PremiumWalls services
A finish that lasts starts with a stable, level, properly prepared wall.
Cracks, hollow plaster, peeling coats and uneven surfaces are not things to paint over. This is the work that decides how the wall looks three years on, so we quote it as its own line rather than bury it.
- Free site inspection
- Written, itemised quote
- 1-year workmanship warranty
- Same-day callback
At a glance
Why does surface preparation matter so much?
Because most paint failures are really preparation failures. Paint bonds to whatever is under it, so if that layer is loose, powdery, damp or moving, the new coat fails right along with it, however good the product is. Repair and levelling are the biggest single variable in both the cost and the life of a paint job.
What does the wall look like?
How much repair a wall needs comes down to what we find, and some of it only shows once the loose material is off.
Fine cracks like a spider's web
Usually shrinkage in the surface layer. These can normally be filled and levelled.
A single long crack that keeps coming back
That is movement, not surface shrinkage. It needs opening up and treating, and sometimes a structural opinion first.
The wall sounds hollow when you tap it
The plaster has come away from the masonry behind it. It has to come off and be rebuilt. Painting over it is a stopgap.
Paint flaking off in sheets
Either moisture behind it, or a coating underneath that the new paint will not bond to. Both mean taking the old layer off, not recoating.
The wall is wavy under raking light
Uneven plaster. It shows badly under any sheen and behind smooth finishes, and it needs levelling to put right.
Old distemper or a chalky surface
Modern emulsions will not stick to it. It has to be taken back to a sound surface first.
Wall Repair and Preparation services.
The stage that decides how your walls look three years on: cracks, plaster, putty, levelling and sanding, all done to a standard.
Wall Putty Application
Levelled, sanded surfaces, ready to take colour.
Read moreWall Crack Repair
Hairline, shrinkage and structural cracks told apart.
Read morePlaster Repair
Hollow and blown plaster cut back and rebuilt.
Read morePaint Peeling Repair
Work out why it peeled, and fix that before repainting.
Read moreOld-Paint Removal
Failed coatings taken back to a sound surface.
Read moreWall Levelling and Restoration
Uneven walls brought back to a true plane.
Read more
We carry out all of the above. Detailed pages for each are being added — in the meantime, tell us which one you need on the inspection CTA and we will bring the right person.
How we work
How the preparation is decided
Assessment before any depth is quoted
We check the surface by tapping it, scraping test patches and looking at it under raking light, and we check for moisture before assuming a repair will hold.
Loose material comes off
Cleaning, scraping and taking off anything that is not sound. There is no point building on a layer that is already failing.
Cracks opened, filled and left to cure
A crack is cut back so the filler has something to grip, then filled and given time to cure. Skimming over the top does not last.
Plaster rebuilt where it has failed
Hollow sections are cut out and re-plastered, then left to cure before anything else goes on.
Putty, levelling and sanding
Applied and sanded back until the surface is true. This is the stage that decides whether the finished wall looks flat.
The right primer for the surface
Chosen for what is underneath, not applied as a box-ticking exercise.
Wall Repair and Preparation — your questions.
Can the scope change once you start?
Sometimes, and we tell you that upfront. Damage behind a failing surface is not always visible until the loose material comes off, hollow plaster and moisture especially. If the scope has to change, we stop, show you what we have found, and agree the revised work in writing before carrying on.
Why is preparation a separate cost? Isn't it part of painting?
It is part of the job, and we itemise it instead of hiding it in a rate. A wall that needs full putty, levelling and crack repair takes a lot more labour than one that needs a clean and a recoat. Showing it separately is what lets you compare quotations honestly.
Do all walls need putty?
No. A sound, level, previously painted wall in good condition might need only a clean and a recoat. Full putty is for new plaster, for surfaces being levelled, and where the existing finish has to come off. We tell you which applies once we have looked at the wall.
The wall is damp. Can you repair it anyway?
Not in a way that helps. Filler and putty on a wall with active moisture behind it will fail along with everything else. The source has to be found and treated and the wall left to dry first. That is a waterproofing job before it is a repair job.
How much dust does this create?
Sanding and plaster removal are the dustiest parts of any painting job. We contain the area, cover and mask, and clean up at the end of each working day rather than leaving it to the end. In an occupied home we sequence it so the disruption stays in one area at a time.
Let us look at your walls first.
Tell us about the property and we will set up a free colour and wall inspection. You get a written, itemised quotation afterwards, with no obligation to go ahead.
- We call you back the same day to get a picture of the property and the surfaces.
- We agree a time and come out for the free inspection.
- You get the written scope and itemised quotation.
- Nothing starts until you approve it.