Redecorating an older room is rarely just a paint job. Earlier layers of paint may contain lead, woodwork often needs repair before it is painted, and in parts of Greenwich the outside of a building is covered by extra planning controls. Voltify Contractors provides property maintenance in Greenwich as part of its documented SE10 coverage, including painting and decorating, repairs, plumbing and electrical work. This page explains what to check before older paintwork is disturbed and how to plan the job around it.
Old paint may contain lead
According to the Health and Safety Executive, lead pigments were widely used in paint for homes until the 1960s and were not removed from all commonly used paint until the early 1980s. If original layers survive on skirting boards, doors, window frames or banisters, it is sensible to assume they could contain lead until you know otherwise.
The risk comes from disturbing it. Dry sanding creates fine dust, and burning paint off with a blowlamp or gas torch overheats it. HSE lists safer approaches, including wet abrasive paper with a scraper, chemical paint strippers, and hot-air guns used only to soften the paint. It also notes that paintwork in good condition can simply be left in place and painted over. Keep children and anyone pregnant away from the room while older paint is being removed.
How much preparation does the job need?
| Condition of the surface | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Sound, firmly attached paint | Clean, lightly key with wet abrasive and repaint. No stripping needed. |
| Flaking or cracked patches | Scrape back the loose paint, smooth the edges with wet abrasive, and prime any bare timber. |
| So many layers that mouldings are clogged or doors and windows stick | Strip selected areas with a chemical stripper or low-temperature heat, rather than the whole room. |
| Soft or split timber | Repair or replace the damaged section before any paint goes on. |
| Cracked plaster or lifting lining paper | Fill, repair or re-line first; paint will not hide movement underneath. |
Our painting and decorating service covers the preparation as well as the finish, while timber repairs, sticking doors and small carpentry fixes sit under handyman and property maintenance.
Plan other trades before the decorator
If sockets or lights are moving, or a pipe needs rerouting, that work cuts into walls and has to be made good. Book the electrical work and any plumbing changes first, then repairs, with decorating last, so new paint is not disturbed by a second trade.
Outside work in Greenwich’s conservation areas
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has 23 conservation areas. West Greenwich, East Greenwich and the Ashburnham Triangle are among those with Article 4 directions, which remove some of the permitted development rights a householder would normally have. Changes to the outside of a house that elsewhere would not need planning permission may need it there. Check the council’s conservation areas guidance before changing external doors, windows or finishes. If the building is listed, consent may be needed for interior work too.
Booking decorating or repairs in Greenwich
When you get in touch, say roughly how old the property is if you know, which rooms and surfaces are involved, and what condition the paintwork is in. Photos help the preparation to be planned properly. Standard working hours are 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday, and the documented standard minimum call-out is £80 for the first hour; decorating is priced on the work and materials involved. For an urgent leak or electrical fault outside standard hours, out-of-hours emergency call-outs are available at different pricing. Call 020 3411 1855 or email info@voltifycontractors.co.uk.
Greenwich is one of several places Voltify Contractors serves across East and South-East London, alongside nearby North Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula and Maze Hill in SE10 and E14 areas such as the Isle of Dogs. See all areas we cover or our full range of services.
