Dean decorates hallways, staircases and landings in Moulton, a village in NN3 about 4.3 miles north-east of central Northampton. The job changes a lot from house to house here, from tight cottage stairs between solid stone walls to double-height stairwells that need a tower or platform.
Steep stairs and low ceilings in the cottages
The 17th and 18th century farmhouses and cottages in Moulton’s conservation area are mostly two storeys and one room deep. The staircases in houses built like that are rarely generous. They tend to be steep and narrow, sometimes turning, with low headroom at the top and a landing that is little more than a step. Ceilings are low throughout, so the whole space is within reach, but there is barely room for a stepladder, let alone a board across the flight.
We work these stairs with compact steps, short boards and a lot of moving. It is slower per square metre than a modern hall, and the quote reflects the time rather than the area. The walls are often solid stone with lime plaster that bows and undulates. That rules out a sharp, flat finish, so we fill cracks with a compatible material, line where the plaster is sound but rough, and use a breathable emulsion so the wall can still dry out. Vinyl papers and heavy acrylic coatings trap moisture on walls like these.
Tall stairwells on the larger modern houses
Out on the edges of the village, the larger detached houses from the late 20th and 21st centuries can have open stairwells running the full two storeys. The awkward part is the wall above the lower flight, which can be well out of ladder reach.
- We set up a stair platform or a small tower that sits level across the treads, so the top of the wall and the ceiling can be reached safely.
- Banisters, spindles and newel posts are usually a big share of the woodwork and get the same preparation as doors.
- Plasterboard here is flat, so a smooth finish and sharp cutting-in are realistic, which also shows every flaw, so filling and sanding come first.
The general detail on access and hard-wearing finishes is on our main hallway, stairs and landing page.
Halls that take the boots
Moulton is surrounded by farmland, and Crowfields Common and the Pages Brook valley are on the doorstep, so a Moulton hallway may well take muddy boots, dog walks and wet coats. That is a good argument for a scrubbable matt or a durable eggshell on the lower walls, and a satin or eggshell on skirtings rather than flat paint. In the old cottages the balance is different: a breathable finish matters more than scrubbability, so we use breathable paints that can still be wiped and plan for a quick touch-up rather than a sealed wall.
Carrying a platform up the Church Street steps
A stair platform is the bulkiest thing a hallway job needs, and in the old core it has to be carried. Nos. 14-30 Church Street, the 18th century terrace with raised stone-stepped doorways, is reached up flights of stone steps from a raised pavement, so the platform comes in sections by hand. Inside, the doorways and turns of an older stair decide which kit fits at all, which Dean checks at the quote.
A hall, stairs and landing usually runs over a few days. We keep the stairs usable at the end of each day, with a clear walkway and wet paint signposted, so you are never cut off from the bedrooms. If you are deciding between decorators, our guide to choosing a painter and decorator covers what to ask, and the Moulton area page covers the rest of the village.
Last updated by Dean, DH Painter & Decorator.
