Repairing Peeling Paint and Failing Plaster in Brooklyn Heights Townhouse 11201

Our first order of business was to address the failing plaster. We began by scrupulously scraping away the loose, flaking paint—a meticulous process. Next, we applied a bonding primer, an essential step that acts as the foundation for what's to come, promising adhesion and durability for the new paint. It's not just about covering up; it's about setting the stage for a lasting transformation.

before we started

after the scraping stage

After the bonding primer set the stage, we turned our attention to the plaster itself. Plastering is an art as much as it is a skill—smoothing over the past, filling in the gaps of time, and restoring the smooth canvas that is a ceiling in a brownstone such as this. Layer by layer, we built up the surface, each stroke erasing years of wear and bringing us closer to a restoration deserving of this home's heritage.

Finally, it was time to reintroduce paint to the ceilings.

Beautiful newly plasterer and polished walls to showcase professional photos.

Close up view of beautiful walls.

NYC Apartment Skim Coating 

There are lots of ways to incorporate a homey atmosphere into your residence. Rugs, window treatments and furniture come to mind. But the personalization of space, that unique décor element that speaks volumes about the homeowner, might just be how one treats the walls. The options are nearly limitless for paintings, prints, fabric, mirrors, metal art, maps, shelves, plates, sconces, whiteboard, the television and – drum roll – photos. One of our recent clients is a professional photographer, and she wanted to showcase some of her work at home, but not on crummy, rough, uneven, peeling walls with ceilings to match!

We scraped off lots of loose, old paint and plaster before smoothing the surfaces with multiple skim coats of plaster, sanding between each one. After applying an excellent bonding primer, our team painted a polish plaster coat. This final layer provides a smooth, uniform texture which is durable and naturally waterproof. While it can be tinted, this lady opted for the cleanliness of white so her photos capture full attention. We took a few photos of our own so you can see the difference, though not close to professional standards of photography, we know.

The hallway walls when we arrived on the scene.

Ceilings needed serious attention, too.

BEFORE …

DURING …

AFTER …

Bathroom Repair, Prime and Paint

Years of high humidity coupled with poor ventilation in a small, confined space where the door is often closed can wreak havoc on ceiling and wall paint. Tack on a leak from the floor above, and you’ll find significant damage in the form of peeling, stains, mildew and bubbly paint or wallpaper. Things not only look rough, but also can compromise the ceiling and wall structure. Time for action with Paintworks on the scene.

 Once the old stuff was removed and the ceiling and walls cleaned and permitted to dry, we plastered above our heads and on the walls, carrying on for two days of plaster, dry, tape, sand and plaster again. For a longer-lasting solution here, we then applied a deep stain-killing primer which protects the walls from inside as well as offers a smooth adherence of the paint coats. We know semi-gloss can highlight imperfections more than flat or matte paints, and that’s why we spent tedious hours smoothing our plaster job before priming and painting. The aha moment came as the top coat of semi-gloss paint dried. The Sunnyside neighborhood residents are delighted with the sleek new finish.

NYC Scaffold Painting Contractor

There's a reverence that accompanies our work in buildings more than a century old. We recently had the privilege of working on ceiling repair from a slow water leak in a top floor apartment in one of these well-preserved structures. The ceilings were 24 feet high, and jobs like this require expert contractors protecting floors, art and furnishings while assembling safe scaffolding and using professional plastering, smoothing and painting skills. After masterfully repairing and painting the ceiling, we painted the entire living room. These residents can now enjoy a drip-free, freshly painted space at the top, penthouse-like.

After - Skim Coating to near perfect smoothness

Skim Coating Co-op Lobbies In Queens NY

The popcorn ceiling has gone the way of dot matrix printers, landlines and fax machines for no longer being needed or especially appealing. The bright white attraction can easily be satiated with today's wonderfully-formulated ceiling paints, and the sleek look of a smooth surface over your head modernizes the proverbial loft, condo, house, lobby, work place and office space throughout all the boroughs of New York City. Popcorn ceilings are a little infamous for covering poor workmanship or sloppy installation, akin to heavy Hollandaise sauce on eggs Benedict when the yolks have already begun to drool. Additionally, they were touted for acoustical properties, but we can raise the bar on that by completely sealing your popcorn nuggets in plaster and then smoothing everything with a skim coat to a contemporary, lustrous finish.

The job we recently completed in a co-op condo building lobby and hallways involved adding skim coat plastering over the popcorn component. Sometimes when a popcorn ceiling has been painted over many times it is more cost effective and dust/mess reducing to skim coat over the popcorn ceiling. With a steady hand and smooth-sided trowel, the Paintworks & Decorating experts crafted a beautiful, unwrinkled ceiling surface. Not only does this smooth ceiling contribute to property value and interior aesthetics, but also it will be super easy to repair. One major drawback of the ol' popcorn ceiling is that it can never be repaired to look the same as the original. A patch job will always be evident, and water leaks from above as well as unintentional ceiling damage are all possible, even for ceilings on a top floor.  We enjoyed renovating and transforming the ceiling, and the residents now enter and move through a much more contemporary environment.  

Before - Mid Skim coating