Full House Redecoration in Hurst

A full house redecoration in Hurst asks for a decorator who can keep a whole home on schedule without cutting corners. We recently completed a top-to-bottom redecoration of a period property in the village, working through every room, the staircase, and the exterior woodwork. The owners wanted a clean, consistent finish that would suit the age of the house and stand up to family life.

The brief

The owners wanted the entire interior redecorated, plus the front door and exterior timber. The house had a mix of original plaster, newer plasterboard, and previously painted woodwork. Some rooms had not been decorated for years, so preparation would be the biggest part of the job. The aim was a fresh, durable finish in colours that worked with the existing furnishings and the character of the house.

We started with a walk-through to check every surface. We looked for cracks, flaking paint, old wallpaper, stains, and areas where previous coats had failed. We also checked the condition of the exterior woodwork and the type of paint already on it. This told us what preparation each area needed and what materials would work best.

Preparation

Washing and repairs

We washed down all walls and woodwork to remove dust, grease and any loose material. Cracks were raked out, filled and sanded. Gaps around skirting boards, architraves and window frames were caulked to stop them opening up again. Damaged plaster was repaired before any paint went on.

Stripping and lining

Two rooms had old wallpaper that was lifting at the edges. We stripped it back to sound plaster and hung lining paper to give a stable, even base for the new finish. This also helped hide minor surface imperfections that would have shown through paint alone.

Priming and spot priming

Bare plaster was sealed with a mist coat of watered-down emulsion. Stains on ceilings were spot primed with a stain-blocking primer so they would not bleed through. Bare wood was primed before undercoating, and any knots were treated to stop resin coming through.

The work

Walls and ceilings

We used a durable matt emulsion on walls and ceilings throughout. Matt gives a soft, even finish that suits older properties and hides small surface flaws better than silk. In the kitchen and bathrooms, we used a moisture-resistant emulsion that can cope with steam and the occasional wipe down.

Woodwork

All internal woodwork was rubbed down, undercoated and finished with a water-based satin. Water-based trim paint stays whiter for longer than solvent-based gloss and is easier to clean up. It also dries faster, which helped keep the job moving through the house.

Exterior

The front door and exterior timber were sanded back to a sound surface, primed, and finished with a microporous wood paint. This lets moisture escape from the wood while keeping rain out, so the paint is less likely to peel or blister.

Wallpaper

One feature wall in the dining room was papered with a patterned wallpaper. We matched the pattern at the corners and around the door, and used a ready-mixed paste suitable for the paper type. The edges were rolled to make sure they stayed down as the paper dried.

The result

The house now has a consistent, clean finish from the ceilings down to the skirting boards. The owners can move furniture back into any room without worrying about scuffs or uneven colour. The exterior woodwork looks sharp against the brick and should hold its finish through several winters.

Because we planned the job room by room, the owners could still use most of the house while we worked. We kept dust down with sheeting and cleaned up at the end of each day. The whole project was completed within the agreed timescale, with no surprises on the final day.