Preparation for Malvern homes
Period Malvern houses hide the same three problems: distemper or limewash under later emulsion, moisture-damaged plaster on solid walls, and generations of oil paint on the joinery. Preparation here is investigative — Kevin tests what he is painting over before committing, because a beautiful topcoat on an unstable base will lift within a year.
- Old distemper and unstable surfaces identified, sealed or stripped
- Damp-affected and blown plaster flagged before painting, not covered up
- Layered Victorian gloss rubbed down and primed for a flat modern finish
How Kevin runs a preparation job
Reading the surface
Kevin checks each wall and ceiling in raking light for hollow plaster, hairline cracking, old wallpaper paste, nicotine or water staining and previous bad filling — because each of those needs a different treatment, not just another coat.
Making good
Cracks are raked out and filled properly rather than smeared, holes and dents filled in layers, damaged corners rebuilt with beading where needed, and blown patches cut back and re-skimmed so the wall reads flat.
Sanding flat
Filled areas and old brush marks are sanded back, mostly with dust-extracted sanders to keep the mess down, until the surface is smooth to the hand as well as to the eye.
Caulking and sealing
The gaps around skirting, architrave, coving and stair strings are caulked and wiped to a clean line. This is what removes those dark shadow lines and makes a repaint look like new joinery.
Priming and sealing
Bare plaster gets a mist coat, filler and repairs are spot-primed, resinous knots and water or smoke stains are sealed with a stain block, and glossy woodwork is keyed so nothing bleeds or peels later.
Why Malvern homeowners use That Paint Guy
- Kevin is the person who quotes the job and the person who does it — no subcontractors turning up instead.
- Independent and based in Worcestershire, so Malvern is a short drive rather than a call-out charge.
- Public liability insured, with the certificate available to read on this site.
- Free written quote after a visit, itemised room by room, with a realistic day count.
- Workmanship guaranteed for twelve months from completion.
Other services in Malvern
Preparation in other towns
More about decorating in Malvern or preparation across Worcestershire.
Need preparation in Malvern?
Send Kevin a photo of the room or the elevation and he'll come back with a free written quote.