Exterior Painters in London
London weather is brutal on a paint film — sun, salt-laden rain and freeze-thaw cycles all in the same week. Our exterior painters use breathable masonry systems and specialist primers that actually last the 10 years the tin promises.
Exterior Painting across London
Exterior painting is really two jobs: proper substrate repair, then a coating system matched to what you're painting. Get either wrong and the finish blisters or flakes within a winter. We assess every elevation for cracked render, blown mortar, soft timber and previous paint failure before we quote — because painting over a problem just hides it for six months.
For masonry we use Dulux Weathershield Smooth or Sandtex Ultra Smooth over a stabilising primer; for cement render in poor condition we specify a breathable silicate system so the wall can dry out; for K Rend and modern renders we use a compatible acrylic topcoat rather than a smothering barrier paint. Fascias, soffits and window frames get a high-build primer/undercoat/topcoat cycle in Zinsser Allcoat or Tikkurila Unica — the difference between three years and ten years of life.
We're set up for full access: scaffold liaised through our regular scaffolders, cherry pickers hired where a tower makes more sense, and full working-at-height PPE and insurance. We've painted everything from single-storey terraces in Tottenham to five-storey stucco fronts in Belgravia and Kensington.
Why homeowners choose our exterior team
Breathable, weather-tested systems
The right coating for your substrate — silicate on failing render, Weathershield on stable masonry, Zinsser Allcoat on metal and timber.
Substrate repair included
Blown render cut out, mortar re-pointed, rotten timber cut and spliced, cracks stitched — before any paint goes on.
Full access sorted
Scaffold, cherry picker, tower or ladders — we specify and coordinate everything for you.
Weather-planned timing
We plan around forecasts and don't apply masonry paint below 5°C or in the wet — no rush jobs that fail in month three.
How a typical exterior job runs
- 01
Elevation survey
We walk each elevation, check render, mortar, timber and previous coatings, and note access needs.
- 02
Written quote & spec
Fixed price with the coating system spelled out — brand, product, number of coats and any repair works.
- 03
Access & protection
Scaffold or platform up, windows masked, plants and paths sheeted, neighbours notified.
- 04
Prep & repair
Wash down, kill any moss or algae, re-point, patch render, replace rotten timber, prime bare areas.
- 05
Coating
Full priming coat plus two topcoats on masonry; three-coat system on all timber and metal. Every elevation photographed before and after.
Silicate vs acrylic masonry paint — which is right for your walls?
The single biggest spec decision on any exterior. Pick wrong and the paint blisters within a winter.
| Silicate (mineral) — e.g. Keim, Beeck | Acrylic (film-forming) — e.g. Dulux Weathershield, Sandtex | |
|---|---|---|
| Breathability | Excellent — bonds chemically to the wall, lets moisture out | Limited — sits as a film on the surface |
| Best on damp/older walls | Yes — lets damp render dry out | No — can trap moisture and blister |
| Best on modern render / K Rend | Only with a compatible primer | Yes — designed for it |
| Colour range | Muted, natural tones | Full colour range including strong pigments |
| Lifespan (correct spec) | 15–25 years | 8–12 years |
| Cost | Higher materials, similar labour | Lower materials |
Our take: London rule of thumb: silicate for Victorian and Edwardian brick/stucco, acrylic for modern render and repainted surfaces already in acrylic.
Exterior painting readiness checklist
What we (and you) confirm before we start — so the finish actually lasts the 10 years the tin promises.
- Weather forecast checked: 5+ dry days at 8°C or above
- All render cracks cut out, patched and cured minimum 14 days
- Blown or hollow render sections re-based
- Moss, algae and lichen killed with a fungicidal wash
- Failing paint scraped back to sound edges
- Bare timber primed, rotten sections spliced or epoxied
- Windows, sills and downpipes masked; plants sheeted
- Scaffold or MEWP in place with method statement
- Neighbours notified in writing (courtesy — often required)
- Photographic condition survey filed before work starts
Exterior Painting in your area
We cover all of Greater London. Popular areas for our exterior service include:
Exterior Painting questions, answered
When is the best time to paint the outside of my house in London?+
April to October is ideal — we need consistently dry weather and temperatures above 8°C for masonry paint to cure properly. We can work into November with warmer coatings but avoid the depths of winter.
Do I need scaffolding?+
Anything above a first-floor bay usually does. We coordinate scaffold with a trusted London scaffolder and price it into the quote so you get one number.
How long does a full exterior repaint take?+
A typical London three-bed terrace front is 4–7 working days including prep. A full three-storey stucco elevation with repairs is 2–4 weeks depending on access and weather windows.
What guarantee do you offer?+
5 years on workmanship for exteriors, backed by the paint manufacturer's own product warranty (up to 15 years on Weathershield with the correct system). Documented in your quote.
Can you paint render that's been painted before?+
Yes — but we test adhesion first. Failing paint gets scraped, chased out and re-based; sound paint gets a stabilising primer before topcoats. We won't paint over failing coatings and hope for the best.
Related services
Recent exterior projects
Ready to book your exterior job?
Call for a chat, or send us the details and a couple of photos — you'll have a written quote the same working day.