Inter-war semis, 1930s estates and newer flats
Much of Sidcup went up between the wars, and it shows in the roads of semi-detached houses and terraces with bay windows, tiled porches and pebble-dash or rendered fronts. The 1930s estates have since been joined by later infill and blocks of newer flats, so a decorator here sees a good spread of ages.
These houses tend to have generous hallways and stairs, lots of internal doors and picture rails, and ceilings that have been painted many times over. That makes preparation important: filling cracks, sanding back old gloss and making good around light fittings and sockets before any new paint goes on.
Whole-house redecoration and moving-in repaints
Many people get in touch just after buying, before the furniture arrives. An empty house is the easiest time to decorate: every room can be cleared, ceilings and walls done in a sensible order and woodwork finished without shuffling things around. It is also a chance to change colours throughout and paint over the previous owner’s choices in one go.
If you are already living there, a full redecoration can be planned room by room, so you always have somewhere to sleep and cook. We agree the order with you and keep each area covered and protected while we work.
Render, fascias, window frames and doors
Sidcup fronts are often rendered or pebble-dashed, with painted fascias, soffits, window frames and front doors. Pebble-dash needs a coating worked right into the texture so no gaps are left, and the method depends on how much surrounding glass, brick and planting has to be protected.
Before painting, loose material is brushed down, cracks are filled and bare or flaking areas are primed. Timber frames and doors are checked for soft spots. Outside work depends on dry spells, so dates are agreed with a little flexibility.
Shops and offices on the high street
The high street has a steady mix of shops, cafés, offices and services, and we work on business premises as well as homes. A shop front repaint, an office refresh or a tired waiting room can usually be planned around opening hours, using evenings or Saturdays where that helps.
Woodwork, stairs and spray finishes indoors
Houses of this era often have original panelled doors, stair spindles and handrails that have been glossed over many times. The layers build up, edges soften and brush marks show. Careful sanding and a good undercoat go a long way, and for a really crisp result some items can be sprayed with HVLP equipment once the area around them is protected.
Kitchens are a common request too. Rather than replacing sound units, many owners choose to have the doors and panels sprayed in a new colour. We check what the doors are made of, explain the preparation involved and only recommend it where the finish will hold up.
Wallpaper and feature walls
Picture rails and chimney breasts in Sidcup living rooms make natural spots for wallpaper. A papered chimney breast or the wall below a rail can add character without covering the whole room. We hang a range of papers, set out patterns so they line up across the wall, and use lining paper first where old plaster is uneven.
A short hop from Swanley
Sidcup is one of the closest towns to our Swanley base, well inside the 40 miles we travel, and near Bexleyheath, Chislehurst and Orpington. Eric Purnell usually visits to look at the work before quoting, so the price is based on your house rather than a guess.
Visits can be arranged on weekdays or a Saturday morning. A quick list of the rooms or outside areas you want painted, plus a few photos, makes the visit more useful for both of us. If there is a deadline, such as a moving date, mention it early.
Request a quote
Call 07872 324935, Monday to Friday 8am–6pm or Saturday 9am–2pm, or fill in the quote form on this page. We have been painting and decorating for 20 years and are always happy to talk through ideas before you commit to anything.