Interior Painting

When it comes to painting your home, three seasons have ideal weather: spring, summer and fall. However, not every day is perfect. Fall can be a bit too chilly spring conditions can be wet and hot summer days can be too sunny.

Out of all three, spring tends to have the most consistent weather for exterior painting. Planting and landscaping projects are also common around this time of year. By adding a protective finish to your home early on, you won’t have to worry about any interruptions when you lay down the mulch. Aside from this convenience, why else should you paint the outside of your home in spring?

1. Better Temperature

The “perfect” temperature for painting is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but not much higher, as heat can cause the paint to dry too quickly and form poorly.

2. It’s Right After Winter

It’s no secret that winter causes stress to our homes. However, the weather warming up doesn’t mean the wear and damage go away. In response, getting the job done earlier essentially renews your home’s exterior, which then fortifies it against the elements.

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The weather’s just right for getting an interior paint job done, whether it’s a full room or just one window.

When you attempt to do a smaller project on your own, keep these tips in mind:

1. Prep the Area

You want the paint to adhere to the surface as best as possible. For a wooden window frame, wipe it down with a household cleaner first, and then sand with 120-grit sandpaper. This process removes older paint and smoothes out raised grain. If there are any curves or contours, go over them with a sanding block.

Does the wood have any holes or places where it meets the wall? Fill these areas in with putty and caulk, respectively.

Then, prime the bare wood. This later improves adhesion. However, before you add the paint, make sure this coating dries overnight.

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Sometimes, the paint job looks manageable on your own. You think you can do it, but later find the paint appears splotchy, cracks start to form, or the door ends up sticking to the frame.

To make sure the job gets done correctly, consider these tips:

1. Remove the door from the hinges and lay it flat. This helps with getting a smoother finish, as you’ll be able to spread the paint easier.
2. Clean off the door completely and let it dry. It’s advised to remove any paint buildup with a scraper and sandpaper until a smooth surface results.
3. Prime it. This is the simplest way to prevent staining and dark blotches. In turn, the paint sticks better to the surface.
4. Sand between coats.
5. Fill in any holes and gaps before you start to paint.
6. Use a roller over a brush, if the door’s flat. You’ll be able to spread the paint more evenly.
7. If it’s a raised panel door, however, apply the paint with a brush.
8. As you paint, work from the center outward.
9. Consider paint with a semi-gloss or gloss sheen. Long term, the door becomes more durable and is easier to clean.

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Looking to transform the look of a room at a minimal cost? Decorative painting does the trick. Forget about new materials being installed. Instead, a professional house painter like M. Brett’s team employs a combination of the following:

Broken Color: Manipulating a wet, glazed surface adds more variation to your wall.

Chalkboard Paint: Adding a few coats results in a washable and functional chalkboard on a flat wall.

Checkerboard: The contrasting diamond pattern imitates the look of marble floors for an elegant touch.

Color Washing: Visually, an ethereal hue is added on top of a solid shade. Technique wise, a paint and glaze combination goes on as a second coat.

Crackle: The undercoat shows from beneath. To do this, the painter adds a rapidly-drying top coat over a slow-drying base coat.

Dry-Brushing: Paint gives your walls a textured look to imitate wood.

Flogging: Using a long-bristled brush to slap the surface creates the look of wood pores.

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