Monday, May 20, 2013

Preparing The Paint For House Painting


When painting our houses, one very important thing that we should never miss is preparing the paint that will be applies to your house. This step is so important that it would affect the overall quality of the work done depending on how you would do this. While having your house painted over is the real deal, housing paint preparation would justify the outcome.

That is why it is very important that you would never skimp this part. Having paint well prepared will lead to a good outcome if you do everything right. If you are a novice painter or if you have never painted anything before, here are some guidelines that would help you with that issue

Clean Up

Before anything else, you should of course clean up whatever it is that you are about to paint. If it is a bedroom, you should clear it of everything inside like the clothes in a closet. If the things are not quite easy to take out, you would have to make sure that paint does not reach them, that is you should secure these things with some drop cloth and some tape.

While everything is secured, you also have to make sure that the area of which you are about to paint is free of dust and dirt. That is you should mop and sweep everything that you will clean. A dirty surface area can affect the color of paint, especially if it is white and more to that, the texture can also be quite bumpy if the surface area is dirty.

Fix Things

After things are clean, you should start fixing things. If your walls and ceiling are quite old, then you should see some cracks or holes in it already which is probably the reason why you need to repaint it. In painting your house, you have to fix these first before painting. You know that the main goal of painting is to give your house a brand new look but if there are holes or cracks present, your house would not look anything like it.

When fixing these, you can fill the gaps with your favorite filler which they would probably sell at stores that would sell paint. These fillers come in either fiberglass and are not really that expensive. Put just enough o fill in the gaps and wait for them to dry. After this, you are one step closer to painting your house.

Final Preparations

So everything is cleaned up and everything is fixed, you might be asking just what exactly is next. Basically, there is no next step; you just have to review the work you have done. Check for nails that are used for hole frames on the wall and make sure you remove them if you intend to paint the area where they are present. For those cracks and holes that you filled up with filler, make sure you first sand them up until the surfaces are even with the rest of the wall.

After that, check for more uneven surfaces on the wall and fix them accordingly. If everything would seem right already, then you are ready to begin painting. Always remember to start painting if and only if things are already completely ready, painting would take a lot and you would not want to paint now and realize that you forgot to prepare something and start all over again.

In house painting, house painting preparation is one of the keys to giving your house that professional look.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Step by Step Paint Colors Selection

1.Identify the "fixed" elements of your room that you are not planning on changing.For example, furniture, rugs, fireplace, color of woodwork or tiling, etc. All paint colors must coordinate with these elements.

2.Identify the room's natural attributes, such as room size and lighting, and the way in which you want the color of the room to affect those attributes. Keep in mind cool (blue,violet and green), dark colors recede and seem to pull away from you, making the room seem larger, light colors expand and seem to come towards you, making the room seem smaller. It's important that you make a final selection only after viewing a sample of your paint color choice in the room you are painting so you can see how natural and artificial light affects the paint color.

Paint Colors-The Color Wheel


3.Identify what the room will be used for-rest, play, work or dinning. Think about what colors make you feel comfortable, energetic or inspired. Keep in mind the colors you choose to work with will determine whether the environment is dramatic or subtle. Some colors are associate with moods. Here are some basic associations:
*red-energy & passion
*orange-active & inviting
*yellow-bright & sunny
*green-calm & serene
*blue-refreshing & inspiring
*purple-cleansing & soothing
*neutrals-subtle & elegant

4.Start with colors in tones that naturally appeal to you. Tip:outline a large photocopy of a picture of your room. Duplicate this several times to get a few black and whites images. Used colored pencils to experiment with different color schemes and you'll be ahead of the game before you turn to chips or actual paint samples.

5-.Use the following basic color palettes:

Monochromatic Color Palette:
Using just one color and varying that color's intensities from pale to bold, light to dark, can create a room decor that is exciting or serene.
1.Start with the walls and select a soft color.
2.Select a trim color or accent wall color by identifying the color two shades darker on the same color chip.

Main wall color-Adobe Dust 2175-40
Accent wall color-Sedona Clay 2174-30

Paint Colors-Monochromatic Color Palette

This kitchen is a great example of how using a monochromatic palette in warm tones gives a room a bright, cheerful inviting look.

Complementary Color Palette
Complementary Colors- colors that actually oppose each other on the color wheel- can be used together for stunning results.
1.Start with a trim color or fabric color in a rich shade.
2.Select a "complement" of that color for your walls by finding the color across from it on the color wheel,

Walls-Mellow Yellow 2020-50.
A variety of purple linens on the bed.

Paint Colors-Complementary Color Palette

Using a bright yellow on the walls and contrasting cooler purple for the linens gives this bedroom and exciting but balanced look.

Analogous Color Palette
By using colors that are next to one another on the color wheel and similar in tone, you can create a dramatic but elegant color design for your room.
1.Start by selecting three colors that are next to one another on the color wheel that are similar in tone.
2.Use one of the colors more dominantly and the other two as accents.
Main wall color-Prescott Green HC-140
Wainscotting, upper wall color- Stratton Blue HC-142
Trim- Hamilton Blue.
Ceiling color- Sandy White 2148-50

Paint Colors-Analogous Color Palette


This bathroom uses Prescott Green as its main color and green-blue and blue to highlight and define the trim, giving the room a beautiful, harmonious look.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Make House Painting Easier For You


Painting your house can be a real pain in the neck, the more it becomes of it if you don’t know how to do it right. If that is so, what more if you don’t know how to paint at all? While people commonly think of house painting as really hard, it actually is not really hard. Yes it is time consuming but hard is something else that you won’t have to consider when it comes to this matter. With some tips, you should be able to make house painting easier.

With the many economic issues we are faced with right now, it is best in this situation that we would do a lot of jobs ourselves. House painting, as a considerably expensive service would be much better if you did it yourself. So for you to make house painting easier, here are some tips and tricks you will need.

Be aware that although it is not that hard, house painting would still take a lot of time and effort. You should be able to give what demands the task has for you.

Painting The Indoors

Before you start painting anything inside your house, make sure you fix the cracks and holes in the wall before you apply a layer of paint. Not doing this can cause a lot of problems in the future and more to that, you want your house to look as new as possible when having it painted, having holes and cracks on the wall will not make your house look new at all.

Areas like these can be easily repaired with a vinyl spackling compound which can be seen in most stores that would sell house paint. For large areas, you can fix this with a plaster of a fiberglass compound. Make sure that they all dry up and are evenly spread before applying anything.

Exterior Painting

When repainting the exterior of your house, you are very likely to face things such as paints that are gradually chipping off the wall, cracks and holes. Cracks and holes can be repaired by the same compounds you use on to repair the same issues on the inside and outside of your house. However, you would be needing a different approach when it comes to cleaning the old paint that is gradually chipping off the walls of your house.

When doing this, you can start of by power washing the entire area that is to be painted. This would remove anything in the way and would make it easier for you to paint on later. After that, use a paint scraper to remove any other paints that could be left over. Finish it off by applying some bleach to the area. When all is done and ready, you can begin applying paint.

Choosing Paint

When choosing paint, take note of the notion that with price comes quality. However when it comes to house painting, you could actually end up saving more if you choose the more expensive type since this would take a longer time for it to fade and for you to repaint your house again.

For areas that will be exposed to moisture most of the time such as the kitchen and the bathroom, you can use semi-gloss oil based paint. For other areas, the best type of paint is the 100% acrylic latex. Depending on the material that would be used as a surface for you to paint, you can choose a type of paint that is right for that type.

Monday, May 6, 2013

How To Pick The Right Colors For Your House


Picking house colors is not just hard, it’s terrifying, if you pick the wrong colors, you and as well as the neighbors would all be disappointed. Picking colors for your house takes up a lot of planning and if possible, it is advised that you consult an expert. Picking house painting colors is definitely not an easy task, so much that it is one of the toughest parts of having your house painted.

Because it is rather tricky, here are some tips that you can use if you are caught in the dilemma of picking which color to put where.

Pick Colors That Compliment Your Home

The colors that you will pick should of course, compliment your home. If you live in a new one of which all the other houses in the neighborhood are also new, then you can be more creative. In this setting, you can use whichever colors you want as long as it would look good and that it will blend in the neighborhood. However, you must not overdo when you are picking the colors.

If you live in a lovely home that has been there for quite some time already, then you should pick colors that compliment the classic look of your home. For this, you can hire an expert to analyze what colors to put in order to restore your house to its original look. If you do not want this, you can put brighter colors; just make sure to do this right. If done right, the colors that may not match can make your house look more exciting.

Every part of your home should compliment each other; this is very true when picking what colors you should put on your home.

Try To Blend In

If you notice, most neighborhoods have that certain look. Considering the overall look of your neighborhood, you could choose the colors in accordance to it. That is when choosing the colors that you will be putting on your house, you should try to make it so that the house would have a contribution to the overall look on the neighborhood. If this is not your goal, try at least not to stand out too much from the rest.

You don’t really have to blend in to the point wherein your house would look like all other houses in the neighborhood, you just have to see to it that with the colors of your house, you would fit in the neighborhood. Not because of peer pressure, but because your house would look more welcoming and friendlier to neighbors this way.

Jazz It Up

While you have to consider your neighbors, what really matters is your opinion after all, it is your house. So while blending in the neighborhood, you can give it your own personal touch. If you follow a similar color scheme to all of your neighbors, try to put in some detail. That is put a little color on other parts of the house.

While you can place your own personal touch, always remember to keep a balance. It would be best if the colors do not overpower one another but rather work together to make the house look better. 

At times, it is inevitable that one color would stand out. If this is the case, then you should pick the lighter colors such as white or off-white to stand out. These colors not only look better but they actually make the house look bigger, this is why most estates and mansions are white on the outside.

Monday, April 29, 2013

How To Pick Colors For Your House’s Exterior


For some of your, the houses are the canvases for paint. If the artist manages to put in the right combination of all colors, wonderful artwork is produced. As the owner of the house, you should know what is right for your house but most of all, what will be produced after the house is painted should be pleasing to you and the people who can see it especially the neighbors.

Whether you want it simple or elaborate, you would of course have to go by some house painting color schemes. With that, here are some ways of how you can mix and match whatever colors you have in mind for your house to be more beautiful than ever.

With that, here are some things you can use in order for you to get to that goal of having a house with colors that are in tune together.

Color Charts

When thinking of colors, you don’t want to just think of any random color and just put those to any part of the house. You have to consider colors carefully and with that, you should see to it that the colors are in tune with each other. With this, you can make use of color charts which are available anywhere, whether on the internet or in a housing supply store, there are a lot of these available.

Different color schemes would give your shop different attitudes which are expressed depending on how you would portray them. White for example would express neatness or simplicity, yellow or green would be a warm and welcoming color while black on some parts of the house on the other hand would express elatedness. Depending what attitude you want to express, you should pick a color scheme according to this.

Software

Nowadays, you don’t really have to look everywhere to find and expert on choosing color schemes. This expertise can now be offered by computer software. This software would first allow you to visualize your house possessing the different colors that you would want it to have and with that, it would allow you to know how much that color scheme is worth. That is, how much it would cost you to have your house painted that way.

This is made possible by a calculator that is made to work along with the software. This is getting more popular nowadays that numerous interior designers, architects and professional house painters actually use this themselves. With what this software can offer, choosing housing schemes could get much easier.

Hiring An Expert

While there are a lot of modern ways on how you could choose house painting color schemes, sometimes the best option is to still hire an expert. Other things would help you decide but there is just something with the human touch that you can get if an expert does things himself. The knowledge and experience of an expert is still unmatched when it comes to these matters.

The only thing is, this could cost you a lot which justifies the statement that with quality comes price. But if you are willing to give in more to get more, you should definitely go for this option. When it comes to choosing house color schemes, there is nothing that could beat the experts such as interior designers or professional house painters.

Monday, April 22, 2013

How To Paint Your House The Right Way


Whether you are having your first house constructed or if your house just needs a new layer of paint on it, you would of course have to be concerned on how to paint your house the right way. While this may be quite simple as though, it actually isn’t, even choosing what colors should be put on your house would already be quite a challenge. However, if you do the right things, you should get to that point wherein you’ll be satisfied with how your house would look like.

While a lot of people would hire professional house painters to do the job for them, if your house is not that big and if you want to save a lot of money, it is wiser to do the job yourself. If you follow these house painting instructions, your house would look like it was painted by a professional just by you doing it yourself.

Choose A Color Scheme

Before anything else, you would of course want your house to have the best colors possible. You want every color in your house to blend together and look like a wonderful piece of art. In order for this to be possible, you must think of a good color scheme. While this may sound simple, this could actually be one of the toughest parts when it comes to painting your house so in doing this, be patient, give yourself at least a month to finalize which colors would go where.

Fortunately, this is made easier nowadays with a lot of things you can use for you to come up with an attractive color scheme. If you look into housing supplies stores, some of them might have color charts, which would help you know what colors look good with each other. If you want to mix and match your own colors, you can use this house painting software of which you can visualize how your house would look like if it had the colors you want it to have.

Paint From Top To Bottom

Make sure that you only begin painting if you have already finalized what color scheme to use and if you area already complete with all materials and supplies needed for the job.

The process of painting is more synchronized and would work easier if you started painting from the ceiling while moving slowly to the bottom part of the floor. If you don’t follow this, the wet paint on some parts of the area won’t allow you to move further or if you do, it would cause a large mess.

You want things to be as easy and as fast as possible and with that, it is best advised that you first start with the ceiling then the floor and after that, start painting the doors, cabinets and other panels. After all those, you can begin painting other parts such as the window and door frames.

Clean Up

After painting, it cannot be avoided that a few messes will be made. Fortunately, cleaning up is really easy when it comes to these matters as made possible by some products. For cleaning the brushes, you can use paint thinner or commercial brush cleaners. For cleaning your hands, commercial paint removers are also available on most housing supplies stores.

With these house painting instructions, your house should look at its best after you have painted it.

Monday, April 15, 2013

How Much Would It Cost You To Paint Your House?


Whether you are building a new house or you just need a new layer of paint around your house, you of course would be considering a lot of things regarding house painting prices. You might ask if painting it yourself or hiring a house painter to do the job would be better or how much the paint itself would cost. With this, house painting prices is quite a big issue if you are considering painting your house.

Just like everything else, price is always and issue and the one that is the cheapest and has the best quality as much as possible would always be the best option. The only thing is that you can’t have everything; all you can have is just one option. In order to help you decide, here are some guidelines as to what options you should pick or what details you should consider when you are painting your house.

Should I Hire Someone?

This question is commonly asked by busy people and by those who just would not want to paint their houses themselves. If this is the case, take into consideration that this task is done by popular and professional people with house painting businesses, which is it can cost a lot, obviously much more than if you paint your house yourself. But if you have the resources, got nothing to lose then go ahead and hire someone who can effectively do the job for you.

Before anything else, take note that painting your house yourself is not that hard. Depending on the climate and the common weather conditions in your house, you may just paint your house when needed. Most commonly, the exterior paint of a house wears of every 2 to 4 years. To manage this effectively, some people would paint one side of their houses every year, causing the whole house to be painted once in every four years.

How Much Would The Options Cost?

For the paint itself, set aside around $25 to $40 per gallon of paint with good quality. As commonly observed by house painters, a gallon of paint is enough to cover around 400 square feet so in order for you to come up with how much you actually need, split the whole area of the area to be painted by 400 square feet and that is just how much gallons of paint you need. If you paint your house yourself, that is practically just how much you are about to spend.

If you plan on hiring someone, take note that the actual cost of paint would only account for about 15% of the total amount that the house painter will charge you, the labor would account for about 85%. That is how expensive the cost of labor is so if you have the time to paint your house yourself; it is still advised that you do it. The good thing about hiring someone to paint your house is that they work quickly and most of the time, really do their jobs well.

What Other Things To Consider

You should be aware of how much time it would take for the paint to wear off. While it would take 4 years most of the time for exterior paint to start cracking, if the quality of the paint is really good and if weather conditions are not too harsh, sometimes the exterior paint could last up to 8 years. This would save you a lot if you adjust to the situation, considering that house painting prices do not come too cheap.