Exterior painting
Exterior work that survives a Peak District winter
Render, masonry, soffits, fascias, gutters, windows and doors. Exterior decorating up here takes more punishment than almost anywhere else in England, and it shows very quickly when corners have been cut.
Wind-driven rain, hard frosts and a lot more damp days than the paint tin allows for. We prepare for that rather than hoping for a dry fortnight.
What the job involves
Exterior work is mostly preparation and timing.
Washing down
Dirt, algae and loose material removed so the new coating has something sound to grip.
Raking out and filling
Cracks opened up and filled properly rather than painted over and left to reopen.
Stabilising and priming
Chalky or powdery render sealed with a stabilising primer before any topcoat.
Masonry and render
Breathable masonry paint that lets moisture out rather than trapping it behind the film.
Woodwork
Fascias, soffits, bargeboards, windows and doors, back to sound timber where needed.
Metalwork
Railings, gates and downpipes rust-treated and finished in a hard-wearing coating.
Timing matters more than people think
Exterior coatings need a dry surface and a reasonable temperature to cure properly. Painted onto damp render or applied too late in the year, even good paint will fail early.
That's why we plan exterior work around the weather rather than the diary. If the conditions aren't right we'll tell you and move the dates rather than press on and watch it peel next spring.
Common questions
What time of year is best?
Late spring through to early autumn. We can work outside that window, but the surface has to be dry and above the minimum temperature for the coating.
How long will it last?
On sound, well-prepared render, a good masonry paint should give you ten years or more. Woodwork in an exposed spot will want looking at sooner.
Do you need scaffolding?
For most two-storey houses we can work off towers and ladders. Anything higher or awkward, we'll price scaffolding in and tell you up front.
Can you fix the render first?
Small cracks and patches, yes. Anything structural we'll flag and point you towards a renderer rather than paint over a problem.
Recent work
View the gallery
Whole house colour change
Every window surround, door and downpipe taken from black to grey
Exterior gable timbers
Stripped back, filled and repainted, render panels picked out in white
Render and stonework
Patch repairs made good, then the render coated in a clean white
Room in mind? Let's price it.
Free quotes across the High Peak and Macclesfield, usually back to you the same day.