Interior Services – Domestic
Preparation Of Surfaces
All surfaces or substrates need to be prepared to varying degrees subject to the quality of finish, the existing surface conditions and the type of paint to be applied. All surfaces need to be rubbed down or abraded to give the surface a key which enables the next coat of paint to adhere; a smooth surface is also more pleasing to the eye.
All surfaces may need filling, cleaning, sterilising, burning off, stripping, sealing, knotting, sizing or priming, this all comes under the heading of preparation.
Emulsion to Ceiling and Walls
Once the ceiling and walls have been prepared, ceilings are completed first followed by the walls. Most common paints used on internal projects are water based emulsions either matt, satin or silk finishes.
On redecoration work you usually apply two coats of paint unless there is a big colour change and three may be required. On new work a thinned down first coat will need to be used to absorb into and seal the plastered surfaces followed by two full coats of paint.
Woodwork
Woodwork is a general term to include doors, windows, skirting boards, picture and dado rails and door frames sometimes referred to as trim. These surfaces are more likely to get damaged due to heavier traffic so they need a more durable paint an eggshell, satin or satinwood either water or oil based.
Where a more durable paint is needed traditional oil based, eggshell, satinwood or undercoat and gloss may be needed.
Wallpapering or Paperhanging
Wallpaper can be applied to a wall or ceiling surface and even panels within a door instead of another decorative finish. Lining paper can be used to improve a surface either for painting or applying wallpaper over it. Wallpaper needs adhesive and is usually applied to the back but can also be applied to the wall.
Wallpaper can be cheap or very expensive depending on what type to buy; there are three main types of pattern matching, non-match or random, set or straight pattern or drop pattern. There are lots of different types of paper, vinyl and contract vinyl, embossed, washable metallics, hessian, hand printed and silks.
Decorative Effects
Decorative effects come and go with the times and can be fashionable. These effects are generally completed over a finished surface and require a high degree of skill. The examples of decorative effects can be Gilding, graining, marbling, dragging, ragging, stippling, blending, rag rolling, colour washing, wood washing to name a few.
A lot of the more advanced effects were traditional techniques used to imitate highly prized and expensive commodities that were difficult to purchase such as marble and Mahogany.
Artexing, Tiling and Coving
Artex is a trade name and is a textured finish not done so much now but still around particularly on ceilings.. You can have a variety of patterns such as stipple, swirl, broken leather to name but a few.
Tiling is still widely done on walls and floors in bathrooms and kitchens with a huge variety of finishes offering a different type of texture.
Coving or cornice is applied in between the ceiling and wall plaster, plasterboard type or lightweight polystyrene type.
Small Building Repairs
As part of your decorating project there may be underlying problems with the surfaces that need rectifying either before or throughout the job. These jobs can be rotten woodwork or damaged plaster or plasterboard; all these repairs can be completed done by the company.
Paint and Wallpaper Books and Swatches
As part of your professional customer service all paint makers samples, colour cards and wallpaper samples can be accessed and available for you to have in your home. You can decide at your leisure and within the surrounds of the rooms you would like to decorate.
