Exterior painting and decoration

The short answer

External paint is the protective layer on timber windows, doors, fascias and cast iron rainwater goods. Left too long, water gets into the timber and a decoration job becomes a joinery job. In Scotland the practical painting season runs from late spring to early autumn, and breathable coatings suit traditional buildings better than impermeable ones.

What the work involves

Preparation is most of the work: scraping back failed paint, treating any decayed timber, filling, priming and applying finish coats. Cast iron gutters need rust treatment before painting.

Rules and consents in Scotland

Repainting in the same colour needs no consent. On listed buildings, and in some conservation areas, a change of colour or coating type can need approval. Working above ground level needs safe access.

What commonly goes wrong

Painting over damp or decayed timber. The paint fails within a season and the underlying rot continues.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Cost is driven by preparation and access more than by paint.
• Scaffolding or tower hire for upper-floor tenement windows is a large part of the total.
• Repairing timber found during preparation adds unpredictable cost.
• Doing an entire elevation at once is more efficient than window by window.

What to do, in order

1. 1Inspect timber before booking — decay may need joinery first.
2. 2Book for late spring to early autumn.
3. 3Agree the preparation standard in writing, not just the number of coats.
4. 4Use a breathable coating on traditional timber and lime-rendered surfaces.
5. 5Treat and prime bare metal on cast iron before finishing.
6. 6Plan on a repaint cycle of roughly five to eight years on exposed elevations.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Exposed west and south-west facing Edinburgh elevations weather paint fastest and need a shorter repaint cycle.
• Tenement common stair and rear elevation decoration is normally a shared cost between owners.
• Conservation-area colour schemes in parts of Edinburgh and the Lothians restrict window and door colours.
• Coastal salt in Portobello, Musselburgh and East Lothian shortens coating life on both timber and metal.

When you need a professional

A painter and decorator experienced with external work, and a joiner where timber repair is needed first.

Common questions

How often should exterior paintwork be redone?

Typically every five to eight years, sooner on exposed or coastal elevations.

Do I need permission to change my front door colour?

On a listed building, usually yes. In some conservation areas there are agreed colour palettes, so check with the council.

Related pages

• Window repairs

  Sash and case overhaul, draughtproofing, and repairs to modern double glazing.

• Gutters and downpipes

  Clearing, repairing and renewing rainwater goods before they cause damp.

• Roughcast and render repairs

  Cracked, hollow or blown harling and render on Scottish walls.