Painting History of Chenies Street Chambers

How to apply to have your communal walls painted.

If possible, if you have a painter, builder or decorator in your building, ask her or him to be part of your Painting Committee, and walk around  your building to make a rough estimate of  the amount of paint needed and structural problems which should be addressed before painting and decorating is done (for example, redundant light fixtures should be taken down, broken windows and window frames fixed and any damp patches or patches of mould or condensation should be considered carefully before painting begins).      

Having the communal walls painted is a major project, which means, for Council Buildings, the deadline for applications is generally at the end of the Council tax year (March). The project should be funded largely partly by your Council through a DMC, but if the accepted bid is higher than the money granted, the Council will make up the difference by charging the people who own their flats in your building. At the end of March of any year, all you need is to send a simple letter sent to the District Housing Manager, stating that it has been x number of years since the building was painted, and that you feel it needs to be painted again. If your District Housing Manager agrees, the grant will be awarded in June and the work should start, at the latest, in March or April of the next year.

As soon as you hear you have been given the grant (June) post the notice requesting suggestions for colours, and ask a) who is the Manager in charge of the project b) ask the Project Manager to provide the Tenants and Residents Association with the painting specifications of the job. This will include the type of paint and finish she/he has in mind - it is important to discuss this with her/him before she/he sends it out to tender, because different finishes are more expensive than others).

Generally, the same paint colour and finish is re-applied to the walls.  If  a majority of people dislike the current colour of your communal walls, or  feel the finish isn't appropriate to your building, make that clear  in writing to the Project Manager and the District Housing Manager, and also  mention any special considerations for your building (character features you want preserved or restored, redundant fixtures, or any potential problems (leaking, insufficient cladding, damp spots, etc).

If you have a building from a specific  historical period (Georgian, Victorian, Art Noveau, Early 21st Century) you might want to consider  choosing Heritage paint colours to maintain or restore your building's original character.

Dulux provides information about visually disabled needs, please keep these needs in mind when planning your colour schemes. (It is suggested that all light fixtures have light diffusers, and  if possible, all stairs have bannisters on both sides of the stairwell, so try to have these things done before the decorating).

Suggested Steps in Determining
the Colour For Communal Walls

suggested wording for STAGE TWO
suggested wording of the final ballot

Start this process as soon as you hear you have been granted money for painting the communal walls, since the three stages in the selection take (ideally) at least four months to complete. It is necessary to leave the choices up on the Notice Board as long as possible, so that everyone has a chance to express their views.

As soon as possible ask the Maintenance Surveryor for the Specifications of Work (but don't wait for the Specifications to start soliciting colour choices on the Notice Board).

It's worth it to ring around to brand-name paint  headquarters, and ask if they have any special concessions - for instance, Dulux offers free paint to Tenants and Residents Associations in Council Buildings (discontinued paint colours only). You apply at the end of February, and hear by April or May. It may be that you have an historical building, and would prefer Heritage Colour paints. If not, using a discontinued paint might be a sensible alternative (making sure you order 3 cans extra, to be stored by the caretaker, in case the paint has to be used in small sections, or matched for the next major paint job). Remember that paint is the least of the expenses, though, so the bid might not be substantially cheaper, even with free paint.

The Painting and Restoration list are posted on the notice board, inviting anyone to contribute their suggestions for suitable colours (and comment freely on colours or finishes they consider unsuitable). A brief description of the finish which is currently on the walls is useful, as is a brief description of comparable wall colours in other buildings close to you in your neighbourhood, so people can compare their walls.  Note any problem areas in the space to be painted : is there any damp? Is there an area which gets especially dirty? Is there a problem with vandalism (in which case you will need a vinyl matt or eggshell finish to repaint small areas, and also a surface which is washable) Is there a problem with low lighting? Are there any features such as dado rails or tiles which should be considered? Ask people to take colours which can't easily be changed into consideration as well: what colour is the floor? what colour are any prominent signs or original features? Is there a lift and lift surround that should be taken into account? How much natural light is available?

NOTE: for instance, the colour White was suggested and rejected as an inappropriate colour for Chenies Street Chambers communal walls because people were afraid it would mark too easily.  Most people objected to the portafleck sprayed purple paint which was used on all our walls in the early 1990's, because it seemed made the building seem institutional, and was impossible to wash or repaint in small places where there had been graffiti.A more serious objection to protafleck paint is that it is very difficult for visually disabled people to judge distances or discern shapes, because it tends to reflect all light equally.

Finishes should also be discussed and suitable colours for skirting boards and doors, as well as anything of architectural note in your building which should be restored or preserved. In addition, you should consider the contrasts which are needed for people who are visually impaired or disabled (for instance, do not choose high gloss finishes, and you need to consider colours which provide a contrast for the edges of doors, stairwells, etc). A  brief pro/con discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each finish would be useful.  In brief:

vinyl matt finish: the prefered finish for visually impaired people, but marks easily. Can be repainted easily in small sections, and dries quickly, being an emulsion paint. Not suitable for frequent washing.

eggshell finish: if using, use a soft sheen finish for visually impaired people (not high gloss). Can be repainted easily in small sections, and is reasonably washable. Eggshell is oil based, so it takes longer to dry. Used most often in hospitals, schools and hotels. A long-wearing surface.

multi-fleck finish: an expensive institutional paint, put on in three or four separate coats (each coat more expensive than either vinyl matt or eggshell to buy), so it is difficult to repaint small areas. Also, it's expensive to prepare the surface before painting. Not particularly washable. Commonly known as 'bog paint' in the trade, because it is used most often in  institutional lavatories. If you have this sort of paint, and you want some other sort, just check with your brand of paint's headquarters, they will more than likely tell you that it can be covered by washing the walls down with sugar water and abrading the surface - at which point the painters will cover it with white eggshell, and then an eggshell finish of the colour of your choice can be applied.

If  anyone tells you the paint has to be multi-fleck because it has to be fire-retardent, it's useful to know that Leyland Paints provides fire retardent paint, and it only comes in white. The base coat  of a fire retardent surface is fire retardent paint, the  top coat can be any finish you choose (vinyl matt, eggshell).  Check to be sure that fire retardent paint is a Council requirement (it usually isn't, and isn't in public places such as Kenwood House and Imperial College). Fire retardent paint is two to three times more expensive than regular paint; multi-fleck paint is also two to three times more expensive.

There is no point having fire-retardent paint on the walls if you have an oil-based linoleum floor, or fire doors that don't close properly.

STAGE TWO: (for  at least three weeks)

suggested wording for the form on the Notice Board (this link includes a form for you to print off)

Paint sample cards  can be ordered (free) from the headquarters of whichever brand of paint being used, or can be acquired (free) from local paint shops. The headquarters of the brand of paint will also give you free advice on contrasts and finishes needed for visually disabled people.

Samples of colours people had suggested on the STAGE ONE  list are posted for comment on the notice board (posting only colours which had no serious objections raised to them on the earlier list). The  new list asks for any other suggestions, and anyone is invited to add any colour they would like considered (or like considered again).

Put up the most popular six colours from STAGE ONE  but also invite people put up their own paint samples (and make it clear it is their responsibility to put up the samples, rather than expecting someone to do it for them.)

This list should stay up as long as possible, to provide a free and frank discussion about the colours people consider suitable, and unsuitable.

AT THE END OF STAGE TWO: Have a brief consultation with the Paint expert,  on site,  and show him various parts of your building, to determine if the colours  people like are suitable for the building. Ask for large colour cards of the suitable colours to be sent out  to you and to the building's Maintenance Surveyor.

STAGE THREE: (receiving votes for one week)

The four most-mentioned colours  for the walls (so long as the Paint Consultant says they are suitable) are then posted near the notice board. (for the 2002 paint job, our four most popular choices in the Dulux Heritage Range were Victorian 20 (medium green) Georgian 19 (light green) Victorian White (light cream) and Victorian Stone (medium cream).You can either use the large colour cards provided by the Maintenance Surveyor or paint  A3 cards using small paint samples (with the suggested colour of the skirting board at the bottom, and close to the floor) to give people an idea of the overall effect of the wall colour.

IF there is a discussion about the  colour of the skirting boards and fire doors, repeat to give people their choice of these as well (in our case, everyone agreed Mid Brunswick Green was the colour we wanted).

Once the colours are posted, a ballot is hand-delivered to every flat, either hand-written, or printed on coloured heavy paper or card (to prevent photo-copying). Each flat gets ONE ballot, and will be asked to tick their favourite colour, and also asked if there is a colour they dislike.

They will be asked to return their ballot to an agreed upon Flat in the building, preferably on the ground floor  (so that anyone who is disabled can have easy access).

The person in that flat then delivers the ballots to another flat to be counted so that at least two disinterested people have seen the ballots.

Where there is a clear choice of colour, the vote is considered completed, where there are two firm favourites (say, only divided by one or two votes) the ballot can be done again, allowing people to choose between the two colours. This should also be done if several people have expressed a dislike of the favourite colour.

WORDING OF THE BALLOT:

on an A4 piece of coloured heavy paper (100 gms) or card print  or write on the bottom half of the sheet, so that when it is folded, it forms the front of a card (the line is the fold in the paper).

......................................................................................................

delivered (date) PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR FOR THE COMMUNAL WALLS AND RETURN THIS FORM TO FLAT ___ (GROUND FLOOR) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

On the reverse side, print or writ e(the line is the fold in the paper):

CHOOSING A COLOUR FOR THE COMMUNAL WALLS STAGE THREE PLEASE CHOOSE A COLOUR AND RETURN THIS CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO FLAT  ____ON THE GROUND FLOOR (PLEASE PUT IT THROUGH THE LETTER BOX). All these colours have been approved by the (Paint  Brand) Colour Consultant, _______, and by the Maintenance Surveyor _____. Please don't worry about things being too dark or too light. ANY of these colours would be suitable, and all are used in communal areas in buildings of comparable age and history in the neighbourhood. Please choose the colour you would like (the colour cards are posted at the Notice Board)

PLEASE CHECK ONE O medium green O light green O medium cream O light cream If there is a colour you hate, loathe, detest or simply can't stand, please write it here, and we will try to take your views into account.

Fold the ballot in half, so it forms a card, and post through every letter box. Allow people at least a week to return their ballots (and clearly post the deadline on the Notice Board).

After voting is declared closed, someone in another flat than the one who collected the votes, counts the votes, tallies up the results, and informs your Maintenance Surveyor of the colour choice (and put a notice up on the notice board, telling people the result, and thanking them for taking part in the selection).

STAGE FOUR - THE PAINTING

Paint generally takes about a month. The walls need to be washed down with sugar water, the paint surface abraded, and then the painters will generally give the wall two or three coats of paint (the painting specifications will tell you how many coats). Before starting the job,. the painters will require:

a) a key to the main entrance, which they pick up and sign for at the District Housing Office, 28-30 Theobolds Road, Holborn.

b) an SB4 key which will give them access to the caretaker's water tap within the building. This is usually given to them by the Manager in charge of the project; if the Manager is not available, the key can be obtained from the Caretaking Supervisor.

c) they will also need some sort of a lock-up to store their supplies.

d) access to water (this is essential in the early stages, in which the walls need to be washed down with diluted sugar water to clean the surface.

d) arrange a volunteer list of people in the building who would be willing to let the painters use the loo,  have water for buckets, etc. and post the list on the Notice Board.

e) inform the painters of any original features which should be preserved (give them a written list and post another on the notice board, if possible, so there is no mistake about the features you don't want painted over, or features you want to be painted with care.

f) ask the painters to put up WET PAINT signs - sometimes people don't make the connection between paint tins, ladders, people in paint-splattered overalls and the fact that the walls might be freshly painted.

g) it may be possible for them to getting a PARKING EXEMPTsign so they can park near your building. They will be given a notice to put in the window of their vehicle.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

Our building, with 5 floors of communal corridors and stairwells, was painted from 15.03.2002 to 29.03.2002.

In keeping with the character and age of our building (built in 1888)  and the green floor, the majority of people who voted chose eggshell finish, Dulux Heritage Range Victorian 20 for the walls, and Dulux Heritage  Victorian Range Mid-Brunswick Green for the skirting boards and fire doors. Although some people still consider Victorian 20 too dark a colour for the areas of the building which have no natural light, the improvement of depth perception and variations in light and shade is astonishing and it gives everyone great pleasure to see the colours of the walls change as the natural light shifts during the day.

Ask for an extra tin of both the wall colour paint and the skirting board colour paint, so you can do touch-ups, should they need to be done.

ONE WEEK AFTER THE PAINTERS HAVE LEFT

It is the job of the Project Manager to compile a snagging list, but it is also useful to compile your own list to pass on to him. Since you live in the building, you may catch things the Project Manager might miss. The snagging list is just a catch-up list of things the painters may have missed: paint on windows, the wrong paint colour on hinges, an edge which isn't painted carefully, excessive paint on floors, etc. Once you  have sent the Project Manager your snagging list, and the Council's snagging list has been completed,  the painters will return to finish the jobs on the list. This should only take one or two days.

Again, make sure you have asked for an extra tin of both the wall colour paint and the skirting board colour paint, so you can do touch-ups, should they need to be done.

Painting History For Chenies Street Chambers
2002    2009

2002.  Chenies Street Chambers was painted between 15.03.2002 and 29.03.2002 after consultation with  all the residents of the building.

The bid accepted was £18,540 by EPS. Every flat was given a ballot and the colours chosen were Dulux Heritage Victorian 20 (a medium green eggshell acrylic) for the walls, Dulux Heritage Victorian Mid-Brunswick Green (a medium green enamel) for the skirting boards and fire doors. Kieran Bukowski was the project manager for Camden Council. In 2002, Camden Council wanted to only paint the main corridors by the lifts, but our painting committee insisted that the three flats in each corridor meant that the corridors to flats were also communal corridors, and should be painted at the same time, and with the same paint (compare this to 2009).

the paint chosen was a mid green, ignoring objections by people in the lower part of the building that it would make their corridors, which didn't have much natural light, very dark. However, dark or not, it was a proper heritage colour used in buidings of this age, and a great improvement on the portafleck paint (called bodgpaint in the trade, because it is used in toilets in prisons to hide the stains).

Previously (circa 1990) the building had been sprayed with purple portafleck , with white enamel skirting boards and battleship grey fire doors. The marble pillars had paint swatches on them as well, and the angel wings  sculpture panels in the basement were sprayed  with the purple portafleck as well. Portafleck is called 'bog paint' in the Trade, because it is used to paint lavatories. The project manager for Camden Council at this time was John Burton.

The building had also been painted sometime around 1976-1977 colours unknown (although it looked very much as though a cream was used for the walls.  The originial layer  (circa 1947) appears to be a mustard colour. There are many layers of paint on the walls, but only three on the Victorian Wall tiles in the old part of the building. The latest layer is Victorian 20 (medium green), under that is the purple portafleck, and under that a blue turquoise  colour. The original tiles  from the 1888 building appear to be white, although some of the older residents report remembering tiles that were coloured. Many of these tiles remain, in the communal corridors and might be very interesting if the paint was removed so they were restored..

ETC

The green marble-effect linoleum was put down in 1990, supervised by John Burton (circa 2002, there is still dried glue on some of the steps, where no one has bothered to rub it off). The main entrance linoleum is in several pieces, making it difficult to keep clean at the seams. The Bell entryphone system was also installed under the supervision of John Burton, in 1996. (this was replaced by red linoleum in 2009)

In 2004, the basement architrave with the angels' wing tips were painted white.

2009 PAINTING HISTORY
At the suggestion of Camden Council, the lobby and main corridors to the lift were repainted cream, with no consultation with the residents as to colours. Although this was a great improvement as far as it went, making the building brighter, the corridors to flats were not painted and remain Victorian Green. The linoleum in the main entrance has been replaced with red linoleum, which clashes with the walls and firedoors, which are still painted Victorian Mid-Brunswick Green, and the unpainted corridors, which still remain Victorian 20.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BUILDING A COMMUNITY creating an effective Residents' Association