Take a look at some of the images below of our latest work over at Stationers Hall. To see a full size version click on the image twice.

In 1403 the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London approved the formation of a fraternity or Guild of Stationers (booksellers who copied and sold manuscript books and writing materials and limners who decorated and illustrated them). Each appointed a warden to control and regulate them.

You can read more on the heritage of the hall HERE

Choosing Your Painters And Decorators In Surrey

If you ask a business owner what it the most stressful thing, apart from cash flow worries and staffing problems and they will probably cite the nightmare that is moving premises or undergoing refurbishment work.   The reasons for this are most likely the disruption caused and the fact that it can be difficult to know who to employ to carry out this work.

The first task is to find a suitable contractor, so the easiest thing to do is type painters and decorators in Surrey or decorators Hampshire in to the search engine, but even then you still have to select the most appropriate one.  You have to choose wisely when it is up to you to make the decision for the whole company.

Secondly, someone will need to be appointed to oversee the work – a reliable member of staff, caretaker, etc, will need to be available to let the contractors in and ensure they have everything they need, such as access to a power source, water, and plenty of cups of tea!

Thirdly, once a contractor has been chosen and there is someone on site to look after them, the business owner or designated contact needs to maintain regular communication with the contractors to ensure on both sides that everyone is happy with the way the refurbishments are progressing.

When choosing painters and decorators in Surrey, it is always worth checking out the credentials first to ensure workers are suitably qualified to do the job as well as confirming that the business is insured, in the event of any accidental damage being caused to your commercial premises.

Good contractors will complete the work to schedule with good attention to detail and will clear up afterwards, which are important factors to the success of your refurbishment work.

If your business is based in a period or listed property you will probably be limited to the materials and procedures you can use during the refurbishment process.  In this instance it is best to discuss the requirements with your painters and decorators in Surrey prior to work commencing to ensure they have experience of working under the necessary guidelines.

So, to evade the headache that arises from selecting a good contractor and ensuring that the work progresses smoothly, it is best to do your research and ask questions prior to hiring your decorators Hampshire based or otherwise.

Work in progress, this is a special effect that we have been applying to shopping malls to give a sky effect. This one is at  The Wellington Shopping Centre Aldershot.

1)      – Goethe Institut – painting and decorating work completed recently at the Goethe Institut

2)      – Ightham Mote – we work on many high specification and important National Trust Properties including, recently, Ightham Mote in Kent

3)      – Elvetham Farm – painting & decorating work was carried out recently at Elvetham Farm

Click on any of the images for a larger version.

When faced with the idea of decorating our homes many of us simply try and ignore the problem and hope it goes away.  It can be a daunting task, especially if the whole house is in need of refurbishment or if you are not a particularly confident or enthusiastic DIY-er!  Which is why it is often easier to call in a professional painter & decorator, to ensure the job gets done properly and to let yourself off the hook.

If you don’t know your decoupage from your dado or have trouble distinguishing your emulsion from your eggshell then it is definitely time to put your paintbrushes down, hang up the dust sheets and let the experts take over.

Painting & decorating might sound easy but it is anything but simple.  There are many things to consider such as the preparation of surfaces, the correct selection of brushes and rollers and keeping to the client’s specifications in terms of finish, style and colour scheme.

A professional painter & decorator can offer services that the amateur DIY enthusiast simply cannot match.  They know which materials to use on which surfaces, which brushes and rollers to use with each different type of paint and will have all the specialist equipment to reach those hard-to-get-at places.

They will also be much quicker.  Consider that if you paint a room yourself you will have to fit this around going out to work, taking the kids to football and doing your other daily chores.  A professional can probably turn the job around in less than half the time, after all, that it their job – to do your painting & decorating!

Or, if you start the work yourself and find that you don’t have the time or proficiency to complete the job, a professional will be able to put right anything that you might have done wrong or pick up where you left off and get the job finished for you.

There are many advantages to using a professional painter & decorator, even if it is for the simple reason to give you peace of mind as you know that the work will be completed efficiently and to a high standard.  It takes away the worry of having to select the right products and equipment for the job and it enables the project to be finished in less time.

Irrespective of whether you are looking for commercial painters & decorators or help with decorating your home, there are several things which you will need to consider, including colour scheme, materials and finish.

It is also important to make sure that the painters and decorators you hire can be relied upon to do a good job, that they have a precise pricing structure and hold the necessary insurances.

Your property, be it commercial or residential, is very probably your most valuable asset and so it makes sense that you should want any work carried out to be to the highest possible standards, using the best craftsmanship and materials available.

Many varieties of buildings, from schools to hotels and homes to office complexes, will need decorating and painting work at some point and all will need to be treated with the same measure of care and attention.

Whether work needs to be carried out on the exterior or interior of your property, the rules will still be the same.

At first the surfaces must be prepared – this includes preparing glossy and bare wood areas and removing fungus.  You should also be prepared for the dangers of asbestos and old, lead-based paint.

Next you will need to choose the right tools for the job – such as paintbrushes and rollers made from suitable materials.  For example, mohair rollers are best for applying solvent-based coating and synthetic brushes are good for water-based paints.

Thirdly the paint you choose is very important as high quality paint is much better for resisting colour fading, covering up discolouration and adhering to your surfaces.

Finally, you will need to consider the conditions as painting is generally most effective in mild conditions.  In the cold, it takes too long to brush on and dry and in the heat, paint dries too quickly, which can compromise durability.

So if you need help decorating your home or want the services of commercial painters & decorators to refurbish your premises, the choices made both by you and your decorating company will have a massive effect on the finished look.

We’re pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Mitie Maintenance contract for the Farnham and Epsom campuses of the University for the Creative Arts.   We’ll be keeping ourselves busy by redecorating and recarpeting buildings on both campuses over the summer.

We also recently secured two prestigious contracts with the National Trust to repair and redecorate the Vyne Mansion in Basingstoke and Hinton Ampner House in Alresford.

And finally we’d like to extend our congratulations to our third-year apprentice Carrie-Ann, who has been asked to represent this area in National Training completion.  Well done Carrie-Ann!

There are several reasons why you might want to use the services of decorating companies.  It may be that you require commercial painting & decorating as part of a new-build or refurbishment project or you might need help redecorating your house.  Whatever your requirements, there are some things that need to be considered.

Irrespective of the work you require, employing the services of a professional is the most advisable course of action.  Using a company with qualified decorators takes away the burden of worrying about the end product as you know they are experienced and suitably trained to do the job in hand.

In this industry experience usually speaks for itself and whilst you can get NVQs and other officially recognised qualifications, which provide a good benchmark for training, many professionals have learned the trade from the ground up.

If you want the job completed with the most suitable paints and wall coverings, with colours matched effortlessly and a smooth, clean finish, a professional decorating company will be able to provide this.  They may also offer advice on the wider implications of interior design such as fixtures, furniture and fabrics.

High quality equipment and materials, such as wallpaper, paint and in particular paint brushes are vital to completing the job to a high standard.  Cheaper paint usually requires lots of coats or can leave a patchy finish when dry and poor quality paintbrushes, well, they might ruin your finish altogether!

This is why an expert is the best way to go, especially if you are involved in any commercial work where the margin for error is much smaller than home developments.  After all, a successful business does not portray the desired image to potential customers and employees in a badly decorated building.

A professional company will also ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered to during the refurbishment process.   The use of ladders, scaffolding, solvents and machinery all pose a threat to safety and thus should only be handled by trained and experienced individuals.

In summation, you should always use the services of professional decorating companies for commercial refurbishments as work is often on a large scale, will require a professional finish and will need to be carried out in accordance with H&S regulations.

When it comes to painting & decorating your home, the decision is up to you, but if you are not a natural at DIY or you are very house proud,  perhaps it might be worth paying the professionals to get the job done!