Woodwork

Skirtings, architraves, dado and picture rails, window boards, panelling, shutters and built-in cupboards: the joinery that frames a room and often defines its period. Doors and windows have their own pages, doors and windows.

Existing paintwork is washed to remove grease, then abraded to give the new paint a key; unkeyed gloss is the most common reason new coats peel. Dents and open joints are filled, gaps against the wall caulked, and bare timber is knotted and primed. Between coats, a light sand with fine abrasive removes nibs of dust so each coat goes onto a smooth surface.

Water-based trim paints dry quickly, have less odour and do not yellow as oil-based whites do; they suit most rooms and often allow two coats in a day where the data sheet permits. Oil-based paints flow out more and can leave a finer brushed finish, but whites and pale colours yellow over time, particularly away from daylight — behind radiators, inside cupboards, on the side of a room furthest from the window. Moving from oil to water-based needs a thorough clean, a good key and a primer made for the purpose.

Eggshell has a low, soft sheen that suits period and contemporary rooms alike; satin is a little more reflective and easy to wipe; gloss is traditional and hard-wearing but shows every dent beneath it. Our note on matt, eggshell or satin goes further.