Hall, staircase and landing redecoration with extensive preparation and replacement transom glazing.
Chelmsford, Essex

Overview

A complete preparation and redecoration of the hallway, staircase and landing, including the walls, doors and associated woodwork. The project also included replacing the existing transom glass above four internal doorways with new frosted toughened glass and making new timber glazing beads to closely match the originals.

The Brief

The aim was to create a clean, consistent and long-lasting finish throughout one of the busiest areas of the home. Previous decorating work had left areas of woodwork with poor adhesion, heavy paint build-up, runs and drips, while sections of the walls also needed additional attention.

Rather than simply painting over the existing finishes, the project required thorough preparation and repair before any new coatings were applied.

Before We Started

Before work began, the floors were carefully protected throughout, including the hard flooring downstairs, the staircase and landing carpets, and into each adjoining bedroom.

The internal doors were removed to give full access to the frames and surrounding woodwork, allowing every area to be properly prepared rather than working around existing fittings.

Preparation & Repairs

Preparation formed a significant part of this project. The poorly adhered existing coatings were thoroughly sanded back to create a sound, smooth surface, while defects throughout the walls and woodwork were filled and repaired.

Two smaller wall areas were in particularly poor condition and were skimmed to achieve a flatter, more uniform surface. Mechanical sanding with dust extraction was used wherever possible to minimise airborne dust while allowing the surfaces to be properly refined.

Once preparation was complete, the woodwork was primed and checked again before finishing. Particular care was taken throughout this stage to correct the problems with the previous paintwork rather than simply hiding them beneath another coat.

The Work

Alongside the decorating, the four transom lights above the internal doors were completely renewed. The existing glass and timber glazing beads were removed, and new softwood beads were made to closely replicate the original profile.

New frosted toughened glass was sourced locally and installed into each opening. The new timber beads were then fitted, filled, sanded and caulked before the glass was carefully masked ready for decorating.

The prepared woodwork received two finishing coats, with surfaces denibbed and cleaned between coats to achieve a smooth result. The walls were cut in and rolled with two full coats for an even, consistent finish throughout the hallway, staircase and landing.

The Finished Result

Once decorating was complete, all masking and floor protection was removed, the internal doors were rehung and the working areas were left clean and tidy.

The finished space feels cleaner, brighter and far more consistent, while the renewed transom lights provide a crisp update that remains sympathetic to the existing property.

Much of the work behind the finished result is no longer visible, which is exactly the point. Careful preparation, correcting previous defects and refining surfaces between stages created the foundation for a finish designed to look good and last.