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Victorian terraced house in London with its brickwork and bay window freshly painted in pale blue masonry paint

Residential · Exterior painting

Exterior house painting in London

Masonry, render, sash windows and front doors repainted and protected against the London weather, with every repair done first.

  • 5.0 from 101 Google reviews
Victorian porch with a front door and stained-glass side panel painted sage green, framed by white painted columns

Exterior painting

Exterior painting that lasts in the London weather

Exterior painting in London covers everything on the outside of your house: masonry and render, sash windows, front doors, railings, fascias and garden walls. Our exterior painters repaint and protect it, and every quote starts with a free survey of the walls and woodwork.

Outside, paint has to survive rain, frost, summer sun and city grime, so preparation decides how long it lasts. We wash down, scrape and sand, fill cracked render, cut out rotten timber, treat mould and prime bare surfaces before any colour goes on. Skip those steps and paint flakes within a couple of winters; do them properly and a house exterior painting job lasts for years. We work across Richmond, Wimbledon, Putney, Chiswick and the rest of south-west and west London, and as interior decorators too, so one team can look after the whole house.

What we paint

What our exterior decorators paint

From a single front door to the whole of the outside of the house, anywhere in London.

  • External wall painting

    Brick, stucco and pebbledash walls cleaned, repaired and painted.

  • Masonry and render

    Masonry and render painting in breathable paints, with cracks filled first.

  • Sash window painting

    Sashes eased, re-puttied and painted so they still open smoothly.

  • Front door painting

    Doors stripped back where needed and finished in a deep, even gloss.

  • Railings and gates

    Rust removed, metal primed and finished in hard-wearing black gloss.

  • Fascias, soffits and gutters

    Timber and cast iron at roof level, painted to keep water out.

  • Garden walls

    Boundary and garden walls painted in masonry paint or limewash.

  • Porches and timber

    Porches, cladding, sheds and garden rooms in microporous wood finishes.

Our process

How our exterior painters work

Six steps on every exterior painting job, planned around the weather.

  1. Survey and quote

    We check the walls, render and woodwork and give you a written, fixed price.

  2. Access and scaffolding

    Ladders, a mobile tower or scaffolding, put up safely and with any licence needed.

  3. Repairs

    Cracked render filled, rotten timber spliced and loose putty replaced.

  4. Cleaning

    Walls washed down, mould and algae treated, loose paint scraped and sanded.

  5. Filling and priming

    Gaps filled and bare masonry, timber and metal primed so the finish bonds.

  6. Two finish coats

    Two full coats of weather-resistant paint, then a final check with you.

Period house front in off-white masonry paint with a blue sash window

Paints and finishes

Masonry paints, gloss systems and colours for period homes

The right paint system matters as much as the preparation. We choose it for each surface, so your house is protected for as long as possible. For listed buildings and lime render we also offer heritage and specialist finishes.

Masonry paint
Smooth or textured masonry paint that lets walls breathe and resists rain and dirt for up to 15 years.
Mineral paint and limewash
For lime render and older brick, where plastic-based paints would trap damp.
Gloss and microporous systems
Flexible finishes for doors, sashes and timber that move with the wood instead of cracking.
Colours for period homes
Heritage colours from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Dulux Trade, matched to your street or conservation area.

Before and after

House front repaint in Kew

Flaking masonry paint and tired woodwork on an Edwardian house front, repaired and repainted in a soft stone white with black railings.

The same house front in Kew after painting, in white with black window frames
Edwardian house front in Kew before painting, with flaking masonry paint and faded woodwork
Masonry, sash windows and railings in Kew

Before and after

Front door painting in Barnes

A weathered Victorian front door stripped back, repaired and finished in a deep gloss, with the frame and fanlight painted to match.

The same front door in Barnes after painting, in a deep, even gloss
Victorian front door in Barnes before painting, with peeling and faded paint
Front door, frame and fanlight in Barnes

FAQ

Exterior house painting questions

How much does exterior house painting cost in London?

As a guide, a front door and frame costs from £280 to £420, a sash window (outside only) from £180 to £320, the front of a terraced house from £1,800 to £3,200 and a full semi-detached exterior from £3,800 to £6,500. Scaffolding is extra where it is needed. We visit for free and give you a written, fixed-price quote. See our guide to exterior painting costs.

When is the best time of year to paint the outside of a house?

Usually from April to October, when surfaces are dry and it stays above about 8°C day and night. Masonry paint needs a few dry hours to cure, so we start after the morning dew has gone. Read more in our guide to the best time for exterior painting.

What happens if it rains during the job?

We watch the forecast every day and only paint when the surfaces and the weather are right. If rain is due, we switch to preparation, repairs or sheltered areas such as porches and soffits, and we never paint over damp masonry or timber. Weather delays never change your fixed price.

Do you need scaffolding to paint my house?

Most two-storey London houses only need ladders and a mobile tower. Taller houses, steep basements and houses over a busy pavement may need full scaffolding, which we arrange with a firm we trust, including any council licence, and show separately in your quote.

Is your exterior painting guaranteed?

Yes. Every exterior job comes with our two-year workmanship guarantee, and the paint systems we use carry manufacturer protection of up to 15 years on masonry. Well-prepared masonry usually lasts eight to ten years and woodwork five to seven, depending on how exposed the house is.

Can you repair render and rotten woodwork before painting?

Yes. Repairs are part of every exterior job: we fill cracks, cut out and splice rotten timber on sills and frames, and re-putty sash windows. For larger areas of blown or cracked render, our plasterers carry out external rendering repairs before we paint.

How long does it take to paint the outside of a house?

A front door takes a day or two and the front of a terraced house usually three to five days. A full semi-detached exterior normally takes one to two weeks, depending on repairs, access and the weather. We give you a start date and a schedule with your quote, and keep you updated if rain moves anything.

How often should the outside of a house be repainted?

Most London houses need exterior painting every eight to ten years for masonry and render, and every five to seven years for windows, doors and other woodwork. South-facing and exposed walls wear faster. Repainting before the paint starts to flake keeps preparation, and the cost, down.

Can you paint render, pebbledash and painted brick?

Yes. Render painting and pebbledash need a breathable masonry paint, applied with a long-pile roller and brush so every recess is covered. Brick that has been painted before is cleaned, stabilised and repainted. We do not recommend painting bare brick for the first time on most period houses, as it can trap damp; we will tell you honestly if that applies to yours.

Free quotes

Get a quote for your exterior painting

Tell us about your house and we will arrange a free survey and a written, itemised quote within two working days.

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