Painting an occupied block of flats in Clayton, Manchester

At a glance

• Client: a main contractor, working for a housing association
• Building: a large block of flats in Clayton, Manchester, with residents living there throughout the work
• Work: door frames, glazed screens and windows in the corridors and stairwells, over three floors
• When: October 2026
• Paint: water-based, solvent-free paints, including satinwood

The job

We were brought in by the main contractor to paint the door frames, glazed screens and windows along the corridors and stairwells of a large block of flats in Clayton. The main contractor fitted new wall sections around the glazed screens. We filled and prepared the new surfaces, then painted them along with the door frames, screens and windows. The building stayed fully lived in, and other trades were working on the same floors at the same time.

Working around residents

People were coming and going all day, so we planned each day's work around them. Wet paint signs went up, and corridors and exits were kept clear. Indoors we used water-based, solvent-free paints, so there was very little smell for the people living there. We cleared up and stored our materials safely at the end of every day.

Working alongside other trades

We fitted our work around the other trades on site, finishing each area as it came free, so nobody was held up.

Every frame on record

Before we started each frame, our painters photographed it and pinned it to the floor plan in our own job app. They photographed it again when it was finished. The site team got a report at the end of every working day, and each stage was signed off as it was completed.