Painting - Preparation is the Key

Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." While this is applicable to many aspects of life, it is particularly apropos to our philosophy at Beach Painting Contractors. More often than not, poor preparation leads to a significantly shorter lifespan when it comes to repainting your house. Conversely, diligent preparation can extend the life of your paint job.

 

To protect your home, your painting contractor needs to account for the following:

1. Cleaning: Paint will not adhere to a dirty surface. It is imperative that a house be chemically treated to kill mildew and power washed to remove dirt and peeling paint.
2. Scraping/Sanding: After sufficient drying time, any remaining peeling paint needs to be addressed by scraping. If not, the original paint will continue to peel after the new paint is applied. It is also critical to "feather" sand the rough edges where paint has been removed to diminish the chances of further peeling.
3. Repairing Surface Flaws: Cracks and dings in your siding should be repaired with exterior spackle, caulk, or wood putty to prevent further deterioration and improve overall appearance.
4. Caulking: This is a critical step in preventing moisture infiltration. Any caulk that is cracked or separating from the surface must be removed. A high grade exterior acrylic latex or elastomeric caulk must be applied to these areas. Special attention should be applied at all window, door, and corner trim.
5. Rust Treatment: Rusty fasteners should be treated with a rust-inhibiting primer after removing loose rust scale.
6. Spot Priming: all bare wood should be primed with an exterior stain-blocking primer. All rust primer and repair areas should also be spot-primed before painting.
7. Wrapping: landscaping should be covered with drop cloths or plastic. Air conditioning units, decks, and any unpainted surfaces should also be covered with drop cloths. Window and door openings should be covered with plastic prior to spraying. Cardboard shields are typically used along the roof line when painting fascia boards.

One major distinction between a reputable painting contractor and a less-than-reputable one is the amount of preparation that is included in a painting proposal. My experience is that 40-50% of the labor required in an exterior painting project is the prep work described above. If the house exterior hasn't been routinely maintained, the percentage of prep work will be higher.  

 

If you are collecting quotes for a project and find one of your bidders is significantly less than the others, one reason may be that he has not included the prep work required for a quality paint job. All too often, this leads to paint failure within 2-3 years.

The old adage that we get what we pay for rings true, especially when it comes to painting preparation.

 

Give us a call at 800.663.4944 to request an estimate or visit our website to learn more about Beach Painting.

Interior Design and Paint Color Advice

When it comes to decorating or redecorating a room, choosing the right paint color can sometimes present a challenge. The following tips may help.  

 

Exercise Patience
It's always a good idea to collect paint chips and samples when planning a room, but hold off making final choices until you've developed an overall room scheme. Paint is available myriad colors, tints, shades, and tones. It’s the easiest element to change in a room, and the least expensive.  After area rugs, window treatments, and furniture are finalized, make your decision on paint color.

 

Photo: Sherwin Williams Concepts in Color

A Tried and True Formula for Color Selection
If you're working with a print fabric, you'll probably be happier if you select the coordinating wall paint color from the background of the print. Use the deeper or brighter tones for accents throughout the room or adjacent spaces. More often than not, you'll select a shade of white or off-white for the moldings, baseboards, and trim. 

 

Choose the Right Sheen for the Job
Consider which sheen might be best for your project. Flat sheens hide wall imperfections while satin, eggshell, and glossier sheens will reflect more light. Be cognizant of how much natural and/or incandescent light is in the room. Also be aware that while a flat sheen is great at hiding the imperfections of your drywall, it is also the least durable.



Photo: Example of cool color with warm accent colors

Color “Temperature”
Colors are often referred to as "warm" or "cool." Oranges, reds, and pinks are considered warm colors. "Cool" is ascribed to blues, greens and violets. Similarly, winter sunlight and fluorescent lighting are considered cool while summer sunlight and incandescent lighting are warm. Knowing the theory behind color can help you select the right tone for the ambience you're trying to achieve. See my blog post from last October to learn more about light reflectance value and the impacts of natural vs. artificial light. Understanding how the human eye perceives color can go a long way in guiding your decisions.   

 

Photo: Example of warm color

Custom Colors
If you want to achieve a perfect match or find a truly unique color, your local paint store can provide custom color mixing. You can bring in a fabric swatch, painting, or other color reference, and have a paint color created as a perfect match. It’s truly as simple as a quick scan and a computer-generated formula.

 

Give it a Test Run
When you think that you've really chosen your perfect color, buy a pint of paint to do a test patch. Most paint stores will even provide you with a free sample. Paint a 2-ft to 4-ft square directly on your wall. Look at it during the day and during the evening. See how the color appears at sunrise and sunset. If it just doesn’t look right, don't get discouraged. Get another sample and try again. Sometimes I’ll apply two or three test colors before making a final decision. 


Cross Contamination
After you have a painted wall sample, scrutinize the color you're testing and whether it is adversely impacted by other colors in a room. Again, understanding color theory and how the human eye perceives color will be a helpful. Depending on the amount of light, the type of lighting, the light reflectance value (LRV) of the paint, your test color may get completely “washed out” by the other colors in the room. It may even appear to be a completely different color at different times of the day.  


Call Us - We Can Help!
For helpful paint advice, contact your full-service painting contractor. Tell him about your project and what you hope to achieve. Ask which paint products are recommended for various applications and why. A painting professional will be more than happy to share the information (as well as his opinion!). Ask about specialty paints such as low-odor/low-V.O.C, stain-killing primers, washable paint, and more.

 

Give It Time
Wet paint always looks different from dry paint. Don't panic when you first see the paint applied to the wall. Let it dry. A new bold color may take some time to grow on you. After your furniture, area rugs, and wall treatments are put back in place, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised to see how well your new color harmonizes with these elements.

 

Contact us today to see what we can do for you!

 

1496 Colington Rd.
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
800.663.4944 / 252.441.8224 
252.449.8729 Fax

www.beachpainting.com

info@beachpainting.com

Curb Appeal (and selecting the right painter)

Curb Appeal (and selecting the right painter)

Whether your property is for rent, for sale, or just for you, curb appeal can make all the difference in the world. With so many rental homes and homes for sale on the OBX, the market is more competitive than ever. The curb appeal of your home can either make or break you in terms of how many rentals you book or how soon your home will sell. If you are skeptical, just ask any rental company or real estate agent.

The most cost effective improvement a homeowner can make to improve curb appeal is paint.  A good paint job can cause prospective renters or buyers to overlook other deficiencies, whereas a bad paint job can lead them to over-scrutinize the property. This can lead to lost rental income and lost sales.

 It’s easy to understand why painting is the most frequently requested type of work in a massive home improvement market. The cost of painting is relatively low if you hire the right contractor. However, beware of bargain specialists - your “savings” won’t mean much if you receive a low quality product without after-sale service.

So, how do you select a painting contractor? Here on the OBX there is a never ending supply of people who call themselves painting contractors and promise the same job at a lower price.

A good place to start is with trade associations and references. Is your painter a member of the Chamber of Commerce? How about the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA)? Membership in these organizations indicates that a contractor is serious about his business, his community, and industry standards. It’s one simple way to start the vetting process.

While every company promises to deliver value, statistics show that this market is sorely lacking in professionalism. If you are still unsure after talking to all bidders, contact the PDCA or the local paint stores. Do your homework, develop relationships with reputable companies, and you’ll sleep better knowing that your property has the curb appeal that makes it stand out from the others.

Beach Painting
PDCA
Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce