Painter Witmarsum, assessed facade by facade

Witmarsum lies on the A7, between Bolsward and the Afsluitdijk, on a terp (a raised mound) in open clay land. For a painter that means one thing: the wind has free rein here. So we don't start with the colour, but with the facade that takes the most punishment.

We walk those sides with you, screwdriver in hand, to feel whether the wood is still hard. After that you know what needs doing now and what can wait a little longer. Mohamed stays your point of contact from site visit to handover.

Between Witmarsum and the coast there is little to hold the wind back. Rain hits the south and west facades, and moisture finds its way into open joints in frames and thresholds. The paint layer on those sides ages sooner as a result.

As a rule of thumb, opaque exterior paintwork lasts roughly 6 to 8 years, but on an exposed west facade that can be shorter. The north side sometimes only needs cleaning and a fresh coat, while the west side already shows signs of wood rot.

Keep an eye on the corners of your house too, as the wind pulls hardest there. A sealant joint that has opened lets water in with every shower. If you spot that in time, a bit of filler and sealant is all it takes. If you leave it for a few winters, you end up repairing the wood.

Around Witmarsum you find farmhouses with long roof planes, tall barn doors and barge boards that have been taking the weather for decades. Those roof edges are hard to reach, so they often get skipped for too long.

With our own scaffolding we can get to them easily, at a fixed price for putting it up and taking it down. That means no daily rental and no surprises afterwards. If a barge board is too far gone, we replace it instead of painting over it. What else is involved with a farmhouse is explained on a separate page.

The monument to Menno Simons, who was born in Witmarsum, is the village's best-known landmark. It also shows how old this place is. Between the newer streets stand houses with several generations of paint on the woodwork.

We don't simply sand such old layers dry, because if in doubt they may contain lead paint. Lead white paint has been banned indoors since 1939 and outdoors since 2009. How we deal with that is explained under old paint and lead.

Ideally, send us a photo of each facade, including the spots you are unsure about: the bottom of the door, the threshold, a corner of the frame. Add what you know about the year of construction and when it was last painted. If you have measurements, that is a welcome bonus.

During the site visit we look at the surface, discuss the colours and agree the work. That way the quote states exactly what will happen.

If you live on a farm, also tell us what needs doing around the yard: a barn door, a stable window, a gable end. And let us know if a tractor or livestock has to pass the facade, so we can take that into account when placing the scaffolding.

The biggest factors are the number of square metres, the amount of preparation and the condition of the wood. A national market indication for exterior painting is from €35 per m2, an exterior frame from €50 each and wood rot from €50 per spot. Those are not our prices.

At MJA you get a fixed price after the site visit. If you want to compare in advance, see what exterior painting costs. Painting work on a home that is two years old or older carries 9 percent Dutch VAT.

MJA Allround Bouw is based in Mirns, in the south-west corner of the province. We are a member of OnderhoudNL and a recognised training company, and we hold a 4.8 on Google from 25 reviews. Customers mention above all the clear communication and honest advice.

Is your house, farmhouse or commercial building in Witmarsum due for maintenance? Send your photos via the quote request or call 06 3006 0558, and we will arrange a site visit.