How to Make Home Painting Enjoyable and Efficient

Painting the house isn't exactly the most exciting activity to do--you'd have to go through the process of strenuously removing furniture in the room, scraping, sanding, priming, taking down light fixtures, and lots of other drudging prep work. This home improvement activity could also get pretty boring at times, but there are easy solutions on how to make things a bit more bearable. Here are some ways on how to make DIY home painting easy and entertaining.

Turn up the Music - Painting a room takes a lot of time, so you will need something to accompany you in the background while you cover your walls. One of the most effective ways is by playing loud, lively music. Studies say that having music in the background helps a lot in a person's concentration and productivity, so have your favorite tunes ready.

Get Some Help from Friends - Ask your friends if they are willing to help out. Having someone to talk to, joke with, or simply listen to music with always succeeds in making a dull activity a little more fun. You can also ask some family members to join in--if you have teens, this is a perfect time to introduce them to some home improvement activities that will come in handy in the future.

Use Quality Painter's Tape - After you've moved your furniture, got rid of all the dust, grime and dirt from the walls, and making sure your surface is dry and smooth, it's time to protect the doors, windows, ceilings, and other spots that shouldn't be painted.

Make sure you use quality painter's tape, to ascertain that the paint will not seep under and result to uneven edges. Some of the cheaper ones in the market have the tendency to peel off the paint as you remove tape. You will need to shell out a little bit extra money for this, but this will be a good investment.

Use Drop Cloths for the Floor - After you've covered all the necessary items with painter's tape, it's time to cover the floor. Put lots of drop cloths in the floor so it's protected from paint drips and spatters. Some people choose newspaper or plastic as covers, but these could get you in trouble if you're not careful, as newspaper tears easily, and plastic is light and slippery. Drop cloths are one of your best bets in protecting your floor while you work.

Wear Old Clothes - It's not only the wall that will get painted--your clothes and shoes will most likely get some coats and sprays as well. Make sure you use clothing that can get dirty so you can move with ease.

Use Paint with Primer - Primers act as paint adhesion protection, and water sealant. If you're painting a light shade over dark or using latex to cover oil-based paint, you will need to prime your surface first. Basically, painting on any type of non-paint surface requires priming, so this is a step that must not be missed. Normally, you would have to do priming and painting separately, but there are lots of paints with primers in the market today--using these will save you a lot of time.

Have a good time - Set your mind by thinking that once all of the prep work and all the paint processes are done, you'll have a better looking space. Painting is a tough job, but applying all the aforementioned tips, you'll be surprised at how you could easily transform it into a fun and enjoyable activity.

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Things to Consider Before Deciding to Undertake Your Own Painting and Decorating

Decorating your home yourself can be fun, but it is also time consuming and if it is done wrong you may need to go ahead and hire someone to do the job right. Painters and decorators have experience to know what will work best for your decorating needs.

What your painting contractor will need to know about the job

Before you talk to painting contractors you need to know some things about the job so you can provide important information they will need for planning the staff, supplies and schedule.

· Which walls is the contractor painting? Inside, outside, a particular room or wall? How tall are the walls? If ladders are needed they will need to prepare for that.

· What kind of walls are going to be painted (bare walls, stucco, wooden)? This is important because if it is a fresh unpainted surface for example, primer will be needed. Depending on the colour chosen for the paint, the primer may need to be tinted. Or if a home's previous owner had wall paper; you will need to indicate if the paper will have to be removed before painting. Just the removal of wall-paper changes the scope of the job with different supplies, particular staff skilled for the job and supplies needed.

· When does the job need to be completed? This is an obvious question that homeowners do not always think of when they are in the throes of planning. The job may seem so simple to slap some paint on the wall, but the devil is in the details and does not always wear a watch. You should be able to let him know when you want the job done so he can plan his schedule.

Of course, there are other questions but these are three basic ones to start the conversation. You should prepare a list of details about the job before you even begin to look into interviewing painting and decorating companies. The decision making process is hard if you do not know about their business requirements, who is skilled to do the job, or how to protect your home when they are working in it.

Start the conversation with these basic questions:

· Are you licensed or certified for home decorating and painting?

· Are you bonded and insured against onsite injuries or home damage?

· Do you have references from past clients I can see and talk to about your work?

Plan your next decorating job in your home with a list of prepared questions and answers so that everyone knows what is expected before they even get started on the job.

Knowing a Paving Paint Sealer   Choosing the Right Paint Color for Your Bathroom   The Day The Paint Wouldn't Dry   Redecorating Your House: Paint With Color and With Confidence   

Choosing Beautiful Colors for the Residential Painter to Use in Your Home

When it comes to choosing gorgeous colors to personalize the interior walls of your home, you may not be brave enough to use bold colors like deep blue, barn red, dark violet, or stunning teal. However, with a few tried and true steps, you too can begin to enjoy the bold, bright, and beautiful colors that will liven up your home! And with the help of a residential painter, those colors will delight your senses as soon as you'd like.

If you're having trouble choosing colors, narrow down your choices by choosing three of your favorite color groups. All colors fall within seven categories: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Once your three groups are chosen, you've considerably narrowed down your options. Now it's time to take a walk around your home.

Look for colors throughout your home which fall into the categories that you've chosen. You'll probably find many shades of those favorite colors throughout your home. From the pillows on your couch to the artwork on your walls, you'll be provided with many options! Once again, take your time and choose your three favorites. Now it's time to head to the store.

At the store, search for the colors you've chosen from the items already in your home. You may even want to bring the items with you and compare the colors to the sample sheets. Begin by looking at the darkest color on the swatch. If you like that one, you can safely assume that you'll be able to use it or one of the lighter shades. However, if you begin with the lighter shades, all the colors begin to look the same. If this task is too daunting, you can have a residential painter bring samples to your home.

Before you purchase the paint, you'll also need to consider what finish you'd like. A flat finish provides color without shine. Satin (or egg-shell) offer a fairly flat finish that's easily cleaned. Satin is ideal for homes where little children live. Fingerprints and other stains are easily scrubbed from the walls without removing the paint. Semi-gloss has a glossy finish that is also easy to clean.

Once you've decided on colors, shades, and finishes, purchase a sample of each color you're thinking of using. Paint a 4-inch square on your wall and observe the effect for at least a day or two. You'll see how the color looks during the bright sunlight of the day, during the dusky morning and evening lighting, and during the low light during the night. If you still like the color, contact your residential painter and let him know you're ready to add some color to your walls!

You deserve to make your home your own and enjoy every minute you spend within its walls. Choosing beautiful colors will create an environment you'll love!

Knowing a Paving Paint Sealer   Choosing the Right Paint Color for Your Bathroom   The Day The Paint Wouldn't Dry   Redecorating Your House: Paint With Color and With Confidence   Choosing The Right Painters Tarps For Your Next Paint Job   

The Best Paint Colors for a Small Space

Are you still under the misconception that a completely white color palette will make a small apartment or house appearing even larger? This couldn't be further from the truth!

You don't have to live in a stark white environment if you're trying to make the most out of a cramped living space. Instead, you can choose your color palette wisely to make small rooms appear larger and help crowded areas seem warm and inviting.

Here's where to begin...

Paint with Sharp Colors

Instead of going with a dull color palette for a tiny apartment, it's better to paint with vibrant, sharp colors in your theme. This may include electric blue, bright fuchsia, sunny yellow, and vibrant green instead of less intense hues.

The trick to painting a small home or apartment? Use sharp color combinations while leaving negative space in between to enhance the openness of a limited area.

In addition, it also helps to use unexpected accent colors to draw the eye away from a small room in a home. For example, a bright splash of color on a living room wall can add an element of excitement to a room.

You can also start out on a bold note by painting an entryway in a dark, rich hue to transition into a lighter, brighter color palette in the dining room, living room, and kitchen so that other areas of the house appear roomier in comparison.

Consider the Function of Each Room

If you're focusing on one small room in your home, like a breakfast nook, it may do best with a bright jolt of color to add energy to the space. For example, a breakfast nook can be painted in sunny yellow or a deeper hue, like cinnamon.

In a space like a breakfast nook with little natural light, deep colors often work best since incandescent lamps may be used for lighting; artificial light will help deep hues like crimson or cinnamon to appear richer and fuller.

Conversely, a tiny bathroom may fare better with soothing, cool shades like pale green, blue, or lavender. Nonetheless, this doesn't mean that you have to avoid vibrant colors altogether. A lively hue used in a small space can still pack a powerful punch.

Add a Cozy Element

When in doubt, there's nothing wrong with sticking with a neutral shade in a dark room with little lighting. For example, a small bedroom will do well with a dark, comforting paint color like gray, which can help a tiny room to feel even cozier.

In this case, a small living room or bedroom will benefit from a dark, deep color that can provide comfort and even promote relaxation in the absence of natural light. When painting with a dark color in a small room, make sure to decorate to provide balance with lighter shades of gray and cream in bedding or living room furniture.

The good news is that painting a small space to help it appear larger isn't governed by one set of rules. You can use bright hues to liven up a little room or stick with dark neutrals to help a tiny room feel cozy and inviting.

Knowing a Paving Paint Sealer   Choosing the Right Paint Color for Your Bathroom   The Day The Paint Wouldn't Dry   Redecorating Your House: Paint With Color and With Confidence   

Why You Shouldn't Try to Paint Your House Yourself

If you are moving home and trying to encourage a sale, or if you just want to give your property a lick of paint for your own satisfaction and out of respect for the neighbors and the neighbourhood, then painting your building is one of the very best ways to do this. The fact is that our walls take up by far the largest surface area of our property and so this is the best way to make the biggest impact to the appearance of the building.

When you decide to go ahead with this renovation you then have two options - to do the job yourself, or to hire a professional in to do it for you. So what do you do? Well by far the best option is to go with the professional service - and here we will look at why that is.

Time

First of all, few of us have time to paint our entire house and this is something that takes a considerable amount of time. When you hire a painting service, that's their job so they are going to work on it eight hours a day until the job is complete. This then means there's minimal time where the house is left looking blotchy and uneven and worse than it did before you started, and it means the whole ordeal will be over sooner.

Appearance

Of course a professional service is going to do a much more professional job than you will when they paint your home. This isn't a dig at your painting skills, it's just a simple fact seeing as they will be doing this on a daily basis and will have had professional training. Painting a house is harder to do than you might think, and if you try to do it yourself you will inevitably end up with streaks, air bubbles, marks where you leaned against the wall with the ladder (it takes a lot of forward planning) and places where the rain ruined your still-wet paint. If you are painting your house in order to sell then of course this rather defeats the object.

Safety

Another matter that you need to consider is your safety. If you are up on a ladder with a bucket of paint and a strong wind blows then this is very dangerous indeed and you can easily fall and seriously injure yourself. It's only safe to paint your house if you are a professional, if you have the right equipment, and if someone is there to hold the ladder. Do it yourself and you will be putting yourself at serious risk.

Cost

So painting the building yourself will save you money of course, but you might be surprised to learn that you'll save a lot less than you at first thought. You will save money on the labor yes, but you will still lose money on the paint you buy (which a professional service will get at discounted prices) and on the equipment like the huge ladders that will rarely get used again.

Knowing a Paving Paint Sealer   Choosing the Right Paint Color for Your Bathroom   The Day The Paint Wouldn't Dry   Redecorating Your House: Paint With Color and With Confidence   

What Do I Need to Make More Money As a Painter?

Marketing, competitive prices, and providing satisfactory work are all important aspects of finding clients and earning money as a painter. But if you'd like to make more money, you may find that presenting a more professional image and more professional qualifications can help you snatch up clients you may otherwise have missed out on in the past. While some are content to hire anybody with a few good references, other homeowners want to know that their painter-or any other contractor for that matter-is certified, has gone through proper training programs, and may even be a member of a professional organization or two.

According to the EPA, "federal law requires that: renovation firms must be certified under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, individuals must be trained in lead-safe work practices, and training providers must be accredited by EPA." With the health implications of lead paint now better understood, more homeowners are concerned with hiring painters who have been properly trained in such a manner. Most painting firms require their workers to undergo proper training in this regard.

Seeking out and attending proper training programs pertaining to lead-safe painting and other subjects can help set you apart from local handymen who may not have took the time to seek such training and certification. You may find that no matter how competitive you try to make your pricing, some homeowners will not be receptive to your services if you do not have the proper training and certification. And when they're spending money to paint their home, it should only make sense they seek out the most qualified individuals around.

Being licensed and insured is also important as a painting contractor. Responsible homeowners will ensure that anybody they hire to work on their property is properly licensed and insured. This is a careful measure that all homeowners should take, as any uninsured contractor who sustains an injury on their property may leave the homeowner legally liable. If you are not insured and/or licensed, you may find that many homeowners will not hire you based simply on that fact.

So take the time to receive the proper training and certification, seek out proper licensing, and make sure you are insured. It may also help to explore some professional painting organizations, who may help you network within the industry and could even help you make a more professional impression simply based on your membership alone. It also helps to learn as much about your industry as you can, and these organizations are great ways to do that.

Knowing a Paving Paint Sealer   Choosing the Right Paint Color for Your Bathroom   The Day The Paint Wouldn't Dry   Redecorating Your House: Paint With Color and With Confidence   Choosing The Right Painters Tarps For Your Next Paint Job