Interior Wall Painting in Newcastle upon Tyne

Preparing walls properly

Wall preparation is the part of the job you do not see in the finished room, but it is what makes the difference. Before painting we check every wall in good light and deal with:

• Hairline and settlement cracks, raked out and filled with flexible or standard filler as suits
• Holes from screws, nails and old fixings
• Dents and chips, particularly around doors and corners
• Rough patches left by old repairs or stripped paper
• Flaking or poorly bonded old paint

Filled areas are sanded flush and spot primed so they do not show as dull patches under the finish. Walls are dusted down, and any grease, for example in kitchens, is cleaned off. Water stains or smoke marks get a stain-blocking primer so they do not bleed through fresh emulsion.

Painting new plaster: the mist coat

New plaster is very absorbent. If normal emulsion goes straight on, it is sucked in unevenly, can peel or flake, and often looks patchy. The answer is a mist coat: a diluted first coat of suitable emulsion, or a dedicated new plaster primer, that soaks in and seals the surface.

Plaster must be fully dry before painting. Fresh skim typically turns from dark pink to an even pale colour as it dries, and drying time depends on thickness, heating and ventilation. We check before starting and will advise waiting rather than trap moisture behind paint. After the mist coat, we fill any small imperfections it reveals, then apply the finish coats.

Avoid vinyl or wipeable emulsions for the mist coat, as they are designed to resist moisture and will not bond well to bare plaster.

Sheen levels and washable paints

The finish you choose affects both appearance and practicality.

• Flat or chalky matt hides imperfections well and looks soft, but marks more easily. Good for bedrooms and low-traffic rooms.
• Durable or washable matt keeps the flat look but can be wiped clean. A strong choice for hallways, stairs, living rooms and children's rooms.
• Soft sheen and silk reflect more light and are easy to clean, though they show unevenness in the wall more readily.
• Kitchen and bathroom paints are formulated to cope with steam and condensation and resist mould.

We will suggest options based on how each room is used, and help with colour if you would like it. For broader scheme planning, see our interior decorating page.

How a typical wall painting job runs

We start by agreeing colours, finishes and any furniture that needs moving. Floors and remaining furniture are covered, sockets and switches are protected or loosened, and the walls are prepared. After priming and repairs, we cut in neatly to ceilings, skirting and frames, then roll the walls with two finish coats as standard, more if a strong colour change needs it.

If the ceiling or woodwork is being done too, we paint the ceiling first and generally finish woodwork before the last wall coats. See our ceiling painting and woodwork painting pages for more on those surfaces.

Walls painted by a local decorator

From our base in Westerhope we paint walls in homes throughout Newcastle and the surrounding area. Older properties often have lime or uneven plaster that needs a gentle approach, while newer homes tend to have plasterboard with taped joints that can show through if not handled well. If you want several rooms painted, our interior painting page covers whole-home work, or you can ask for a free quote on the contact page.