Woodwork, Skirting & Sash Windows in East Dulwich

Hand-painted woodwork that actually looks hand-painted. Sash windows that open again. I work on skirting boards, architrave, doors, staircases, sash windows, picture rails and cornice. Oil-based or water-based eggshell depending on what suits your room. Pricing: skirting and architrave from £250 per room; all internal doors in a 3-bed from £900; single sash window restoration from £280.

What I work on

• Skirting boards (painted in situ or removed and sprayed)
• Architrave and door linings
• Internal doors (panelled, flush, glazed)
• Staircases (treads, risers, spindles, handrails, strings)
• Sash windows (double-hung originals and box sashes)
• Picture rails, dado rails, panelling, cornice
• Radiator cabinets and built-in cupboards

My woodwork process

1. Sand, sand, sand. The Festool PLANEX 150mm random-orbit on flat surfaces, hand-sanding on the profiles. Key every previously-painted surface so the new paint has something to bond to. On bare timber, three passes through grits — 120, 180, 240.

2. Knot-block. Every live knot gets a coat of Zinsser BIN before primer. Skip this step and sap bleeds through your beautiful white topcoat in six months and you'll see it forever.

3. Fill and caulk. Two-part filler on damaged timber, caulk on every gap between wood and wall, every mitred corner, every split joint. Overfilled, then sanded flat the next day.

4. Prime. Zinsser Cover Stain on bare timber, Dulux Trade Quick Dry Wood Primer Undercoat on previously-painted. Sand the primer.

5. Two coats of finish. Sand lightly between coats with 240-grit for glass-smooth results. Lay off in the direction of the grain or the length of the run.

Oil-based or water-based?

Trade-offs:

Oil-based eggshell (Mylands, Zinsser Sureshine, traditional Dulux Trade) — gorgeous depth, slight warm-off-white tone, hardens properly, lasts ten years on skirting. Yellows over time, especially in rooms with no natural light. Takes 16-24 hours to dry between coats.

Water-based eggshell (Tikkurila Helmi, Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell, Johnstone's Aqua) — dries in 4 hours, stays white forever, but slightly less density of finish. Has improved hugely in the last five years and is my default on most jobs now.

I'll recommend what's right for your job. Woodwork in a sunny bedroom — water-based every time. Skirting in a dark Victorian hallway that never sees natural light — oil-based still wins.

Sash windows

A decent London sash can last 150 years if it's looked after. "Looked after" has usually meant five layers of paint over 80 years of built-up grime, with the runners painted solid so the window hasn't opened since 1987.

What I do on a sash restoration:

• Ease the sashes out of the frame where possible
• Scrape out built-up paint from runners and staff beads
• Check the cords and weights — if a cord's gone, replace it (or bring in my builder brother for anything structural)
• Fill any rot to cills and frames, or cut out and splice if it's gone too far
• Full sand, prime, two topcoats
• Back in the frame with new draft strip, and a proper slide-test before I leave

A single sash done properly takes a day. A front bay of three sashes is 2-3 days. It's not fast work but it's the kind of work that transforms a house.

What it costs

• Skirting and architrave in a single room — £250 to £450
• All internal doors in a 3-bed house (both sides + frames) — £900 to £1,600
• Staircase (risers, spindles, handrail, string) — £850 to £1,700
• Single sash window restoration (paint only, working sash) — £280 to £450
• Front bay of three sashes restored — £850 to £1,500
• Panelled dining room (hand-painted) — £650 to £1,200

Areas I cover

East Dulwich · Dulwich Village · West Dulwich · Herne Hill · Peckham · Camberwell · Forest Hill · Honor Oak & Nunhead