Warehouse timber ceiling painted white in Shoreditch, E2
A Shoreditch warehouse loft with a dark, stained timber ceiling, painted white in eight days: two hand-brushed coats of Zinsser B-I-N, then a sprayed finish. The exposed London-stock brick was left untouched.
What we did
- Whole timber ceiling — joists, boards and bracing — painted white
- Two hand-brushed coats of Zinsser B-I-N to seal the stained timber, then a sprayed finish coat of Bedec Multi-Surface Paint
- Beams painted in Zinsser AllCoat Exterior, white
- Brick walls, windows, floors and furniture fully covered; exposed brick left unpainted
A dark, stained timber ceiling
This Shoreditch warehouse loft has exposed yellow London-stock brick and a ceiling of bare joists, boards and cross-bracing. The old timber was dark and patchy, with heavy water and soot staining across the boards, and it soaked up the light from the big warehouse windows.
Everything covered, then sealed by hand
The client moved out to a hotel for the job, so two decorators could sheet the whole space: brick walls, windows and furniture wrapped in plastic, edges taped, and floor protection down. Raw, stained timber will bleed through ordinary paint, so every joist and board was first given two hand-brushed coats of Zinsser B-I-N, a shellac primer that seals stains and knots.
A sprayed finish and white beams
With the timber sealed, the finish coat — Bedec Multi-Surface Paint in white matt — was sprayed for an even cover across hundreds of edges and gaps that a brush would take weeks to reach. The beams were painted with Zinsser AllCoat Exterior in white, a tough water-based paint for wood and metal. The exposed brick was left exactly as it was. Eight days, two decorators, start to finish.
Paints and products used
| Product | Colour | Finish | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinsser B-I-N Primer | White | 2 coats, hand-brushed | Sealing the stained timber ceiling |
| Bedec Multi-Surface Paint (MSP) | White | Matt, sprayed | Finish coat on the timber ceiling |
| Zinsser AllCoat Exterior | White | Matt | Beams |
Photos from the Shoreditch job
More painting projects across London
New-build apartment repaint in Pontoon Dock, E16
An empty new-build apartment in Pontoon Dock repainted throughout in four days: living room, hallway, bedroom and bathroom, plus doors, frames and skirting. Dulux Trade on walls and ceilings, Tikkurila Helmi on woodwork, Zinsser mould-resistant matt in the bathroom.
View project
Riverside apartment repaint in Chelsea Harbour, SW10
A Chelsea Harbour apartment taken from taupe to white in three days: walls in every room, plus ceilings in the kitchen and bathroom. Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt in three coats, Zinsser mould-resistant matt in the wet rooms.
View project
Whole-flat spray repaint in Kensington, W8
A top-floor flat off High Street Kensington spray-painted throughout in ten days: high vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, walls, doors and skirting. Q1 Floor ProBoard ran through the whole flat; Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt, with Zinsser mould-resistant matt in the kitchen and bathrooms.
View projectGet a free painting quote in London
Ready when
you are.
Every quote is fixed-price and no-obligation. Most messages get a reply within the hour — we’ll book the survey at a time that suits you.