Top Home Improvement Tips

Let Your White Paint Shine

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

I have strong feelings about the unspoken painting ‘rules’ that seem to be pervasive regarding trim color for homes. As a Color and Design Consultant in Seattle, I have found that white trim and ceilings are a safe plan for many, but truly what it can result in is many contrasting outlines. This is fine, even amazing, in very large, high ceiling traditional estates. In our typical urban dwellings with many windows and doors and low ceilings, what this can do is make a lot of visual tension for the eye and soul.

Here is a solution: Paint the trim to match the wall it is on, just simply change the sheen.

It seems nutty maybe, but what you will find is that your attention is brought more to the view out the window or the lovely items you have in your home. Isn’t this better than your eyes always looking at walls? I believe that we are subject to a ton of visual stimuli all day, and we replicate that in our home with clutter and paint contrasts etc… take a few steps toward simplifying your paint palette and see how it changes your mood.

My intention is for you to read this and then think about the decision of white trim in a very mindful way, not as a default..

In my journeys through peoples homes that there are many situations where white trim is perfection… even in small urban homes. For example: If you have wainscoting 3/4 of the way up the wall and your home is full of dark wood and you feel oppressed and dark and depressed like we like to do here in Seattle, than by all means paint that stuff white! But before you do, take a deep breath and pick one with an undertone that matches the other colors in your home.

The shelter magazines and design shows like to boast about knowing the designers secret to the “p e r f e c t” white from such and such brand or ‘you must use’ the one from the so and so fancy brand in Los Angeles. It may true that their whites are just like the insides of an organic coconut from utopia, or feel like the breath of an angel baby but they are missing the point!. Each one of our homes requires a unique white, and each paint requires a specific sheen for the specific surface that the white will be painted on. Whether it is cabinets, trim, walls, ceilings, floors, or whether it is to be lacquered or bone dry flat or sprayed in oil to make it look like an eggshell or faux finished to look very aged… There are so many particulars, in fact you could do your entire interior in whites, many whites and many textures and feel extremely happy and very modern.

Milk Paint Pigments

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

After the Industrial Revolution decorative color pigments from unusual sources, such as botanical materials, animal waste, insects and mollusks, where harvested and traded over long distances. Lapis Lazuli (a semi-precious stone) was used to form a pigment known as ultramarine. It was considered a great luxury and therefore very expensive and highly regarded.

Pigments produced from the female form of the “Cochineal”, an insect native to Central and South America, are still used today in dye, food, fabric, body paint, and plastics. These pigments were used by Peruvians since before the 8th century and they were also used by the Catholic Church for its Cardinal vestments. The English Redcoats used them for their vibrant colored uniforms. They were kept a secret until the 18th century when biologists discovered the source. They are not used as often today as we have added synthetics to the formula, in other words we have more choices, some are good, and some are not so good. Pigments based on mineral and clays often bore the name of the city or region where they were mined. Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna came from Sienna, Italy; while Raw Umber and Burnt Umber are from Umbria. Synthetics mostly kept their original historic names.

Pigment powders can be mixed with and used to color stucco, concrete, plaster, resins, wood putties and epoxies, used in milk paint as a binder or mixed with other pigments to change color or add depth of color.

Master painters of the Renaissance period made their own tools and materials, including paints. Master painters took on apprentices to do much of the work of preparing materials, building tools, and grinding pigments. In exchange for their labors, the apprentices learned the techniques of painting from the masters.

Many early Renaissance artists used gold leaf (used as a pigment ground down from gold coins) as a background to their gesso treated paint boards; a coat of clay followed and finally the gold leaf was applied, used only to enhance a mystic halo effect over a Madonna, or a golden sky, or a fire. Remember that this process was not only time consuming, gold was very expensive and therefore used very sparingly.

Nowadays we have all of the same pigments dating back to ancient Egypt and more but different chemicals and synthetics have been added to the list. The trend, though, is towards the more natural milk paint type products.

We now incorporate most of these techniques in the same way that they were used in the past but we have added chemicals that affect the greening of our planet in a negative way. Luckily, things are changing and fewer chemicals are being used today and the ones that we do use are carefully monitored by government agencies. Things are improving.

Today we see a radical change in our environment and the way we view it. Natural pigments are used more often as we learn how to appreciate the value of protecting our natural resources.

The use of milk paint, which uses natural pigments, seems to be the best approach.

Francis Archilla is a writer with an interest in a wide variety of topics. He has been in Real Estate Developement, Restoration, and also Fine Cuisine for over Forty Years. You can check out his latest website at Milk Paint for information and helpful tips.

Make Your Walls Look Their Best With Acrylic Emulsions

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

We all wish to paint our home walls with fine looking and long lasting wall paints. Many people however do not get the desired end result. There are a host of reasons that can lead to such situations; the most common one is the wrong choice of paint. Many people make hasty decisions for their wall paints and overlook the important elements like paint type and the qualities they posses. For such negligence they end up paying a high price by re doing their walls all over again or at least getting the touch-ups done.

Once you choose acrylic emulsions your worries would surely be less, these paints are loaded with elements that take care of your walls, environment, your budget and with all these included give your walls the look you desired. Acrylic paints are known for their water solubility and once they dry completely they are tough to be washed off with water. Over all these, acrylic emulsions are available in a host finishes you can choose from. Below are a few of them, you can consider choosing any one of these finishes for your home and give it a fabulous makeover.

Matte finish: Matte finish acrylic emulsion paint is the most preferred paint choice across the globe. This finish also known as flat finish is useful in concealing the minute errors of the walls including uneven surface and cracks in the walls.

Gloss finish: Gloss finishes are ideal for people who want to build up an altogether different atmosphere in a specific room. For instance the background of a bar counter can be painted with a glossy acrylic paint, when light falls over the painted walls it will reflect back and create the desired ambience. Richness and texture can be added with ease with gloss finish.

Egg shell finish: For quick and easy cleaning of walls people opt for egg shell finish paints. These emulsions when applied to any surface give an effect very close to the outer area of an egg shell. Such finishes make for a durable and easy clean surface. Sturdy finger marks and dirt stains can be removed easily from egg shell finished paints.

If you want to make your walls look spic and span minus the commonly faced problems for a couple of years then you need to invest in a quality acrylic emulsion. The cost depends on the finish you choose; currently these paints also include heat and fungus resistant chemicals. Acrylic emulsions have been tried and tested by interior specialists across the globe and the demand for these is always on the rise. The next time you begin to plan your wall painting projects consider acrylic emulsions and see the difference yourself.

Painting and Decorating Techniques: Dragging

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:34:37 +0000

To create a feeling of luxurious silk or designer wallpaper “faux dragging” can be applied on the majority of adequately smooth and readied surfaces. Whilst it is a fairly easy technique to actually learn it creates enormous benefits to the overall painting and decorating project as the finishes are both luxurious and stunning.

A huge number of different glazes and latex paints can be used to create the “faux dragging” effect but we would always suggest using an oil based paint or glaze as it will give your more leeway in terms of trying to manipulate it into the requisite styles as non-oil based ones can dry extremely quickly. This best thing about this technique is that not only does it work on walls and ceilings but it can easily be applied to most types of woodwork and furniture.

The effect is created when a dry brush is pulled through a coloured glaze. In doing so the base colour is revealed in very fine lines, which make the wall’s look like silk fabric. Dragging is most effective in soft colours such as pastels, over a white base coat. You can also use a cream or off-white base with tan or taupe colours to create a “vintage” look.

So here are the steps you need to take to perform “faux dragging”:

Apply the two coats of a latex base coat (white or off-white). After painting both coats, let the wall dry for at least two hours.

Mix satin latex paint with latex glazing liquid according to the instructions n the package of the glazing liquid.

Apply the coloured glaze to a workable length of surface.

Start at one end and pull a 4″ dragging brush (or any long bristled brush) through the wet glaze. You can also perform this technique using a dry rag. Repeat several times to get the desired effect. Keep your hand as steady as you can as you drag.

Also note that if you are actually working with the full height of a wall from ceiling to base board, you can use a very wide brush, such as a wallpaper brush or even the wide end of a broom.

Repeat steps 3 & 4 on the next area. Clean the dragging brush on a rag before dragging the next area.

If applying the dragging finish to woodwork or trim, apply a coat of varnish, after the finish is dry.

Keep Your House Exterior Safe With Quality Wall Paints

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:18:37 +0000

Your home is perhaps the most vital purchase you made or will make in your lifetime, and you don’t want it to get deteriorated over time. In order to maintain its beauty and quality, it is very much important for home owners to use quality wall paints especially for house exterior. As the outer parts experience rough weather most of the times, it needs special care and safety from rough weather elements especially rain water and heat. Therefore, it is important to apply good quality wall paints to house exterior as it will increase the life of exterior walls.

Wall coatings are found to be the best way to protect you home against permeating damp, brick erosion, cracking render, and loose pebbledash. Most of these problems arise due to water and can be treated only with superior quality wall paint.

When you will ask a paint expert about this problem, he will surely suggest you block all the water leakage points that ultimate lead to damp. Quality wall coatings will just like your skin that protects your tissues from the harmful objects and other elements. In the same way, house exterior can be well protected by good quality wall paint.

Today there are house exterior paints in the market that are specifically designed to give protection from harsh weather. At the same time, you can also buy paints that keep your home cool by up to 5 degrees than outside temperature. In the same way, there are paints that protect your wall from damage caused due to water logging. When water will set completely off, you will see your walls not losing the glow of the paint applied on them.

Another option to seal the water is to go for waterproofing services that are also an ultimate solution to paint cracks. If you’ve build a new home, it is good to make it weather proof during the time of first paint. The best way is to consult home decorators who will advice new ways of elegance to your home also keeping the quality point of view. You can search for these home decorators on internet which is the biggest and most affordable source of information.

Always remember to apply good quality paints to your house exterior as it results into longer life of your walls thus saving money on repairs. Last, but not the least, is to hire an experienced painter to do painting job for you.

It’s A Great Time To Paint

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:03:37 +0000

Painting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to freshen and add value to your house. You can paint any time of year but Fall is an excellent time to focus on exterior painting projects.

In summer, spending the whole day working in the hot sun can be physically taxing and if your home has flowerbeds and landscaping next to the house, it can sometimes be difficult to get close to your painting surfaces unimpeded.

Fall offers cooler temperatures to make the work a pleasant task. Since your garden is about to be retired for the season, you don’t need to worry about damaging plants as you go about your task. Fall offers other benefits for the house painter.

The cool crisp air means that you won’t be plagued by insects and pollen landing on your newly painted surfaces and sticking there as the paint dries. Best of all, with the addition of a coat of paint or stain, your wood surfaces will have added protection against the damaging effects of winter snow and ice in the months ahead.

I’ve just completed my own Fall front porch improvement project and the results are outstanding. (That’s not just my assessment, but the neighors too and their opinion counts!) The front door was the catalyst. It was the big box store standard issue white steel door. In addition to not adding anything to the house’s curb appeal, it was getting dirty and stained by the elements and even a good attempt with the pressure washer couldn’t freshen it up. Of course once you look at painting one thing, everything else looks shabby by comparison.

My small Fall project expanded to include the wrought iron railing on the front porch and the pillars. The railing and front pillars were repainted in their existing colors but they now look shiny and new. The wow factor came with the door. It was painted a deep, rich brown in a semi-gloss finish. It is stunning and the whole front porch now stands out on the street. In keeping with the time of year, colorful pots of chrysanthemums complement the new look.

Perhaps you’ve already done some renovating or replacement work and are ready to paint your new woodwork for the first time. If this is the case, you may want to consider using stain instead of paint.

You’ve got a significant investment tied up in the wood siding, trim or railings of your home. It pays you to extend its lifespan by ensuring that water damage is kept at bay. Good maintenance can give you added years of enjoyment before you have to deal with replacement costs.

Paint can crack and peel over time and normally requires the very time-consuming and labor intensive job of scraping and sanding to prepare the surface before repainting can begin. Transparent or semi-transparent stain can offer you a beautiful protected finish without the unsightly peeling properties of paint.

Unlike paint, stain becomes absorbed into the wood. Each time you re-apply it, you simply add additional stain on top of the existing woodwork. Unlike years past, when stain colors and finishes were extremely limited, today’s stain products come in a vast range of finishes and colors to suit every taste and décor.

New labor-saving devices are now available to help make your painting chores a far easier task. Spray paint kits with a selection of nozzles for different purposes can be purchased for about $100. Or you can elect to rent one for a weekend from a tool rental service.

Sponge tip paint applicators offer a far more exact edge than you can get with traditional paint brushes and are ideal for fine trim work such as window panes. Applicators with built in rollers to keep your edge a constant distance from an opposing wall are perfect for corners. Make sure you discuss all your options with your home improvement store staff to make the right choice.

Preparation is key. You’ll find that prepping surfaces and protecting surrounding areas takes as much or more time than the actual painting or staining. Take your time to do it right. You’ll be glad you did and proud of the results for years to come.

Picking Colors For Your Home Improvement Painting Project

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:41 +0000

Every once in a while, it is important to spruce up your home by applying good coat of paint. If this strikes a chord with you, what you need is a number of strategies on picking colors for your home improvement painting project. A number of design and style factors are necessary in this regard.

Each house and home is unique in a number of senses. What color scheme works for one project may be out of place on another one. This means that the decision has to begin with an evaluation of what hues and shades work best in attaining or enhancing the look and feel that defines your home. While a total overhaul may feel like the best decision, what is often needed is but an enhancement of the features already in place and your home has a decidedly novel look that will leave your guests and neighbors awestruck.

Where you are looking for quality results, be prepared to spend some money and time on the home improvement project. Visiting most upscale paint stores you are likely to get free or cheaply priced color chips. They enable you to go home and paint a small surface and then evaluate the effect from up close. These can prove crucial in having a visual idea of the effect you want to achieve.

Homeowners always, rightly or wrongly, prioritize repainting of walls above all other surfaces in the house. The ceiling in particular is almost never given as much consideration. Although universally white is the preferred choice as it makes the rooms brighter and give an expansive feel, it is not the only option. Going for light blue, azure or aquamarine can be decidedly tasteful and just as effectual from a utilitarian point of view.

Giving your home a new look needs not be a costly or lengthy affair. Sometimes all that is required to give your aging home a new lease of life is a fresh coat of paint and a little sprucing. The guidelines provided here will be important in picking colors for your home improvement painting project.

Additionally, if you find yourself in the paint aisle without a clue on how to make a decision and move forward, it is best to consult the help of a professional. Professional painters and interior designers or decorators are highly skilled in recommending the proper color, finish, and brand suitable for your lifestyle. They often have many years of experience and can save you invaluable time, money, and frustration, by guiding you in the right direction.

For more information on picking the perfect paint color for your residential or commercial property, or to schedule a consultation in the Central Florida area, contact Steven Garofalo of Steve’s Onsite Services.

Painting Over Stained Wood Trim

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:41 +0000

Stained trim can look good but sometimes over the years of painting the walls paint can get on the sides rendering it very sloppy looking. The best way to fix this is to paint over the stain. Painting over stained wood trim is a bit more difficult than repainting trim that has paint already on it or is new. There are steps you will need to take to ensure the stain does not bleed through the paint causing discoloration. It may be a bit tedious and take a bit of time but will definitely increase the rooms in the house.

The first thing you must do is determine if the stained trim has any polyurethane on it or not. If there is polyurethane on it then you will need to take some very fine sandpaper and run it lightly along the surface just to add a small amount of scuff to it. This will increase the bonding of the primer you will be applying to the stained trim.

Once the trim has been scuffed up in order to seal the stain in so that it does not bleed through the paint a layer of stain killing primer needs to be applied. This stain killing primer need to be an oil based. There are various type of primers on the market, but a slow drying oil based primer will work best.An oil brush with an angled sash will work best in applying the primer Once you have primed the trim it will need to dry overnight.The brush can be cleaned with mineral spirits. Make sure you dispose of the mineral spirits correctly.

At this point any nail holes that are not filled need to be filled with a putty. The best putty to use is actual window glazing because of its non shrinking properties. Just take a small amount out and ball it up in your fingers and lightly rub it over any hole. Make sure to rub it all off the trim so that the only trace of it is in the hole.

The stained trim is now ready to be painted. Two coats of a semi gloss paint will produce a nice shiny smooth look to your trim. Using an all purpose or latex brush with an angled sash will make the job go smoothly. When finished you can clean your brush with just water and a wire brush. You now have trim that has a completely new look. this is the proper way to paint over stained trim.

Peeling Paint – How to Deal With the Effects of Moisture

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:41 +0000

It’s only been two years since you had your home repainted, and there is already noticeable peeling on the interior and exterior of your walls. Though you may initially chalk this up to a flawed job by the painting company, further investigation could lead you to another culprit.

Moisture and exposure to water can negatively affect the longevity and appearance of your paint. The specific causes and solutions vary depending on the location and the extent of peeling; however, it is the loss of adhesion which ultimately causes paint to peel. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to prevent damage to your paint from moisture.

To keep moisture from ruining your paint, read this overview to learn about the different causes of moisture damage and find out what you can do about them.

Interior

Cause

Cooking and showering can produce excessive moisture and cause paint to peel, as can the use of a humidifier, vaporizer or hot tub.High levels of humidity in the basement or foundation of your home may also be the problem.

Solution

Check the ventilation in your kitchen and bathrooms and make sure it is properly filtering air. Bathrooms with showers should have exhaust fans.Ventilation inside the walls or in the roof of your home need to release moisture, or it has nowhere else to go. Roof vents and outside wall vents can be installed or checked.Opening windows is another option to allow moisture to escape, and can also be pleasant on a warm day.

Exterior

Cause

Caulking that is worn out will allow moisture in through joints, corners and openings. The same is true if there is no caulking.Clogged gutters can cause moisture to build up under your shingles.Interior moisture can move through the exterior walls, affecting paint on both sides.A surface that is painted when it is damp will inevitably begin peeling.

Solution

Repair or remove loose and cracked caulking and replace with a quality alternative.Make sure your gutters properly channel water.Vents and fans should be installed to reduce moisture in your kitchen and bathrooms.Always properly prepare your surface when you paint your exterior walls.

For homeowners, it can be disconcerting to see the money and time you put into painting peel right off your walls. With a few adjustments, however, you can prevent it from happening again and give your home the long-lasting coat you intended.

The Atlanta Painting Company is an award-winning full service painting company specializing in home improvements for residential homeowners and commercial businesses. They offer quality and courteous service from professional Atlanta painters to clients in Atlanta, GA, and the surrounding metro area.

Preparation Guide For Residential Painting

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:41 +0000

A fresh coat of paint can change the entire look of a room. It can add light to a dark room, or even bring much needed elegance to a particular space. Most people assume that interior residential painting is beyond their scope but with the right paint, helpful hints and a little elbow grease, anyone can complete that residential painting job and become their own re-decorator in no time.

• Interior Painting Preparation

Up to 75% of your time can be spent preparing for painting. The first step to any paint job is to make sure the workspace is clear of any furniture or valued item that could be damaged from paint splatters. You can either move them out of the room, or cover with drop cloths or old linens. Plastic floor coverings ensure that your tiles, wood flooring or carpet will not be marred by paint splatters. You should also remove all non-permanent light fixtures and outlet coverings. This will make for a much easier painting job.

• Surface Checking And Repair

While painting can help to hide some of the imperfections on the wall, it will not cover all of them. For any ragged nail holes, be sure to fill them in with spackling paste. Spackling paste is a simple fix for most small to medium sized holes, and can be found at any local hardware store.

You should also keep an eye out for cracked and loose plaster that should be chipped away with a utility knife when prepping for painting. Use a thick plaster paste to repair the crack all the way to its deepest point. Then smooth the remaining plaster for a clean finish. Make sure all repair jobs are fully dried before painting.

• Cleaning And Degreasing

Walls, ceilings, doors and trims, just like any other surfaces in a house, needs cleaning before being painted. Most stains and dirt will come off with a simple wipe down with a wet rag. But for tougher stains that needs cleaning and degreasing, mix a solution of water and basic powered laundry detergent to speed up the process. Use a clean rag soaked with the soapy mixture to wipe down the work surface and help dissolve any grease or dirt build up. Do give the surfaces another wipe with a clean, water-only soaked cloth to remove left over soap as dust or dirt left on the surface will cause your paint to chip. A clean painting surface will lead to a better paint job.

• Using The Right Paint

There are so many paint choices available that it’s easy to get lost in the color aisle at the hardware store. But here are some tips to make the job of picking out that perfect color for your residential painting project easier than ever.

First, choose a primer as it will help the paint better adhere to the wall and make for a more even coat. Secondly, decide if you want a matte or glossy paint. If your walls are prone to imperfections, even after repairs, steer clear of high-gloss paints. While the paint offers high durability and easy cleaning, it might make the imperfections on your wall more obvious than it already is. Matte paint will help to hide any unfixable spots, but is much more susceptible to damage, chipping and is not as durable as glossy paint.

Do not be afraid of color and always rely on paint samples from your local paint supplier when preparing for painting. These small cans cost only a fraction of the price and can help you choose that perfect color you desire for your home.

To know more about preparing for painting tips, visit our DIY Videos at Nippon Paint Singapore. Check out our residential painting singapore packages to best suit your home painting needs.