Painting & decorating: how-to guides

How to apply masonry paint

A practical UK guide to painting an exterior wall with masonry paint, covering surface preparation, filling cracks, primer, and applying two solid coats.

Read the guide

How to apply masonry waterproofer

How to apply masonry waterproofing cream to external brick walls in the UK: surface prep, application technique, and what to expect from the finished job.

Read the guide

How to caulk skirting boards

A practical UK guide to caulking skirting boards: filling gaps, smoothing the bead, and getting a clean painted finish every time.

Read the guide

How to hang wallpaper

A practical UK guide to hanging wallpaper, from preparing walls and measuring drops through to matching patterns, trimming, and getting clean butt joints.

Read the guide

How to paint a ceiling

A practical UK guide to painting a ceiling cleanly: preparing the surface, cutting in, rolling without drips, and getting a smooth finish first time.

Read the guide

How to paint a fence

A practical UK guide to painting or treating garden fence panels, including preparation, choosing the right product, and getting a neat finish that lasts.

Read the guide

How to paint a front door

Step-by-step UK guide to painting a wooden front door: clean it, fill any cracks, sand back, prime, and apply exterior gloss for a finish that lasts.

Read the guide

How to paint a garage door

A practical UK guide to painting a garage door, covering prep, primer, paint choice, and technique for a long-lasting finish.

Read the guide

How to paint a garage or concrete floor

A practical UK guide to painting a concrete garage floor: degreasing, filling cracks, choosing the right floor paint, and applying two coats for a long-lasting finish.

Read the guide

How to paint a garden fence

A practical UK guide to painting or treating a garden fence: choosing the right product, preparing the timber, applying two good coats, and keeping it looking tidy year after year.

Read the guide

How to paint a rendered wall

A practical UK guide to painting a rendered exterior wall — how to clean, fill, prime, and apply masonry paint for a finish that lasts, from The Sandwich Handyman.

Read the guide

How to paint a room

A practical UK guide to painting a room properly, from filling and masking to cutting in, rolling, and applying a second coat for a professional finish.

Read the guide

How to paint a garden shed

A practical UK guide to preparing and painting a timber garden shed, choosing the right paint or stain, and getting a finish that holds up through an East Kent winter.

Read the guide

How to paint an external door

A practical UK guide to painting a front or external door: covering surface prep, priming, correct brush technique, and getting a finish that actually lasts.

Read the guide

How to paint exterior masonry

A practical UK guide to painting exterior masonry walls — from washing and filling cracks to applying Weathershield masonry paint for a neat, durable finish.

Read the guide

How to paint exterior window frames

Step-by-step UK guide to repainting exterior window frames on timber or softwood windows: prep, prime, and topcoat for a lasting finish.

Read the guide

How to paint fascia boards

A practical UK guide to painting timber fascia boards: prep, prime, and topcoat for a clean finish that protects your roofline from the worst Kent weather.

Read the guide

How to paint garden furniture

A practical UK guide to painting wooden garden furniture: cleaning, sanding, priming bare wood, and applying exterior garden furniture paint for a durable, weather-resistant finish.

Read the guide

How to paint kitchen cabinets

A practical UK guide to painting kitchen cabinets, covering cleaning and preparation, priming, paint choice, and getting a durable finish on doors and carcasses.

Read the guide

How to paint new plaster

Learn how to paint new plaster correctly (when it is dry enough, how to mix a mist coat, and how to apply a topcoat that will not peel) in this practical UK how-to guide.

Read the guide

How to paint over water stains

A practical UK guide to sealing and painting over water stains on ceilings and walls so they stay covered for good, with tips from Charlie DIYte.

Read the guide

How to paint skirting boards

A step-by-step UK guide to painting skirting boards: prep, priming, cutting in, and getting a clean gloss finish without wrecking the carpet or walls.

Read the guide

How to paint woodwork

A practical UK guide to painting interior woodwork (skirting boards, architrave, and door frames) with tips on prep, primer, and getting a smooth finish.

Read the guide

How to sand and varnish floorboards

A practical UK guide to sanding and varnishing timber floorboards: preparing the floor, using a drum sander and edge sander, and applying a protective finish that lasts.

Read the guide

How to silicone a bath

Step-by-step guidance on filling the bath before you start, removing old sealant completely, cleaning the joint, masking for a neat edge, applying a smooth continuous bead, and leaving it to cure properly.

Read the guide

How to stain a fence panel

A practical UK guide to staining and treating wooden fence panels: from cleaning and prep through to applying preserver or fence stain for a long-lasting finish.

Read the guide

How to strip wallpaper

A practical UK guide to stripping wallpaper cleanly, from scoring and soaking to removing the backing paper and preparing walls for painting or re-papering.

Read the guide