Tips & Advice

Have you turned up to a job and been asked to troubleshoot painting problems that have mysteriously appeared? Perhaps you’ve even come across these issues yourself and had to act to resolve them for your customers. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the common painting issues that you will encounter and how to resolve these for your customers.

Chalking

This is often found on exterior walls when the wrong paint has been used, the surface has not been sealed properly or the previous paint was over-thinned. This can lead to a chalky white layer occurring over time.

Solution – Luckily the solution is fairly straightforward. You will need to remove the chalky substance by washing the surface, sugar soap is great for this. Once you have fully cleaned the surface and washed it with clean water and let it dry you can then apply a suitable sealer or stabilising

We all know how important a great finish is when it comes to painting and decorating and this is equally true when it comes to a rental property. In this blog, we’ll look at what to focus on when decorating your property for the rental market and how to make sure the decorating appeals to the mass market.

Less is more

When it comes to rental properties the temptation can be to update and upgrade everything in the property to make it stand out, but our advice would be to focus on what matters. Functionality is key to success so simple furniture, fittings and fixtures will do the job just a well as more expensive alternatives at a fraction of the cost. Stick to neutral colours for things like your kitchen cupboards, tiles and flooring as these will help the property appeal to the most people.

Adopt a neutral colour scheme

While your own personal style might be bold and bright, it isn’t for everyone. Neutral colours will help to brighten up small rooms and

One of the easiest ways that you can help to guarantee a great finish is ensuring you have the right tools for the job and when it comes to paintbrushes there are a huge range of choices. And, while there is a massive selection of brushes on the market, we’ll look at which ones you’ll likely be using on a daily basis. Not only will having the right brush help you complete the job quicker, but it will also make getting a perfect finish much easier.

Don’t go cheap

It can seem tempting, especially for those just starting out in a career as a painter or decorator to buy a set of cheap brushes but this is a false economy. Cheap brushes simply don’t last as long as their more expensive counterparts which means any cost savings that you enjoyed originally will quickly be lost as you have to replace brushes that lose their bristles and shape. As well as lifespan, another reason to avoid cheap brushes is the quality of finish simply won’t be up to that of a more

Let’s hear it for Brave Ground the latest colour to be chosen by a panel of Dulux colour experts. Chosen as the colour to best represent our lifestyles, Brave Ground is a warm and neutral colour that connects us back to nature and the simple things. In a world still dealing with a global pandemic, Brave Ground helps us align with the planet and look towards the future.

The colour was chosen by a panel of experts including design specialists, editors and architects from around the world. Working with paint company AkzoNobel the shade was chosen along with complementary natural tones to form the Dulux ColourFutures 2021 palettes. These palettes are split into four very distinct palettes which are Expressive colours, Trust colours, Timeless colours, and Earth colours.

According to Dulux “Brave Ground is a warm, earthy tone which creates a feeling of stability, growth and potential; and provides a firm foundation for change and creativity in your home.” Brave Ground will bring

Fancy yourself as the Pablo Picasso of the painting and decorating world? These 5 painting techniques will help you showcase your skills and provide your customers with a great painted finish that they will love. Not only will mastering these techniques help you stand out from the crowd, but they will also help you win more business. So, let’s dive in and take a look at the decorative painting techniques and how you can master them.

1.      Metallic paint

This is definitely one that takes some practice to perfect. Metallic paint offers a great way to add a decorative finish to walls and using techniques such as stippling, sponging, criss cross, overlapping, strié and other painting techniques. It is best to experiment with different strokes to see which give the best finish. The results can be truly stunning and will help you provide a luxurious finish that looks great in bathrooms, bedrooms, and hotels.

2.     

Thinking of tackling that next home renovation project yourself? If you want to get professional results, then you need to make sure that you have the right tool for the job with a comprehensive toolbox. In this blog, we’ll look at the essential items that should be in any DIY enthusiast’s toolbox as well as a couple of additional tools that will make your life easier.

Hammer

One of the most basic toolbox items is a claw hammer as this is a good option for a number of jobs from hanging pictures to remove nails from flooring. While hammers come in many different shapes and sizes, a standard 16oz claw hammer will be suitable for a wide range of tasks. A great inexpensive tool that should be in everyone’s toolbox.

Screwdrivers

There are two main types of screw heads, flat-head and Philips which has a cross in the middle. Screwdrivers sets are cheap to buy and will give you a wide range of screwdrivers in different sizes suitable for a wide range of jobs.

From cosmetic facelifts to major structural alterations, there are a huge number of home improvements that homeowners choose to make to their homes in order to make them more personal and a better fit. And, while some refurbishments and improvements are almost guaranteed to add value to your property, others are likely to leave you out of pocket when the time comes to put your property on the market. In this blog, we’ll look at the 7 home improvements you should avoid.

Adding a luxury bathroom

Possibly a controversial inclusion on our list, a luxury bathroom may seem like a good investment but when it comes to return on your outlay then the figures simply don’t add up. Generally speaking, a bathroom remodel will only return about half of the money that you spend on it. If you plan on being in your home for a long time then this is not an issue, but if your plans are to sell on after a few years then a more standard bathroom will deliver a better return.

Building

When your goal is saving money on a large home project one of the easiest ways to do this is by tackling the job yourself. And, while some projects naturally lend themselves to the DIY weekend warrior, other home improvement jobs really are best left to the professionals. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the reasons why hiring a professional could make more sense than tackling the project yourself.

Equipment costs

Many home improvement jobs will require specialist equipment in order to get professional results. For example, carpentry or joinery projects will often involve a range of joints to be made such as miter, dovetail, and tongue and groove, having the right equipment will make creating these a breeze. And, while there are plenty of DIY focused tools on the market to help you with these tasks, the tool costs alone can cost more than paying a professional carpenter to do the job.

Time that it will take

While money is often the biggest factor when

While we’re not all lucky enough to live in a period Victorian property filled with stunning features such as fireplaces and high-ceilings, period features can be added to almost any home. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the easiest ways that you can add period style features to your property to help create visual interest in your rooms.

Crown and base mouldings

A fantastic way to add interest to your rooms for a very low cost is with the addition of mouldings. These mouldings provide a transition between your walls and the floor and ceiling and often feature a decorative or intricate carved pattern. Mouldings are available in a huge range of styles from traditional and rustic to modern and contemporary. Most mouldings come in a base white colour, but these can be painted to add an extra impact or to complement your existing décor.

Wainscoting

Hallways, bathrooms and utility rooms are all great candidates when it comes to wainscoting. This decorative