little clues

[Nemesis]

Spalling is where the water/cement has damaged the stone - the face of the stone had delaminated from the rest.

The problem is if left it will get worse. It might be that the damage is slight, but it also might be the case that re-render with lime is the best way forward. Yes you might have to patch if stuff is really sticking.

You can limewash over the lot far more cheaply than expensive paints. Looks good too.

 

[charlie-ia]

I think window colours may be way down the line!

yes, but i was asking if you thought the coloured windows, matching the door made of planks was a good style to go for.
i see this on all the small cottages round about, but there dont seem to be houses similar to ours around to compare to locally. most the 2storey houses are new. Im desperate to avoid it looking like a themepark copy.

the colour of the windows is linked to the style of the door we need to get.(soon)
White windows and a less rustic/more formal/decorative door perhaps? or is style completely immaterial as long as the materials used dont do any permanent damage?

we were thinking of limewashing it. and "wet dash"ing it. im reading up on it at the moment. in a book, so no link.

 

[Nemesis]

It's really hard to say - I would go for off-white windows in the first instance, they are always able to be painted another colour later, and whatever door colour you fancy!

But a plank door never looks out of place, while more complex ones can.

A simple four panel door may be OK too.

The bars are interesting. A place remote and there to keep out burglars, a place used seasonally and so people worried about break-ins... possibly used as a shop or business...who knows.

Some research into past uses might reveal more.