Improving Visual Appearance

The re-painting is going well and the blocks repainted look smart except for those imitation wooden beams  which look very tired and the have a somewhat more adverse visual impact now.

However I have a solution. Its very quick, simple, inexpensive and makes a massive difference to the appearance of the beams.

In the right (above) pic the top beam has been treated and the bottom is un-treated.  

The secret ?  Shoe polish.  I used a dark tan. Brush well in and then shine up.  

Hopefully this will have a sustained effect but if not, it can easily be re-treated.

Here's how it looks on completion (below).

This message was last edited by PMillsom on 25/03/2014.

This message was last edited by PMillsom on 25/03/2014.

This message was last edited by PMillsom on 25/03/2014.

Sorry but i don´t think that is a good idea, when it rains shoe polish will stain the wall just under and our new painted walls will look horrible.

Solution i think is a kind of varnish.

thanks  PMILLSOM

Yes I dad thought of that, Luis.  Already tested on a sample.  Shoe polish is made with wax and impervious.  

Else your wet shoes would stain carpets !

But its important to polish it to a good shine to give it its waterproof qualities.

I guess in someone slapped it on without polishing it then it could run and stain. That I did not test out.

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Now thinking about how it stands up to hot sun.  The varnish only lasted a couple of years before flaking off.

Hopefully the shoe polish won't melt off.  Last summer we left a candle out and it melted down totally over summer.

I will report back on the results in the Autumn !

This message was last edited by PMillsom on 26/03/2014.