External Tips

If you are thinking of having your exterior painted, ask a professional!.......no seriously. As a rule, most decorators will know exterior, microporous paint systems and the correct external materials. It could be a bit daunting as a DIY project usually requiring at least ladders if not a full scaffold. You should expect a good job to protect the painted parts of the exterior of your house for a maximum of 10 years although if it is an old property with lots of timber, TSD recommends five to six years between works.TSD guarantees exterior work for one year against peeling and flaking.

Internal Tips

Have a good think about what you really want from your personal or business space. if all goes well, you are going to be living with the results for quite some time! Choose as many paint colours, palettes and temperatures as possible. If you are trying test pots it is a great idea to buy a roll of lining paper, cut some 50cm lengths and paint these in your chosen colour. You can then sellotape up  these test pieces in the room or space you are intending to paint. This will allow you to move the pieces around seeing your colour choice in different  areas and lighting situations, appreciating the feel of the colour. It also means that if you change your mind on colour or decide to put off painting the room, you won't have a patchwork of test blotches painted directly onto the walls.

Choose from a top quality brand. TSD uses and recommends Farrow & Ball, Fired Earth and Paint Library. These companies have done their research and produce lovely paints and colour ranges. They contain more pigments and less "extenders" than cheaper, more widely available paints.TSD also uses Dulux trade and Weathershield paints. With paint, as with many other things in life, you get what you pay for. For a few extra pounds you will get a result that will be a joy to live with. Remember how long you will be living with your paint choices!

For ceilings and walls choose water-based emulsion paints. In bathrooms and kitchens you can still use matt emulsion. However, For more durability, an oil-based eggshell is ideal in these damp prone areas that may require a wipe-down from time to time. For the woodwork, an oil-based Eggshell, Satinwood or Flat oil is best. These are the "smelly" paints with longer curing times than emulsion. They are, when fully cured, very hard wearing which is why they are used on areas that take the most punishment.