Painting woodwork

[Sadge]

Hi there - what a fabulous forum

We are proud owners of a period property and looking for some advice on decorating. The main question is woodwork...the house is Georgian...so I understand it would have been painted rather than exposed woodwork....but there is lots of it.

We would welcome advice on colours as well as finish. It's mostly skirting, architrave, picture rails, internal doors etc. Most is painted a gloss white at present (last coat some time ago and yellowing)

We need the new finish to be both in keeping with the house, but also durable...there's too much to keep re-decorating constantly. Part of me says 'white gloss' because it is so durable...it goes with almost everything etc.....but another part of me feels that litre upon litre of Brilliant White is probably not ideal.

Thoughts welcome

Sarah

 

[Penners]

No, brilliant white isn't really appropriate, if you're looking for authenticity. In fact, probably the most authentic look is what you've got already - slightly yellowing gloss white.

If you want to repaint, I should use a good gloss off-white.

If you're interested in source material for the interior decor of a Georgian house, The Georgian Group has a selection of books. In particular, I've heard good reports about The Georgian House by Steven Parissien (although I haven't read it myself).

http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/pub/index.php

 

[Nemesis]

Although I agree possibly not very 'green' we have found Farrow and Ball's oil eggshell to be reasonably traditional looking (far flatter than many other eggshell ranges, although it takes a while for the full effect to become apparent) while being rather more easy to wash down than flat oil. An alternative is to paint doors to resemble mahogony - a cheat but doesn't show sticky finger marks readily!

Some careful scrapes may reveal original colour schemes, unless some past owner has removed all traces.

Sadly, since the death of Peter Hood, I have no idea what has happened to the Real Paint Co, but the website still has useful info on paints:

http://www.realpaints.com/history.htm

Yes the Geo book of the Geo House is good on details. Although mostly quite grand houses the pics are inspirational.

The Geo Group has other pubs, but I think mostly they are collected together in the book:

http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/pub/pub.php?id=7:27:184:0

 

[Penners]

The Geo Group has other pubs

Sounds like good news.

 

[Nemesis]

As in publications... (rolls eyes)...

The Geo Group has a rather fine HQ though:

http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/location/index.php

This article is from PPUK:

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/article019.htm

This is worth reading:

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/interiorpaint.pdf

and of course:

http://www.traditionalpaintforum.org.uk/index.html

Several articles on paint and interiors:

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles.htm

This firm is by Royal appointment to HM The Queen:

http://www.papers-paints.co.uk/projects_uk.asp#London

Rose of Jericho manufactures a range of paints which may prove of interest too.

Linseed oil paint (eg Holkam) we haven't tried for interior paint so can't comment on what it would be like.

 

[Sadge]

Thanks for the tips...we already have the book 'The Goergian House' and I can recommend it.

Nemesis - Is the F&B eggshell very wipeable??? I have 3 children (all under 9 years old and need to be able to remove sticky finger marks etc. We have previously used Dulux eggshell and have been quite dissapointed with the finish (ie. it marks very easily)

Is there much difference in the actual make-up of paint between a F&B and a cheaper (eg. Dulux) alternative (in emulsions as well as eggshell, gloss etc.)?

Penners - Any tips on what you would call a 'good' gloss off-white?

Finally, any thoughts on colours other than (off)white?

I really appreciate the advice

Sarah

 

[Sadge]

Forgot to ask....does anyone have any experience with F&B distemper? We have a distemper ceiling and thought about redoing in distemper

 

[Nemesis]

I've found it pretty washable. No problem at all. Much better than cheaper alternatives - looks better. You need paint with pigment as opposed to dye.

Re distemper - there have been reports that F and B isn't so great, but I have never used it.

Try Rose of Jericho - you need soft distemper for ceilings. It is possible to make your own.

http://www.rose-of-jericho.co.uk

 

[Penners]

Penners - Any tips on what you would call a 'good' gloss off-white?

Ooh, Sarah - you're dragging me into a quagmire! Paint questions bring out all sorts of entrenched views. :wink:

OK - here's mine. If you're going to be painting over the top of some sort of indeterminate, reasonably modern paint, then it's really not worth getting worked up about breathability, traditional ingredients, and so on. In your shoes, I would just go with a decent Cr*wn or D*lux gloss.

 

[Nemesis]

Better to go with a non - gloss - it hides all manner of sins and looks far more 'period'!

Also - better to pay a bit more and go with a paint made from proper pigment - it looks so much better. It has a depth which the mass stuff hasn't.

 

[Penners]

Better to go with a non - gloss - it hides all manner of sins and looks far more 'period'

Well that's an interesting assertion. Did the Georgians have matt oil paints?

Also - better to pay a bit more and go with a paint made from proper pigment - it looks so much better. It has a depth which the mass stuff hasn't.

You see what I mean, Sarah?

"Depth"? I've seen smart, expensive paint and I've seen the mass market stuff. It all looks pretty much the same to me.

Personally I have no idea what Nemesis is on about, but I'm sure she wouldn't buy the expensive stuff if she didn't think it was worth it.

You pays yer money and takes yer choice.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes they had matt paint... although for everyday purposes at the moment I would consider eggshell, and yes it's worth paying extra for stuff with pigment! Even emulsion looks better for it...

 

[Penners]

Ah, but it's subjectivity again, you see.

 

[Nemesis]

Maybe. If you are taking time and trouble to paint a period property, the bit extra cost is worth it IMHO.

 

[Sadge]

Thanks for the replies...looks like i've stirred up a hornest nest!

Any thoughts on woodwork colours other than (off)white?

 

[Nemesis]

How long is a piece of string?

How old your house, what sort, so much depends...

 

[Gervase]

pea green, ochre, pink...as Nemesis says, string comes in all lengths!

 

[Lime]

I don't use Dulux gloss now where once I would have recommended it.
A few years ago I ran out of Farrow and Ball's gloss and bought a small tin of Dulux gloss while I waited for the F&B paint to be delivered.
Ughh!
It is thin and sticky from the word go and if you have a large area to cover the brush drags more and more as the paint on it becomes even more sticky.
F&B paint is like paint used to be. (almost)
It is full of pigment, particularly the undercoats, and I enjoy using it.
As with all painting, good, sound preparation is paramount complemented by a good undercoat together with rubbing down between coats.
It may take a few hours more of your time but you can then spend the next few years admiring your work and experience compliments about your work from others.
I used their Dead Flat Oil in my hall, stairs and landing over 12 years ago.
Since then 2 teenage sons have grown up (nearly) and it has been washed I don't know how many times to get finger marks off.
It still looks good.
Scuffing does not change the finish as it does with some emulsions.
Even I marvel at how I lined a wall so large, looking up the cavernous stairwell, and painted it so well.
It is a pleasure to look at every morning.

I like their Lime White No.1 and Cream No. 44.
They go well together on doors and frames.

 

[Sadge]

Thanks everyone....having spend last night reading through source books etc. I think I am settled on a (off)white rather than delving further into the colours discussion

Lime - Did you use the dead flat oil on woodwork or on walls? Am sorry to be picky...but did you use lime white on the frames and cream on the doors or the other way around?

 

[Nemesis]

Historically, skirtings etc were not always painted the same colour as doors and frames but treated as part of the wall.


If you want a not brilliant white F and B do All White, although they also do a wide variety of other off whites.