Why does preparation matter so much in decorating?
Because paint shows every flaw underneath it. A good finish depends on what happens before the first coat: filling, sanding, cleaning and priming. Skip it, and cracks reappear, paint peels and marks bleed through.
Preparation is included in every price we give, and we'll tell you what it involves for your room. It's often the part that takes longest, and the part that decides how long the finish lasts.
- Protect
- Floors and furniture covered, edges masked.
- Fill and sand
- Cracks, holes and dents filled and sanded smooth.
- Clean
- Grease and dirt washed off, especially in kitchens.
- Prime and seal
- Mist coat on new plaster, stain block on water marks.
- Paint
- Usually two coats, cutting in neatly at edges.
Can you repair cracks and damaged plaster before painting?
Yes, for minor repairs. Hairline cracks, small holes, old wall-plug holes, dents and chipped corners are filled and sanded as part of the prep. Holes left by an old TV bracket or shelves are common and easy to make good.
Older houses, such as the Victorian terraces around Clarendon Park, often have fine cracks in old plaster and gaps where walls meet ceilings. New builds, like those at Ashton Green, commonly get small settlement cracks in the first year or two. Both are usually cosmetic and are filled and flexibly sealed before painting.
Larger areas of loose or blown plaster, or a full re-skim of a wall or ceiling, are a plasterer's job. We'll say so if we see it, rather than paint over a problem.
A crack that keeps coming back, or one wider than a few millimetres, can be a sign of movement and is worth getting checked. A brown stain on a ceiling usually means a leak above. Norman is also a plumber, so we can find and fix the leak before painting over the mark.
When is the best time to paint fences, sheds and outside walls?
In dry, mild weather, typically from late spring to early autumn. Outdoor paints and stains need a dry surface and usually set a minimum temperature on the tin, and rain soon after painting can spoil the finish.
We book outside work with the forecast in mind. If the weather turns on the day, we'll rearrange rather than paint a damp surface.
Fences and sheds take a wood stain or paint made for outdoor timber. Masonry walls need masonry paint, and any loose or flaking paint has to come off first. We paint outside surfaces only where they can be reached safely from the ground or a ladder.
How is a painting and decorating job priced?
Every job gets one fixed price, agreed before work starts. Send photos of each room or surface, with rough sizes if you have them, through the online form or on WhatsApp. We reply within 24 hours.
If something unexpected turns up, such as blown plaster under old wallpaper, Norman stops, shows you and prices it separately. Nothing extra is done without your approval.
- Size and height
- Room size, ceiling height and staircases.
- Condition
- How much filling and preparation the surfaces need.
- Colour change
- Dark to light usually needs an extra coat.
- Woodwork
- Doors, frames, skirting and spindles take time.