A Park Amenities Block in Marrickville: Navy Blockwork and Hand-Masked White Linework

AKD Painting painted a new amenities block in a Marrickville park: plain concrete blockwork finished in deep navy, crossed by a design of white lines, curves and small plus marks that runs around all four walls. Every white line was masked by hand on the bare block, the navy was rolled over the top, and the tape was pulled to leave the design behind. The park was still fenced off for its upgrade while we worked.

Project snapshot

Location: Marrickville NSW 2204, Inner West Sydney
Building: single-storey concrete block amenities building in a public park, with accessible toilets and a drinking fountain
Scope: all external blockwork: the line colour first, the design masked out in tape, navy rolled over the top, tape removed and every edge touched up by brush
Access: step ladders, extension poles and drop sheets over the new concrete paths, inside the park's site fencing
Warranty: 5-year written workmanship warranty

From grey block to navy and white

The block arrived as new concrete masonry with pale grey fascias, doors and fittings already in place. The finish was set by the design: navy walls, with white linework that wraps the corners and lines up with the doors, light fittings and downpipes so it reads as one drawing from any side. A design like this only works if the lines are straight where they should be straight, the curves are smooth, and the white is clean against the navy with no grey haze at the edges.

The two photos below are the same corner at two stages: the masked wall on the left, the finished wall on the right.

End wall of a Marrickville park amenities block in pale grey with the linework design masked out in blue tape — **Masked:** the end wall with every line laid in tape

The same end wall of the Marrickville amenities block finished in navy with white linework — **Finished:** navy walls with the white lines revealed

Masking the design by hand

The white went on first, over the whole building. Once it had cured, the design was set out on the walls and every line was laid in blue painter’s tape, including the curves, which are built up from short lengths so they bend without creasing. On a long wall that is a lot of tape, and it is the slowest part of the job. Then the navy was cut in around the doors, fittings and roof line and rolled over everything, tape included.

Corner of a park amenities block in Marrickville with the downpipe and side door, linework masked in blue tape — **Masked:** the downpipe corner and side door taped out

The same downpipe corner of the Marrickville amenities block finished in navy with white lines — **Finished:** the downpipe corner in navy and white

AKD painter cutting in navy around a door on a Marrickville park amenities block over masked linework — **In progress:** first navy going on beside the door

AKD painter rolling navy paint over taped linework on the front wall of a Marrickville amenities block — **In progress:** rolling the navy over the taped lines

AKD painter rolling navy on the end wall of a Marrickville amenities block with an extension pole — **In progress:** navy on the end wall with an extension pole

Pulling the tape

When the navy was on, the tape came off one line at a time, and the white design underneath appeared as it went. The video shows it on one of the long walls: a curve, a loop and a long straight line pulled in a single run, then a walk around the finished building.

AKD painter pulling masking tape from a navy wall to reveal white curved lines on a Marrickville amenities block — **In progress:** pulling the tape to reveal the white lines

Two AKD painters removing tape from white linework on a navy park amenities block in Marrickville — **In progress:** two painters working along the long wall

Masking tape coming off curved white lines on a navy blockwork wall in Marrickville — **In progress:** tape coming off the curves

Video: pulling the tape on the navy walls, then a walk around the finished block

Touching up every edge by brush

Tape cannot seal completely on a textured block face or across the mortar joints, so on blockwork a little navy always creeps under the edge somewhere. Once the tape was off, the crew went over every line on all four walls with a fine brush and a pot of white, straightening edges and filling the joints the roller could not reach. That step is what makes the lines look printed rather than painted.

AKD painter on a step ladder touching up white lines by brush on a navy amenities block in Marrickville — **Touch-ups:** straightening line edges by brush

Close view of an AKD painter touching up white linework on navy blockwork from a ladder in Marrickville — **Touch-ups:** working the edges at the roof line

Two AKD painters touching up white lines and mortar joints on a navy park building in Marrickville — **Touch-ups:** filling the mortar joints along each line

The finished block

Park buildings take more wear than a house: sun on all sides, sprinklers, balls, bikes and the public leaning on the walls. The job is the same as any exterior repaint at heart, a sound base and full coverage on the block, with the extra care of a building that has to look sharp for years. For this kind of work see our commercial painting page, or for homes in the area our painters in Marrickville, with nearby work in Dulwich Hill, Earlwood and Petersham.

Finished park amenities block in Marrickville painted navy with white linework, seen across the grass — **Finished:** the long wall from across the park

Door side of the finished Marrickville park amenities block, navy blockwork with white lines and plus marks — **Finished:** the door side, lines lined up with the doors and lights

Rear wall of the finished Marrickville amenities block in navy with white lines around the downpipe — **Finished:** the rear wall

Questions about painting park and public buildings

Do you paint council and public buildings?

Yes, including park amenities blocks like this one. We work inside site fencing, around other trades and around the public, and quote the access, the preparation and the paint system in writing.

Can you paint a design that someone else has drawn?

Yes, where the design is made of lines, bands and blocks of colour that can be set out with tape. We set it out from the drawings, mask it, paint it and touch it up by brush. Freehand artwork is a job for an artist.

How do you keep lines sharp on rough blockwork?

Tape never seals fully on a textured block face or across mortar joints, so some bleed is expected. After the tape comes off, every edge is checked and cut back in by brush until the line is clean.

Can an anti-graffiti coating go over a finish like this?

Yes. A clear anti-graffiti coat can go over a finished exterior, and some councils specify one for park buildings. We price it as a separate line in the quote so the choice is clear.

What warranty comes with the work?

Every AKD job carries our 5-year written workmanship warranty.

More AKD projects: the Federation home interior in Five Dock, the Marrickville park amenities block, the Annandale renovation interior, the Newtown cottage and terrace exteriors, the Canada Bay strata exterior, the pressed metal ceiling restoration, the timber deck restoration, the commercial exterior repaint, protective coatings at IKEA Rhodes and the before and after portfolio.

Painting a public or commercial building?

AKD sets out the scope, the access and the paint system in a written quote, and backs the work with a 5-year workmanship warranty.

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