Can you decorate while we are living in the property?

Yes, and most of our domestic decorating is done in occupied homes. We agree a room sequence so you always have usable space, protect floors and furniture, and keep dust-generating work contained and scheduled.

Do you supply the paint, or should we?

Either. We are happy to work with a colour scheme and brand you have already chosen, or to specify a system appropriate to each surface. Where you supply materials we will confirm quantities before you order.

How long should a redecoration take to dry and cure?

Most emulsions are touch-dry within a few hours and recoatable the same day, but full cure — the point at which the film reaches its final hardness — takes considerably longer. We tell you which surfaces to treat gently and for how long.

Will you make good cracks and damaged plaster first?

Yes. Filling, sanding and stabilising are itemised in the quotation. If we find that a wall needs a full skim rather than patch repairs to achieve the standard you are expecting, we tell you before starting, not after.

02 / DECORATING

Decorating and specialist finishes

Preparation-led interior and exterior decorating, plastering and specialist coatings — the trades where the standard of the finish is decided long before the topcoat.

A decorating job is judged in raking light six months later, and by then the cause is always the same: preparation that was rushed to reach the topcoat sooner. We price preparation as its own stage of work rather than as something absorbed into the day rate.

That means filling, sanding, stabilising and priming to the substrate actually in front of us, and using systems appropriate to the surface rather than whatever is already in the van. Sites are sheeted and protected on day one and left clean each evening.

Suited to

Homeowners redecorating whole properties
Landlords turning around tenancies to schedule
Developers finishing units to sales standard
Offices and retail units refreshing interiors

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Preparation: Priced as its own stage
Protection: Sheeted and masked daily
Materials: Specified to the substrate
Handover: Snagged before we invoice

Capabilities

What decorating covers with us

Interior decoration

Full redecoration of occupied and empty properties: walls, ceilings, woodwork, staircases and joinery. Cut lines are straight, coverage is even, and adjacent surfaces are protected rather than wiped afterwards.

Plastering and skimming

Skim coats over existing plaster, full re-plastering, dot-and-dab boarding, cornice repair and rendering. A flat, properly finished substrate is the single biggest determinant of how paint reads on a wall.

Exterior decoration

Masonry, render, fascias, soffits, windows and doors — prepared, stabilised and coated with weather-appropriate systems, with access planned so the work can proceed safely at height.

Specialist and spray finishes

Spray-applied finishes to joinery, doors and kitchen units, wallpaper hanging including wide-width and patterned papers, and specialist coatings such as anti-mould, intumescent and heritage breathable systems.

Scope of works

Specifically, we carry out

If what you need is not listed, ask. We cover London, Greater London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

Full interior redecoration
Ceilings, walls, woodwork and joinery
Plastering, skimming and re-boarding
Cornice, coving and moulding repair
Rendering and masonry coatings
Exterior painting and weatherproofing
Wallpaper hanging and lining
Spray finishing to doors and units
Anti-mould and stain-block systems
Heritage and breathable coatings

Related work

Decorating case studies

Questions

Decorating — the usual questions

Can you decorate while we are living in the property?: Yes, and most of our domestic decorating is done in occupied homes. We agree a room sequence so you always have usable space, protect floors and furniture, and keep dust-generating work contained and scheduled.
Do you supply the paint, or should we?: Either. We are happy to work with a colour scheme and brand you have already chosen, or to specify a system appropriate to each surface. Where you supply materials we will confirm quantities before you order.
How long should a redecoration take to dry and cure?: Most emulsions are touch-dry within a few hours and recoatable the same day, but full cure — the point at which the film reaches its final hardness — takes considerably longer. We tell you which surfaces to treat gently and for how long.
Will you make good cracks and damaged plaster first?: Yes. Filling, sanding and stabilising are itemised in the quotation. If we find that a wall needs a full skim rather than patch repairs to achieve the standard you are expecting, we tell you before starting, not after.

Also from MARL

The other two disciplines

01 / CONSTRUCTION

Construction and structural works

Extensions, loft conversions and structural alterations, delivered with the drawings, the building control sign-off and the programme all held in one place.

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03 / MAINTENANCE

Property maintenance and repairs

Reactive repairs and planned maintenance for landlords, managing agents and commercial premises — with response times, records and one number to call.