Tag Archive for: Paint Issues

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Repainting Outdoors – Reviving Your Home’s Exterior Paint

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Is It Time to Repaint the Outside of The House?

The outside of a home is one of the first things guests see when they come for a visit, and it might be the only part of the home that people passing on the street might see. As they say, first impressions are everything, so homeowners will most certainly want to make sure that their homes look their best from the outside.

Repainting outdoors can have a very dramatic effect on a home’s curb appeal. Many people live in a house for years without ever refreshing the paint on the outside – either because they don’t think it needs it, or because they don’t know the best way to go about it. The fact is, though, that there are some times when the outside of a house really needs to be repainted.

If the exterior paint is stained, chipped or fading, paint repair is definitely in order. Exterior paint damage can lead 2to further damage to the home’s wood structure, and even internal damage to the home itself. Faulty paint can ultimately lead to a number of more serious issues for homeowners. Anyone who is unsure of whether the outside of their house needs to be repainted or not should consult with the professionals at United Home Experts.

Tips for Repainting the Home’s Exterior

After the decision is made to repaint the exterior of the home, the first thing many homeowners will want to do is pick a color for the exterior. Sherwin-Williams has a wide variety of outdoor paints that come in a number of different colors. All these color choices can be daunting for the inexperienced home remodeler. Again, a meeting with the United Home Experts should help any homeowner clarify their home’s needs.

Before repainting, the surface will need to be brushed free of dirt and debris, smoothed, and primed. In addition to paint colors, Sherwin-Williams has a good selection of exterior paint primers that can be tinted to match whatever shade is chosen for the job. Before priming is done, however, it will be necessary to remove any existing paint on the exterior surface of the house.

The homeowner will also need to make determinations regarding how they want to be apply the paint. Brushes are better for small detail work, while sprayers are obviously better for larger surfaces.  Rollers can also be useful for outdoor painting because they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

There are many more things that need to be taken into consideration before a repainting effort is made. Somepaintrollerwhite-resized-600 seasons of the year are better than others for painting outdoors. Fall, for example, is a great time for painting outside because the paint needs outside dry time to cure. Rain and humidity should be avoided at all costs. Also, there is the issue of whether or not the homeowner knows how to add aluminum wedges to improve air circulation to prevent moisture problems.

First-time homeowners should not attempt to paint the exterior of their homes by themselves. For more detailed information and free estimates, contact the United Home Experts. For our main painting page, click here!

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Repainting Indoors

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Is It Time to Repaint?

There is nothing quite as important to a home’s interior decorating scheme as indoor paint. Repainting a room can have a dramatic effect on the overall appearance and feel of a home. Many people live in a house for years without ever repainting indoors  –  either because they just don’t think it needs it, or because they don’t know the best way to do it.

When is the best time to repaint? It really depends on the individual and the situation. If interior paint is stained, chipped or fading, it is definitely time to consider a change. But what if the interior paint isn’t damaged in some way? How can the informed homeowner know when it is time (and when it is not) to repaint?

Quite simply, if the paint color on the walls is beginning to look dull or boring or (even worse) is getting on the PeelingPainthomeowner’s last nerve, this is a very good indication that a change in color is in order. If the home is going to put on the market in the very near future, a fresh coat of paint can enhance the presentation of the house and make it that much easier to sell. Basically, the decision for such a change in the event that no actual paint damage has occurred is up to the individual homeowner. Anyone who is unsure of whether they need to repaint their home would do well to consult with the professionals at United Home Experts.

How to Repaint

After the decision is made to repaint indoors, the first thing that will need to be decided upon is the color of the room or the section to be painted. Many people stick with either white or off-white because they become too nervous about painting their space a color they will end up hating. This is really an unnecessary worry because repainting is not a very difficult task. Again, speaking with the United Home Experts should put any fears to rest.

Paint texture should also be taken into consideration. For example, flat paints work best on ceilings where there is gallery01-resized-600not as much risk of staining and less gloss is desired. High gloss paints work best in children’s rooms and other high traffic areas because they are easier to clean and more stain-resistant. Sherwin-Williams has an amazing selection of paints of various styles in many different shades, and most of these can be custom made according to the homeowners’ desires.

Before repainting, the surface will need to be sanded, smoothed, and primed. Sherwin-Williams also has a variety of indoor primers that can be tinted to match whatever shade is chosen for the job.  The homeowner will also need to make determinations regarding how they want the paint to be applied. Brushes are better for small detail work, while rollers and sprayers are obviously better for larger surfaces.

There are several other things that need to be taken into consideration before a repainting effort is made. Some PaintPreparationseasons of the years are better than others. Also, homeowners will have to make determinations as to whether they want to remove furniture completely (if repainting whole rooms) or just shift it from one part of the room to another (if repainting only a section). These questions and many more can be answered by the United Home Experts. For our main painting page, click here!

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Exterior Paint Protection

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Sun, rain, snow, and ice. Everyone knows that these adverse weather conditions can cause damage to human skin. That’s why there are things available to protect against these things, such as sunscreen, umbrellas, winter coats, and gloves. What most people may not realize, however, is that they need to protect the outsides of their homes from these weather conditions, just as they would need to protect themselves if they were going outside.

Think of it this way. Humans expose themselves to weather conditions for a certain amount of time before they go inside to get out of the cold, heat, or dampness. The exteriors of their homes do not have this luxury. Day in and day out, homes that are treated with exterior paint face the harsh realities of unpredictable weather. For this reason, it is necessary for homeowners to check the condition of their outside paint at least once a year. Chipped, cracking, or peeling paint exposes the wood to the elements as well, and this can cause serious damage to a home’s structure.

One of the things to look for is fading paint. Are there areas where the exterior paint is lighter than it is in other places? These lighter segments are the trouble spots. Paint fade is an indication that the wood is not being protected.

Also, look for signs of 2something called “alligatoring.” This is what happens when the paint starts puckering, wrinkling, and overall just looking like the skin on an alligator. This is a sign that water is getting through and penetrating the surface of the paint.  When this is discovered, it’s important to repaint immediately to avoid any further damage.

In selecting a paint to use for exterior paint protection and repair, it is important to make the choice with an eye toward paint protection. First, it will be necessary to pressure wash any areas to be painted in order to get rid of all the damaged
paint and debris. Complete this step a few days in advance to give the wood enough time to dry.

Next, the wood will need to be primed. Sherwin-Williams Wood Primer is highly recommended, in either the oil-based or latex versions. The oil-based primer is better for areas that are prone to staining. The latex version is best for wetter areas, where mildew is a concern. Either type of primer can be tinted to match the color of the paint to be used.

After the primer is applied, it is time to paint. Two coats of very high quality latex paint like Sherwin-Williams’ A-3100(R) Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint should be used. This kind of paint is affected less by the sun’s ultraviolet rays than are other types of paint.  It also adheres well to all wood surfaces and is less likely to experience blistering or puckering in wet conditions. It is a flexible, mildew-resistant paint that expands and contracts in relation to temperature changes to prevent paint cracking and peeling.

As soon as the first signs of fading paint and cracked surfaces appear, contact the professionals at United Home Experts. They carry a wide selection of paints and can give you more detailed advice on selecting the best paint protection for your home.

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Repairing Damages to the Exterior Painting of a Residence

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Exterior paint is subject to any number of events that can ruin its beauty and effectiveness.  There is good reason to pay strict attention to the preparation, type and application of the exterior painting project.  Paint is the home exterior’s first line of defense against the elements.  The proper surface preparation and paint application are the same regardless of the climate.  However, the type of paint used depends on the weather conditions where the home is situated.  Homeowners seeking advice about repairing damaged exterior paint should contact their local home remodeling contractor.  For many homeowners in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, United Home Experts has been the go-to choice for their home remodeling needs.

Common causes of damage to the exterior paint include inadequate surface preparation, careless paint application, applying the wrong type of paint and structural problems that allow moisture to accumulate.  Prior to repairing damaged exterior paint, the underlying cause for the damage must be diagnosed and treated to keep it from recurring.  Following are some of the most common maladies befalling an exterior paint job.

Blistering

Blisters happen when water or solvent is trapped beneath the paint.  To eradicate the blister, it must be cut open to determine the culprit.  If there is bare wood under the blister, water caused it.  If there is solvent beneath, it was undoubtedly because the exterior painting took place in direct sunlight.

Should water be the cause of the blistering, the exterior of the home should be thoroughly inspected for loose or missing caulking around windows and doors that may have led to the blistering.

Peeling

Peeling occurs when the paint curls away from the wood.  Probable causes are painting over dirty or wet wood.  It PeelingPaintmay also be due to new paint being applied over loose old paint.

Alligatoring

This affliction is just as it sounds.  It is a condition with a pattern of lines and cracks resembling the skin of an alligator.  It happens when a second coat of paint is applied while the first one is not completely dry.  Alligatoring may also be a result of paint for the first and second coat being of different and incompatible types.

Wrinkling

Wrinkles have a saggy, droopy appearance and are caused by paint being too thickly applied.

Chalkingf

Interestingly, top quality paint is manufactured to chalk up so that in wet weather surface dirt is washed away.  However, chalking where the paint is removed by rubbing the surface indicates an unprimed surface or that the application of poor quality paint.

Repair and necessary supplies

The repair for all of these conditions is the same, with the exception of the fix for blistering paint.  The blistered paint must be scraped and sanded right down to the bare wood before further steps can be taken.  Otherwise, the treatment for the damaged exterior paint is to scrape the paint off the affected areas and sand until smooth.  The area must then be washed with a detergent solution and thoroughly rinsed with water.  When the surface is dry, the primer coat can be applied.  If moisture was the cause of the damage, the primer should be a water-repellent variety.  Finally, a thin coat or two of the recommended,paintbucket high quality paint for the home’s climatic conditions should be carefully applied.

The supplies for the job are simple and include a stiff wire brush or paint scraper, fine and medium grade sandpaper, primer, paint, and paintbrush or roller.

Homeowners everywhere should not put off repairing damaged exterior paint.  The look and protective qualities of a properly painted and flawless exterior are important to the home and to those who dwell within.

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Maintaining and Repairing Damaged Interior Paint

There are many events in daily life that can damage the beauty of a home’s interior paint.  Following is a list of some of the most frequent types of interior painting flaws, along with their causes, how they can be repaired and the supplies required for each instance of damage.

Peeling Paint

The peeling paint woe is a very common one.  It normally occurs because of moisture underneath the paint.  PeelingPaintMoisture causes the paint to lose its adhesive quality, allowing the surface paint to crack and peel.

The peeling paint phenomenon is usually found in rooms where there is high humidity, such as the bathroom, kitchen or basement.  Leaky flashing around a chimney or exterior wall can also cause water to seep into the home’s interior.  This makes the plaster beneath the paint wet, causing the paint to separate from the wall.

Repairing damaged interior paint due to moisture begins with eradicating the cause.  The high humidity spaces should be ventilated with an exhaust fan to remove the moisture and expel it to the outside.

The home’s roof, walls and soffits on the exterior need to be properly ventilated as well.  Damaged or missing flashing around the chimney or any wall-roof connection need to be repaired.  Once the source of the moisture is found and eliminated, the interior painting can proceed.

To prepare the painting surface, all peeling paint must be scraped off and the affected areas sanded.  Once smoothed, a primer coat should be applied to the sanded areas.  When the primer is dry, a new coat of paint matching the existing wall paint can be brushed or rolled on.  These procedures, properly executed, will stop all further incidences of peeling paint.

The supplies required to accomplish this repair are sandpaper, primer, paint, and paintbrush or paint roller.

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew is usually associated with a home’s exterior, but the interior of the home can be affected as well. MoldPaint Mildew is a fungus and appears as splotches on the paint surface in colors of grey, brown, green or black.

It, too, is caused by moisture and poor ventilation.  It can also be caused by painting over a surface that was improperly cleaned of previous mildew. Additionally, the use of low-quality, non-mildew-proof paint can be the culprit.

The treatment that solves the mildew problem involves scrubbing the affected area with a bleach solution of one part bleach to three parts water.  The solution must remain on the surface for 10 to 15 minutes, and should then be rinsed with plain, clean water.  The area is then washed again with a detergent and water solution followed by a thorough water rinse.  Once the surface is completely dry, it is painted with a quality interior paint.

The necessary supplies for successful mildew treatment are simple:  bleach, detergent, high-quality paint, and paintbrush or paint roller.

These problems, caused by excessive moisture and poor ventilation, are especially prevalent in areas with heavy rain and snowfall that may last for months.  The New England states are prime examples of these climatic conditions.  Homeowners in the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire should turn to the professionals at United Home Experts for their home remodeling needs whether for repairing damaged interior or exterior paint and many other home remodeling and maintenance projects.

Sagging or Running Paint

This damage gives the painted surface a droopy, uneven look.  The cause can be a too-heavy application of paint, paint-sagging1-resized-600paint overly thinned, or painting in an overly humid environment.  It can also be due to a lack of primer coat being applied and a dirty surface at the time it is painted.

To recover from this problem, should the paint still be wet, the paint can be redistributed using a brush or roller to smooth the droops.  Once the sagging paint has dried, it must be sanded to a dull finish so that the new paint will adhere.  Another fix is to apply a primer coat and repaint.

To avoid this problem altogether, the paint should be applied in two thin coats rather than one heavy one.  The necessary supplies for this repair are sandpaper, paintbrush and/or paint roller, primer and paint.

Of course, everyday accidents can cause paint removal in areas hit hard by moving furniture, or hit with force by any heavy object.  Anything constantly rubbing against a painted surface will eventually wear off the paint.  In all of these cases, the affected areas need to be sanded smooth and repainted.

Regardless of the extent or cause, repairing damaged interior paint can be successfully accomplished.  No homeowner, particularly those living in regions of extreme climatic conditions, need live with damaged interior painted walls.

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A Quality BBB Contractor (Better Business Bureau) in the Boston Area

The United Home Experts (unitedhomeexperts.com) home remodeling and painting contractors in the eastern New England states have been a Boston Better Business Bureau accredited company since 2001.  Eleven years of accreditation by an entity as prestigious as the BBB is indeed a worthy recommendation for the work they do throughout New England.  This article will concentrate on the painting-contracting segment of United Home Experts.

Painted exteriors of homes in the New England states are plagued with mildew, blistering and chalking.  United Home Experts solves each of these problems in the following manner.

Mildew

Mildew is a fungus that feeds and thrives on painted surfaces.  The fungus is found under eaves and soffits and can be colored grey, black, green or brown.  Since there is no direct sunlight under eaves and soffits, the fungus is encouraged to grow.

The BBB contractor, United Home Experts, will clean the infected area thoroughly with a trisodium sulfate solution or a mixture of bleach and water.  They will then prime the area properly prior to repainting.

Blistering

Blistering is bubbling beneath the paint.  The blisters result from vapor rising during the painting process when sunlight heats up the painted surface.

The solution to blistering is to scrape the paint off the blistered areas.  The surface must be allowed to dry thoroughly and then repainted at a time when there is no direct sunlight.

Chalking

Chalking is the powdery substance on a painted surface.  This is caused by sunlight and may be completely washed away during the rainy season.

If the chalking is significant, however, it may be because there was too much thinner in the paint mixture, interior paint was used on the exterior of the home, or the surface was not properly sealed before the paint was put on.

If the rain does not wash away the chalky residue, power washing will successfully get rid of it. The professionals at United Home Experts would have avoided this problem altogether by using the correct paint and painting procedures at the onset of the project.

This BBB contractor offers full home remodeling services, from siding to windows to roofing, along with the painting segment of their business.  They are able to answer the homeowners’ questions sincerely and accurately and offer them a large variety of remodeling components in a range of styles, materials, colors and costs.

Add to this the professional advice and workmanship available and it is not difficult to determine how they arrived at and have maintained the coveted Boston BBB accreditation for over a decade.

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Interior Painting Problems And How To Fix Them

There are many interior painting problems in the Boston area.  Two of the more common ones are sagging (also called “running”) and peeling.  Here are some of the reasons why they occur and a few simple solutions on how to solve them.

Sagging

Sagging can easily be seen as a drooping or dripping look in the paint. This is often the result of paint being applied too heavily.  In paint-sagging1-resized-600some cases, it may be because the paint was thinned too much before it was applied.  The environment during the application may also be too humid.  The simplest cause is the presence of dirt during the time of application.

Based on the causes mentioned, one can conclude that this problem is basically due to a lack of experience on the part of the painter.  This can often be seen in do-it-yourself paint jobs where the one applying the paint did not do enough research or have enough expertise.  If the paint is still wet, a brush or roller can easily even out the sagging paint.  If the paint has dried, light sanding may be necessary and an additional coat applied.

Peeling

Interior moisture can also cause paint to peel.  This can be seen as cracks or a gentle peeling of the paint from the material beneathSomerville-Levy, marvin & roof 009-resized-600 it.  This problem is most often found in bathrooms, bath tubs, kitchens, and wet basements.  These area are generally humid so large amounts of moisture is present in the air and affects the paint.

Peeling paint can also be caused by poor adhesion.  This means that the outer paint coat peels off from the inner coat.  The inner coat then becomes visible.  This can be the result of using oil-based paint on a surface that is still wet.  Lower quality paint may also be a possible cause of this.

This problem can be prevented by properly ventilating areas where moisture or humidity may build up.  If there are already peeling areas due to moisture, the old paint should first be removed before new paint is applied.  High quality acrylic latex may be a good paint to opt for if the humidity in the area cannot be lowered.  If the humidity problem is not addressed, either through better ventilation or more appropriate paint, the problem will recur.

Expertise

These two common paint problems occur because of a lack of knowledge and expertise on the part of the painter.  Those who do not have the time to learn how to do interior painting properly may turn to experts such United Home Experts for this type of job.  They are a reputable company with extensive experience and many satisfied customers in the Boston area.

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Mistakes An Amateur Interior Painters May Commit

Many people choose to be the interior painters of their own houses because they are leery of the expense of hiring a professional to do the job.  Unfortunately, they make unsightly painting errors.  When they can no longer tolerate looking at their mistakes, they get a professional to do a repaint.  Here are some of the errors that amateurs commit.

When Choosing Paint Implements

A common error among do-it-yourself painters is picking just any paintbrush for the job.  The type of paint often dictates the type of paintbrush to use.  For instance, paintbrushes made of a combination of nylon and polyester are best for latex-based types of paint.  The area to be painted will also indicate whether a brush or roller should be used.  Unfortunately, there are those who use brushes instead of rollers for large areas.

Estimating the amount of paint to use is also very important.  Those who lack prior interior painting experience often underestimate the amount needed.  This often leads to paying more or having too much wasted paint in the end.

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When Preparing The Work Area

Amateurs often miss things when preparing the work area.  Some furniture or portions of the floor are left uncovered.  It is surprising the places paint can drop onto.  For example, paint can splash on doorknobs that are not covered, leaving unsightly splotches or stains.  Sometimes paint cans are opened without being placed on top of a drop cloth to protect the floor.

Sufficient taping is often neglected as well.  Amateurs try to paint around the various woodwork, such as the windowsill and the doorframe, instead of taping these to produce straight lines.  They also forget to remove wall plates and light switches or to tape their edges.

Before painting, amateurs skip things like surface preparation.  The wall needs to be dry, free of imperfections, and primed.  When the painter is impatient and tries to finish the job quickly by making shortcuts the end result is an unsatisfactory paint job.

The inexperienced assume that the area to be painted on is already clean and do not go to the trouble of actually cleaning it to be sure.  Small imperfections are not patched prior to sanding and primer application.  At times, the patch is not allowed to dry sufficiently.  Even worse, some decide to paint without applying a primer first, a substance that helps paint adhere to the wall as well as bring out its color.

When Applying Paint

The proper way of using a paintbrush is not followed.  For instance, when applying latex-based paint, the brush should first be wet with water and shaken dry before being dipped in paint.  This step allows the brush to hold more paint.

Sometimes paint is also inadvertently allowed to build up on edge pads on the ceiling or corners.  If paint is not wiped off frequently from these, excess paint may accidentally mark the wrong surface.

Knowing when one should not paint is also essential.  If it is too humid, there is too much moisture in the air.  This moisture will prevent the paint from adhering properly to the surface being painted and result in problems later on, like sagging or blistering.

When Someone Else Does The Job

Knowing the mistakes amateurs commit will help one spot those pretending to be experienced professionals.  The expertise of those who know their trade is evident from the very start.  They make the proper preparations, they carefully execute the paint job, and they care for the objects in the work area.

The interior painters at United Home Experts embody the characteristics mentioned.  The amateurish mistakes indicated above are unheard of in jobs that they take. The many successful jobs and satisfied customers they have, not just in the Boston area but in all the other places they serve, make the company an excellent choice.

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Common Interior And Exterior Painting Problems

Some of the common interior and exterior painting problems faced by people in the New England, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island areas are blistering, mildew, and chalking. Here are some of the reasons why they occur and what may be done in these instances.

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When medium-sized bubbles are found under the paint, these are called blisters. This is often found in trim or sidings made of wood. Sunlight sometimes causes the surface being painted to heat up. Vapor that rises becomes trapped during the painting process and results in these blisters. This is often the case when wood is being painted on because it absorbs moisture easily.

To solve this, the paint has to be scraped away. The wood or surface to be painted on should be allowed to dry so that no moisture remains. Painting is then done in non-direct sunlight, so choosing when to paint is important. The air should also be non-humid.

Mildew

Fungus that feeds and grows on paint is called mildew. It can be seen as spots that are black, green, brown, or grey in color. They are found under eaves and soffits. These are areas that have lesser ventilation. There is also little or no direct sunlight, so growth of this fungus becomes possible. It may also be caused by not priming the wood prior to painting it.

The mildewed areas should be cleaned using trisodium sulphate solution. A bleach and water solution may also be used instead. The ration is three parts water to one part bleach. It is important to wear rubber gloves and proper eye protection when doing this. After removing the mildew, the solution should be left for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse the area then wash again with a detergent solution.

Chalking

When a powdery substance is found on the paint’s surface, this is called chalking. This normally occurs when paint is exposed to sunlight. If this occurs in the exterior of the house, the rain usually washes it away. Chalking may get out of hand at times. It then constitutes a problem if it affects the surrounding construction or people.

Excessive chalking is often caused by having too much thinner in the paint mix, using interior paint on the exterior, or not sealing porous surfaces before painting. Chalking can be removed easily, however, by power washing. Using the right paint and painting procedures is also important to prevent excessive chalking.

United Home Experts

These problems are rather straightforward to solve. Some of them can be prevented with the right knowledge and expertise. Those who do not have the time or inclination to do so may contact experts like United Home Experts to address their interior and exterior painting problems. This way they can be sure of a lasting and effective solution.

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