A year of checks
A little each season
saves a repaint.
What to look at outside your home through the year, what the warning signs are, and what to do about them.
Coastal Fife is hard on paint. Wind driven rain, salt air and haar find every gap in putty and every blocked gutter. Small checks catch the problems before they reach the timber.
March to May
See what the winter did, and book the summer work early.
Window putty and glazing
Look for: Cracked, loose or missing putty, especially on south and west facing sashes.
What to do: Rake out loose putty and replace it. Paint over the putty line onto the glass by a couple of millimetres to seal it.
Sills and bottom rails
Look for: Soft timber, open joints, flaking paint on the lowest parts of frames.
What to do: Probe with a screwdriver. Soft wood needs a joiner or a resin repair before painting.
Render and harling
Look for: New cracks, hollow sounding areas, green growth under sills.
What to do: Tap with your knuckle to find hollow areas. Note them for repair before any repaint.
Book exterior painting
Look for: Good painters fill their summer early.
What to do: Get quotes now for June to September work.
Maintenance
Questions
we get asked.
- When is the best time to paint the outside of a house in Fife?
- Late May to early September usually gives the most dry, mild days. Avoid days when rain, frost or a sea haar are likely before the paint dries.
- How often should exterior woodwork be painted?
- It depends on exposure. South and west facing and coastal woodwork often needs attention every few years. A quick touch up before bare wood shows saves a full strip back.
- Should I pressure wash render before painting?
- We would not on render, harling or soft stone. High pressure can drive water in and damage the surface. A fungicidal wash and a soft brush do the job.
Spotted something?
We will take
a look.
Send us a photo or book a visit. We will tell you honestly whether it needs doing now or can wait.
Seasonal reminders for Fife homes.