External Decorating for Apartment Blocks
External communal decorating is where most blocks visibly age — south-facing render that's gone chalky, fascia paint cracking, timber soffits letting water in, railings rusting from the base up. None of it improves by being left.
We treat external block work as system work, not just paint. The right preparation (washing, sterilising, repairing, stabilising), the right primer for the substrate and the right top-coat for the exposure — done in the right weather window — gives 8–10 years of life. Done wrong, it lasts a winter.
What's covered
- Smooth and textured render — full system decoration
- Brick and stone masonry sealers / breathable coatings
- Timber fascias, soffits, bargeboards and cladding
- Cast-iron and aluminium rainwater goods
- Communal entrance doors, gates and railings
- External handrails and balustrades
- Window frames (timber, uPVC overpaint, ali)
Access & weather
- Tower scaffold, full scaffold or MEWP depending on the block
- Render systems applied within manufacturer temperature/RH limits
- Pre-wash and biocide treatment before any topcoat goes on
- Resident parking and access agreed with the agent before mobilisation
- Programme built around UK weather windows, not optimistic deadlines
Systems we use
Render: typically a breathable through-coloured pliolite or silicone-based topcoat over a stabilising primer. Masonry: Sandtex Highbuild or equivalent over a Sandtex/Permagard masonry stabiliser. Timber: a microporous primer-undercoat-topcoat system (Sikkens, Sadolin or equivalent). Metalwork: zinc-phosphate primer and a direct-to-metal enamel or 2-pack where the use justifies it.
Frequently asked
How long does external block work last?+
8–10 years on render and masonry when the prep is done properly and the topcoat is matched to the substrate and exposure. Timber tends to want a recoat at 6–7 years on south and west elevations.
Do you need scaffolding?+
Three-storey-and-under is often done with tower scaffold or MEWP. Four storeys and up usually justifies full scaffold for safety, speed and access to the detail.
Can you decorate the externals over winter?+
We can prep, repair and patch over winter, but topcoats need temperature and humidity inside the manufacturer's window. We programme topcoat work for April–October as a rule.
Block management decorating near you.
Let's discuss your project
Whether it's a single room or a full home redecoration, we'd be glad to discuss your plans and provide a detailed, no-obligation quotation.
We are best suited to well-planned decorating projects — full rooms, multi-room redecorations, exteriors, spray finishes, panelling and commercial works.