Painter and decorator based in Southend on Sea

Having lived and worked in the Southend area and working as a painter and decorator since 1993 I have over this time covered a variety of decorating and home improvement and handyman projects. Covering mainly residential work but not exclusively as I have done some commercial projects also. Some of the areas covered are Great Wakering, Barling, Southchurch, Rochford, Southend, Thorpe Bay and surrounding areas.

I find sticking to this area I can keep a good reputation and my name is seen and known around the area, I used to travel further afield but rarely do these days.

Having started my business before the internet became popular I have grown with the web and have websites, blogs, social media such as Twitter and Facebook as well as doing some videos on YouTube. I have also been asked to do reviews for several decorating items and paints. I have also created and coded myself some calculators to help you work out the quantity of materials required for your job. I can work these out for you on an onsite visit and source them if you require.

If you would like me to do your decorating, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0845 0037 508 or use our online estimate form to arrange an onsite visit. I will visit your property and discuss your requirements, materials and answer any questions you may have, you can also be rest assured that I will be the person who will be doing your job, we do not sub-contract out work, this gives both parties an excellent working relationship. I do not give prices over the phone or without looking at the job, once I have seen and discussed with you your requirements, you will receive an estimate from me, either via email or post.

Dunlop Pro Decor

After I was recently asked by Dunlop to do a review of Dunlop Pro Decor Flexible Acrylic Filler on this blog the post has beem well received and I was contacted via my twitter account this month and asked if they could use a quote from my review on some of there marketing counter top displays.

I of course said yes, the filler is a great product and it does as it claims. I have been impressed with the results I get from it, and pleased to have my name and website on their point of sale display.

Look out for it in a store near you or at a trade day.

Dunlop Pro Decor images used with permission from Dunlop

Buying the Dunlop Pro Decor products

You can buy all your Dunlop Pro Decor products from My Paintbrush.

Listed buildings

I thought I would write a post about listed buildings as I am about to start working on one. Owning a listed building is slightly different than owning a non listed building in as much as what you can and can not do.

If you have a building that is listed it will be on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, being listed doesn’t only apply to property but also parks, wreck sites and monuments etc.

Grades of listed buildings

There are three grades of listings I, II* and II.

• Grade I: These are buildings of exceptional special interest. There is only a small number of listings with this status.
• Grade II*: These are high quality buildings and on the most part are unaltered, and often with an interior of special interest.
• Grade II: This is the biggest group consisting of around 95% of buildings.

So if you own a listed building it is more likely to be a Grade II listed.

Working on a listed building

When working on a listed building it is best to check with your local council what you can and can not do to your property, don’t just go ahead with works think it will be ok as it could be costly and you may have to redo the works in line the the local Planning Department. Listed buildings can not be modified without first obtaining listed building consent through the relevant local planning authority.

When working on any listed building any alterations or decoration should be undertaken sympathetically to its original state and or surrounding area.

You should always stick to the guidelines and to what has been agreed with the local council, if not you may be required to change what has been done at your cost.

Local authorities can if required serve a repair notice if they fell the property isn’t being preserved well enough and maintaining it well. If one of these notices are served, it will explain what is required to be done and a timeframe to complete works. If this notice isn’t complied with the local authority could submit a compulsory purchase order to the Secretary of State.

Owning a listed building

If you own a listed building you should do some research about the property, contact the local council planning department and find out as much about your property as you can, find out what you can and can not do without permission. You can find out some information about the listed building on the Historic England website.

When making alterations or simply routine upkeep of your property you may have to employ specialists, such as a thatcher for you roof. You may have to source materials that were used originally on your property, such as slate, or you may need to use lime render rather than standard render.

All of these things need to be thought about and budgeted for when buying and maintaining a listed property.

The important thing to remember is if you are unsure, seek advice. It is always better to be safer than sorry.

Some useful links

Below are some useful links you may find of interest and helpful.

• Listed building on Wikipedia
• Historic England (where you can find listed buildings and general information)
• The Listed Property Owners’ Club is Britain’s only advice service dedicated to helping members get the most from their homes.