Sealing nicotine and smoke staining before redecoration

Degrease first, always

The film has to come off before anything is sealed over it. A strong degreaser applied top-down, rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry removes the bulk of the tar and dramatically reduces how much stain blocker is needed.

Choose the right blocker

Water-based stain blockers work for light staining. Heavy nicotine, fire damage or persistent water marks need a solvent or shellac-based blocker that locks the residue in place instead of dissolving it.

• Light staining: water-based blocking primer
• Heavy nicotine: solvent or shellac blocker
• Fire and soot damage: full seal, plus odour control

Don't forget the smell

Sealing the surface handles most residual odour, but carpets, curtains and loft hatches hold it too. On heavy jobs we recommend sealing ceilings and walls in one pass so nothing is left unsealed to keep releasing.

Then decorate normally

Once the blocker is properly cured, the finish coats are conventional — trade emulsion on walls and ceilings, acrylic eggshell or satinwood on the joinery.