Decoration on new build and developer projects
New buildings move as they dry out, and decoration is the trade that shows it. Sequencing and a planned second pass are what separate a clean handover from a long snag list.

01Mist coats and new plaster
Fresh plaster needs a properly thinned mist coat to key. Skipping it produces peeling that appears weeks later, right when the buyer is moving in.
02Drying-out movement
Shrinkage cracking at joints and around openings is normal in the first year. Planning a defects-period pass is more honest than pretending it won't happen.
03Programme integration
Decoration interleaves with second-fix, flooring and commissioning. A first pass followed by a final pass after other trades finish avoids repainting the same wall three times.
04Handover and plot records
Colour and product schedules per plot mean the developer's aftercare team can touch up correctly without guesswork.
Common questions
Why is new plaster peeling?
Almost always a missing or over-thick first coat instead of a properly thinned mist coat.
Are shrinkage cracks a defect?
Some movement is normal as a building dries; a planned defects-period pass deals with it.
Can you work to a developer's programme?
Yes, with a first-fix pass and a final pass after other trades.
Do you provide plot-by-plot colour records?
Yes, so aftercare touch-ups match.
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Next step
Ask how we sequence first-fix and final decoration into your programme.
Request a surveyPlanning a commercial painting or decorating project?
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.
