I hate external woodwork which needs to be re-painted frequently, and my main home in the midlands is largely maintenance-free in this respect.
But I also own a flat in a converted Georgian house in the New Forest - which *does* have lots of external woodwork.
The current practice is to re-paint it every five years - but it was last done only 3 years ago, and lots of paint is already pealing off - particularly on the window-cills.
Anyone have a view as to how long a re-paint had *ought* to last, and whether or not a life of only 3 years is a sign of shoddy workmanship?
It seems to me that one problem with old buildings is that if the woodwork is only slightly unsound - and contains any moisture at all - that moisture will fund its way out, and force the paint off. Although any obviously rotten timber was replaced when it was last painted, paint was almost certainly applied on a number of *slightly* dubious areas.
Anyone else faced with similar problems and, if so, have you found a solution? Before you say "replace all the woodwork with uPVC" I should perhaps point out that it's a Grade II listed building - so that ain't an option!