Property Decorating Website

It has been 10 years since the Property Decorating website has been live, it has seen many additions in that time, a gallery, four calculators for working out materials, videos and the very popular blog to mention just a few.

The basic design has remained largely the same throughout this time except a few tweaks here and there. We thought it was about time for a new look, things have changed so much over the past 10 years, not only in design of websites but the speed we access the web and also how we view the web.

With more and more people using devices such as smartphones, tablets etc. to view websites. And in fact looking at our stats we are getting around 50-60% of visitors now using these devices.

So to ensure our visitors can continue to view our site and gain access to our resources we are in the process of making a new design for the website and blog. The new design ensures all devices can view and use every page with no issues, and is following the trend for these ‘smart’ devices. So if you use a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone everyone can enjoy a great experience of Property Decorating.

Sneak preview of the new website

Here is a screenshot of the new look Property Decorating, we are awaiting some new images and have some final tweaks to do but should be going live soon.

The new look design will also be applied to the blog (which launched in 2008) and will come online a few weeks after the new website goes live, so for now the existing design will be visible, but all the great content will still be available.

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.

How to clean paint brushes

Once you have used your paint brush you have three options, option one is to simply throw it away. This is costly and if you have spent out on a good brush it is a serious waste of money! Option two, store the brush in a brush storage container or similar. This is good if you will be using the same brush with the same colour again in the future. Option three, clean your paint brush.

Depending if you are a professional painter and decorator or a DIYer and how much you have spent on your brushes will determine what you will do with your brushes. For professional painters we like to look after our brushes as we tend to buy good quality brushes that aren’t cheap so keeping them for as long as possible requires they are looked after and cleaned out.

Cleaning your brushes

If you are using water based paints then all you need is some water and soap and maybe a brush comb. Once you have finished with it and ready to clean the brush, get as much out of the brush as you can by wiping it on the edge of the paint can. Then run the brush under warm water, have the bristles facing down so the paint runs out of the bristles rather than up them and into the ferrule where it can dry and go hard.

Once the worst is washed out you can use a little soap to help wash any colour out of the bristles. Once you have done this you can use a brush comb to remove any stubborn and dried paint for the bristles, then give it a final rinse and shake out the water.

You should now store the brush either in it’s original packaging or wrapped in kitchen towel to help keep all the bristles straight, ready for it’s next use.

If you are using oil based paints, you should start the same way and remove as much paint as possible, then use a brush cleaner or white spirit to wash the brush out in, you may have to use clean brush cleaner to make sure all the paint and colour is removed. You can then treat the brush as you would one you have used in water based paints, so wash in warm soapy water, use a brush comb if required and store in its original packaging or paper towel.

Storing brushes

If you are going to use your brush again in the not too distant future you can buy a brush storage container, there are several on the market. By using these storage containeryou can quickly and easily come back to your brushes, they will still be soft, in the colour you want and ready to go. So they are well worth the investment if you use your brushes a lot or are a painter and decorator.