"action services [hull]ltd".

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Kingston upon Hull
"action services [hull]ltd".

we are a small property maintenance company. specialising in all aspects of property repairs and maintenance. including shop fitting,dry lining,decorating.

we are a small company specializing in all aspects of home decorating works in the hull and East Riding all Hu Yo Dn Bd postcodes covered
all aspects of work covered inc coving tiling interior exterior decoration fully insured local and national work undertaken.

02/03/2026

a quick refresh for a landlord in Cleethorpes

24/02/2026

🔥 PVA: The Debate That Refuses To Die 🔥
Every time PVA gets mentioned, the same comments roll in like clockwork:

“I’ve used it for years and never had a problem.”
“Plasterers use it, so it must be fine for decorating.”
“Gardz is just expensive PVA — UniBond does the same job.”

Let’s unpack this properly.

🧱 “Plasterers use it, so it’s fine.”
Plasterers use PVA as a bonding agent for plaster, not as a primer for paint.

Different purpose.
Different behaviour.
Different end result.

Plaster sticks to PVA because it’s wet-on-tacky.
Paint does NOT behave the same way.

Using PVA as a “bond” before painting is like using washing-up liquid as car shampoo — wrong product, wrong job, wrong outcome.

🧪 “I’ve never had any problems.”
This one always makes me smile.

You don’t see the problems because:

You’re not there when it peels in 6 months

You’re not there when the next decorator curses your name

You’re not there when the paint flashes, crazes, or refuses to bond

And you’re definitely not there when the homeowner blames them, not you

PVA failures are slow failures.
They don’t always show up on day one — but they show up.

🧴 “Gardz is the same thing but more expensive.”
No. Absolutely not.

Zinsser Gardz is a specialist penetrating sealer designed to:

Harden soft, chalky, or damaged surfaces

Lock down problem substrates

Create a stable, paintable surface

Improve adhesion for water-based coatings

It’s engineered for paint systems.

UniBond PVA is engineered for glueing, bonding, and craft applications.
Thinning it doesn’t magically turn it into Gardz.

If Gardz and PVA were the same, Zinsser wouldn’t exist as a brand.

🇺🇸 “Americans use PVA on drywall.”
Yes — but here’s the bit people skip:

They use PVA drywall primer, not the £3 tub of hobby glue from the bargain aisle.

Different chemistry.
Different formulation.
Different purpose.

It’s like comparing a Ford Fiesta to a Porsche because they both have four wheels.

🎨 So why does PVA keep coming back?
Habit.
Myths.
Old-school advice.
And the classic:
“My mate’s been doing it 30 years.”

Those of us who trained properly — college, apprenticeships, years on the tools — all learned the same thing:

👉 Use the right primer or sealer for the job.
👉 Stop treating PVA like a magic cure-all.
👉 Prep properly and you won’t need shortcuts.

Right then — let’s hear it.
Who’s still defending PVA, and why?

👇 Drop your thoughts.

21/02/2026

Post a review to our profile on Google

17/02/2026

new job started at weekend ,client had burst central heating pipe in the loft now all paper has bene stripped off and waiting on it drying out .a lesson to be learnt for this customer as the insurance won't pay out due to a 45 day unocupation clause in the policy.

13/02/2026

Day Rates

£800.00 and it only took 2 days – I’m not paying you that

just pay the bill

£800.00 is a fixed price you were quoted for a result.

You didn’t ask for the work to be done on a day rate

So the invoice becomes due.

See when trades give you a fixed price for their time, outcome, effort and work – they are absorbing some of the risk of the project work.

Meaning, they are building some time to account for things that may happen and if it doesn’t – they win. If it does happen they lose.

Now if you are having someone in on day rate to strip wallpaper ,is he stripping one layer or five layers who knows–

Guy says my day rate is £150 and it will take me around 4 days

You go away thinking it's £600 00 so you’ve saved.

BUT here's the thing

You now own the risk

If it takes 6, 7, 8 days or longer – your price is going up.

The point of this is for you to know that your two prices you have had back need to be truly comparable based on a spec.

But secondly – the way in which you instruct the work

Know how your trades have priced it up

Day rate

Fixed price

Risk free

Or

Risk take

That decision sits with you – the client

There's no right or wrong here either .at action services hull ltd we will allways give a fixed fully detailed written quotation you will know exactly what you are paying for, down to preparation, how many coats of paint,rubish removal even down to type of protection used and make of paint used (Trade only) no surprises just full transparency any variation due to unseen or unforseen circumstances will be fully quoted discussed and signed off by you the client no surprise extras on your bill at the end

12/02/2026

ongoing property for a regular local client all stripped clients own plasterer just finished now to start the hard bit more photos to follow

10/02/2026

we would just like to reconfirm as of 1st February we will only take on work on a fully inclusive labour and materials basis sorry if this causes any inconvenience but has bene brought about by the number of customers supplying inferior retail paints .to allow us to continue guaranteeing our service and materials along with offering a quality service we will only be using our own supplied trade products in the future.

trade products are a far more superior product offering 30 to 40 % more opacity ( coverage) has more polymer binders and more pigments are used offering a more durable longer lasting products making it better value to retail version we fully appreciate some customers may want to supply they own paints but unfortunately ongoing we would be unable to quote thank you and look forward to serving you in the future. action services hull ltd

09/02/2026

serious question

what are peoples thoughts on tradesmen working in the domestic sector on a hourly rate I have seen painter recently working on a rate of 120 pounds a day when is this madness and race to the bottom going to stop. personally everyone should work on a price I think to be fully transparent, written quotation detailing everything the customer is getting no verbal quote fag packet or whatsapp

my recent experience was I gave a price and a rough time frame of 2 days,outcome was I was ripping them off as they perceived I was earning 300 pound a day.

the job went to someone cheaper they was charging 150 pound a day they took 4 days .

customers please stop this fixation on paying for time you are paying for a result and a end product

serious story apparently I was still a rip off as I was earning 300 a day thoughts please

04/02/2026

⚠️⚠️FEW TIPS FOR THE CUSTOMERS⚠️⚠️

👉PLEASE READ, this will help you customer's and tradesman!!! 💯

👉1)
DO NOT mention to the tradesman that you have already had 3 or 4 quotes!!!
Especially to the tradesman that is 4th or 5th on your list!!!

👉2)
If we say it will be roughly be 2 days work.... Don't think that will definitely be 2 days. It could be 1 and a half days or could be 3 days etc!
Price is still the same!!!
Unless you have a moron on day rate 👀

👉3)
NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES say this to the tradesman..........
"It should only take you a few hours"!!
You will automatically put the tradesman off even quoting. Let alone doing the job!!!

👉4)
NEVER say......
"I could do it myself, but I don't have time"
Or........
"My husband can decorate"!!......
That's another good way to put tradesman off!!!

👉5)
If you agree a cash price, when it comes to paying, please DO NOT say.....
"Did you want physical cash"??
I really don't understand it still to this day after being in the trade for 44 years.
If you ask to pay someone cash, this OBVIOUSLY means notes, coins!!!
Not bacs!!!

👉 Final one)
Please pay the tradesman on completion!!
This means a MASSIVE amount 💯
If you drag your heels paying, then the tradesman will always take another job over your job in the future! I'll guarantee you that!!

🗣Tradesman...... have I missed any????
Feel free to add in comments👍

01/02/2026

transform your home with timeless elegance

are your ceilings missing that finishing touch? high quality coving adds immediate charm,value, and a sense of luxury to any room from victorian period pieces to modern luxury finishes.

we specialise in supply and installation of bespoke and traditional coving

✅ professional finish
✅ bespoke options
✅no mess high quality craft

elevate your homes character and contact us for a free consultation

31/12/2025

we would just like to thank all past and present clients a very happy new year
as we step out of 2025 we would like to thank you all for your trust and support this last year
we truly appreciate your business and look forward to another year of growth and collaboration

Address

Bricknell Avenue
Kingston Upon Hull
HU54QN

Website

http://actionserviceshullltds.co.uk/

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