Exteriors, render & sash windows

Existing paint does not tell the whole story

Identify the substrate, the remaining coating and any previous patch repairs before selecting a new system. Historic England cautions that inappropriate coatings can restrict moisture movement in older walls. For lime render or stucco, obtain a specification suited to the material and its condition. Painting previously bare brickwork is a separate proposal, with its own technical and conservation questions.

Sources: Historic England: redecorating an older home

Look carefully at river-facing elevations

For a Richmond home near the river, include exposed faces, sheltered corners and the lower parts of the elevation in the inspection. Note stains after rainfall, peeling below a sill and any history of leaks. Proximity to water should prompt careful questions, not a diagnosis of damp. If moisture is active or unexplained, resolve the investigation and repair responsibility before scheduling the decorative finish.

Sources: Historic England: investigating moisture in traditional buildings

Treat a sash as a working assembly

Record which windows open, which faces are included and whether repairs are needed before repainting. Separate the sash, frame, sill and reveal in the quotation. Discuss protection for glass and ironmongery, keeping moving parts usable and retaining the definition of glazing bars. A repaint instruction should also explain how each opening will be secured during the work.

Respect the differences in a frontage

Render bands, stucco surrounds, painted brick and unpainted masonry should not disappear into one blanket coating. We mark the proposed treatment on photographs and review sample colours beside the adjoining materials. Include doors, existing painted railings and downpipes explicitly where required. Historic or fragile details may need specialist repair before they are suitable for decoration.

Put access and weather into the programme

Establish whether work can be reached from the property or needs equipment on the public highway. Council licensing applies to scaffolding and materials on an adopted highway. Once access is resolved, the chosen coating's application conditions and the weather determine the workable sequence. Avoid setting a handover around a fixed number of painting days before those constraints are understood.

Sources: Richmond Council: scaffold, hoarding and materials licences