Reformas Málaga Costa del Sol
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Finish and surface protection

Interior and exterior painting for homes in Málaga

Paint is both aesthetic finish and substrate protection. We handle full-home painting, individual rooms, façades and damp protection, with correct surface preparation and the right paint for each case.

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What it involves

For interior work, the main decision is the type of paint for each room: washable plastic paint for living rooms and bedrooms, anti-mould for bathrooms and kitchens, synthetic or water-based enamel for interior joinery. For exterior work, the substrate dictates almost everything: silicate or acrylic-siloxane paint depending on the render, prior washing and preventive damp treatment.

The prior preparation phase is what determines the real durability of the finish. Filling holes, sealing cracks with mesh, dust cleaning, priming with fixer and a first diluted coat let the second coat lay down evenly and bind well.

01 Concept
70% of the result is the preparation

A paint job lasts as long as its preparation. Sanding, priming, crack sealing and filling are the steps that make the difference between a finish that lasts ten years and one that cracks in the first winter.

Before the roller

Four factors we decide before starting

The durability of paint is decided in the steps before the lid comes off. Before applying the finish we check these four fronts.

water_damage

Damp diagnosis

Measurements in suspect areas (walls under bathtub, façade junctions, ceilings under roof). Painting over active damp causes blisters within weeks.

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Correct primer

Water-based fixer over very absorbent plaster; specific primer over metal, tile or difficult substrates. Skipping it halves service life.

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Room light

Natural and artificial light in the room completely changes the tone. Test on wall before committing colour for the full home.

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Old lead-based paints

In homes built before 1980, possible lead-based paints: wet sanding with precautions, never dry sanding that generates dust.

Interior vs. exterior

Interior paint vs. façade paint

Interior and exterior paint are two categories with different product, preparation and durability. Mixing them up shortens the finish lifespan and drains the budget before time.

home

Interior: washable plastic

Water-based paint with acrylic or vinyl resins, forming a flexible film on the wall. Prioritises aesthetic finish, wash resistance and low VOC emissions.

  • check_circle Matt, satin or gloss depending on the room: bathroom and kitchen usually satin anti-mould.
  • check_circle Preparation: filling, sanding, priming and two coats. Drying between coats of 4 to 6 hours.
  • check_circle Usual service life: 7 to 10 years with normal domestic use and minimal upkeep.
apartment

Exterior: silicate or siloxane

Silicate paint (chemical reaction with mineral render) or acrylic-siloxane paint (water-repellent but breathable film). Prioritises rain, UV and breathability resistance.

  • check_circle Always preceded by pressure washing, crack sealing with mesh and antifungal treatment.
  • check_circle Silicate: very strong chemical adherence, only over mineral substrate (render, lime). Does not accept previous plastic paint.
  • check_circle Usual service life: 8 to 12 years on Costa del Sol maritime façades with mid-level maintenance.
Workflow

Phases of a painting job: from protection to the second roller pass

The durability of a paint job depends more on the order of the prior phases than on the quality of the finish. This is the standard sequence we follow in an occupied home.

  1. shield 01

    Furniture and floor protection

    Removal or grouping of furniture, protection with plastic sheets and covers, full floor cover with cardboard or taped film, and masking of skirting, frames and sockets.

  2. construction 02

    Substrate preparation

    Sanding of the surface to open the pore, filling of holes and cracks with specific compound, sealing of cracks with reinforcement mesh and vacuum dust cleaning before priming.

  3. format_color_fill 03

    Fixer primer

    Application of water-based fixer or specific primer depending on substrate absorption. It fixes the filler, evens out porosity and prevents the first coat from looking patchy or uneven.

  4. brush 04

    First diluted coat

    Application of a slightly diluted first coat with a medium-pile roller, following wall segmentation to avoid marks. Full drying between coats according to the product data sheet.

  5. done_all 05

    Second coat and final clean-up

    Undiluted second coat to level colour and coverage, removal of tapes while still fresh for a clean cut, raking-light inspection and site clean-up.

Decisions on paint

What changes between one paint and another

The right paint is chosen by room, by substrate and by use, not by colour. Finish, washability and VOC emissions decide it before the colour chart.

brush

Finish type

Matt for ceilings, satin for walls and halls, gloss for carpentry.

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Washability

Class 1 washable paint for kitchens, bathrooms and busy corridors.

eco

Low VOC

Low-emission paint indoors so the house is usable the day after.

palette

Colour testing

Final colour decided with a large sample under the real wall light.

Prep and coats

Three stages decide the final finish

Preparation, primer and coats run as three different steps. Skipping any of them is what turns a two-year repaint into a problem.

  • check_circle Filling, sanding and dedusting of the substrate
  • check_circle Specific primer by substrate type
  • check_circle Two finish coats with the right drying time
  • check_circle Breathable low-emission paint indoors
Paint types

Four families and which room each belongs in

Paint is not a single product: each room or substrate has an appropriate family. Choosing badly means repainting within a few years.

home

Washable plastic matt or satin

Best fit

Water-based paint with acrylic or vinyl resins for living room, bedroom, corridor and ceilings. Standard interior finish.

Worth knowing

In high-traffic areas (corridor with children) or splash zones (open kitchen) satin cleans better. Matt shows fingerprints more but hides wall imperfections.

water_damage

Anti-mould / anti-damp

Best fit

Plastic paint with fungicides and water-repellent additives for bathrooms, kitchens and rooms with sustained high humidity.

Worth knowing

Not a solution to active leaks: fix the cause first. Over capillary damp choose breathable paint, not sealed anti-mould.

apartment

Silicate (mineral façade)

Best fit

Potassium silicate paint that reacts chemically with the render. Very strong adherence, extreme UV resistance and breathable.

Worth knowing

Only over mineral substrate (render, lime, concrete). Cannot be applied over previous plastic — strip it or use siloxane.

format_paint

Enamel over joinery

Best fit

Synthetic or water-based enamel for doors, skirting, railings, downpipes. Delivers smooth satin or gloss finish with good scuff resistance.

Worth knowing

Synthetic enamel yellows over the years indoors and needs white spirit; water-based enamel keeps colour better but demands careful sanding between coats.

Worth knowing

Before deciding the scope

Painting can be done as a standalone service or integrated into a larger renovation.

layers
Substrate preparation

Sand, fill, prime: every step adds adherence and durability. Skipping the primer on porous surfaces shortens the paint life.

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Ventilation and curing

Water-based paints dry in hours but cure in days. During curing it is best to ventilate and avoid rubbing with furniture or re-hung pictures.

opacity
Coverage versus transparency

Dark tones over a light wall may require three coats. This is a point to confirm when quoting so we are not short.

warning
Sanding of old paints

In homes built before 1980 there may be lead-based paints. In those cases we sand with specific precautions, without generating dust.

In depth

House and façade painting in Málaga: preparation decides the result

In home painting, 70% of the result is decided before the lid comes off. Sanding the surface to open the pore, filling holes and cracks with a specific compound, sealing cracks with reinforcement mesh and applying a water-based fixer primer are the steps that make the difference between a finish lasting ten years and one that cracks in the first winter. In occupied homes we add one mandatory prior step: full furniture protection with plastic sheets and covers, floor cover with cardboard or taped film and masking of skirting, frames and sockets.

The choice of paint depends on the room and the substrate. In living rooms and bedrooms, washable matt plastic is the standard; in bathrooms and kitchens we apply satin paint with fungicides (anti-mould); on house façades over mineral render, silicate paint delivers the most durable chemical adherence, with acrylic-siloxane as the alternative when previous plastic cannot be stripped. In homes built before 1980, possible lead-based paints require wet sanding with specific precautions.

A well-executed interior paint job in a domestic home lasts 7 to 10 years; on a façade exposed to the Costa del Sol maritime climate, 8 to 12 years with mid-level maintenance (crack review and renewal of the most exposed section). In areas with capillary damp the approach is different: resolve the cause first (drainage, treatment of the wall base) and then apply a breathable finish, never sealed plastic paint that traps moisture.

Related services

Other specialities we combine

Plasterboard, finishes & paint When paint is combined with plasterboard and finishes
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Complete renovations Final painting after a full renovation
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Kitchen renovations Anti-mould paint after kitchen renovation
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Bathroom renovations Anti-mould paint after bathroom renovation
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Carpentry Enamel over doors and skirting
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Frequently asked

Common questions about interior and exterior painting

01

How long does it take to paint a whole home?

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A 90–100 m² home painted with two coats usually takes 4–6 days with a team of two painters, including furniture protection, substrate preparation and site clean-up. In an empty home the timeline is shorter.

02

What is the difference between plastic and silicate paint?

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Plastic is the standard interior paint: it forms a flexible film over the wall. Silicate paint reacts chemically with the render and is used on façades, because it lets the wall breathe and resists weather better.

Free, no-obligation quote

Planning to paint your home or façade?

You will receive an initial cost estimate within 24 hours and a free on-site technical visit to assess your case.

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