Two sills and three lintels might seem like a small painting job. In reality, damaged surfaces, old flaking coatings and areas of crumbling stone called for careful preparation and repair before the final finish.
This project involved restoring two weathered exterior window sills and three lintels. The existing painted sills had deteriorated badly, with thick layers of loose, flaking coating and pitted surfaces beneath. Two older lintels had loose material and decayed areas that also needed attention.
Underneath the bedroom window, part of the original stone had deteriorated and was crumbling. Rather than simply painting over the defect, the damaged profile was rebuilt locally with exterior filler before the surfaces were sanded and decorated.
The aim was a clean, smart appearance while paying proper attention to the substrate beneath the new paint.
From damaged and peeling to a neat exterior finish.
The condition of the lower window sill before work started shows why preparation was essential. The completed photographs show the renewed dark finish after repairs and two finishing coats.
Before · Old paint peeling and damaged stone underneathAfter · Smooth, dark finish following preparation and painting
Step by step
The work beneath the finish.
A small area does not always mean a quick job. On this property, the condition of the existing coating and stonework dictated the sequence of work.
01 / REMOVE FAILING PAINT
Scraping and sanding
Loose and flaking old paint was scraped away from the two window sills. The remaining surfaces were sanded to remove unstable edges and provide a suitable base for the next stages.
02 / PREPARE THE BASE
Priming the stonework
Primer was applied to the prepared sills and the older lintels before filling. This formed part of the preparation programme for the weathered, previously coated surfaces and exposed areas.
03 / REPAIR DEFECTS
Filling holes and craters
Exterior filler was used on holes, pits and craters in the stone. The two deteriorated lintels also needed local filling to smooth the areas where the surface had begun to break down.
04 / REBUILD DAMAGED DETAIL
Repairing the bedroom-window underside
Below the bedroom window, the stone had deteriorated and was crumbling. This area required more substantial local filling to rebuild the missing profile before painting could proceed.
05 / REFINE THE SURFACES
Sanding the repairs smooth
After the filling work, the repaired areas were sanded back to soften high spots and create a neater, more consistent finish across the sills and lintels.
06 / APPLY THE FINISH
Two coats of Zinsser AllCoat Exterior
Two coats of Zinsser AllCoat Exterior paint were applied after preparation and repairs. The completed dark finish gives the window sills and lintels a much tidier, more consistent appearance.
The final details
A tidy job from start to finish.
Once the paintwork was complete, the immediate working area was swept and left tidy. The finished result might look like a straightforward change of colour, but the photographs tell a different story: extensive preparation, priming, localised stone repairs and careful finishing.
It is a useful example of the attention smaller exterior decorating jobs can require — particularly when old coatings are failing or the surface has weathered over time.
The filler work described here was a local surface repair, not a claim of structural stone restoration. Significant or ongoing movement, water ingress or structural deterioration calls for separate investigation.
Finished paintwork · Sills and lintels across the frontage
Original project photography
See every stage of the work.
All 25 photographs supplied with the project are included, from the initial condition through priming, filling and the finished result. Select a photograph to view it larger.
25 genuine project photographs
Before work started · Exterior elevationBefore · Flaking paint and damaged sillBefore · Flaking paint and damaged sillBefore · Flaking paint and damaged sillPreparation · Primed stoneworkPreparation · Primed stoneworkPreparation · Primed stoneworkPreparation · Primed stoneworkPreparation · Primed stoneworkPreparation · Primed stoneworkRepairs · Filled and rebuilt damaged areasRepairs · Filled and rebuilt damaged areasRepairs · Filled and rebuilt damaged areasRepairs · Filled and rebuilt damaged areasRepairs · Filled and rebuilt damaged areasFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paintFinished result · Two coats of exterior paint
Exterior painting & decorating in Sheffield
Peeling paint or damaged exterior details?
Tell us which sills, lintels, doors or other exterior surfaces need attention. Photos of the affected areas help us assess the condition and discuss the next steps.
