Decorating a 1930s semi-detached house
Inter-war semis are the most common house we work on across Hampshire, and they fail in a predictable order: bay window joinery first, render or pebbledash second, then the internal woodwork that has collected forty years of gloss.
3 questions we get about this building type
- Should we replace or repaint the original windows?
- If the timber is sound, repair and repaint is far cheaper and usually looks better. We will tell you plainly if a unit is beyond it.
- Is painting pebbledash a good idea?
- On sound, previously painted pebbledash, yes — it tidies the elevation and adds protection. On unpainted or failing render it needs more thought.
- How long does a full house take?
- Internally, most semis run over one to two weeks depending on joinery. Exterior work depends heavily on weather windows.
The bay window always comes first
Bays catch weather on three faces and usually have the oldest joinery in the house. Sills, bottom rails and the junction with the render are where water gets in, and where a decorator's honesty matters most.
- Moisture readings before any coating
- Decayed sections cut out and repaired rather than filled
- End grain and joints sealed as the priority detail
Pebbledash, render and painted masonry
Textured exteriors drink material and hide hairline cracking. A high-build system helps on sound render; on hollow or blown areas it simply locks the problem in, so we tap the elevation before recommending anything.
Inside: picture rails, panelled doors and built-in joinery
Layered gloss on 1930s joinery is the usual internal story. Keying, filling and a modern flexible system transforms it, and spraying the doors gives a finish brushwork cannot match.
- Doors sprayed in situ where the room can be handed over
- Picture rail and skirting lines cut in by hand
- Original ironmongery removed rather than masked
Next step
Send photographs of the bay and the worst elevation and we will tell you what needs repair before decoration.
Get a quoteOther building types
Seafront apartment blocks
Block managers on exposed coastal elevations budgeting for realistic maintenance rather than one-off repaints.
New-build apartment developments
Developers and site managers needing plots finished, snagged and handed over on programme.
Serviced office floors
Operators who need rooms back in use within days and a finish that survives constant tenant churn.
Planning a commercial painting or decorating project?
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.