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Two Important Tips for Your Painting Project!

E-Z Painting Inc. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:48:00 GMT

Tip#1: Don't mix up the tops to paint cans - be careful because some colors can appear to be the same.
Tip# 2: Paint colors affect your mood, so choose carefully!

How Many Coats Does It Take?

E-Z Painting Inc. — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:21:00 GMT

Another Q&A:

QUESTION:

When painting an exterior door, the more paint you paint on will make it darker?

I am painting an exterior metal door the color clay pot. I am wondering if the more coats I paint on it will the color get darker. I have painted two coats on it already!

ANSWER:

On exterior metal, you should use a bonding primer first since the paint may not stick well or adhere appropriately.

The color should be what is advertised - it does not matter how many coats you apply. However, if it is a deep base color you are using you may need several coats to cover the door properly.

Ask your paint store for the bonding primer and if the color you are using is considered deep base.

If you need any other help, you can ask me any questions you'd like for free by going to my blog at blog.ezpaintinginc.com and clicking on "Ask Mike".

Sincerely,
Mike
E-Z Painting Inc.
blog.ezpaintinginc.com

Generations of Color

E-Z Painting Inc. — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:31:00 GMT

Here's a very interesting article from Sherwin-Williams regarding generational paint color choices:

Generations of Color

Choosing appropriate colors for the right audience is an important part of the equation. While color preference is often highly personal, research has made it possible for color experts to make general observations about the color preferences of the major demographic age groups.

Here is a look at the four major age demographic groups and their color preferences:

The Mature Market

The colors that surround people have a profound effect on mood and well-being. Individuals over 65 compose the Mature Market, and because they may be retired or less active, they often spend a great deal of time indoors.

To meet the needs of the Mature Market, it's important to seek out color combinations that are functional, enjoyable and comfortable. Instead of muddy colors like khaki, fresh and cheerful ones such as buttery yellows, clear blues, fresh pinks and warm whites are preferred.

Don't avoid all greens, though. Studies show that people report less stomach upset when surrounded with lush foliage colors even while under stress. For the Mature Market, cleaner hues of green jade, for instance, are preferable to avocado.

The Baby Boomers

Leave it to the Baby Boomers — the 76 million people born between 1945 and 1964 — to seek self-expression and spirituality from their color choices. For Baby Boomers, home is a sanctuary, a place for artistic expression and relaxation as well as inspiration. Baby Boomers are drawn to soothing colors that cool and refresh the spirit: sky blue azures, cleansing blues enhanced with purple tones, and intense, iridescent blues with the slightest tinge of green.

Favorite neutrals are chameleon shades that take on the undertones of colors around them. These could be grays married with plum or green, or perhaps yellow-green undertones that bridge the gap from gray to beige.

Generation X

Generation Xers — those born between 1964 and 1980 — are old enough to remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, but have primarily lived in a global economy. So it's not surprising, as they experiment with styles from around the world, that Gen-Xers show strong acceptance of the global color palette.

For this age group, popular colors include violet and indigo hues, or exotic greens from the Australian landscape. Asian reds also add drama to neutral spaces awash in contrasting textures.

Generation Next

For teenagers, cool sophistication is the design goal. Faux finishes can be useful in teen rooms to hide a multitude of sins and add drama and sophistication to the décor. Children delight in rich, tropical hues and neon-like colors, especially green, yellow and purple. Sports team colors and flower garden shades are always popular for children's spaces, as are murals and other whimsical color and decorating ideas.

There has even been research on the visual preferences of babies. High-contrast colors and simple patterns that encourage scanning, focusing, orienting and pattern recognition are not only favorites, but also help to stimulate physical and cognitive development. Studies indicate that reds and blues are the colors preferred by infants.

Though reactions to color are psychologically and culturally induced to some degree, age does make a difference in how people respond to color. That's one reason why color preferences change over time as people move through the life cycle.

wow, what a little paint can do

E-Z Painting Inc. — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:21:00 GMT

A fresh coat of paint or stain on the siding and trim adds more than just curb appeal. It also provides an important layer of protection against moisture, mildew, and the effects of the sun. Yet if you’re among the roughly 85 percent of homeowners who use the same brand of house paint over and over again, you could be selling your home short. Ask me how I can help.

Painting “Green” – Green FAQ

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:54:00 GMT

Q: What is GREEN Painting?

GREEN Painting is a painting specialty that uses eco-friendly paints that have very little negative impact on our environment. Green Painting refers not to the color, but to the paint that contains little or no harmful chemicals that are found in all conventional paints, stains, and wood finishing coats like enamels and varnishes. We are dedicated to learning, understanding, and implementing new products and techniques that will be safer for the environment and your family.

Q: What makes E-Z Painting more desirable than other painting contractors?
No other painting company is more dedicated to the sustainability of our state’s environment and the safety of our health. Other painting companies may claim they are a “green” painting company because they use low-voc paint, but that’s it. E-Z Painting takes the concept of “going green” and truly emphasizes it.

                                  Q: What’s wrong with traditional paint?
Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of solvents or VOC’s which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. Some of these VOC’s are benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and formaldehyde which serve as “spreadability” enhancers, biocides, and fungicides. During and after painting, these VOC’s outgas and can cause adverse health effects such as headache, nausea, dizziness and eye, throat, and lung irritation. Exposure to airborne formaldehyde, for example can cause eyes to water and burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat. It can cause chest tightness and wheezing. The EPA has classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen.
                        Q: What are the benefits to using more eco-friendly paints?
There are many benefits to using eco-friendly paints and stains such as: coating flexibility, better gloss retention, better face resistance, reduced health risks, little to no VOC’s, less pollution, low odor, easier clean-up, safer environment, reduced waste, and improved durability.
                                            Q: What are exactly are VOC’s?
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are harmful gases that are emitted by paint as it dries. When you apply wet paint to a wall or any other surface, that paint usually dries within a few hours. As the paint dries like glue to the wall it releases gases from its liquid form, and continues to for years thereafter. In unventilated areas, those gases over time can be harmful to human lungs. Most higher quality level paints now dry with very low gases that enter the air. So, with E-Z Painting using “green” paint, you can be assured that the air you breathe before and after applying paint is safe. Paints with low or no VOCs also allow families to quickly enjoy their freshly painted homes without having to wait for strong odors to fade away.
                                  Q: Are eco-friendly paints more expensive?
No. Due to ever increasing demand within the paint industry for healthier alternatives, the price difference which was once significant has now substantially dropped and is usually a match for the traditional paints.
                   Q: Will I be sacrificing quality by choosing eco-friendly paint?
No. In March, Consumer Reports released an assessment of 57 interior paints currently on the market, including low-V.O.C. ones, that evaluated their “hiding performance, surface smoothness, and resistance to staining and scrubbing, their gloss change, sticking, mildew and fading.” Benjamin Moore’s Aura was ranked third among 21 paints in the low-luster category, which included conventional latex and oil-based paints.

                             Q: How do I know I’m getting quality painting service?
E-Z Painting provides an industry standard 2-year warranty with every painting service that we perform. This covers the paint, labor, and materials for 2 years after the completion of the project. We also require a signature by the homeowner after completion to confirm they were 100% completely satisfied with the service provided. On top of that, the owner of the company frequently stops by the job site to ensure proper safety techniques are being executed.
                                  Q: How do I choose the perfect color?
E-Z Painting can provide a complimentary color wheel. Once you have selected a color for each section we are painting we will order a sample of the paint and paint a portion of your house. If you like it we will put in the order, if not you can select a different color until we get the perfect color.
                                       Q: Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We are licensed and insured and we hold liability insurance coverage up to $2,000,000. Contractor’s license # 039539.
                             Q: What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check, debit cards, credit cards, and bank transfers.
                                            Q: Where do I sign up?
Call 1-800-935-9520 or click here http://e-z-painting-inc.genbook.com to schedule an online appointment and we will be more than happy to provide you with a free no-obligation estimate on your project.

Paint First or Install Flooring & Baseboards?

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:54:00 GMT

Another question submitted to us is answered:

Question:

I’m remodelling my home now and the remaining things to be done are:
1) paint ceiling/walls
2) paint interior doors and trims
3) install new carpets and new hardwood floor
4) install new baseboards
5) paint baseboards

what order should i do these? i for sure would paint the ceiling and walls before installing new floorings. not too sure about the baseboards…which obviously have to be installed after the new floorings are in. but should i paint them before installing them? my contractor says that i would have to touch up the spots where he nails onto the wall. touch ups are imperfections which shows clearly on glossy paints. but i am worried that it would be too difficult to paint installed baseboards and at the same time keep the new flooring clean.
suggestions?
thanks!
Answer:

Hi!

You should paint in this order:

1. Ceilings and walls
2. Interior doors and trim (all should be done before the flooring)
3. The baseboards should be primed and painted with one coat
4. Install new baseboards
5. Add another coat of paint to baseboards after floors are installed because it lessens the chances that something happens to your floors (since now you only have to do is spot-prime and add one coat)

****Make sure the floors are covered appropriately and keep a wet rag handy. Let me know if there are any other questions.

Mike
E-Z Painting Inc.
www.ezpaintinginc.com
blog.ezpaintinginc.com

How To Successfully Remove Paint

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:53:00 GMT

Question answered by us:
Getting paint off of woodwork (lots of it)
I bought a ca. 1937 home and luckily no one painted the woodwork, but they sure didn’t like to tape it off when painting the walls! Now all the edges of my woodwork & top of my baseboards have 2-3 different colors of paint on them from sloppy jobs. Scraping won’t help–I tried. I don’t want to take off the original varnish and I can’t remove my sills/doorways, etc. to work on them. Any ideas?

Answer:
Hi,

It’s not a lost cause. Here’s what you can do:

1. Buy a gel stripper (you can get it from Sherwin-Williams) and apply it to the areas in question with a small brush.
2. Next, remove the stripper with a tool (such as a 5 in 1 scraper) – scrape very gently to get the paint off.
3. Wipe the areas down with a damp sponge and let it dry.
4. Sand the areas down with a light-grid sandpaper such as 220.
5. Apply stain to match the existing color (you may need two coats).
6. Make sure you let the stain fully dry (may take 2-4 hours) and then apply varnish on top of the stain – going from corner to corner.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Mike
E-Z Painting Inc.
www.ezpaintinginc.com

Color Matching: Not an Exact Science

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:51:00 GMT

It is hard to color match old paint especially if you don’t know the exact brand and color of the old paint.

The first thing you should do is peel or scrape off a piece of the wall and take it to a retailer like Sherwin-Williams. They usually do a good job at color matching.

If you succeed at getting a good color match, make sure you use a primer. Just have the primer tinted to the paint color for maximum coverage – apply one coat of the primer and one coat of the paint.

Not only will you now have the right color on the walls, you will also have a primer coat and a finish coat on the walls.

Good luck on your paint project!

In This Economy, Beware of The Predatory Contractor!

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:47:00 GMT

Since the economy went bad there are more people out there doing jobs they are not qualified for. One of these jobs is painting. Hey listen, everyone thinks they can paint so, they decide to go into business for themselves and make some good money, especially in the summer. I understand this desire, this go-getter mentality, after all, that’s what this country was founded on. But, you as the homeowner, need to beware of these people. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to go to a homeowners house to repair damaged walls, remove paint from carpets and tile and just do overall “clean up” and finish painting behind these handyman types or self-created painting contractors. Not only will you be extremely frustrated but you could end up with damaged furniture, unfinished work or just a generally sloppy job! You will also have to pay another contractor to come out and do it right or do it yourself.
So, before you hire Joe Schmoe, ask him/her for references, make sure (s)he has a well-written website, ask for pictures of his/her work and require them to provide their licensing and insurance information. After all, who will pay to replace your paint-soaked couch if this person has no insurance?

Mike
Correcting Mistakes

How to Choose Paint Colors - Wisely!

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:43:00 GMT

How to Choose Paint Colors-Wisely!

The paint color you choose is paramount when it comes to creating a mood or making a first impression. Color has the power to change mood, the shape and size of furnishings, and the shape and size of the room itself. When selecting keep in mind the psychological value behind the color.

Yellow communicates happiness. It’s perfect for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms when you want a color to energize and uplift. But yellow is not a good choice as the main color scheme of a room. People are more likely to lose their tempers in a yellow room, and babies tend to cry more in a room this color.
Green is considered the most restful color for the eye. Green is suited to almost any room in the house. In a kitchen, a sage or medium green cools down things; in a family room or living room it encourages unwinding, but has enough warmth to promote comfort and togetherness. Green also has a calming effect when used as a main color for decorating. It is believed to relieve stress by helping people relax.
Orange evokes excitement, enthusiasm and is an energetic color. While not a good idea for a living room or for bedrooms this color is great for an exercise room. It will bring all the emotions out that you need when jumping into your fitness routine.

For color wheels visit sherwin-williams.com or benjaminmoore.com. These sites will truly help you make smart color choices.

-Mike
E-Z Painting Inc.
www.ezpaintinginc.com

Paint Types & Where to Use Them

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:27:00 GMT

High Gloss (70+ on a 60 degree gloss meter)

Where to Use - For kitchen & bathroom walls, kitchen cabinets, banisters & railings, trim, furniture, door jambs & windowsills. Comments - More durable, stain resistant & easier to wash. However, the higher the gloss, the more likely surface imperfections will be noticed.

Semigloss (35 to 70 on a 60 degree gloss meter)

Where to Use - For kitchen & bathroom walls, hallways, children's rooms, playrooms, doors, woodwork & trim. Comments - More stain-resistant & easier to clean than flat paints. Better than flat for high-traffic areas.

Satin or Silk (Range overlapping eggshell & semigloss) - Similar characteristics to Semigloss & Eggshell.

Eggshell (20 to 30 on a 60 degree gloss meter)

Where to Use - Can be used in place of flat paints on wall surfaces especially in halls, bathrooms & playrooms. Can be used in place of semigloss paints on trim for a less shiny appearance.Comments - It resists stains better than flat paint & gives a more lustrous appearance.

Flat (less than 15 on a 60 degree gloss meter)

Where to Use - For general use on walls & ceilings. Comments - Hides surface imperfections. Stain removal can be difficult. Use for uniform, nonreflecting appearance. Best suited for low-traffic areas.

Matte

Same characteristics as Flat.

Contact E-Z Painting for more information at 1-800-935-9520.

Painter & Decorator: A History of the Trade

E-Z Painting Inc. — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:58:00 GMT

Painter & Decorator: A History of the Trade

A painter and decorator is a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings such as houses, and is also known as a decorator or house painter

Contents
1 History of the trade
2 Tools of the trade
3 Activities of the trade
4 See Also
5 References

History of the trade

In England, little is known of the trade and its structures before the late 1200s, at which point guilds began to form, amongst them the Painters Company and the Stainers Company. These two guilds eventually merged with the consent of the Lord Mayor of London in 1502, forming the Painter-Stainers Company. The guild standardised the craft and acted as a protector of the trade secrets, in 1599 asking Parliament for protection, which was eventually granted in a bill of 1606, which granted the trade protection from outside competition such as plasterers.

The Act legislated for a seven year apprenticeship, and also barred plasterers from painting, unless apprenticed to a painter, with the penalty for such painting being a fine of £5. The Act also enshrined a maximum daily fee of 16 old pence for their labour.

A painter decorating a room in a house
Enforcement of this Act by the Painter-Stainers Company was sought up until the early 1800s, with master painters gathering irregularly to decide the fees which a journeyman could charge, and also instigating an early version of a job centre in 1769, advertising in the London newspapers a “house of call” system which to advertise for journeymen and also for journeymen to advertise for work. The guild’s power in setting the fee a journeyman could charge was eventually overturned by law in 1827, and the period after this saw the guild’s power diminish, along with that of the other guilds; the guilds were superseded by trade unions, with the Operative United Painters’ Union formed sometime around 1831.

In 1894 a national association formed, recreating itself in 1918 as the National Federation of Master Painters and Decorators of England and Wales, changing its name once again to the British Decorators Association before merging, in 2002, with the Painting & Decorating Federation to form the Painting & Decorating Association. The Construction Industry Joint Council, a body formed of both unions and business organizations, today has responsibility for the

Tools of the trade

The brush and the roller are the tools most readily associated with the painter. Recent advances in manufacture have led to a standardization of brushes, with many older brushes falling from fashion.

The airless spray gun is the latest tool in the painter’s closet. It’s powered by an electric, pneumatic or fuel powered motor which pumps paint through a hose into a gun which atomizes the paint to a fine spray. Graco is the leading manufacturer of this type of spray gun and equipment for contractors.[citation needed] With the airless spray gun it’s possible to paint extremely large areas of surface in a short time.

The ground brush, also known as a pound brush, was a round or elliptical brush bound by wire, cord or metal. They were generally heavy to use, and required considerable usage to break them in. These brushes were predominantly used in the days before modern paint manufacture techniques; hand mixed paints requiring more working to create the finish. These brushes still have use in applying primer; the brushes are useful in working the primer into the grain of the wood. Pound brushes required an even breaking in to create even bevel on both sides of the brush minimising the formation of a point which would render the brush useless.

Sash tools were smaller brushes, similar to a ground brush, and used mainly for cutting in sash or glazing bars found on windows.

Sash tools and ground brushes generally required bridling before use, and a painter’s efficiency in this skill was generally used as a guide to their overall ability. Both these brushes have largely been superseded by the modern varnish brush.

Varnish brushes are the common flat brushes available today, used for painting as well as varnishing. Brushes intended for varnishing typically have a bevelled edge.

Distemper brushes, used for applying distemper, were best made of pure bristle and bound by copper bands to prevent rust damage. Styles differed across the world, with flat nailed brushes popular in the North of England, a two knot brush (a brush with two ovular heads) popular in the South of England, and three knot brushes or flat head brushes preferred elsewhere. In the United States distemper brushes were known as calcimine, kalsomine or calsomine brushes, each term being the U.S. variant of distemper.

Fitches are smaller brushes, either ovular or flat and 1 inch wide, used in fine work such as to pick out the detail on a painted moulding.

Stipplers come in various shapes and sizes and are used to apply paint with a stippled effect.

A duster or jamb brush was used to dust the area to be painted before work commenced.

Limewash brushes were large brushes with a triangular head used to apply limewash.

Stencil brushes, similar in style to a shaving brush and used for the purpose of stencilling walls or in the creation of hand-made wallpapers.

Brushes are best stored in a purpose made brush keeper, a box on which a wire could be suspended: the wire would be threaded through the hole in a brushes handle so as to suspend the brush in a cleaning solution without allowing the brush to sit on the bottom of the container and thus cause spreading of the bristles. The solution would also prevent hardening of the brushes and oxidization. These were generally rectangular and stored several brushes. A lid would enclose the brushes and keep them free from dust.

Surface Protection Dustsheets or self-adhesive protection film (Packexe Ltd the leading manufactures) are required to protect surface areas where decorating is being done.

Activities of the trade

Historically, the painter and decorator was responsible for the mixing of the paint; keeping a ready supply of pigments, oils, thinners, driers and sundries. The painter would use his experience to determine a suitable mixture dependent upon the nature of the job. This role has reduced almost to zero as modern paint manufacturing techniques and architect specifications have created a reliance on brand label products.

Larger firms operating within the trade were generally capable of performing many painting or decoration services, from signwriting, to the gilding of objects or even the finishing or re-finishing of furniture.

More recently, professional painters are responsible for all preparation prior to painting. All scraping, sanding, wallpaper removal, caulking, wall or wood repair, patching, stain removal, compound, filling (of nail holes or any others with patch or putty), cleaning, taping, preparation and priming are considered to be done by the professional contracted painter.

Professional painters need to have keen knowledge of the tools including sanders, scrapers, sprayers, brushes, rollers, ladders, scaffolding, in addition to just the paint in order to correctly complete work. Much preparation needs to be considered before simply applying paint. For instance, taping and dropcloth techniques, sizes of brushes or rollers, material types or dimensions of rollers or brushes (there are different sizes or types of brushes and rollers for different paints), amount of paint, number of paint coats, amount of primer, types of primers and paints, certain grits and cuts of sandpaper, trim cutting (the act of painting with a brush on the outline of baseboard, moldings and other trim work), wallpaper removal, and nail hole filling techniques just to name a few.

Today many painters are attempting to break into the field of faux painting, allowing them more creativity and access to a higher end customer base.

wow, what a little paint can do....

E-Z Painting Inc. — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:32:00 GMT

Welcome

E-Z Painting Inc. — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:27:40 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.