Painting a Victorian terrace in Norwich: what to expect

The ceilings are the biggest job

Old lath-and-plaster ceilings often have hairline cracks, small sags, or nicotine and water stains that keep bleeding through fresh paint.

A stain-block primer, careful crack repair with the right filler, and two full coats of a matt trade emulsion is usually the honest answer, not a quick roll-over.

Woodwork is layers deep

Skirtings, architraves and picture rails in a Norwich terrace can carry a dozen paint layers from previous decades. Sometimes the right move is a full sand back to bare timber; more often, a careful sand, fill and re-prime is enough to give a smooth, modern finish without losing detail.

Order of works matters

Ceilings first, then walls, then woodwork, then final touch-ups. Rushed jobs paint in the wrong order and end up with roller splatter on freshly glossed skirting. It costs the client twice.