Do I need to redecorate?
The signs paintwork needs more than a wipe, how often each room usually needs doing, and when paint is not the fix.
Paint wears slowly, so it is easy to stop noticing it. These are the signs we look for when someone asks whether it is time.
Signs it needs doing
- Scuffs and marks that do not wash off, especially in halls and on stairs
- Fading where the sun hits, and a different colour behind pictures
- Cracking or flaking on woodwork, often on skirting and window sills
- Yellowed gloss on doors and trim
- Hairline cracks at the ceiling line or around door frames
- Mould spots in bathrooms and on cold outside walls
How often
As a rough guide: hallways and stairs every three to five years, living rooms and bedrooms every five to seven, bathrooms and kitchens more often because of steam. Exterior woodwork usually needs attention every five years or so, masonry less often.
Before selling or letting
Fresh, neutral paintwork is one of the cheapest ways to make a property photograph well and feel cared for. For a let, a hard-wearing washable finish saves time at every changeover.
When paint is not the fix
Recurring mould, damp patches or cracks that come back after filling usually point to a ventilation, leak or movement problem. Paint over them and they return. We will tell you if we think that is what is going on.