Metalwork
- Wash and lightly rub down sound paintwork.
- Remove peeling or blistered paint with a wire brush; treat any rust. Apply a rust inhibitor and an appropriate primer (some preparations combine the two functions) to exposed metal.
- Use a chemical stripper to remove any build-up of paint - especially if, say, it interferes with the action of metal-framed windows.
Woodwork
- If the surface has been previously painted and the finish is in good condition, wash and lightly sand it.
- If the surface has been previously painted and the finish is in poor condition, strip back the paint to bare wood.
- If the surface is unpainted or has been stripped, you can give it a translucent finish or paint it.
Sound Plaster Work
- Wash walls and ceilings with warm water and sugar soap. Sugar soap is available in powder, liquid, and concentrated form; follow the recommendations on the packaging. You may need to rub down minor imperfections in brand-new plaster.
- Always wash walls from the bottom up. Water running down on to a damp surface disperses, whereas if it runs on to a dry surface it may leave indelible dribble marks that show through paint.
- Unless the surface is very dirty, you don't need to rinse the walls after washing. If you do rinse, work from the top down.
Plaster Work With Problems
- Fill minor blemishes, such as fine cracks or holes left by picture hooks, and allow them to dry.
- Major defects, such as damp, large cracks, or extensive mould, could be symptoms of another more serious problem, which must be put right before you do any decorating.
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