Painting & Decorating

20 articles

• Artex Asbestos Risk: Pre-1985 Testing & Removal Guide UK
  Pre-1985 artex and asbestos: chrysotile content up to 5%, CAR 2012 requirements, licensed vs non-licensed work, skim-over option for undamaged artex, bulk sampling procedure
• Block Damp Stains Before Painting: Sealer Guide UK
  Blocking damp stains before painting: shellac, oil-based and water-based stain blockers, when each is needed
• Caulking Before Painting: Where, How and Common Mistakes
  Caulk gaps at skirting/architrave/coving with paintable acrylic decorator's caulk (never silicone — repels water-based paint); let it skin before overpainting; BS 6150, BS EN ISO 11600
• Exterior Masonry Paint: Prep, Products & Weather Guide UK
  Exterior masonry painting: surface preparation, masonry paint types, weather windows, alkali-resistant primers for new render
• Exterior Masonry Paint: Systems, Prep and Coverage
  Exterior masonry paint: breathable silicate/silicone for solid-wall pre-1919 (never plastic acrylic — spalling), acrylic for modern cement render; coverage 6-10 m²/L smooth, 3-5 textured; BS 6150:2019, BS EN 1062
• Exterior Surface Preparation for Painting: UK Guide
  Masonry prep (stabiliser, fungicide), timber prep (knotting, primer types), metal prep (BS 7079 surface grades, red oxide), COSHH for lead paint pre-1960
• Exterior Timber Painting: Microporous Paint System Guide
  Microporous water-borne acrylic alkyd system: 6-10 yr south, 10-15 yr north; preparation = 50-70% of job; BS 245 shellac knotting; aluminium primer for resinous timbers; tannin-blocker primer for oak/cedar; pre-1960 lead paint CLAW 2002 wet stripping; substrate ≤18% MC before painting; failure-mode diagnosis table
• Exterior Wood Stain UK: Micro-Porous vs Film-Forming Guide
  Exterior wood stain and preservatives: micro-porous vs film-forming, tanalised timber treatment, application techniques and re-coat intervals
• Floor Paint Guide: Concrete, Timber & Product Selection
  Concrete floor prep (diamond grinding, acid etching), epoxy vs polyurethane vs acrylic floor paints, DPM compatibility, slip resistance additives, BS EN 13300 classification
• Heritage Property Paints: Limewash & Breathable Coatings
  Heritage and period property paints: limewash, distemper, and breathable paints for listed buildings and pre-1919 construction
• How to Prepare Woodwork for Painting: Sanding & Priming
  Woodwork preparation for painting: sanding sequences, knotting compound, primer types, undercoat vs primer-undercoat
• Microporous Coatings for Timber: When to Use & Why
  Microporous coatings for exterior joinery: how they work (Sd value, vapour-open), comparison to film-forming coatings, typical lifespan, maintenance cycles, Sadolin/Sikkens products
• Paint Coverage Calculator: m² Per Litre UK Guide
  Paint coverage rates: theoretical vs practical coverage by surface type, calculating litres needed per coat
• Painting UPVC Windows and Doors: Prep, Products and Durability
  Painting UPVC windows and doors: prep/primer selection, adhesion promoter use, dark-colour LRV restriction, durability expectations
• Spray Painting vs Brush and Roller Comparison
  Spray vs brush-and-roller compared on speed, finish, and COSHH 2002 legal/health obligations (isocyanate 2-pack paints requiring air-fed RPE).
• Spray Painting vs Roller: When to Use Each Method
  Airless spray vs roller: finish quality, speed, overspray risk, masking requirements, cost comparison by job type
• Wallpaper Hanging Guide: Paste, Pattern Match & Corners UK
  Paste type by paper weight (starch/cellulose/fungicidal), pattern match allowance (straight 0%, drop 25–50%), internal corner overlap 12mm, butt joints and seam roller technique
• Water-Based vs Oil-Based Paint: Tradesperson's Guide UK
  Alkyd vs water-based (acrylic/vinyl): drying time, hardness, yellowing, VOC, coverage; eggshell vs satinwood confusion; VOC Decorative Paints Regulations 2010
• When Should Specialist Coatings Be Used? Intumescent, Anti-Carbonation, and Bituminous Products
  Intumescent paint for steelwork (BS 476-21 DFT requirements), anti-carbonation coating (BS EN 1504-2), bituminous paint (BS 3416), zinc-rich primer, COSHH compliance
• Which Emulsion Paint? Interior Selection Guide UK
  Interior emulsion paint selection: matt, silk, eggshell finishes; sheen levels by room type; coverage rates and application tips