What good looks like
Paint and finishing: what good looks like
Surfaces prepared and dry, coating systems applied in full, and a finish judged under normal lighting at normal viewing distance — not touched in on handover morning.
Decoration exposes everything: the joint that was not supported, the background that was not dry, and the trade that came back after the painter. Most decorating defects are not paint defects. Preparation decides the result. Backgrounds must be dry, dust-free and appropriately sealed, and new plaster needs a mist coat before the finish coats. Applying a full-bodied emulsion straight onto suction-hungry plaster is the usual cause of flaking and patchy sheen. Apply the full specified system — primer, undercoat and finish coats — on joinery and metalwork, and pay attention to end grain and hidden faces on external joinery, which is where rot starts. Judge the finish under normal lighting at normal viewing distance, and inspect it once the plot is clean.
Basis in regulation
Before you start
Before you start: paint and finishing
Checks to clear before the first coat, because repainting is the most repeated task on any site.
Confirm the plot is dry and the drying-out period has been allowed; measure rather than assume. Confirm heating and ventilation are available so moisture leaves the building instead of condensing on the coldest surface. Close out the snag list on the surfaces before decoration starts, and sequence the remaining trades so nobody works over finished paint. Confirm the coating system for each substrate — plaster, MDF, softwood, metal — and that the same batch is used across a continuous surface to avoid shade variation.
Basis in regulation
Key requirements
Asphalt finishes suitability
Asphalt finishes must be selected and installed to be appropriate for their specific location and intended use within a building. The choice of asphalt should consider factors such as traffic loads, exposure to elements, and required durability. This ensures the finish performs as expected over its
Asphalt finishes must be selected and installed to be appropriate for their specific location and intended use within a building. The choice of asphalt should consider factors such as traffic loads, exposure to elements, and required durability. This ensures the finish performs as expected over its design life.
Basis in regulation
BS 8204-5
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Timber knotting and priming requirements
Knotting should be applied to timber where necessary, preferably compliant with BS 1336, though its effectiveness on heavy resin exudation can be limited. All surfaces to be painted, including hidden areas of external woodwork, cut ends, and glazing rebates, must receive at least one full, even coat
Knotting should be applied to timber where necessary, preferably compliant with BS 1336, though its effectiveness on heavy resin exudation can be limited. All surfaces to be painted, including hidden areas of external woodwork, cut ends, and glazing rebates, must receive at least one full, even coat of primer.
Basis in regulation
BS 1336
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Paint Finish Application
Paint finishes should be selected and applied in accordance with relevant British Standards and established industry guidance to achieve an acceptable quality and consistent appearance. This includes proper surface preparation, appropriate material choice, and correct application techniques.
Paint finishes should be selected and applied in accordance with relevant British Standards and established industry guidance to achieve an acceptable quality and consistent appearance. This includes proper surface preparation, appropriate material choice, and correct application techniques.
Basis in regulation
BS 6150
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Grout Application and Cleaning
Grout joints must be completely filled to their full depth to prevent water ingress and ensure structural integrity of the tiled surface. Following application, excess grout must be thoroughly cleaned from the tile faces to achieve a blemish-free and aesthetically pleasing finish.
Grout joints must be completely filled to their full depth to prevent water ingress and ensure structural integrity of the tiled surface. Following application, excess grout must be thoroughly cleaned from the tile faces to achieve a blemish-free and aesthetically pleasing finish.
Basis in regulation
BS 5385-1
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Timber paint system specifications
Primers for woodwork should conform to BS 7956. External timber requires paint or stain for moisture protection, with all finish layers being compatible with any preservative treatments. Unless manufacturer-recommended, paint should not be thinned, and a minimum of one priming coat, one undercoat, a
Primers for woodwork should conform to BS 7956. External timber requires paint or stain for moisture protection, with all finish layers being compatible with any preservative treatments. Unless manufacturer-recommended, paint should not be thinned, and a minimum of one priming coat, one undercoat, and one finishing coat are typically required, with light sanding between coats.
Basis in regulation
BS 7956
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Wall and Ceiling Finishes Compliance
All wall and ceiling finishes in new build properties must conform to the relevant technical requirements and performance standards to ensure durability, safety, and fitness for purpose.
All wall and ceiling finishes in new build properties must conform to the relevant technical requirements and performance standards to ensure durability, safety, and fitness for purpose.
Basis in regulation
Floor finish substrate preparation for flexible coverings
The subfloor must be adequately dry before installing flexible sheet or tile flooring to prevent issues like moisture entrapment or interstitial condensation. For ground-bearing concrete floors, a damp-proof membrane is essential to protect flooring from rising moisture. Adhesives should be applied
The subfloor must be adequately dry before installing flexible sheet or tile flooring to prevent issues like moisture entrapment or interstitial condensation. For ground-bearing concrete floors, a damp-proof membrane is essential to protect flooring from rising moisture. Adhesives should be applied evenly, and any excess removed, while the flooring must be neatly cut to fit around obstructions.
Basis in regulation
BS 8203
Read the sourceBS 8204
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Key requirements: paint and finishing
The finishing requirements most often picked up on the pre-handover walk.
Backgrounds dry, sound, dust-free and correctly prepared, with new plaster mist coated before finish coats. Full specified coating system applied to each substrate, including primer on all faces and end grain of joinery. Even coverage with no grinning, runs, misses, brush marks or shade variation across a continuous surface. Sharp cut-ins at ceilings, skirtings, architraves and sockets, with no paint on ironmongery, glass or electrical accessories. Filling flush and sanded, invisible under normal lighting at normal viewing distance. Sealant lines straight, continuous and tooled, and the correct sealant used in wet areas. Finished surfaces protected until handover and touch-ups completed with the same batch.
Basis in regulation
Substrate Preparation for Wall Tiling
Before applying wall tiles, the substrate must be properly prepared according to its type and condition, which may include priming, levelling, or waterproofing to ensure optimal adhesion and long-term performance.
Before applying wall tiles, the substrate must be properly prepared according to its type and condition, which may include priming, levelling, or waterproofing to ensure optimal adhesion and long-term performance.
Basis in regulation
BS 5385-1
Read the source
Original editorial guidance based on publicly available Approved Documents. Not building control approval, a warranty determination, or a substitute for the full source document.