Exterior Painting and Decorating
As with internal painting and decorating preparation is key to producing a quality finish but, the most important aspect is protection from the extremes of the British weather. Along with the sunshine and rain, we have quite a large temperature variance, anything from -15c to +35c, this causes shrinking and expanding of the timber/joinery which creates cracks and allows water to penetrate.
Before any coatings are applied all timber and joinery must be sound and solid, therefore we only use the best quality fillers to repair rotten or damaged areas and in severe case we can arrange to have rotten timbers replaced.
After this preparation we recommend the application of the Dulux Weathershield System, a flexible three-coat system comprising of a prime/preservative, undercoat and gloss. The system has been developed by Dulux to withstand the extremes of the British weather. It is flexible, highly durable and has a 6-year performance guarantee.
Staining
If external timber/joinery areas are not painted using the standard undercoat and gloss system, then they are nearly always stained. The same applies to staining; preparation and protection. All timber/joinery must be sound and solid with any weathered patches brought up to the same colour as the surrounding area before any coats are applied.
There are many different types of wood-stain available, but they mainly fall into two categories, semi transparent and opaque. Both are available in water based and oil based formulation and come in variety of colours and finishes.
The water based opaque variety, which is a solid colour, is flexible, highly durable and is good for covering badly weathered timber. Semi transparent varieties give a more natural finish as they allow the grain in the timber to show though.
If you are unsure which type of stain you have on you’re property, please give us a call and we would be only to happy to advise you.
Masonry Paints
Today’s masonry paints come in water based and oil based varieties, with a large selection of colours to choose from. Used on cement render and brickwork they provide a breathable barrier between the porous brick/render and the elements. Traditionally used on coastal houses and properties to protect them from the high salt content, the modern masonry paints are a direct descendant of white/lime wash.
As with all other external painting and decorating, preparation and protection are vital. Previously painted areas are cleaned down to remove an algae, loose and flaky paint is removed and stabilized, cracks are filled using a cement based filler before at least 2 coats are applied.
UPVC Cleaning
Nearly all houses today are constructed to be as maintenance free as possible, with nearly all the external windows, doors, guttering, fascia and soffit being made of UPVC. This looks great when it’s new but, over the years it attracts algae, lichen and becomes green and unsightly. The best solution is to clean if off but, not everyone wants to get up a ladder.
If your UPVC is like this, or you just want your gutters clearing, please give us call and we would be more than happy to give you quotation to carry out the works.