Interior decorating for Cottenham's mix of ages
Roughly one property in seven predates 1919, and those tend to have uneven plaster, settled ceilings and layers of old paint on the woodwork. At the other end, more than a quarter have been built since 2000. New houses come with fresh plaster that needs a mist coat and time to dry, and fine cracks often appear in the first years as the building settles. Our new build decorating page covers that stage.
Three-bedroom homes are the most common size here, at about 35%, so a full repaint usually means a hall, stairs and landing, living spaces and three bedrooms, planned in an order that keeps the house usable.
For owners and for landlords
About 34% of Cottenham households are buying with a mortgage, and 360 rent privately. Owners usually want finishes that last; landlords want something that can be touched up between tenancies. Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion suits both, as it is washable and breathable.
Cottenham at a glance
- 3 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 6 minutesOSRM routing
- 2,725householdsCensus 2021
- 73%of homes are owner-occupiedCensus 2021
- 13%of homes are privately rentedCensus 2021
- 15%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 3%are flatsCensus 2021
How we approach interior decorating
Graham starts by working out which rooms are old plaster and which are plasterboard, because the preparation differs. Older walls are filled, lined where needed and painted in breathable emulsion; new plaster gets a mist coat first. We sand with Mirka dust-free sanders, paint ceilings before walls, and finish woodwork in Tikkurila satin or an eggshell. The full method, products and FAQs are on our interior decorating page.