Quick and easy question about window decorating

[JoceAndChris]

Still the dining room - I'm preparing the window for painting. What do I do about the slightly mouldy, damp gap at the bottom of sash, between glazing bar and window?
Rake out with toothpick, fill with linseed putty? Leave to dry then paint? ( I'm using Eco emulsion, non breathing)

Thanks for your help. Xx

 

[JoceAndChris]

Sorry - one more question - this is more subjective. These pics are taken standing on the sill, within the shutter housing, and show the old paint schemes. The ochre colour is 30s, or 40s - because it's throughout the house and in the 30s additions. I don't think it's later as the house wasn't decorated much at all between the 30s and the 80s ( I know that from talking to the previous owner, and the previous previous owner!) should I not decorate this bit - so that future owners can see the old schemes? I can't decide if that's a conservationist, or lazy, approach - maybe a bit of both. The top of the shutter housing has been deliberately left, but as it will be visible whilst dining I think that must be painted.

The bits that look like black rot in the pics are just cracks and holes in the wood.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I would rake out and use linseed oil putty as you suggest. If you have any knots in the exposed woodwork these should be sealed with knotting before you paint. Even 200 year old knots can still seep resin.

Unless you have something particularly interesting (and I don't just mean a portrait of Henry VIII) I would decorate over old paint schemes after documenting them well first, as you have done already with your excellent photos.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks Nigel, that's very helpful. I'll do as you suggest. Xx

 

[Penners]

I entirely agree with Nigel in all respects. I think to leave part of the shutter housing unpainted is much more likely to look untidy to future prospective purchasers than to interest them. We PPUKers who love that kind of detail are a rare and treasured breed!

You're quite sure that the black areas are just holes, and not rot, are you? If there's any risk of their being the latter, then you need to do something about them before you paint.

Sorry if that's obvious.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks for the excellent advice - it looks like rot but in fact it's mouldy, in places - those black spots caused by old damp and condensation. Nevertheless the woodwork feels solid and dry, apart from where the sill starts becoming an outside sill, that's going to need some new sections splicing in, and it's a pity I can't do that, and my Dad can't really be put upon these days.

 

[michael]

I suppose it’s a matter of taste but do you really want to paint it? Some people pay skilled ‘Faux’ painters shed loads of money to try and achieve the distressed patina look you have there.

 

[Lime]

I suppose it’s a matter of taste but do you really want to paint it? Some people pay skilled ‘Faux’ painters shed loads of money to try and achieve the distressed patina look you have there.

That is always the quandary, isn't it?
Everyone seems to like the effect but do not want to own it.

 

[JoceAndChris]

It is indeed a very tricky problem. Clean and fresh and smart versus old and interesting.

If anyone would like to achieve that look on their home all that's needed is artistic use of Nitromors, scrapers, and fine grade sandpaper! ( if you have old walls and wood)

In my case I feel the scabby patination is at odds with what I'm trying to achieve - to redecorate a room very badly in need of it. ( it was last done in 1984, and as we can see, bits have been missed!) On top of that there's no question that the poor old shutters, naked and desiccated from having been dipped in the caustic tank, look better for a fresh coat of paint. And the floors and staircases throughout are so worn and uneven, the joinery so dinged and dented, the knobs and catches all with their old ancient knack, the old fireplaces so blackened and cracked, - I just feel I've got enough patina without doing the flaking peeling paint thing!

I think I'll keep one or two bits though, in hidden places.