Finishing Materials
Plasters, fillers, sealants, adhesives, primers, and paint for the final stages of your extension, covering the materials that turn a shell into a room.
Angle Beads: The UK Homeowner's Complete Guide to Plaster Corner Reinforcement
Galvanised vs stainless vs PVC angle beads, thin-coat vs thick-coat profiles, and how to fix them so they don't rust through your paint. UK prices £2-£9 per length (April 2026).
Backer Rod: The £3 Foam Strip That Stops Sealant Cracking
UK guide to backer rod for window perimeters and movement joints: NHBC 6.7.3 rules, sizing, where to buy, and why your sealant cracks without it. From £2.39 per 10m roll.
Bonding Plaster: When You Need It, How to Apply It, and What Goes Wrong
The complete UK guide to bonding plaster (Thistle BondingCoat): coverage rates, application thickness, surface prep, skim timing, and current prices from £14-22 per 25kg bag.
Chalk Powder: Why Red Chalk Will Bleed Through Your Paint, and What to Buy Instead
UK guide to chalk line powder. Colour-to-permanence map, the red-on-plaster warning every retailer omits, refilling technique, and prices from £1.20 at Travis Perkins.
Chemical Paint Stripper: The UK Guide for Lead-Safe Removal of Old Paint
How to choose between Paint Panther, Peel Away 1 and 7, Nitromors and Home Strip. Why heat guns are the worst option for lead paint, what the DCM ban changed, and how to strip Victorian skirting without poisoning yourself.
Decorator's Caulk: What to Buy, How to Apply It, and Why Paint Cracks Over It
The complete UK guide to decorator's caulk: where to use it, which brands to avoid, proper application technique, and how to stop paint cracking. From £1-5 per tube.
Decoupling Membrane: Why You Need One Under Tiles on a Heated Floor
UK guide to decoupling membranes (Schluter DITRA, BAL Rapid-Mat, Mapei Mapeguard UM35): when you must use one, how to install it, BS 5385-3:2024 requirements, and current prices from £8-15/m².
Emulsion Paint: Finishes, Brands, and How to Get a Good Result on New Plaster
The complete UK guide to emulsion paint: matt vs silk vs eggshell, trade vs retail, mist coat technique for new plaster, coverage rates, and what to buy for walls and ceilings.
Gloss Paint: Water-Based vs Oil, Satinwood vs Gloss, and How to Get a Pro Finish on Woodwork
The UK guide to gloss, satinwood and eggshell paint for skirting, architrave and doors. Why oil-based whites yellow, what trade brands to buy, and the slap-it-on technique that beginners get wrong.
Grab Adhesive: How to Choose Between Gripfill, No More Nails, and CT1 (and Why Pin and Bond Beats Adhesive Alone)
The complete UK guide to grab adhesive: solvent vs water-based vs MS polymer chemistry, application technique, current prices from £2.32 to £14, and why instant grab is a myth.
Tile Grout: Types, Colours, Coverage, and How to Get Clean Joints
Complete UK guide to tile grout: cementitious vs epoxy vs hybrid, coverage calculations, colour choice, how to apply it properly, and prices from ~£9-22 per 5kg bag.
Intumescent Strips: FD30, FD60, and How to Get Past Building Control
UK guide to intumescent strips for fire doors: 10mm vs 15mm vs 20mm, the doorset trap, the TGN9 revocation, painting rules, and current prices from £4.60 per door.
Knotting Solution: How to Stop Pine Knots Bleeding Through Paint
The UK guide to shellac knotting solution: why it matters, how to apply it, water-based paint compatibility, and what to buy. Tins from £7–£16, BIN from £23–£25.
Masonry Paint: What to Buy, How to Apply It, and When to Paint
The UK homeowner's guide to exterior masonry paint: smooth vs textured, brand comparison, coverage rates, surface prep, and how to avoid peeling within 5 years.
Mitre Bond: Why Skirting Joints Open After the First Winter, and How to Stop It
The complete UK guide to mitre bond: two-part CA glue chemistry, the September 2025 DMPT ban, application sequence, and current kit prices from £7-12.
Multi-Finish Plaster: The UK Homeowner's Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about Thistle Multi-Finish plaster: coverage, mixing, trowelling technique, and how many bags you need. From ~£9-12 per 25kg bag.
Primer and Sealer: The UK Guide to Getting Paint to Actually Stick
How to prime new plaster, bare wood, MDF, and previously painted surfaces. Mist coat ratios, product recommendations, and costs from ~£18-52 per 2.5L.
PVA Adhesive: When to Use It, How to Apply It, and When to Use Something Else
The definitive UK guide to PVA adhesive for plastering and flooring. Dilution ratios, application technique, brand comparison, and the three mistakes that ruin walls.
Self-Levelling Compound: How to Get a Flat Floor Without Paying a Screeder
Complete UK guide to self-levelling compound: which product to buy, how to apply it, coverage per bag, primer choices, and common mistakes that ruin floors.
Silicone Sealant: Types, Technique, and What to Buy
The complete UK guide to silicone sealant: acetoxy vs neutral cure, anti-mould grades, how to apply a clean bead, removal, and current prices from £5-11 per tube.
Tile Adhesive: Types, Selection, and How to Avoid Costly Mistakes
The complete UK guide to tile adhesive: flexible vs standard, rapid vs slow-set, powder vs ready-mixed, S1 vs S2 classification, coverage rates, and current prices from ~£11-25 per 20kg bag.
Wood Filler: How to Choose, Apply, and Stop Holes Showing Through Paint
The UK guide to wood filler: ready-mixed, powder, two-part, and stainable options. Avoid the caulk-vs-filler trap. Prices from £4 a tub. Pick the right product for MDF, softwood, and stained finishes.