Decorating

17 articles

• Artex Removal UK: Asbestos Testing & Safe Skim Guide
  Pre-2000 Artex assumed asbestos (CAR 2012, HSG264), UKAS lab sample £30-80, options: leave/overboard/skim/wet-strip NNLW, FFP3 + wet methods, UN 2212 waste disposal
• Colour Schemes: Practical Advice for Tradespeople
  60-30-10 rule, Light Reflectance Value (LRV) 0-100, undertones in whites/greys, Approved Document M 30-point LRV contrast for accessibility, sample on actual wall in actual light
• Coving Installation Guide: Plaster, Polystyrene & Duropolymer
  Plaster vs polystyrene vs duropolymer coving, 100/127/165mm standard widths, 45° mitre cuts, plaster-based/foam/polymer adhesive by material, BS EN 13279 gypsum standard
• Dado Rail Installation: Heights, Fixing & Period Styles
  900-1000mm height for 2.4m ceiling, one-third rule for period authenticity, Georgian ovolo vs Victorian multi-tier profile, grab adhesive + pin to studs, never measure up from skirting
• Feature Wall Wallpaper: Choosing the Right Wall & Pattern
  Single-wall focal feature, behind sofa/headboard/chimney breast, pattern scale to wall size, 2-5 rolls typical, non-woven dry-stripping, photo murals ordered to panel dimensions
• Filling and Sanding: Surface Preparation for a Flawless Finish
  Filling and sanding surface prep ("80% of the job"); filler types, cure times, sanding flush, dust control; paint only as flat as the substrate; BS 6150, COSHH 2002, Control of Lead at Work Regs 2002
• French Polish Restoration: Shellac Recoating Guide UK
  Shellac in methylated spirit, 10-30 thin coats by hand-applied rubber; full re-polish 8-20 hrs per piece; £50-120/hr skilled rate; BAFRA for high-value antiques
• How to Hang Wallpaper: Prep, Paste & Hanging Guide UK
  Paste-the-wall non-woven default, mist coat + size new plaster, 10.05m × 0.53m roll standard, cellulose/heavy-duty/fungicidal paste selection, pattern repeat and 10-20% wastage allowance
• How to Paint Radiators: Primers, Paints & Finish Guide
  Standard CH radiators painted with acrylic satinwood, NOT heat-resistant; CH max 80°C; sugar soap + sand + 2 coats; 7-day cure before heating on; never wall emulsion
• How to Strip Wallpaper: Steam & Scoring Guide UK
  Hot water + scrape for single-layer; steam + score for multi-layer or vinyl; chemical gel for occupied properties; pre-1980 lead pigment risk; pre-1999 Artex asbestos
• Period Cornice Restoration: Repair vs Replacement Guide
  Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian profile identification, Listed Building Consent required, in-situ run vs workshop fibrous cast, lime plaster for historic, paint stripper (DOFF/Peelaway) for build-up
• Satinwood vs Gloss vs Eggshell: UK Woodwork Paint Guide
  Satinwood is modern UK trade default for interior woodwork; water-based acrylic doesn't yellow; BS 6150:2019; oil for heritage and deep colours; sheen levels 0-70%+ at 60°
• Staircase Painting Techniques
  Stair painting prep: degrease, P120/P180 sand, stain-block prime, two coats acrylic eggshell; treads need PTV ≥36 anti-slip; sequence top-down, leave runners
• Using Lining Paper Before Decorating
  800-2000 grade weights, cross-lining horizontal under wallpaper / vertical under paint, mist-coat before topcoat, butt-joint never overlap, Wallrock Fibreliner for 3mm crack bridging
• Wallpaper Paste Types and When to Use Them
  BS 3046 Class A/B/C paste, cellulose vs heavy-duty vs ready-mixed, fungicidal for vinyl/bathrooms, grasscloth paste-the-paper rule, border high-tack adhesive
• Wallpapering Guide: Prep, Paste Types & Pattern Matching
• Wood Panelling Installation Guide: T&G & Shaker Styles
  Shaker flat panel vs T&G vs board-and-batten vs raised panel, MR-MDF for bathrooms, batten substructure for solid walls, expansion gaps for solid timber, Approved Document M LRV for accessibility