We decorate hallways, stairs and landings in Cogenhoe, about 4.6 miles east of Northampton town centre. The village has three very different kinds of staircase: tall Victorian stairwells, narrow and steep cottage stairs, and the straight flights in its 20th-century estate homes, and each needs different access and paint.
Two and three storeys of stairwell on Station Road
The Victorian houses built by the Mann family during Cogenhoe’s shoemaking years, including Gladstone Terrace and Rocklands on Station Road, run to two or three storeys, and some have attic levels. That gives a stairwell where the wall above the lower flight can be a long way up from the treads. A stepladder alone will not reach it safely.
For these we set up a combination ladder with independently adjustable legs on the stairs, plus a stair platform and staging boards to bridge the drop. Once the platform is level, the high wall, cornice line and landing ceiling can be cut in properly instead of being worked at arm’s length. We plan the order so the stairs stay usable: top landing first, then the upper flight, with the hall and lower woodwork last.
These houses also have plenty of woodwork: spindles, a handrail, a newel post, deep skirtings and doors on each landing. On a full stairwell, the woodwork often takes longer than the walls. We usually quote the two separately so you can see where the time goes.
Narrow, steep stairs in the stone cottages
The 17th and 18th century limestone cottages along Church Street and upper Mill Lane often have narrow, steep staircases, and the low ceilings mean little headroom. The challenge is room to move rather than height. Big platforms will not fit, so we use smaller adjustable steps and short boards, and work more slowly around the tight turns.
The walls are also different. Solid stone walls finished in lime plaster need to breathe, so a vinyl emulsion over them can trap moisture and blister. Where we find lime plaster we recommend a breathable mineral or clay-based paint. On a staircase, where hands and shoulders rub the walls, we discuss the trade-off honestly, because the most breathable finishes are not always the most scrubbable.
When the front door opens onto the pavement
In the old part of the village, many cottages sit hard against the pavement with no garden in front, and in some the hallway is just a short lobby behind a door that opens onto the street. Parking on Church Street and Station Road is tight, with cars pulled up on pavements and verges, so getting stair ladders and boards from the van to the house takes some planning.
- We bring the long kit in once at the start and keep it on site for the job, instead of making repeated trips.
- The threshold and first stretch of floor are covered with heavy sheets, since every visitor and delivery comes through them.
- Wet paint near the front door is scheduled so you can still get in and out without brushing past it.
Straight flights in the estate houses
The post-1960s estate houses off York Avenue and Station Road mostly have the standard layout: a straight flight from the hall to a small landing. These are quicker to decorate, and the main issue is wear. Family halls take bikes, buggies and muddy boots, so we suggest a durable, wipeable emulsion on the walls and a hard-wearing satin on the spindles and skirtings.
| Staircase type in Cogenhoe | Usual access | Wall finish we tend to suggest |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian, two to three storeys | Stair platform and staging boards | Durable emulsion |
| Stone cottage, narrow and steep | Compact adjustable steps | Breathable paint over lime plaster |
| Estate house, straight flight | Combination ladder | Scrubbable emulsion |
Our full approach to stairwell safety and order of work is on the main hallway and stairs page. You can read more about the village’s houses on the Cogenhoe area page.
Last updated by Dean, DH Painter & Decorator.
