How We Work

By the time the first coat of paint goes on, most of the important decisions should already have been made.

Most of our work takes place in lived-in homes across Dublin and the surrounding counties, so we plan the job around more than walls and ceilings. Access, furniture, drying times, other trades, the order of the rooms and how the house needs to function while we are there all matter.

For larger projects, we recommend getting in touch a few weeks in advance where possible. It gives us time to look at the property properly, organise materials, confirm colours and finishes and put a realistic programme around the work. Some houses can be completed in one continuous run. Others need to move in stages because of other trades, family routines or areas that need to remain in use.

We work that out before we start.

Every project begins with a conversation about what needs to be done and what standard of finish is expected. On larger jobs, we normally visit the property ourselves. Photos and measurements are useful, but they do not always tell you how sound an old coating is, how much repair a ceiling needs or what condition the timber is actually in.

Once we have seen the surfaces, we can decide what preparation and paint system make sense rather than specifying products from a distance.

The work is then put into a clear scope. Walls, ceilings, woodwork, repairs, primers, finishes and any areas requiring additional preparation are agreed before the job gets moving. If there are parts of the project that depend on another trade or need to be completed later, we plan around them.

That clarity matters. It means the homeowner knows what is included and the team on site knows exactly what standard we are working towards.

Preparation is not treated as something to get through quickly before the painting starts.

Floors are protected properly. Furniture and surrounding areas are covered. Where sanding is required, we use dust-controlled sanding equipment wherever practical to keep airborne dust down and produce a more consistent surface. Filling, caulking, local repairs, stain blocking and priming are dealt with according to the substrate in front of us.

A previously painted wall does not need the same treatment as new plaster. Factory-primed joinery is different from old timber. A water stain needs a different product from a normal repair.

We do not force the same system onto every surface.

Once a surface is ready, the painting becomes straightforward. Coatings are applied in the right sequence, with the correct drying time between them. Cutting-in is kept clean, coverage is checked properly and woodwork is finished with the same attention as the larger areas.

Protection and cleanliness are part of the job throughout, not something dealt with at the end.

On a lived-in project, we know people may still need the kitchen in the evening, children may be coming home from school and someone may be working from another room. We keep tools and materials organised, clear working areas as we go and leave the property as usable as the stage of the work reasonably allows.

That is simply how a residential decorating job should be run.

Before we call the project finished, we go back over the work ourselves. Walls are checked in different light, edges and junctions are looked at again, woodwork is inspected and anything that needs another pass gets another pass.

After that, we walk the finished work with the homeowner.

If something still needs attention, we deal with it before we leave.

We are not interested in rushing the last day just because most of the painting is already done. The final inspection is part of the work, and the standard at handover is the standard our name stays attached to once we are gone.

A well-run painting project should feel organised from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.

That is the standard we work to.