Interior Painting: The Basics

If there is one design improvement project that you will find yourself doing throughout your life, it is likely painting. Whether you’re moving into a new place, giving a facelift to an existing space, or indulging your children in a bright new change for their rooms, painting makes its way into most of our lives. Painting is a quick way to update an outdated space and change the character of a room. Here, we will cover some of the basics that you need to know to get started.

Know your paint 

Base coats are usually needed, and always a better option. This not only helps your paint job look

better, but will help it last longer and stay in better condition. There are two options to work with: a primer, and a first coat. You can also find them combined. A primer is especially important if you’re painting atop a new, uncoated surface. It will protect the surface, and serves as an effective base. A first coat is best used when you want the most visual coverage underneath your finish coat. Pick a color that matches the brightness of your finish coat. In some cases, you may need to give your base coat a second paint over before applying a finishing coat.

The finish coats serve as your decorative options. This is where your creativity comes into play! There are four general options when it comes to choosing the right paint. One of the generally preferred choices is eggshell paint. Eggshell is quite durable and has a small level of sheen to it. This varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. With eggshell paint, you may desire two coats to make the color even. Another choice is flat paint. Flat paint is latex-based, and quite versatile. Flat paint offers a variety of finishes in varying degrees of matts. One of the benefits of flat paint is that it can be good for coping with moisture, especially when it contains vinyl, as some formulations do. Gloss and satin are good options for those who like a shine to their walls. These options come with either a latex base, or a solvent base. Latex is a easier to apply option, but solvent will provide the most shine to your finish. With satin, you’ll have a slightly less shiny finish. With gloss, you’ll get the most shine, and likely only need one coat of finish.

Paint it right

Before painting, cover a few bases. If you’re painting around windows, doors, and electrical outlets, consider painters’ tape to protect edges from unwanted paint. It is inexpensive and quick to apply, and will help you make clean lines. Next, make sure you have the right equipment. A roller is going to do most of the work, and you will also need a small brush to cut in along edges and corners. You may opt for painting pads as well, which are very useful for further protecting trim. Don’t forget a paint tray, and consider keeping a small bottle of paint remover on hand in case you do make a mistake.

When you’re ready to begin, make sure your paint is thoroughly mixed. If you are using a stir stick, allow yourself extra time for completion. Subtle changes in color can show up later if the paint has not been fully stirred. Start with the corners and edges first, cutting in with your hand brush. Then move on to the roller, covering the rest of the walls. Once covered, check for thin spots. Reapply as needed. 

A job well done will bring a fresh look to your room. If you are unable to paint it yourself, or have any hesitation, consider contacting one of our trusted contractors to do the job for you. Remember that no job is so important it needs to be done wrong. Happy painting!

July Newsletter - 2014

The July Newsletter is now available! See what has been going on in the contractor world!

Your Skylit Room

Windows require regular maintenance and cleaning in general. It’s worth it, because they give us sunshine and a breeze during the day. Skylights are a little different. One advantage to them is that the maintenance and cleaning required is minimal, compared to the rest of the windows in the home. When installed and positioned properly, the rain will wash away most of the exterior debris. The interior dust collection is also minimized simply by its location. However, occasional cleaning will still be needed. Condensation, dirt, spider webs, and various determinants will cause dirt to gather slightly overtime. Let’s look at a few ideas to get the most out of your skylight. 

The first step is to know your skylight. Older skylights were often built without a protective coating and will need more regular cleaning. Is your skylight plastic, or glass? If it’s plastic, there’s a good likelihood it’s made from acrylic, or polycarbonate. If it’s made from glass, check to see if it’s fiberglass. Fiberglass needs special care and attention. If you have a fiberglass window, please follow your manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Is your skylight made from Plexiglas? This will have a more regressive aging process, causing it to look opaque. Modern skylights are much more durable, and many have been reinforced for weather protection. 

You’ll also want to know your frame. There’s a good chance you already have an aluminum frame, as these are quite common. Aluminum frames don’t need more than a simple cleaning when you clean your windows. Be mindful of the climate you live in, however. If you are in a climate with heavy rain, or near the ocean, the precipitation can overtime eat into the aluminum. A good option in this case is to protect your frame with paint. If you have a frame with a painted metal finish, an annual inspection is a good idea. Look for any spots where the paint may have rubbed off, and touch it up with a paint recommended by your window’s manufacturer. 

Next let’s look at the upkeep. Skylights are famous for being low-maintenance. In fact, one of the best things you can do for your skylight is often to leave it alone! An overexcited attempt to clean can often cause damage. It’s good to check it for pre-existing damage, but don’t clean it more than you need to. One reason is due to the chemicals found in common cleaners. If you have a protective film on your skylight, the chemicals can erode it. If your skylight is made of plastic, you’ll never want to use an abrasive cleaner, pad, or cloth. Treat these gently, or you will scratch and warp your skylight, which is a much greater impediment than dust. Rather, use a soft cleanser such as dish soap, and a soft cloth to gently clean away any collecting dust.

Even with the best care, in time your skylight will need to be replaced. If you find upon inspection that the cuts run too deep, and you cannot clean away the clouds, it might be time to invest in a new skylight. This is especially valuable to you if you have an older one without a protective film. Doing so will keep your room sunlit for years to come! Questions? Contact one of our trusted contractors to help you out!

Keep your Garage Floor its best!

The garage floor is very durable, and yet overtime will require maintenance. Cement is not a ductile

material. So the bending and breaking that you will come across throughout your house will not be a problem in the garage. What you will experience is shrinking and expanding, which will lead to scratches and cracks. Most garage floors are designed to allow room for minor yet inevitable changes. However, there are always other variables that may, in time, lead to cracking and shifting. The good news is that most of this is cosmetic, and easily repaired. Let’s look at a few common repairs that you can expect to make in your garage!

Shifting

If you find yourself walking across the garage and step into a low spot, walk up a slope, or feel a change in leveling, it’s likely you have some depression occurring. This can be a simple fix, depending on the scale of the depression. For small slopes, you can use a self leveling compound, which can be purchased at your local hardware store. Be sure to choose one that is suitable for outdoor use, and follow the instructions carefully. If your floor has a larger slope to it, or you find it to be largely uneven, you may need to talk to a local contractor. Sunken slabs can take time and money to repair. Should you choose to talk to someone about repairing these, it is essential to choose a contractor you trust. Poorly reinforced slabs, as well as underground issues are often the cause of this, making it important to have the job done well. 

Cracking

Most cracking that you’ll find in your garage will be minor, as garage floors usually have contraction joints built in the slab that make room to prevent major cracks. You may choose in this case to fill in the small cracks as you see them. You can use an epoxy based filler, which is applied with a caulking gun, and will expand and contract with the concrete to help prevent further cracking. Before applying the filler, you’ll want to scrape out the crack with either a wire brush or small chisel, depending on the size of the crack. This will clean out dirt and debris that may sit in the way.

Before you start any repair, clean your garage. Sweep up the floor, use a blower if you have large amounts of dirt. Focus on the specific areas that you’ll be repairing. Loose dust can prevent materials from bonding to the concrete, interfering with your repair project. To really polish your floor, after your repairs, you may consider applying a finish over the entire floor. Epoxy is one of our top choices! And as always, talk to a contractor you can trust for anything that is over your head. Getting it done right will be much more efficient in the long run than redoing a poor job! Your home is worth it.

Here Comes the Heat!

The warm weather is upon us, and many of us have started to feel that rush of heat sweep over our towns. Let’s talk about air conditioning. We all use it, and we will all need to maintain it. Keeping your air conditioner in good working condition may not be as difficult as you would think! With a little planning, some attention and care, you can stay cool all summer long!

When do you know it’s time to service your air conditioner? The best answer? Before it’s needed. You can stay one step ahead with the right preparation and regular maintenance. The first aspect of upkeep is keeping it clean. This is essential to maintain, as a single year of dirt and debris can cause clogging. A dirty blower fan filter can also reduce efficiency. All of these take a toll on it and will eventually lead to the break down of your machine. Safety precaution: Make sure before you do any cleaning or maintenance, that your air conditioning is completely disconnected from all power.

The next essential aspect of cleaning is the filters. Air conditioning units come with their own filters and require regular changing. For particularly clean air, you can check on additional filters that are available for your unit. For some filters, you can clean and reuse them. Some must be replaced. Check with your unit’s manufacturer for details. When the weather is hot, you’ll want to change or clean this every month or two, depending on how frequently it is in use. Remember that particularly dusty conditions will also heighten the need for a change. With most air conditioners, you are likely to find the filter in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself. 

Finally, you’ll need to check the coils and coil fins. The coil absorbs heat and is an integral process of the structure. Over the months it will begin to collect dirt, and soil. Keeping the filter clean will enhance the coil’s endurance, however in time it will need to be checked. As it collects dirt, the airflow is reduced, the coil is insulated, and its ability to absorb heat weakens. A good practice for keeping this at its best is to minimize dirt and dust near and around the condenser unit. If the coil is in an outdoor environment, be mindful of foliage, and anything that may obstruct the airflow. The coil fins are one of the last pieces. Because these are delicate pieces, they are easily bent out of shape. This has the potential to block airflow. If your coil fins have been moved, you can purchase a fin comb from a wholesaler to comb them back to working condition.

As always, if there is anything that you are not confident in, it is the best route to check in with a well-trained, professional technician. Some diligence will keep your summer cool and breezy! 

The Backyard Fire Pit

The Backyard Fire Pit 

One of the exciting activities that summer brings is evenings spent outdoors. With dry, warmer nights, the weather is perfect for group gatherings around a fire. We are going to give you a quick design for building your own outdoor, stone fire pit for under $200! In just a few days, you and your friends can be enjoying marshmallows, hotdogs, and sharing laughter!

The Tools

Your fire pit can be constructed from stepping stones, and solid cement blocks. Our fire pit is going to be a square, 3’ x 3.’ For this, we will need nine 12” x 12” concrete stepping stones, which you can find for around a dollar a piece. We will also need sixty-four 4” x 8” x 16” cement blocks, which can be found for less than two dollars a piece. For extra durability and longevity, you can optionally also purchase some mortar mix. 

The Design

Start with a flat, level surface. If you’re in your backyard, this may require clearing some foliage, and moving some dirt around to level it. If you have a back porch, you’re partway there! It’s important to make sure you have a safe, level area away from all fire hazards. This includes a safe distance from your house and other structures. Once you have a safe location, you will need a cleared, 3’ x 3’ space. You should first use your stepping stones as your foundation, laying them in a grid, to make a square. Make sure they are level and sturdy. To build your pit, lay your cement blocks with four layers of four blocks on each side. Stagger them so that the corners will alternate direction. By doing so, the structure will help to hold itself together.

This design is simple and inexpensive. It is also easy to construct. If you wish to make it bigger, you can follow the design with more blocks. For those looking to add mortar to make it a stronger, longer-lasting structure, talk to a representative and your local hardware store for instructions on finding and using the correct mortar mix. 

The June Newsletter is Available!

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