Articles and tips about painting and paint products, of interest to homeowners.
Q: Can you paint aluminum and vinyl siding? If so, will the paint crack at some point and time? Also, is there any way to remove paint drips from concrete and bricks?
The following information will give you some basic knowledge about painting. Once you've decided what color and type of paint you would like, you'll need to get ready for the painter!
Q: We need to repaint the interior of our home. At the same time, I would like to have the trim work painted white. Also, I would like new base molding. The carpet is being replaced and the hardwood floors are being refinished. Any hints to keep costs down? How much more expensive is it to paint woodwork compared with refinishing what is there?
Q: How much will it cost to paint the interior/exterior of my home?
When it comes to painting your interior, it is a job best left to the pros. There are so many different types of surfaces and textured applications that can be used on walls that a drab and boring room can be turned into a conversation piece when done by the right person. It is also helpful to have a professional do your interior painting job so that you can get the best prep work and a long lasting paint job.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about paint.
While homeowners often hope they can put off repainting their homes just one more year, such procrastination may be especially costly this year. The excessively wet winter following six years of drought increase the likelihood of peeling and flaking paint, damage to siding and internal water damage that will require far more expensive repairs in the future.
Q: What are the best methods for painting a wall next to a door frame without getting paint on the door frame? Any answer appreciated except taping (it always leaks through).
Q: We are buying a 32-year-old home. The family room has wood paneling in it, we hate it, and would like to remove it. What type of paint do you recommend and is there any preparation we need to do before we paint. Can you suggest a good color?
Paint and other coating may need to be removed for many different reasons. When intending to repaint, preparation is the most important step because a new coat of paint is only as stable as the surface underneath. Therefore, if the old paint is peeling, flaking or chalking (fine chalklike powder comes off when you rub your hand across the surface), the old paint must be removed before new can be applied or it will not adhere. Styles change as well. A previous homeowner may have painted over brick or wood that a new homeowner would like stripped back to the natural material.
Q: I've just purchased a home with a large brick fireplace and would like to paint it white. Do I need a special type of paint?
Q: Can you advise a paint for a stone pillar at the entrance to our drive? The previous paint has flaked off.
Q: Recently I had louvered doors custom made for my closets. They did not come painted and I would like to paint them white. What is the best way to paint them? And what is the best type of paint?
Q: I haven't any idea what type of wall paper is on the wall, and instead of taking off the wallpaper I was wondering if I could put texture over it and paint it? If not, how would you suggest the wallpaper be taken off and how hard would it be? Would you use a texture paint if you were going to paint the wallpaper? Would you suggest just trying the texture on a small area to see if the wallpaper comes off?
Q: I am interested in finding out if it is possible to paint vinyl siding.
Peeling is the loss of paint due to poor adhesion. Where there is a primer and top coat, or multiple coats of paint, peeling may involve some or all coats.
Q: We have lived in our home for about eighteen months and I have already had to stain the floor of our wraparound porch twice. I understand that the elements play a huge part in this problem but it is a covered porch. Right now we have it stained with an exterior oil based solid stain.
Q: We have bumpy ceilings in all rooms of our home. They really need to be painted. When I tried painting the bathroom, the bumpy stuff started to come off. So we scraped it off and wallpapered the ceiling. However, it would be impossible to do the whole house. What is the proper way to paint them or clean them?
Texture-sprayed ceilings with the appearance of "popcorn" or "cottage cheese" are difficult to clean. Cobwebs and dust around vents can be removed by holding the wand of a vacuum about an inch from the surface of the ceiling. However, more forceful action such as sweeping can remove the loose popcorn-like texture. If an acoustic ceiling is discolored from age, however, there is really no way to "clean" it.
Ready to paint the interior of your home but have no clue as to what kind of preparation, paint or tools you need to do a quality job? Let's shed a little light on the subject to help you achieve the attractive, long-lasting results you might expect could come only from a professional.
Many homeowners don't think about painting their houses until they see their neighbors painting, or worse, find evidence of damage to their siding or stucco. While most homeowners repaint for appearance, it's important to remember that paint's primary value is in its function of waterproofing, protecting and preserving your home.
There are a number of ways to effectively remove old coatings and your particular job may require a combination of approaches to get the results you want. Review the methods explained here and see which ones best suit your project.
Q: My kitchen cabinets are stained so dark, I believe the whole kitchen would look brighter if I stripped them to bare wood and white washed them. Any suggestions how I would go about doing this?
Problem: Roller marks or stipple, any unintentional textured pattern left in the paint by the roller.
Q: Hi, I am decorating my 13-year-old daughter's room in a safari theme. We found some material for the dust ruffle with animals on it. The colors of the safari material that I have found have been so boring. Neutral. How can I paint or decorate her room to give it some color? How can I make her room unique and different from the other safari rooms?
Painting is one of the most economical and long-lasting ways to enhance the interior of a home or office. It can transform raw space into a warm and inviting environment. Paint can revive a room by defining and illuminating the architectural details. It can also breathe new life into an old home with color and texture. But the results can only be as good as the paint job itself. Here are the steps to take to get a perfect paint job anywhere in your home.
Rapidly changing technology affects every aspect of modern life, even when it comes to painting our homes. Not only are lead- and oil-based paints relics of the past, but the methods used to apply modern paints and coatings have changed over time as well. Understanding all the new products and procedures enables consumers to get the best, longest-lasting paint jobs possible.
Walls and ceilings can be textured in two ways; by applying texture directly to the surface before painting or by adding textured material to the paint before applying it. Most commonly, texturing is included in the drywall installation process. However, many new products have been developed for use by painters to create "faux" and other specialty effects.
Here is some information about choosing quality tools for painting.
Q: My house needs repainting, inside and out. Where should I start?
Sponging, rag-rolling, stippling and paneling are a few of the decorative paint techniques that can give your home unique charm and character. Beautiful dapple color effects can be achieved with minimal materials and the most basic instruction. Start off with a simple, basic project and before you know it you'll have the confidence to create your own design ideas and bring these techniques into every room.
Faux, literally "false" in French, originally referred to painting surfaces, including walls, furniture, floors, countertops and trim, to look like something else. Plaster columns were often painted to look like marble, new furniture was "antiqued," "distressed" or "crackled" to look old, a wood grain was painted on new trim and molding to match existing doors.
Tackling an exterior paint project can be overwhelming. Hiring a service professional can eliminate the headaches associated with completing a home painting project on your own. If you do decide to tackle the project yourself, here is a checklist to help homeowners prepare.
Q: I am attempting to get a ball-park figure on what it would cost to have someone paint the exterior of our house. The house is two stories and is about 2,300 square feet.
While most homeowners would have little problem picking up a gallon of paint at the hardware store to paint a baby's bedroom, tackling the exterior is an entirely different matter. Creating an attractive, long-lasting paint job requires the equipment, knowledge and skill of a professional for best results.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about exterior paint.
There are many things to consider when repainting the exterior of your home. After you choose a painter and decide on the type of paint you want to use, you then have the task of deciding on a color. For some people this comes easily, for others, decorating or changing the exterior of their home is daunting.
Electrostatic painting, also known as "powder coating," uses the principle of "opposites attract" to create a uniform and durable finish on metal and some plastics without the sags, runs, drips and bubbles which can occur with traditional liquid paints. It's used on many plastics and every kind of metal.
Q: How much does it cost to have the interior of a house painted? Can you give me a price range? We have six rooms and a couple of cathedral ceilings that are all popcorn ceilings.
Q: I am interested in painting a bedroom using a technique I believe is referred to as color washing. I would like to first create a base coat in white, and paint a top coat over this (in light blue) whereby a hint of the white shows through. I would like it to look like a light streaking pattern. How does one go about creating this effect?
Q: Is it necessary to caulk between wall and baseboard molding? Should only a certain type of caulking be used? If caulking is necessary, what is the best method to get a clean, neat edge so that the job does not look sloppy?
Q: Can you give me step-by-step instructions on how to marbleize. I've recently wallpapered walls and the new wallpaper has a marble appearance. On the parts that are not wallpapered I've repainted and want to also give the look of being marbleized.
Can you please direct me to where I can find this information and please keep in mind a low-budget.
Since 1978, lead-based paint has been banned in the United States, so there is practically no risk in newer homes, except from older painted furniture. Homes built between 1950 and 1978 are likely to have lead-based paint, while ones built before 1950 almost certainly have lead-based paint.
Murals are scenes or objects painted directly on walls or other surfaces such as floors, countertops, and furniture. They may or may not be life sized or realistic looking. Murals of a scene from an animated movie are often painted on the wall in a child's room, for example.
Trompe L'oeil, means "fool the eye" in French and refers to the technique of painting something to look realistic, such as a window painted onto a solid wall or a playing card painted onto a table. Therefore, true Trompe L'oeil is life sized and includes shadows and highlights to make the object look three dimensional. Preparation of the area or object to be painted is very important; some effects cannot be achieved on a textured wall, for example.
Q: I live in New York and three years ago I painted the front door and the paint has started peeling. What could cause this?
Q: I have kitchen cabinets which were refaced several years ago. Is it now possible to repaint these cabinets and doors white? If so, what preparation work do I need to do, what kind of paint would you recommend, and would I be best brushing or spraying the paint on?
Q: Our house was built in the 70's, and I'd really like to change the look of my kitchen. The cabinets, although in good, solid condition, look dark and dated. What are my options?