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What Lisbon's walls have taught us
Straight answers to the questions we hear on site visits. No sales pitch, written to be read before you ask anyone for a quote.
Why exterior paint peels
Exterior paint nearly always peels because of moisture trapped in the wall. Where the water gets in, how to confirm it, and what to do in the right order.
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Eight questions to ask of any façade painting quote
Before choosing who paints your building, ask these eight questions. They prevent surprises in the price, the timeline and the residents' daily life.
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Mineral or acrylic paint: which to choose
Mineral silicate paint bonds with the render and lets the wall breathe. Acrylic forms a film. How to choose the right one for each wall.
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Salts on walls (salitre): what they are and how to treat them
Efflorescence (salitre) is the white powder left by salts that moisture brings to the surface. Paint does not fix it. What to do, and what never to do.
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Cracks in a façade: which are harmless and which need an engineer
Most cracks in a façade are fine and stable. How to tell the ones a painter can deal with from the ones that need a structural assessment.
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Damp stains above the skirting on the street side: where the water comes from
Damp stains above the skirting on the street side, on several floors, rarely come from the floor but from the façade cornices. How to confirm it and fix it.
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Expansion joints between buildings: why they let water in
An expansion joint is there so buildings can move. Sealed with rigid filler, it cracks and lets water in. How it should be repaired and who pays.
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How often should a building in Lisbon be painted
The law speaks of conservation works every eight years, but the building's condition decides. Signs to watch for and the best time of year for the work.
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