The question came up again: Don’t we have to remove all the paint before painting again? Well not always, as a general rule, you are time & money ahead if you cover over old coatings rather than remove them with few exceptions for us house painters. One exception is if you wanted to remove all
When using any of the usual paint removal methods expect a messy, time-consuming process with health and safety threats. These methods include mechanical, heat and chemical means to remove coatings. Mechanical methods (sanding, blasting, hand tools) create a lot of dust. Heat tools make gummy, sticky goo and gives off toxic fumes. Chemical strippers have
The 2014 color choices are out from the major manufacturers. These recently released interior and exterior color ideas can help you if you are wondering what the “in colors” are. The discovery you will make is not everyone agrees on the same color. Sherwin Williams selected a grayish plum color “Exclusive Plum” #6263. It is
Wood: Wood comes from trees, a plant, which in general terms needs water, air and sunlight to live and grow. As a finisher, I beautify and protect this fibrous structured tissue from the very things it has been keeping it alive. When stained the wood highlights the patterns and densities this material has hidden until
The other day after I refinished a door for a new customer they asked me “How do I properly maintain my wood entry door?” My response was you must beware of the environmental abuse the wood door takes from the elements (sun, water, and dirt) to keep the finish as long as possible. Here in
Three main advantages of water-based stain are color, time and less hazardous. Our water based stain system allows us to match the color, on-location, and get your approval in minutes. This can be done with no harmful solvents or offensive odors. It is like taking the old school approach of how the craftsman worked up
Avoid Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paint because they are emitted off-gases that are harmful to the human body. One might sense eye, nose and throat irritation initially. Headaches, lack of coordination and nausea tend to follow. More permanent damage to liver, kidney and the central nervous system are why we avoid them at the
Some only compare a single application method against another – say brush and roll against the spray application. Fact is there is no comparison when it comes to getting the paint out of the bucket and on the wall. The airless spray method will always win. Yet some believe themselves to be the folklore hero “John
A properly stained wood front door announces to your guests you care for them during their visit. You know the look of a nicely stained door, where the stain is evenly applied and the clear coats reflect an even gloss across the surface. Yet, with the finish looking nice, dirt and grunge can portray
A properly painted surface is one uniform in appearance, color and sheen. In addition, it is free of foreign material, lumps, skins, runs, sags, holidays, misses, strikethroughs or insufficient coverage. The surface has no drips, spatters, spills or overspray that was caused by the GP&D workforce. Compliance to meet these criteria is viewed without magnification
One of those first things you need to do to ensure that the new coat of paint will not fail is to test or check paint adhesion. Depending on what was previously applied, the condition of the surface and what results you desire determines the type of paint / stain you choose. Generally speaking latexes do
Pressure washing is necessary to properly prepare the exterior surface. Beyond the removal of contamination, the wash breaks down the surface tension that naturally builds up over time. Surface tension resists paint adhesion. If the contamination and surface tension is not washed off the coating may look funny and have premature failure. Two big
There are basically two different categories / types of stain: one is acrylic and the other is alkyd. Depending on what results you desire for your wood deck determines the types of stain you choose. If you are looking for an alkyd stain to preserve the wood look a wood preservative / stain and if
So you look up how to dispose of the old interior or exterior paint you have lying around and find “Dispose in accordance with all the government’s safety and health regulations”. Not all that helpful, right? Well having been disposing of hazardous waste for a governmental super fund site, allow me to shed some light
Brief: It’s now a violation of the law for hired help to work on a house or child-occupied facility built pre-1978. The offense is disturbing lead-based paint. The enforcer is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The violation is failure to follow Repair, Renovation, & Painting (RRP) Rule. It is now finable for anyone who
Are you sure your ceiling contains asbestos? Not all spray-on, popcorn / acoustical texture ceilings contain asbestos. To know for sure, submit a small sample for laboratory analysis. Cost is minimal. Laboratories are listed in the yellow pages under “Asbestos – Consulting and Testing.” A list of local laboratories may also be obtained by contacting