PAINTERS AND DECORATORS LONDON FAQ
What is the correct way to paint a door?
Here at Professional Painters and Decorators London we understand the difference a fresh coat of paint can make to your interior and exterior doors. Contacting your local painters and decorators in London to complete the project can give you the confidence that the finish will be to the highest of qualities. Although, if you do make the decision to complete the task on your own we have compiled some helpful advice below.
Project e.g. a cloth to protect your furniture and the floor, sandpaper, paint brushes, foam rollers, a tray to hold the paint, filing knife etc. Before applying any paint to the door, undertake preparation. You can either remove the door from its hinges or paint it in place. Professional Painters and Decorators London do advise taking off the door handles to allow for a superior final finish. If there are any defects in the door, for instance holes or cracks, repair them with filler and sand to a smooth finish. Remove any dust with a damp cloth, this will ensure no dirt is present once you commence painting. If the door is a new unpainted door, apply a primer or a mist coat before adding successive coats. Our specialists recommend to firstly paint the edges of the door and then subsequently the panels. Following this, paint the central vertical strip then the horizontal rows. Lastly, apply paint to the vertical strips on the edges. Once you have fully painted one side of the door, follow the recommended drying time on the paint tin before applying a second coat if required. Once dry repeat the process on the second side of the door. Please remember that our independent specialist are available for all facets of painting and decorating projects including interior and exterior, commercial and domestic. Contact Painters and Decorators London today for your free competitive quote.
How to paint a ceiling?
When painting a ceiling, our painters and decorators in London advise to make sure you cover the floor and any furniture with dust sheets. If it is possible, try and remove any furniture from the room. This will allow you added space to work, you will also not need to worry about any dripping painting. Prior to applying paint to the ceiling, prepare the surface by repairing any defects. For instance, filling in any surface blemishes and then sanding to create an even finish. Painters and Decorators London advise our clients that preparation is extremely important to achieve that outstanding finish you desire. Once you are happy with the finish, clean any dust from the workspace with a damp sponge or cloth.
Start applying the paint by completing any “cutting in” first. This is usually done with a fine paint brush. Cut in any features in the middle of the ceiling (e.g. light fittings). If you are going to be applying paint to the walls after the ceiling, you should be able to “cut in” the edges of the ceiling with the roller. If you are solely painting the ceiling, the edges of the workspace will need to be “cut in” with a brush to achieve a clean finish.
Once you have completed all aspects of “cutting in” you can start to roll paint onto the main parts of the ceiling. A top tip by our painters and decorators in London, is to start rolling paint on the area of the ceiling closest to the source of light (e.g. window) and work away. This will enable you to see all areas you have applied paint to. Aim to overlap any paint rolling to eliminate any missed spots and achieve an even finish. If you want to guarantee an outstanding finish and have confidence in the work, please contact Painters and Decorators London today for your free quote.
How to paint skirting boards?
When it comes to finishing off a room, nothing can make a difference quite like a well-painted skirting board. If you don’t know how to properly paint a skirting board then it is probably time to call the experts at Painters and Decorators London, however, if you do decide to give it a go, here are some handy hints to help you on your way. Colour is important – choose a colour that will complement the rest of the room. White is a standard go-to, but don’t rule out darker tones such as grey and even black if you want to create a statement with your room. Brush size – smaller brushes in smaller areas are always a good rule to go by. Smaller brushes give you additional control to prevent getting splashes on adjacent surfaces and are something we always use at Painters and Decorators London.
Is painting bathroom tiles a good idea?
Painters and Decorators London advise a cost-effective way to provide a fresh new look to your bathroom is to paint over old bathroom tiles. However, to complete this schedule of work specialist paint is needed. Contact professional painters and decorators in London if you have doubts about which paint to use. The traditional type of paints, matte, satin, and gloss are all suitable. The type you employ will depend on what final finish you hope to achieve. There is usually no requirement to prime your current tiles before applying the final coat. Just apply the final coat over all tiled workspaces. Our Painting and Decorating London team recommends making sure all painted areas are entirely dry before using your bath or shower. If your tiles were to become wet during the drying phase this could lead to a sub-standard finish. To achieve a flawless finish, we advise calling in your local professional painters and decorators. For those customers across the capital contact Painters and Decorators London today for free expert advice and you free competitive quote.
How to paint over damp and mould?
Our painters and decorators in London often come across properties that are suffering from damp and mould growth. This problem can be made worse if homes are poorly ventilated and poorly insulated. If you are after a resolution to your unsightly mould then you need a professional team for painting and decorating London. When it comes to our top tips for resolving the issue of mould we recommend that the surface is treated properly. Use a stiff brush or abrasive paper to remove as much of the mould growth as possible and utilise a black mould killer and remover. This fungicide will help to stop the mould from causing problems again and being a detriment to your health.
The next course of action after the mould has been treated directly is to use a stain-blocking primer. These primers are specially formulated to seal water stains and prevent them from showing through again in the future. Our painters in decorators in London will be able to advise on a high-quality primer to use for your walls.
Once the wall is primed, then the topcoat can be added and you may choose any shade and type of paint you like for this, as long as it is compatible with the primer used – check the manufacturer’s instructions for information on the recommended topcoats. If the area is susceptible to high humidity and poor ventilation, then it is recommended that you choose a paint which is able to resist fungal growth. These types of paints will be labelled as mould resistant and will contain a biocide to inhibit future growths. These can be well worth the money if the root cause of the issue cannot be fully addressed. To get your mouldy walls painted by professionals, call Professional Painters and Decorators London and take away the guesswork!
How long will it take for you to complete my painting and decorating job?
Painters and Decorators London regularly get asked the question how long the job will take. When our independent painters and decorators in London visit your property to provide an inspection and quote, they will provide a rough timescale to complete the works. Please note, the initial timescale quoted is an approximation and does not account for any unforeseen circumstances. Our painting and decorating team always attempt to work as quickly as possible whilst still creating a flawless finish. The project timeframe will depend on a number of aspects including, the number of work areas to paint, the scale of preparation required and the type of decorating work involved e.g. painting, wallpapering, glossing etc. For free expert advice and your competitive quote, please contact Painters and Decorators London today.
What is the best time of year to paint the exterior of my property?
Painters and Decorators London advise undertaking exterior painting projects during periods of relatively dry and warm weather. If you are thinking of having any outside painting done, our painters and decorators suggest the best time of year is between April and October. Cold and damp weather can lead to a sub par finish on exterior painting projects. Additionally, the drying time of freshly painted services lengthens. In contrast, drier and warmer weather combined with longer daylight hours allows newly applied paint to dry quicker. However, it is worth noting that some companies do manufacture exterior paint that can be applied in less-than-ideal conditions. There is a premium to be paid for this paint in comparison to “average” exterior paint. If you are thinking of undertaking any outside painting, our Painting and Decorating London team advises contacting your local professional painters and decorators. For free expert advice and your competitive quote contact Painters and Decorators London today.
Will painting over rust stop it?
Painters and Decorators London advise that water-based gloss paint is successful at preventing metal from rust. It acts as a barrier stopping attacks from water and chemicals. This being said, surfaces that are already experiencing rust will need correct preparation before any coating is applied. Our painters and decorators in London advise removing any flaking rust with a brush made from wire wool, abrasive sandpaper, or by sandblasting. After, apply an appropriate rust inhibitor as a base coat. This will allow the rust to be painted over and prevent it from showing through in the final finish. It is important, that external metal is painted as part of routine maintenance works to prevent rust. For free expert advice and your competitive quote contact Painters and Decorators London today.
Does the render need to be painted?
Our painters and decorators in London regularly undertake work on buildings that have been rendered. Render is applied to external walls and provides a plaster-like finish. A benefit of render is that it helps to protect your external walls against the elements.
Painters and Decorators London suggest applying at least 2 quotes of render to prevent any cracks or defects from showing in the final finish. In addition to protecting your outside surfaces from the elements, rendered walls can also make your building more energy efficient by minimising heat loss.
The majority of render on buildings is painted, perhaps because it affords a fresh and updated look. Prior to applying any paint to the render, we advise allowing several days for the render to fully dry. A failure to follow this step could cause moisture to be trapped beneath the paint causing cracks and bubbles. Once you are confident the render has fully dried, inspect survey the surfaces to make sure there are no noticeable cracks or defects, such as snots in the render, If any defects are identified, take time to have these repaired. Once you are satisfied with the rendered surface, you can begin to paint. Start to paint from the top of the render and work your way down. This will allow you to rectify any drips that occur. Ideally, you should carry our the work with a large brush or roller. Any “cutting in” should be completed with a smaller brush.
From our experience, the render will need at least two coats of paint. For free expert advice and your competitive quote, contact our Painters and Decorators in London today.
