A quick progress note on this job in south London which has involved reboarding a ceiling with fireproof plasterboard .. followed by taping and filling all joints.
The work was required following the removal of built-in enclosed storage above the existing kitchen area.
Updates follow…
Rebuilding and repainting a Victorian ceiling in south London Read Post »
2-part filler — usually simply called “2-part” or 2-pack”, depending on your preference — will set you apart from the herd as your pursue a professional finish.
Generally: use plaster-based fillers for wall and ceiling repairs; use 2-part for woodwork.
A solvent-based product, you’ll work with a golf ball-sized amount of the filler, and mix it well with a pea-sized amount of hardener. The sets off a chemical reaction and, from the moment it has begun, the mix will start to harden: you don’t have long — maybe 5 minutes before it starts to become gritty and unworkable.
Use it to repair dings and surface damage to doors and skirtings indoors, and see how it really comes into its own for challenging exterior repairs where wet rot has been a problem.
In terms of manufacturers: historically, the gold standard for professional painters and decorators has been Decor Fill by Bonda.
A more recently launched alternative is made by Ronseal — the big benefits of this are that it is much easier to sand, is easier to feather-in to the surrounding surface, and that it is available in white.
This was a solid oak table which had fallen into a state of mild disrepair, perhaps due to the original finish not being of a high enough quality — we sanded it using our Mirka Deros dust-free sanding system, before applying four coats of varnish.
The photo was taken just after applying the first coat of varnish to one side: as you can see, oak is a light wood in its raw state.
This particular piece of wood has a characteristic figuring, which becomes much less visible with the application of each coat of varnish.
We worked for a week in Ruth’s fairly large 2-bed flat in Brockley, redecorating the living room and dining area, the L-shaped hall and the main bathroom.
The living room experienced a big colour change, going from a light orange to the more relaxing tone of a lovely colour from Little Greene called Slaked Lime.
Ruth followed up with an email after completion of the work:
The flat looks great and I am really pleased with the result. David and Shane were very professional and I appreciated them being there on time, keeping me updated on what was happening and getting the work done on schedule. Hope this helps and thank you for a job well done. I would definitely recommend your company to others. The work was so good that my carpets and curtains now look very tired…but that’s another story!
Trim Colour Series, no.8: Little Greene Slaked Lime Read Post »
A truly bold pink from Little Greene, called Leather No.191, was selected by our clients Emma and Greg in Fulham, for a fitted bedroom wardrobe which was previously painted in Little Greene Mushroom No.142.
As Little Greene’s notes state, “The brightest of pinks, this signature 1970s colour was used in conjunction with Marigold and Purpleheart in the most arresting colour schemes of the time.”
Emma was kind enough to send an email today:
We are very happy with the work, the children’s bedrooms look great. David and Shane were extremely helpful and hardworking and managed to remove all the things nailed to the wall without any scars. Luke also loves the colour of his new wardrobes and frequently tells us it is his favourite! We would be happy to recommend you and the team.
