Doors, skirting, stairs, stripping, oiling
Woodwork and staining
Doors, skirting, architraves, windows and staircases stripped, repaired, primed and painted, or stripped back and stained, oiled or varnished to show the timber.
Woodwork is where a decorating job is judged up close. Brush marks, drips at the mouldings, gloss over old dust: all of it shows at handle height.
Painted woodwork is sanded back to a key, dents filled, knots and bare timber primed, then undercoated and finished in satin, eggshell or gloss with a good brush and enough time between coats. Doors are taken off and laid flat where it gives a better result. Skirting is caulked to the wall so there is no black line.
For timber you want to see, we strip old paint and varnish by hand or with a heat gun (no caustic dipping, which raises the grain and loosens joints), sand through the grades, and finish in hardwax oil, Danish oil or a water-based varnish. Handrails and front doors in particular come up beautifully; we will tell you honestly if what is under the paint is worth seeing.
What is included
- Sanded to a key, filled and primed
- Doors off and painted flat where it helps
- Satin, eggshell or gloss, brushed by hand
- Stripping by hand or heat, never caustic
- Oiled, stained or varnished finishes
- Skirting caulked, no black line
What it costs
Internal doors from £85 each painted both sides, skirting and architrave from £9 per metre, staircases from £480 painted or from £720 with a stripped and oiled handrail. Stripping quoted by the item. All prices include prep, trade paint, two coats and VAT. See the full price list.
Questions about woodwork
Water-based or oil-based gloss?
Water-based for white: it does not yellow and dries fast. Oil-based still gives the deepest gloss on dark colours and front doors. We use both and will say which suits the job.
Get a price per room.
Jo visits, looks at the walls and the woodwork, and sends a fixed price per room within two days. Add a colour consultation and the £95 comes off the job.