How to Repaint Internal Doors

Do your doors look a little tired and need a new lease of life? In a traditional home, solid wood doors can be stripped and restored to augment their natural beauty. Black or copper door handles are a great way to offset this period look and add a modern twist. Stainless steel and chrome door handles on the other hand look perfect on white doors in a contemporary interior and offer a neutral ambiance throughout your home. Consider the contours and tones in your room to determine the handles that best complement your interior.

If your doors are paint encrusted, you will need to strip the layers of paint back before refinishing. This will not only improve the aesthetic finish on your doors, but will also help to ensure your doors operate smoothly. If lead based paint is being removed, it is best to speak with a reputable specialist for advice before carrying out work as there are additional precautions which need to be taken to ensure the paint is removed safely.

Before you commence work it is important to prepare your work station. Protective gloves, eye and face masks are necessary to ensure that no dust is inhaled and offer you protection from any chemical cleaners that may be used. Ensure that the items you are using are fit for purpose before you start. Once you have done this it is best to unhinge the door to ensure an even finish. Make sure that your work area is well ventilated and dust sheets are laid to catch the debris.

Perhaps the most common method for stripping paint from your door is using a chemical stripper. Typically, this is applied to the surface of the door then after the specified time the paint is removed using a scraper. On stubborn and intricate areas of the door or architrave, a wire brush maybe used to carefully remove paint from the surface. Once you have completed this step, any chemical residue should be removed using the recommended fluid specified on the product you are using. Always follow the step-by-step instructions specified by the manufacturer as they will be most relevant to the product you are using.

Once the paint has been successfully removed, it’s time to sand your door in preparation for painting. When painting, remember to apply the paint smoothly and evenly, do not overload your brush, as this can cause the paint to run which in turn can create drip marks to dry onto the surface of your door. Remember to allow enough time for
the paint to completely dry before applying a further coat of paint. Once you are happy with the finish, you will be ready to hang the doors and fit your door handles.

Should you require new door handles, why not check out the extensive range of door hardware on offer from www.handleking.co.uk making use of discount code ‘DECO5’ at checkout to receive a generous 5% discount off all orders!

Getting your home ready for winter

After such a mild autumn we could be in for a harsh winter, so being prepared in advance is vital. Doing essential jobs before the winter sets in could prevent any issues during the winter months.

If you own property and rent it out it is advisable to get your rented property checked over as well, prevention is better than cure as they say.

What to check and fix before the winter

Things such as heating, boilers and radiators are the most obvious things to check and service before the winter, but less thought about things such as gutters and drains also need to be looked at.

Boiler, radiators and pipes

Getting your boiler serviced (by a qualified engineer) could not only prevent a break down when you need it most, but if it runs efficiently it could also save money on your gas bill.
Radiators should be bled to ensure no air is in the radiators and they can supply you with efficient heat, you can tell if your radiator needs bleeding as they will have a cold spot at the top, if it is cold at the bottom, this indicates a buildup of sludge and rust, this should be flushed out to get the most from your radiators this winter.
Pipes, these should be lagged including any pipes outside such as in outbuildings or garden taps. If pipes are not lagged and they freeze, they could burst and cause flooding.

You can read about how to avoid freezing pipes on our Rayfields site.

If you are going away, or you have a empty rented property, it is a good idea to leave the heating on low just to prevent pipes from freezing. Now is also a good time to know where stop cocks and valves are, just in case of an emergency.

Roofs, gutters and drains

Roofs take a battering in the winter with strong winds, rain, sleet and snow. It is a good idea to give it a visual inspection from the ground. If you have access to a ladder you could look at it closer but don’t get on the roof without the necessary safety equipment. Look for missing or broken tiles including ridge tiles, look at the state of the chimney if you have one. If anything needs repairing get it done sooner than later as roofers can get busy.

Gutters get full of falling leaves and can block the downpipes, clear guttering out and fit a downpipe leaf guard to stop debris falling down the downpipe. Also check where the downpipe goes, is it an open drain, does this flow well or is it blocked? A blocked drain could cause damp to your property.

You can read a post I did about cleaning out your gutters on our Rayfields site.

Insulation, doors, windows

Does your loft have enough insulation in it? Are any pipes and hot water tank properly lagged all these should be looked at for both rented and private owned properties. Are you walls cavity insulated or can they be, you may even be able to have it installed for free. So it is worth a little time checking.

Do your windows and doors fit and close as they should? If you have draughts you could fit draughts excluders around windows and doors. If your windows don’t shut well because the handle is broken, get it fixed, reducing draughts will help keep the heat in and cold out, thus saving on heating bills.