Conservation areas, listed houses and colour
After the medieval period, much of the flint from Walden Castle was taken for local houses and the Audley End estate wall. Flint and old brick are usually best left unpainted, so exterior work on period houses here is mostly render, painted brick and timber. If you live in a listed building or a conservation area, check with Uttlesford District Council before changing colours.
We'll paint test patches on a discreet section of wall so you can judge the colour in daylight, and suggest a breathable masonry paint that lets moisture out of old walls.
Semis, terraces and newer Saffron Walden homes
Semi-detached houses are the most common type in the town at about a third of homes, with terraces at around 22%. With the median build band at 1973 to 1982, plenty of homes have timber fascias, soffits and doors that need recoating every few years. Graham surveys each house first and puts repairs into the written quotation.
Shaded walls are jet washed with an anti-fungal wash before painting, as in our Cambridge exterior restoration. Front doors and frames can be done at the same time, including uPVC spraying.
Saffron Walden at a glance
- 25 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 33 minutesOSRM routing
- 80%are houses rather than flatsCensus 2021
- 25%of homes are detachedCensus 2021
- 14%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 2conservation areaslocal council
- 13%were built 1945 to 1964VOA Council Tax stock
How we approach exterior painting
On a Saffron Walden house we start with Graham's survey for cracked render, rotten timber and failed putty. The walls are jet washed with anti-fungal wash and left to dry, loose paint scraped and sanded, cracks filled, and bare timber primed. Masonry gets a breathable paint, woodwork an undercoat and top coat, all in dry, mild weather. The full method, products and FAQs are on our exterior painting page.