Painters in Central London
  • Home
  • About us
    • What else we do >
      • Magnetic & non magnetic Whiteboard Wall Covering
      • Whiteboard Paint
      • Digital Imagery Wallpaper
      • Re-grouting / Re-siliconing
  • Gallery
  • Residential Painters
  • London Office Painters
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Policies

Smarter spaces for Education

7/17/2015

0 Comments

 

Painters in central London, bringing you a
colourful and engaging learning environment

It has been proven that colour and design can have a measurable impact on learning outcomes.
Classrooms and school buildings, in primary, secondary and further education need to be more visually exciting and engaging for the pupils. This can be easily and inexpensively achieved by simply painting a feature wall at the front of the classroom. 

A feature wall can focus students attention on where the action is taking place in the classroom.

i.e.  At the front of the classroom !

When it comes to choosing a colour we have to consider the different audiences in primary, secondary and further education students.  

This can be achieved with uplifting accent colours on the feature walls while clean and fresh neutral colours play a part in the contrast by being painted on the remaining walls. Doors and trims can also be picked out in accent colours.

In public buildings, it is also important to use colour as much as possible in order to be effective and work with The equality Act guidelines. For visually impaired students, teachers or visitors, colour will help them to navigate throughout the building. It has been proved that visually impaired people are able to distinguish colour difference. Therefore using clearly distinguishable colours on walls, ceilings, doors and door frames will make it easier for them to move around.



Accent and neutral colours for PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
Primary students need to feel that they are in an environment of fun and play.
colours for classrooms
Accent and neutral colours for SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
Teenagers fall into a middle category and while not adults, they need to be treated as adults, with room for some teenage fun and inspiration for their developing minds.
Colours for classrooms
Accent and neutral colours for FURTHER EDUCATION STUDENTS
Further education students need to chill out and feel happy while they are in a learning environment. 
Colours for classrooms
0 Comments

Painting of Coningsby art gallery Central London

7/13/2015

0 Comments

 
I never thought I would be saying this but ...
" Our painting (workmanship) is on show at the Coningsbury Gallery for all to see !! 
Painters in Central London were approached by Andrew at Coningsby Gallery in Central London to quote for the redecoration of both floors of the gallery and to advise on colours and paint finishes. Immediately on entering the gallery, I could see the potential with the light that was available from main gallery front window and the glass atrium roof section at the rear. 

The gallery was looking a little dated with its yellow/peachy colour on the walls and ceilings and for this reason, the gallery had decided it was time to have a new fresh look.

The gallery had a very warm feel to it but in my opinion, it was not an ideal colour for today to set off the artwork that was to be exhibited there. 

On providing advise on colours and a comprehensive quotation to Andrew, we were immediately instructed by him to decorate both floors of the gallery.
Images by Coningsby Gallery

Quirky features of the gallery

We had decided on an ivory white  for the ceilings walls and all the woodwork so that there was a uniform colour throughout the gallery. A matt emulsion on the walls and ceilings and an eggshell finish on all the woodwork.

With this new light colour, the artwork on the walls and in the show cases would now we shown off to their maximum potential. 

As I set to work, I began to appreciate the creativity of the original designer of the gallery as he had incorporated many quirky features into the Gallery's structure. The main entrance door had an artists hand inset into the door on both sides. This was a great way to greet customers on entering the gallery for the first time as it set the mood for discussion.
On the lower floor, the newel post of the stairs had a wooden carved hand that held a wooden carved golden torch. The torch was actually hard wired as a real working light and the hand was pivoted on the newel post so that the beam of light could be rotated in any direction.
Art gallery entrance door
Inset artists hand
Picture
A functioning rotating light
Gas fire central London
A working gas fire
Also on the lower floor of the gallery there was an inset chimney with a delightful fire bucket. At first I thought it was just a decorative feature and very apt. 

I had to remove this in order to treat the damp and peeling paint in the chimney. On closer inspection, I found that the fire bucket was attached to a small gas pipe with an isolating gas tap located in the paneling below the chimney. Absolutely amazing, and what a talking point to have this burning on a winters evening exhibition night.
The stairs leading down to the rear of the gallery had glass paneled sides with carved newel posts.  
The glass panels openes the view through the gallery as you approached the stairs and also accentuate the beautiful hand carved newel posts and carved rope like hand rails. 

The new ivory white colour is now working well in the gallery reflecting more of the natural daylight and accentuating the exhibited artwork.
Coningsby Gallery
Carved rope handrail and carved newel posts.
Painting of Coningsby art gallery
Coningsby gallery reception desk
The gallery designer had also made an interesting feature with the reception desk. 
The front panels and mouldings creatively curve and blend in as an extension of the main wall.

 
The Coningsby Gallery has become renowned for its dedication to outstanding contemporary illustration and graphic art. 
Established in 1994 in Central London’s thriving Fitzrovia, collaborating with internationally recognised and upcoming artists.

0 Comments

How to paint over mould

7/12/2015

0 Comments

 

Causes of bathroom mould

Mouldy bathroom ceilings have long been a source of concern for homeowners, landlords and Painters & Decorators here in London

Bathrooms that are poorly heated and ventilated and having little or no insulation, will cause the surface of the ceiling and walls to become cold and to remain cold. 

When the warm air from the shower or bath comes into contact with the cold ceiling, the air cools. 
This warm air, which will be laden with moisture, can no longer hold that moisture, therefore it condenses on the cold surface of the ceiling.

Particularly common in London are bathrooms and shower rooms constructed internally of the building envelope.
This therefore means that you have to rely on mechanical extractors to remove or reduce the moisture in the air. 
As these rooms are internal, they are often better heated and insulated, thus producing less mould than a bathroom with external walls and single glazed windows.

At Painters in Central London, we often encounter ceilings suffering from mould and flaking paint.

The ceiling below was above a shower cubicle in a one bedroom flat in Covent Garden. The property was pre- 1930s built, no insulated walls, metal casement windows and a heated by a single towel rail.

mouldy bathroom ceiling in Central London

Procedure for painting a mouldy ceiling

Surface Preparation
  • Remove any loose and failing material by scraping and brushing with a stiff bristled brush until you find a sound edge. 
  • Remove all visible signs of mould growth and treat all areas with a Anti-Mould Solution. Use in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. 
  • Wash down all remaining surfaces with a hot sugar soap solution to remove any contaminants. 
  • Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove the residues.
  • Fill any cracks and holes, sand down, and feather the edges, or fine fill and feather if the paint layers are too thick. 

Priming
Prime all stained, bare and filled areas with one coat of shellac-based primer Sealer in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Decoration
Apply two full coats of an acrylic eggshell finish. 
Dulux Diamond Eggshell is resistant to the levels of atmospheric humidity present in normal interior environments and will withstand repeated washing. It is suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms. 


0 Comments

Water-Reacting Architectural Surface

7/10/2015

0 Comments

 

A Laminated Material that reacts to water

Product Designer Chao Chen, currently studying at London's Royal College of Art  has developed an innovative building material that changes shape as the material becomes wet. 

As the material begins to dry, it slowly returns back to its original shape.

Below, Chao has creatively used the material to produce a floral design as the material slowly becomes wet.
By adding a colour to the background of the reactive panel, he produces a beautiful piece of artwork as the final design is set off by the background colour.
Dry condition
Reacting as it becomes wet
All images by Chao Chen

Inspiration came from the opening & closing of a pine cone

Chao used one of natures products to help him produce this innovative material. One day, walking through London's Hyde Park, which I regularly have the pleasure of walking through, he took several cones home with him and begun to study their make up and what made them function as they did. He found that the cones consisted of two types of layers that reacted differently to water.

The outer layer elongates more that the inner layer which naturally makes the cone contract when wet
Chao Chen Water-Reacting Architectural Surface
All mages by Chao Chen
With this important information, Chao cleverly  produced an innovative laminate, consisting of multiple layers of different materials. This remarkably reproduced the natural closing action of the pine cone.

Reactive materials hold huge potential for architects and engineers in the near future, 

Here, Chao uses the reactive material to produce a roof.
When the conditions are dry, the tiles let the sun shine through and when they become wet, they close up.

Roofing tiles open in dry conditions
Roofing tiles closed in wet conditions

Here Chao models a pine cone and reproduces the natural opening and closing motion that first inspired him

All images by Chao Chen
Picture
When the soil is dry the stick is in an upright position and the red is a warning that it needs to be watered.
All images by Chao Chen
All images by Chao Chen
The soil now has enough water and the stick lowers itself and shows the blue side as being ok.
0 Comments

*Paint a solar panel onto your house*

7/9/2015

0 Comments

 

Worlds first photovoltaic additive

Every surface could become 
an electric generator
Picture
Solar Layer
Green Energy Revolution
A London-based company is looking for investors through indiegogo.com  to make this product become a reality as they claim it could revolution renewable energy. 
They claim that....

The additive can convert surfaces into a solar panel

There are three basic electric components
  • The Fibre conductor
  • Photo-Voltaic cells
  • Energy stabilizer

The cells work as an intelligent conductor and transforms light sources into electricity.

Photo-Voltaic cells additive
The solar Layer can be added to the manufacturing process of paint and applied to domestic and commercial premises.  Your ceilings and walls could be able to generate low voltage electricity.
The Solar Layer can also be mixed to the manufacturing process of asphalt to be applied as the top layer of road surfaces.
Solar Layer road surfaces
This could then convert all roads into low voltage electricity generators.

We always try to embrace modern technology and new industry products here at Painters in Central London and we will be first in the queue for this energy paint revolution.

100 lts please!

0 Comments

 Realise London's full rental potential with good decoration

7/8/2015

0 Comments

 

Expectations Rise

Renting has become a well-established London way of life - changing the capital’s housing market.

In London, tenants can often rent more centrally than they could afford to buy. 

Homes within a 10-minute walk of a Tube or train station are at the top of the list for London's growing number of renters. 
Picture

As rents rise, so do tenant's expectations and it is therefore vital to have your apartment decorated to a high standard in order to realise the full rental potential.

The London lettings market is unique from the rest of the country in its sophistication, competitiveness and demands.

It is essential that the furnishing and decoration is of a high standard in order to let the property quickly

Painters in Central London
At Painters in Central London we can transform that tired ageing property into a fresh, modern and sought after abode.


A well decorated flat will let quickly
0 Comments

How to paint a panelled door

7/7/2015

0 Comments

 

Procedure

To obtain the best results, you will need to maintain a wet edge between each section of the door.

Therefore if you paint the panels in the numerical order, this will give you the shortest time that an edge is left, thus stopping it from drying out thus avoiding an uneven build up of two coats of paint.

Make sure the surfaces are clean and free from grease

Picture
*First start by painting  the edges of the door avoiding excess paint being brushed onto the vertical stiles.

*Then start on the upper left panel and the sunken rebate. Again avoiding excess paint being brushed onto the adjacent stiles and rails.

*Lay off the paint lightly, with the tip of the brush, out from the corners of the rebates, otherwise you will get a build up of paint and dripping will occur.

*Check all of the panels and rebates again and lay off any developing runs.

*Then begin painting the upper vertical stile 8 down to 10. The aim here is to coat the door as it was constructed . i.e. paint only up to the joints of each section.

*Then proceed to the upper horizontal rail 11 working your way down to the bottom rail 14. Again only paint up to the constructed joint.

*Finally finish off with the two long outer vertical stiles.

*Check carefully over the whole door for any drips or runs and lay off with light strokes using only the tip of the brush.

*You should now have a perfectly painted and evenly coated Panelled door.


What type of paint to use on an internal door

There are many paints and finishes available on the market today. These are available in oil and water based mixes.

Satin and eggshell finishes are most popular these days as it gives a more contemporary look and feel to the wood.

.5 of a litre will be sufficient for a single coat of paint on both sides of the door.
0 Comments

#MondayMotivation

7/6/2015

0 Comments

 

Serving up #MondayMotivation to get you through the week 


This particular location is about an hour out from Cartagena Colombia. 

We hired a boat and a guy for the day and headed off away from the main port. 

The weather was absolutely gorgeous as you would expect in Colombia.

Colombia is a country that many people avoid because of the bad press that it has had over the past decades. 


~mondayMotivation Cartagena Colombia

Tourists not travelling to Colombia is not a bad thing, as it leaves areas like this unspoiled and undiscovered, solely for the likes of us!

We will be heading back there very soon.

Have a great week guys!

0 Comments

Out with the old, in with the new...

7/5/2015

0 Comments

 

Magnetic Whiteboard Wall Covering

We were instructed by Fielden Mawson Architects in Central London to redecorate their main meeting room.
 
Magnetic whiteboard wall covering

The room was painted with Dulux white matt emulsion and a slight off white matt on the walls. 

This was a vast improvement on the existing colour which was an outdated yellow. 

The meeting room now has a crisp modern feel to it which compliments the large wooden meeting room table that dominates the center of the room.


Previously, as you entered the room, you were greeted with a cumbersome magnetic white board that had been bolted to the wall.

This was removed and replaced with a modern magnetic whiteboard wall covering that was fixed to the wall with a vinyl adhesive. This particular magnetic wall covering, as specified by the architect,s was a white gloss finish with feint gridding printed on the surface. 

The complete wall was covered with the 1.2m magnetic white board wall covering. It was cut around the existing light switch so it could meet the adjacent glass curtain walling.

The architects now have access to a large white board area and gives the meeting room a sleek new look.

0 Comments

    Andrew GARD

    Painter Decorator based in Soho Central London

    Archives

    December 2019
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Colours For Education
    How To?
    New Technology
    Paint Wooden Floor
    Works

    RSS Feed

Get in touch

Telephone

07889 506 242

Hours

Mon-Sun : 7am - 9pm
Painters in Central London Andrew GARD -
23 Brewer Street Soho London W1F 0RN
Cookie & Privacy Policy
Painter in Central London Andrew GARD
© Copyright 2021  Painters in central London   All Rights Reserved  
Associated websites:  GaleriaAmaya.com    GodIsGiving.org    ComprendeOnline.com
  • Home
  • About us
    • What else we do >
      • Magnetic & non magnetic Whiteboard Wall Covering
      • Whiteboard Paint
      • Digital Imagery Wallpaper
      • Re-grouting / Re-siliconing
  • Gallery
  • Residential Painters
  • London Office Painters
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Policies