Paint a neighbour's house

How it goes

Nothing transforms a street like a freshly painted house. This is the classic meitheal: 4-6 neighbours, a Saturday morning, paint, brushes, and a kettle on. Pick a neighbour whose house could use the love — someone elderly, recently bereaved, going through a hard time — and offer your hands. Keep it simple: clean the wall, fill cracks, two coats of masonry paint, fresh enamel on the door. By 3pm the street looks different and the neighbour has had tea with five people they barely knew.

Suggested materials

• Exterior masonry paint10–20L
• Rollers + tray3 sets
• Brushes (cutting in)4
• Dust sheets2
• Filler + sandpaperas needed