old layers, a glossy base. The fix is to remove whatever isn't holding, not to add another coat on top.After a fire, is a coat of paint enough to get rid of the black?No. The soot has to be cleaned off and a stain-blocking primer applied first, or it comes back through the new paint. Before anything else, check what the heat has loosened.A piece of plaster fell off the ceiling. What now?Keep the area underneath clear, as more plaster around it may be loose. Then find out why it fell, whether damp, a leak or rusting steel, before it is re-plastered and painted.I want new colours at home. Where do I start?A few colours repeated from room to room, one wall in a stronger shade if you want character, and a darker colour where walls get dirty easily. A strong old colour needs extra coats to cover.My ceiling has a rough textured finish. Can it be made smooth?Yes. Any loose parts are removed, the ceiling is skimmed smooth and then painted. A smooth ceiling collects less dust and is easier to repaint evenly.
Guides
5 partsPainting
Damp and Fire-Damaged Rooms: The Work Before the Paint
How to read the damage, how far the scraping goes, how the wall is rebuilt with plaster, filler and primer, what changes after a fire, and what to ask before the work starts.
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4 partsPainting
Interior Renovation: From Filling to Finish
What actually goes into a good interior paint job — and why it's never just 'a bit of paint'. In four parts.
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4 partsPainting
Facade Renovation & Painting: The Homeowner's Guide
When your facade actually needs repainting, which paint to choose, and what to check before you start. In four parts.
Read the full guideTerms
Acrylic paintA water-based paint with an acrylic resin, the most common choice for outside walls. It stands up to sun and rain and has some flexibility to follow small movements in the wall.CondensationMoisture in the air turning to water on cold surfaces such as windows, outside corners and ceilings. It is the most common cause of mould indoors.CrackA split or gap in render, concrete, a wall, a coating or wood. Fine cracks are usually only on the surface; ones that grow, keep reopening or run diagonally need attention.Efflorescence (salt deposits)A white, powdery or crystalline crust on the surface of a wall. It is salts carried by water through the masonry, left behind when the water evaporates.Elastomeric waterproof coatingA thick, rubbery waterproof paint for flat roofs, parapets and roofs. It stretches without cracking as the building expands and bridges hairline cracks.Emulsion paintThe everyday water-based paint for indoor walls and ceilings. It thins with water, dries quickly, has little smell and comes in matt, satin or glossier finishes.FillerA fine paste or powder that fills holes, fine cracks and dents so a wall, ceiling or piece of wood is smooth before it is painted.Hollow (blistered) plasterPlaster that has come away from the wall or ceiling behind it. It sounds dull when you tap it lightly, and often blisters or cracks before it falls.MouldFungi that grow on damp surfaces, leaving black or greenish spots and a musty smell. It is a symptom of damp, not a problem with the paint.Peeling paintWhen paint loses its grip and lifts off in flakes or sheets. It is almost always a sign of a problem underneath, usually damp or poor preparation.PrimerThe thin first coat that goes on before the main material. It binds dust, seals the pores and helps paint or waterproofing stick firmly.Render (plaster)A layer of mortar (sand, cement or lime, and water) spread over brick or concrete to give a wall a straight, sound surface ready for paint or tiles.Rising dampMoisture from the ground that climbs up inside walls through the pores of the materials. It shows as stains, blown render and salts at the foot of walls.SandingSmoothing a surface with sandpaper or a power sander to remove bumps, loose old paint or gloss, so the new paint or varnish grips well and comes out smooth.SootThe black, greasy dust that smoke leaves on walls and ceilings after a fire, or from a fireplace or stove. Paint straight over it without cleaning and priming and it comes back through.Thermal bridgeA spot in a building where heat and cold pass more easily than through the rest of the wall or slab, such as columns, beams and the edges of a slab.
Jobs in this category
All jobs
Painting
Restoring a Room After a Fire
Walls and ceiling black with soot. Cleaning, plaster repairs and fresh paint made the room livable again.
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Painting
Courtyard Wall: Plaster Repairs and Fresh Paint
An outside wall with blistered and fallen plaster was patched, reinforced with mesh, given a thin finishing coat and painted white.
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Painting
Balcony Walls Repainted
A neglected balcony was cleared and cleaned, and its walls were painted a soft yellow.
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