Woodwork & Trim Painting in North London

Expert Woodwork & Trim Painting

Woodwork makes or breaks a room's appearance. Beautifully painted skirting boards, crisp door frames, and immaculate window surrounds provide the finishing touches that elevate decoration from acceptable to exceptional. Conversely, poorly prepared or badly painted woodwork – with visible brush marks, drips, or uneven coverage – undermines even the most expensive wall treatments.

Painting woodwork properly is a skill that demands patience, precision, and the right products. It's far more involved than painting walls. Wood is a living material that expands and contracts with humidity. It has knots that can bleed through paint. It gets handled, knocked, and cleaned more than walls. All this means woodwork needs thorough preparation, appropriate primers and undercoats, and durable top coats that can withstand daily wear.

Working across North London, we paint all types of interior woodwork – from original Victorian panelled doors and ornate cornicing to modern MDF skirting and hollow-core doors. We understand how different timbers and manufactured boards behave, what preparation each requires, and how to achieve that perfect, glass-smooth finish that looks elegant and lasts for years.

What's Included

Our Preparation Process

Professional woodwork painting is at least 60% preparation. We never skip this stage because it's what determines the quality and longevity of the finish:

1. 1.
   Cleaning – All surfaces cleaned to remove grease, dirt, and handling marks that prevent paint adhesion. We use sugar soap or degreaser as appropriate
2. 2.
   Sanding – Existing paint sanded to create a key for new coats. We use appropriate grits depending on condition – typically 120-180 grit for smooth finishes
3. 3.
   Filling – Holes from screws, nails, or damage filled with appropriate wood filler. Dents and scratches made good. Once dry, filled areas sanded flush
4. 4.
   Knotting & Priming – For bare wood or exposed knots, we apply knotting solution to prevent resin bleed, then appropriate primer for the timber type
5. 5.
   Caulking – Gaps between woodwork and walls filled with decorators' caulk for seamless appearance. This makes a huge difference to the professional look
6. 6.
   Undercoat – One or two coats of appropriate undercoat applied, providing opacity and the right surface for top coat adhesion
7. 7.
   Light Sanding – After undercoat dries, we lightly sand to remove any nibs or imperfections, creating the perfect surface for final coats
8. 8.
   Top Coats – Two coats of gloss or satinwood applied using professional techniques – brush for cut-in and details, roller for larger flat areas when appropriate

Paint Systems & Finishes

We use premium trade paint systems designed specifically for woodwork. These offer superior flow, levelling, and durability compared to retail products:

• Satinwood (Satin): Our most popular finish. Provides a soft sheen that's contemporary and elegant. Less prone to showing brush marks than gloss, and doesn't yellow as much over time. Excellent durability. Available in any colour. We use Dulux Trade Satinwood, Crown Trade Fastflow, or Johnstone's Aqua Satin.
• Gloss: Traditional high-sheen finish offering a hard, durable surface. Creates that classic painted look. More resistant to knocks but shows imperfections more readily. We typically use water-based gloss for lower odour and less yellowing than traditional oil-based.
• Eggshell: Lower sheen than satinwood, offering a very subtle finish. Popular for period properties and contemporary minimalist schemes. Slightly less durable than satinwood but very attractive.
• Primers & Undercoats: We select appropriate primers for the substrate – wood primer for bare timber, MDF primer for manufactured boards, aluminium wood primer for resinous woods. Undercoats are matched to the top coat system for optimal compatibility.

Specialist Techniques

Different woodwork requires different approaches. Panelled doors need careful brush work in mouldings before larger panels. Spindles on staircases require patience and a steady hand. Window frames need extra care where glass meets wood. We've mastered these techniques through years of experience, ensuring every detail receives the attention it deserves.

Typical Timeline

Woodwork painting takes time because of the preparation and drying stages:

• Single room (doors, skirting, architraves, window): 1-2 days
• Whole flat (2-bed): 3-4 days
• Whole house (3-bed): 5-7 days
• Staircase with spindles: 2-3 days
• Front door (external, detailed prep): 1-2 days

We allow proper drying time between coats – rushing compromises durability. Most woodwork projects are done as part of full room decoration, with walls painted between woodwork coats for efficiency.

Aftercare & Durability

Well-painted woodwork should last 5-8 years in most homes. To maximise lifespan:

• Allow paint to cure fully (2-4 weeks) before cleaning or heavy use
• Avoid closing doors hard or dragging furniture against skirting during curing period
• Clean with soft, damp cloth and mild detergent – avoid abrasive cleaners
• Touch up chips and scratches promptly to prevent moisture getting to bare wood
• Maintain good ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms to reduce moisture stress on paint
• We provide leftover paint labelled by room/area for future touch-ups

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Services

Woodwork Painting Serving North London

We provide woodwork and trim painting throughout North London, including:

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