Painting
Exterior painting
Outside, paint has to cope with rain, sun, frost and city grime, and it can only be applied when conditions allow. Good exterior work is as much about planning and preparation as about the coats themselves.
Planning around the weather
Most exterior coatings specify a minimum air and surface temperature — commonly somewhere between 5°C and 10°C, depending on the product — and advise against painting in high humidity, when rain is due before the film has dried, or when dew is likely to form on it. Strong sun can make paint dry too quickly. In London the practical season usually runs from late spring to early autumn, and even then short days and evening dew set the working day. We plan around the forecast and the data sheet, and stop when conditions are wrong.
Stucco, render and masonry
Older stucco and render vary — lime-based mixes, early natural cements, later Portland cement — and most facades have been patched many times. The coating has to suit what is there. Vapour-permeable masonry paints and mineral paints generally suit older substrates, whereas an impermeable coating can trap moisture and lead to blistering and decay. Hollow render is found by tapping and repaired, and cracks are cut out and filled with compatible materials. The Notting Hill stucco villa shows this work on a full facade.
Timber and metalwork
Exterior joinery is painted only when dry, checked with a moisture meter against the limit on the data sheet. Decayed timber is cut back and repaired, end grain and the bottom edges of doors and sills are sealed with particular care, and microporous systems, designed to let moisture vapour escape, are often specified. Iron railings are wire-brushed back to sound metal, spot-primed and built up in coats. For sashes and casements, see windows.
Access
Most facades above ground floor need scaffolding. Scaffolding on the pavement needs a licence from the highway authority, usually the council, which the scaffolding contractor normally arranges, and access over a neighbour’s property needs their agreement.
Common questions
When is the right time of year to paint outside?
Typically between late spring and early autumn, when temperatures are more reliable and the days are longer. A dry spell at other times can sometimes be used with suitable products, but we will not paint in conditions the manufacturer advises against.
Do we need permission to repaint the front of the house?
Repainting in the same colour usually needs no consent. Changing the colour of a listed building, or painting previously unpainted brickwork in some conservation areas, may need permission, so check with your local planning authority before work is scheduled.
More painting
Discussing exterior painting?
Tell us about the property and the rooms involved. We will visit, look closely at the surfaces and prepare a written quotation.
Request a quotation