How to Decorate Period Properties: A Hampshire Specialist’s Guide
Why period properties are different
Hampshire has an exceptional stock of period residential property — from the Georgian townhouses of Winchester and Fareham to the Victorian terraces of Portsmouth and Southsea, the Edwardian semis of Portchester, and the historic farmhouses and manor houses of the Meon Valley. Every one of them presents decorating challenges that simply don’t arise in a modern new-build. Getting those challenges right requires knowledge, patience and a different approach from the one that works in a contemporary home.
The problem with lime plaster
Most period properties built before the 1940s were plastered with lime-based plaster rather than the gypsum-based plaster used in modern construction. Lime plaster is more flexible, more breathable and more forgiving than gypsum — but it requires a completely different approach to decoration. Applying modern emulsions or oil-based paints directly onto lime plaster without the correct primer seals the surface and prevents the natural moisture movement that lime needs to function. Over time, this causes the paint to bubble, peel and fail. The solution is to use breathable primers and, where possible, breathable topcoats — an approach we apply consistently on period projects across Hampshire.
Multiple layers of historic paint
On many older properties, the existing paint build-up represents decades — sometimes centuries — of maintenance. This build-up can obscure architectural detail, make surfaces uneven and cause compatibility problems when new products are applied. Before any preparation begins on a period property, we assess the existing paint layers carefully: how many there are, what type they are (oil-based or water-based), and whether any are failing at the interface between layers. This assessment determines the preparation approach.
Movement and cracks
All buildings move. In period properties, this movement is more pronounced and more complex than in modern construction. Hairline cracks in plaster are normal and expected; what matters is understanding which are stable (caused by historic movement that has stopped) and which are active (caused by ongoing movement). Filling an active crack with a rigid filler will result in the crack reappearing within months. We use flexible, paintable fillers for active movement cracks and rigid fillers only where appropriate.
Our approach to period properties
At Paintology, period properties are where our preparation-first approach makes the biggest difference. The time we invest in assessment and preparation — approximately 70% of every project — is what separates a finish that lasts from one that fails. If you have a period home in Hampshire and want a decorator who understands what it needs, we’d love to talk.
Contact us at hello@paintology.co.uk.
By Callum MacDonald - Founder of Paintology, decorating Hampshire's finest homes since 2012.