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Your Home vs. The Elements

For some of us, the inside of our homes can be more important than the outside.

The inside is where we can show our creativity with colours, furnishings, lighting, etc. The inside is where we entertain our friends, relax after a hard day, and where we raise and nurture our children. So in many ways it’s easy to forget about the outside.

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While an expression of creativity is still possible on the exterior, caring for the external paintwork is more of a practical undertaking than anything else. Your paint is the first line of defense against the elements & it’s important to know how to maintain it. Here are a couple of simple options you can take:

Option one – Cleaning. Dirt & debris on your nice paintwork not only spoils the look, if it’s left unattended it will abrade and break down the protective surface of the paint. Gloss paint on your windows, doors, window ledges or even walls will therefore benefit from having any accumulated dirt removed. If the paintwork isn’t too old it should respond well enough to just some warm water and a sponge. If you first brush off any excess grit, leaves, etc. and don’t have your sponge too wet, you should be able to remove any dirt that’s removable. If it won’t budge, don’t force it with anything abrasive. It’s important not to compromise the protective surface of the paint, so detergents should also be avoided if possible. If the walls or window ledges have masonry paint on them, they can be cleaned in the same way.

Option two – Touching up. If after cleaning your painted woodwork you see any cracks, blisters, or indeed any bare wood, there is something you can do to help protect the wood until it’s time to redecorate. Great expertise is not required for this; it’s only a simple repair to keeps the elements at bay.

1) Scrape or peel off any loose paint.
2) Sand the area a little & brush away any dust or debris.
3) Apply a coat of primer/undercoat to bare wood (ask at your local paint store & they’ll be glad to show where it’s kept)
4) When the primer/undercoat is dry (see the tin for drying times) apply a coat of exterior gloss paint. That’s it! Only apply thin coats of paint & for minor cracks just make sure you get some paint in them to protect them.

If however you have any major cracks or any other concerns about your exterior paintwork, why not give us a call. We’ll be happy to advise you on the best way to proceed & more than willing to provide you with a free detailed quotation for any work you might need.
Of course Spring is a great time to go the whole way with interior or exterior redecoration. If you are considering work on your property in or around London, we are more than happy to offer free advice, and welcome the chance to offer you our detailed quotation for the work.

With best regards
Marlon Bulger
Production Director
Bulger Wicks

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