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Wise old Mr-Skill has often come across water-damaged ceilings, and he rightly advises that the first thing to do is to find and repair the source of the problem. It may be a leaking pipe in the loft, or perhaps a cracked tile on your roof. Once the cause of the problem’s sorted, the damaged ceiling should be allowed to dry out naturally. If it has suffered significant damage, you may need to replace that whole section entirely – simply find a roofing expert right here on Mr-Skill.
Weighing your Options
If you are going to go the route of a DIY repair, there are some important considerations. Maybe that’s all too difficult for you, in which case you can find a painter or decorator here on Mr-Skill. Ceiling and roof work in general are difficult areas to work with, and that’s why it is advisable to call in the experts.
Steps to Ceiling Recovery 
- A proper repair of the damaged area is essential, as simply leaving the moisture to evaporate will not prevent further leaks. Assuming that the source of the leak has been eliminated – this could mean getting a painting quote afterwards – you can now commence the recovery process.
- If you can access the area above the ceiling board, prepare to inspect the area from on top. Drying out the water-damaged area is important, and there is no real substitute for time and some movement of air in the affected space. Attempting to paint too soon will simply result in the water marks re-appearing through the fresh paint, no matter how many coats you apply.
- If the damaged ceiling has severe blackening or water staining, try applying bleach to the area on a sponge or cloth. If the old paint starts to peel or crack, you must scrape the entire area until you get back to raw ceiling board.
- Once the ceiling panel has dried out thoroughly, and you have removed as many of the water marks as possible, apply a liberal coat of universal undercoat. Allow this to dry properly too.
- After a day or two, you can go ahead and apply a good quality ceiling paint with a roller. Allow to dry naturally, and apply as many coats as necessary to cover the old problem zone.
Good as New
One of our regular London painters tells us that he never ceases to be amazed at what water damage can do to a ceiling and how difficult it can be to put right. After all, nobody enjoys walking into a room with a blackened ceiling!
Tags: access, ceiling, ceilings, considerations, cracked tile, DIY, find a painter decorator, leak, leaking, leaking pipe, London painter-and-decorator, moisture, movement, naturally, painter, painting decorating quote, roof work, undercoat, water marks, water-damaged
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Our Mr-Skill has many talents, but, by his own admission, painting is not one of them! He far prefers to find a painting and decorating specialist when any serious decorating needs doing. Even painting straight lines is a bit of a mission for our well-informed handyman, and that’s always a worry because anyone looking at the finished job will spot his errors for sure. 
Sidney is one of our regular London painters, and he is prepared to part with a couple of trade secrets to help you achieve the perfect painting job, when you decide to redecorate:
- Always paint the trim before covering the walls – that may be alien to most of us already, but Sidney says it is not that difficult to touch up a plaster surface later if you have managed to apply trim paint or varnish to the wall.
- If you are masking a surface you want to avoid spilling paint on, then let the trim paint dry completely before removing it. Otherwise the newly covered surface could peel off like a skin.
- Sidney also recommends masking the area where wall meets skirting baseboards. However, when you paint the tops of your walls, you can safely elect to key in nicely using the correctly sized brush, and the straight edge of the cornice as a guide.
- Sid goes on to warn, “Don’t overload the brush with paint, because inevitable and ugly paint runs will result for sure!”
- Our painting guru goes on to advise “rather paint using your shoulders and not your elbows or your wrists, and take long smooth strokes. The quicker you paint, the more chance of splashing you will have from the brush or roller.”
Even Sid concedes that painting is not everybody’s forte, so he suggests you get a painting and decorating quote, and then sit back and watch the experts at work. He rounds off with the following sage advice: 
“Always try to clear a room before painting it, as this facilitates a quicker and safer job with less downtime through moving things around. Use proper ‘spot sheets’ to collect spills, and don’t move from room to room without checking what may be stuck to the soles of your shoes.” Mr-Skill wishes you a happy painting experience!
Tags: brush, cornice, covered, decorating, find a painting-and-decorating specialist, key in, London painter-and-decorator, masking, Painting, painting-and-decorating quote, perfect, plaster, professional, roller, secrets, skirting, smooth strokes, surface preparation, trim, walls
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Warm, summery weather makes for a good time to be thinking of essential maintenance, before the days start to shorten and the cold weather returns. At first, painting sash windows may seem simple enough, but you do need to observe some basic rules if you want to get the job done properly. One of our London painting and decorating experts is all too familiar with sash windows, and will be offering some words of wisdom as we go along.
Plotting and Planning 
When painting your sash windows, you must factor in the need to close the windows at night. This means planning the exercise carefully, and having all your ducks in a row before you start. You’ll need paint, brushes, roller sets, sandpaper, cleaning rags and materials. Don’t forget a safe ladder to reach the higher windows.
Perhaps you have decided to rather get a painting and decorating quote? Quite wise, you won’t regret it! When buying paint, remember to have a primer coat in case you have to scrape or sand back to the wood. Then there’s the undercoat and top coat which you can apply only when the surface is dry and ready to receive them.
Preparing Your Sash Windows
- Because the two sliding panels overlap, sash windows are quite difficult to work on. Fortunately, their design does allow for reasonably safe painting from the inside. We are assuming that you have already neatly masked off the glass both inside and out, in order to protect from paint over-runs and splashes.
- Pull up the bottom panel to its fully-open position, and then bring the top section down to about halfway open. You can now work on the lower section of the top panel. Don’t forget to remove all flaky and dry paint, going back to the bare wood if necessary. Then apply the primer or undercoat as appropriate.
- Reverse the position of the two panels, leaving a slight gap at the top and bottom this time. You can now complete the preparation and painting of the top rail and the stiles, before tackling the entire lower sash.
- Next, it’s the frame surrounds. Leave sufficient time for the paint to dry on the surfaces so far completed, before closing the sash windows for the night.
- By tomorrow, the painted surfaces should be dry. Pull both sash panels to their lower positions to expose the inner and outer runners. Leave this to dry for a decent time before raising both panels to reveal the lower inner and outer runners.
Mr-Skill Promotes the Easy Life!
We do realise that painting is not everyone’s favourite pursuit, and that is why we have a selection of approved painters and decorators for you to choose from. Find a painting and decorating expert here right now – you could even benefit from some great summer promtions, but do hurry!
Tags: discounts, essential maintenance, find a painter and decorator, glass, london painting-and-decorating expert, masking tape, on promotion, paint, paint splashes, painting and decoratingquote, planning, plotting, preparation, primer, safety, sand paper, sash window, summer weather, top coat, undercoat
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Scuffed and damaged wood trim around the home is not very attractive. Interestingly, it’s not all that difficult to restore these important details to their former glory. With thorough preparation, decent paint and a good eye for detail, you’ll soon have your handiwork admired.
Proper Preparation 
It’s all about the effort you put in to preparation. First, remove all flaky paint, and then use a fine-grade sand paper to smooth over the surface. You don’t necessarily have to go back to the raw wood, just an even surface will do. One of our regular London painters is a perfectionist of note. He says that you should mask off the surrounding wall and floor surfaces before you start. Your call then!
First Coat
Having prepared the trim, you now need to apply a primer coat throughout. This is to seal the wood and create a firm bonding surface for the middle, or the undercoat. Always allow a decent time for newly-painted surfaces to dry – read the instructions on the paint pot carefully. Keep in mind that wet or humid conditions add to the drying time.
Undercoating
Apply a decent quality undercoat, because this is ultimately the barrier to future scuffing and chaffing. A weak, thin application of it will not stand up to the punishment it’s going to take in your home. Some people just don’t like painting or feel they don’t gave the required skills. In such cases, Mr-Skill has an abundant supply of professionals ready to assist – get your painting quote right here and save up to 30% of the normal price too.
Top Coat
There are some excellent paint products on the market these days. With non-drip paints, with low, or no odour, diamond-tough finishes and a host of colours to choose from, what more could a professional want? Remember to use good quality brushes and don’t overload the head with paint, because it’s going to cause runs instead of the smooth finish you desire.
Final Tips
Here at Mr-Skill we always provide free advice, and when it comes to painting the trim around your home, we suggest that you start early in the morning. Don’t forget to allow sufficient time between coats, and cleaning up properly is always worth the effort. One last tip – if you want a first-class job, find a painter from the many professionals registered with us. Our motto is “No Fuss, no Bother, just a Job Well Done!”
Tags: application, bonding, chaffing, find a painter, floors, free advice, london painter, Painting, painting quote, preparation, primer, restore, sanding, scuffing marks, smooth surface, top coat, undercoat, walls, wood, wood trim
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One of our long-established London painters advises that choosing the right decorator to paint your home can mean the difference between a really great job and, well….he doesn’t like to consider the other extreme! Just about every village, town and city has probably got at least one of these in-demand professionals, meaning that the emphasis has to be on finding the best one for you. 
A really good place to start would be right here on Mr-Skill, and that’s because we screen our members carefully before agreeing to sign them up. This means you can find your painter-and-decorating professional with confidence, and the good news is that you could save up to 25% on normal rates right now!
What to Look For
- Ask around. Speak to family and friends and see if they have any worthwhile recommendations.
- Check them out – Have a careful look at some of their recent work, and ask yourself if the quality really comes up to your standards.
- Are they insured? Decorating can be hazardous, so you need to know that your painter has professional insurance. Imagine a serious paint spill on your new lounge carpet – who’s going to pay?
- Employee or freelancer? Many of the larger contracting houses delegate their work to freelancers. You need to be satisfied that the person recommended has the required skills. Check the small print to see precisely who is accountable, especially if things go wrong.
- Quality costs – Don’t automatically grab the cheapest option. Look carefully at what the painting-and-decorating quote includes, and for that matter just what it excludes too!
- Before you decide – Check at your local paint and hardware store, mentioning the name of the contractor you are thinking of hiring. If there is any hesitation, investigate further!
Re-decorating your home can be a stressful exercise, even using the best skills available. Choose carefully, particularly if you are using a decorator for the first time. First prize is to have your home looking sparkling fresh and clean at the end of the day. The booby prize means having someone else in to fix up the mess! Using Mr-Skill to find a painter-and-decorator is a safe and wise choice for sure!
Tags: cheap quote, clean home, decorating, employee, find a painter and decorator, freelancer, great job, hardware store, insurance, London painter-and-decorator, Painting, painting-and-decorating quote, professional painter, quality, re-painting, recent work, save
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Vases can make the ultimate statement in a room when beautifully bedecked with stunning flowers, all perfectly arranged to impress. There’s virtually no limit to the number of choices when it comes to selecting a container suitable for the occasion. They come in just about any material you can think of too, but clear glass and even crystal still remain popular choices.
If you are looking to create a classic or contemporary look in your home, there are numerous ways to show off a vase and its contents for the most stunning visual effect. If you are not the imaginative type, you could always find a decorator through Mr-Skill. 
Wall-Hanging Vases
These are a recent alternative to the more traditional standard vase, and hang on a wall rather than rest on a flat surface. This can create a visually stunning effect too, if positioned correctly on the interior walls of your home. You can also use them in any room. A slender wall vase can show off a single long stemmed beauty, such as orchid spray with stunning results. Alternatively, you could display a lovely primrose plant to its maximum potential, assuming it is of course spring!
Vases Wrapped in Fabric
Match your vase to the décor of the room you plan to place it in. The nice thing about fabric is that you can change it regularly to great creative effect. After covering the vase with your preferred covering, simply use double-sided tape to gain an almost seamless join.
Then, you can adorn your new creation with a lovely ribbon around the neck or base, to produce the perfect eye-catching contrast. If you find this all too difficult, you could always get a decorating quote here.
A Riotous Floral Display
Tightly pack a large clear glass vase with stunning bunches of seasonal flowers – even in the winter months you can buy beautiful, warming imports. Sweet peas can fill a room with their heavenly scent on a warm summer’s day. It still takes a lot to beat the trumpet-shaped crowns of a well arranged bunch of daffodils. Tulips too come in just about every colour of the rainbow.
Don’t forget that foliage and berries can make a magnificent display on their own – even when there are no cut flowers. This is a popular choice around Yuletide.
Pebbles and Shells
One of our regular London décor experts gets a huge kick out of attractively layering a clear glass vase with small shells and pebbles. You can even get polished stones that positively glitter in the light reflections of your home. How creative is that?
Tags: arrangements, clear glass vase, crystal vase, cut flowers, fabric, fabric vases, find a painting-and-decorating specialist, london painting-and-decorating expert, orchids, painting–and-decorating quote, pebbles, primroses, shells, tulips, vase, vases, wall vases
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In this two part article, we first look at attending to brickwork tainted by air-borne pollution and then, everybody’s pet hate, graffiti. Part two deals with the cleaning of bricks contaminated by efflorescence.
Before attempting to remove dark pollution stains from your brickwork, make sure you have the proper safety clothing, including a hard hat, heavy duty waterproof gloves and industrial shoes (also waterproof).  Since you will be using acid, this is no job for the inexperienced DIY person – rather find a painting and decorating service in your area.
If cleaning light-coloured bricks, start by scrubbing the entire wall with a 1:20 solution of hydrochloric acid and water. Strengthen the solution to 1:10 when cleaning dark coloured bricks. Mix the acid and water in a plastic bucket or basin, and then apply to the wall with a stiff scrubbing brush.
Begin by scrubbing the wall at the top left corner (assuming you’re right-handed) and move across the wall, and then downward using overlapping circular scrubbing motions. It is advisable to treat approximately one square meter, and then pressure-hose that area before moving to the next section of brick.
When pressure cleaning, be careful not to apply too much force, as intense jets of water can disturb the bonding cement and may even damage the brick face. Make sure you are positioned correctly in terms of distance from the wall, standing at least three feet away. Use a wide-sweeping action for best cleaning affect.
If this is sounding a bit hard, rather get a painting and decorating quote, and get on with something else you would rather be doing.
When cleaning off graffiti, work a thick layer of citrus-based gel over the entire painted surface.  Now, work it into the crevices using a hard nail brush. Wipe off with a clean cloth, and then work in some more gel. Repeat the process until the graffiti disappears.
One of our regular London painters and decorators offers the following tip for removing unwanted graffiti. Cover the affected gel smeared wall with a plastic sheet taped over it. Leave this in place overnight to allow the gel to penetrate. Remember, the longer graffiti is left on the wall the more difficult it will be to remove.
A final pressure clean should be all that’s needed in the morning!
Tags: acid, algae, bricks, chalk powder, efflorescence, graffiti, lime, marks, pollution, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, weather
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Probably the best kept secret to any good painting job lies in the word “preparation”. If you want your painting handiwork to look as good – if not better – than the professional look, you need to be well organised and prepare effectively. If you are not too sure about proceeding with the job yourself, you can find a decorator right here on Mr-Skill. Then, just sit back and let the experts do in one day, what may take you far longer.
Begin with the protection factor – preferably remove the furniture from the room you are redecorating. If this is not possible, then cover everything with old sheets to prevent paint spills and keep out the dust. Don’t forget the carpets, and remove pictures too. If this is starting to sound too hard, perhaps you should consider a decorating quote? 
Attend to any cracks or holes in the surfaces you are about to paint and sand them down when dry. Now, mix a mild solution of sugar soap in warm water, and use this for removing marks, oil, grease and general dirt. Mask off anything necessary, including straight edges where ceilings and walls meet, so that you can concentrate on the task at hand, namely painting!
We’re assuming you have all the materials you require for the job, such as:
- The appropriate quality paint, brushes, rollers and trays
- Interior plaster-filler
- Suitable ladder
- Cleaning cloths
- Covers (for the furniture and carpets)
Always begin at the top with the ceiling, since paint does drip from your brush, and rollers do tend to flick paint everywhere too. Use rollers for ceilings and walls, and brushes for the detail work in corners, on skirting boards and around cornices. Rollers are designed to spread paint effectively, so avoid saturating them when you refill.
Depending on the colour you select, you may need to apply two coats of paint to get the desired finish. Remember to let the paint dry properly between applications.
One of our London decorators says that the biggest test of a job well done is the clean up after you have finished. He’s assuming of course that you have completed the job as expertly as he would!
Tags: brush, ceilings, cleaning, cloths, cornice, covers, find a painter and decorator, home painting, interior decorating, ladder, london decorator, masking, materials, paint, painter and decorator quote, Painting, professional painter, roller, skirting, tray, walls
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You have made your mind up and you have decided to clean your garage – again! The first thing you stumble upon is loads of leftover paint pots in various stages of decay. What do you do next? Well, if you are like most of us and are environmentally principled, you should be thinking the three “R’s”. That is, reduce, reuse and recycle.
Does this sound a little hard for you? You could also get a waste removal quote from Mr Skill by clicking on this link. This will direct you to a number of cleaning services. Next time you find a decorator, why not ask them to remove the leftover paint after they have finished?
Reduce – If you find that there’s always some paint left over from a job, this tends to suggest that you are buying too much in the first place. Speak to your friendly paint shop and ask them to calculate your paint requirements next time, based on the measurements you provide. Most paint pots also provide coverage guidelines on their labels.
Reuse – As long as you store leftover paint properly – meaning correct sealing and storage – you can keep the paint for quite a considerable time.  Tip – wipe the rim of the open paint pot clean and replace the lid tightly. Make sure you have a decent seal and then invert the pot. If you store the pot upside-down like this, you should have an airtight seal that will prevent a skin forming under the lid.
Recycle – Check with your local authority when it comes to recycling empty paint containers. The chances are good that these can be handed in at your local waste station. If your paint containers cannot be recycled, dispose of them responsibly as general household waste.
Now my old mate Ray, who’s been a professional London decorator for more decades than he cares to remember, suggests that if you do have usable leftover paint that you are never going to need, then you should try donating it instead. Check your local charity shop for advice. Better still. Make sure the cost of disposing of messy paint pots is included in the painter’s quote next time. This information is provided by Mr-Skill as a public service.
Tags: buy, calculate, charity, clean, container, dispose, donate, find a decorator, garage, leftover, lid, london decorator, measure, old, paint, painters quote, pot, recycle, reduce, remove, reuse, shop, skin, store, tin, waste
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Whether you Find a Decorator on Mr-Skill or do the job yourself, you inevitably end up with left-over pots of paint. Those with just a few scrapings in them are best thrown away. Those still at least a quarter full could be worth preserving for touch-up jobs.
 Reseal Quickly – Air is the enemy of paint because paint’s supposed to dry in its presence. Clean both lid and tin carefully where they come together. Insert a sheet of film or tinfoil. Close firmly to achieve an airtight seal without causing any distortion.
Label the Tin – Begin to clean your brush by painting a colour-patch on the tin in a way that does not cover up any important information. Use a laundry marker to note the dates when bought and used, and the colour code if the paint was specially mixed.
Store Away Sensibly – I know a London Painter who insists in storing paint tins upside down so that the paint remains above the film and not beneath it. I’ve followed his advice and found it works quite well. In any case, store the tin away from extreme heat and cold.
 Using Old Paint – Paint has a limited shelf-life and many manufacturers suggest that it should be used within a year of being purchased. Don’t be tempted to bring down the cost of a Decorating Quote by using paint that’s gone beyond its usefulness. In any case, make sure it’s strained through a fine mesh sieve or piece of muslin, and into a clean container and well stirred.
Storing paint is really only really useful when you have a plan to use it shortly. This could be when you are half-way through an upgrade, and just want to brighten up a wall. In other instances it may just be an excuse to accumulate more clutter.
Be brave. Know the difference. Why not give your old paint tins a fresh view on life instead.
Tags: air, airtight, clean, close, code, cold, colour, container, date, decorating quote, distort, film, find a decorator, foil, heat, label, left over, leftover, london painter, mark, muslin, paint, patch, pot, reseal, sample, scrap, shelf life, shelflife, sieve, store, strain, tin
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