Archive for May, 2011

With so many colors of the rainbow, the combinations are limitless. Choosing a color for your house can be a daunting task; and one requiring multiple decisions at that. Most houses are painted using more than one color. Aside from the base color of the siding, you’ll also have to consider which colors you’ll use for the door, paint, trim, and accents of your house.  Consulting a professional painting contractor can help you in this process but you may want to get an idea before they arrive.

The color you decide to put on your home is a decision that will greet you when you put your key in your door at the end of each day, and when you first open your eyes every morning. Your home plays an important role in conferring your personality, style, preferences, and even your general nature. Warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) cause us to feel psychologically active, while cool colors (blues, greens, and purples) make us feel relaxed. As you walk throughout your house, consider the type of feeling you want each room to elicit to help you choose your palette. Choose complementary colors and avoid extreme contrasts between rooms to provide balance throughout your home.  Want to add a little drama and flash? Go for darker colors, especially for trims, window sashes, and rails. Want to let your other possessions shine? Choose light, mellow tones that will take a back stage to your belongings.

Deciding on the colors for the interior and exterior of your house takes some varying approaches. After all, everyone sees the outside of your home; only a select few see the inside. Here are some ideas to keep in mind when choosing your paint colors:

Choosing Colors for the Exterior of Your House

•    When painting the outside of your house, try to match the age and architecture of the structure, and stick with the general style of your home.
•    Also take a look at the other houses in your neighborhood and consider what colors would help create cohesion between you and your neighbors.
•    Take advice from nature and select house colors that complement your natural surroundings. Keep in mind that exterior color schemes tend to be softer and more earthy than interior schemes.
•    Consider all four seasons and how your paint color will shine during each season.
•    Look at the other features of your home.  Look at your fences, your yard, any brick structures, and your roof, and take those accents into consideration when deciding your colors.
•    Remember that light colors make things appear larger, so choose a pale shade if you want to help your abode portray a grander presence.

Choosing Colors for the Interior of Your House

•    Play up architectural features and choose colors that will nicely complement your larger pieces of furniture.
•    For small rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens, keep the palette light to amplify the space.
•    Decide what you like and what you dislike, and base your choices on your personal preference, not simply modern trends. Look for colors that will endure the changing tides of latest fashions. Not that you shouldn’t do some research by looking at design magazines and websites, but do so by keeping an eye on which color schemes are pleasing to you, not just popular.
•    Most importantly, practice your colors first by buying samples and painting a large swatch of each color on your walls first.
•    The finish of the paint also plays a big role in the final outcome. Glossy finishes reflect more light and are also washable and more wear-resistant. Eggshell and Flat finishes are good for large areas and those that have flaws and blemishes.
Think about which colors make you feel most at home, and which ones seem to fit your personality. Choose warm colors for social areas like living rooms and dining rooms, and calming, cool colors for bedrooms and study rooms. Many paint manufacturers also have online tools that allow you to practice different colors on virtual walls. Some even allow you to upload your own photos and play around with different colors on your walls.

Take a mental note as you drive through neighborhoods and visit other homes. Remember that just about anything can be color matched, so look around for inspiration in anything and everything. The right color palette can last a lifetime and see you through years of change.  If you are interested in getting some help, contact a local painting company to get you started.

When taking on the challenge to move away from that old, dated wallpaper and into fresh coat of paint, it is important to keep in mind a few tricks of the trade to strip hours off of your endeavor while preserving the state of your walls.  You may find that it is easier to hire a professional for wallpaper removal but some small jobs may make sense to handle alone.

There are many different types of wallpaper that have been used over the years. The first step in assessing your wallpaper removal job is figuring out which type of material you are working with.

•    Common wallpaper can be found in the dining, living, and bedrooms of older homes.
•    Vinyl coated wallpaper is an all-purpose and more modern type of paper. Its more durable finish lends its use in bathrooms and kitchens where washable materials are important. Newer vinyl wallpaper is “strippable”, and is designed to be easily peeled off of walls.
•    Foil wallpaper is made of a metal foil and is unique in its flashy appearance.
•    Flock wallpaper is a classic touch, and is easily distinguished by its raised velvet patterns.
•    Grass cloth wallpaper is made from weaves of grass and is often found in low-wear areas.
•    Fabric wallpaper is a retro touch and is often held on only by starch. If you have this type of wallpaper, try simple warm water removal.

If you are still unsure, contact a painting contractor with experience in this area to help determine what the best course of action is.

There are many approaches that can be taken when removing wallpaper. Some claim that home remedies including warm water mixed with vinegar, dish detergent, or even fabric softener are the best approaches to wallpaper removal. But professionals agree the most common means of removal are warm water mixed with a powdered solvent, or use of a steamer.

Steaming
Previously popular, steamers have been used to soften the adhesive and dampen the wallpaper before removal. But this approach comes with the added risk that you could scald yourself with hot steam, and the moisture it creates makes it less preferable than more modern methods.

Solvents
Powdered solvents mixed with warm water actually break down the wallpaper adhesive. The concentrated solvent is mixed in warm water and sprayed over the wallpaper to loosen its hold on the wall. Taking this preferred approach, here’s how to prepare your walls for paint without wasting a week knee-deep in wallpaper.

Tools You’ll Need
•    Patience! Removing wallpaper is a hefty task, so take your time and keep your cool. Your careful diligence will pay off in the end and minimize damage to your walls.
•    A large bucket, sponges, a putty knife, a ladder, drop cloths (to protect the floor and furniture), rubber gloves, a scoring tool (scoring tools such as the Paper Tiger can be bought from your local home improvement store), and optionally, a garden sprayer (such as a 2-gallon plastic pump).
•    Wallpaper solvent (such as DIF), and trisodium phosphate (TSP).
Removing the Wallpaper

1.    Mix the solvent in a bucket of very warm water.
2.    Score the wall with with your scoring tool.
3.    Start by testing a 3’’x3” area to determine grain of glue (this will help you determine whether to strip up, down, left, or right).
4.    Turn off all the power in the room and remove the faceplates on the power outlets. Cover exposed outlets with painter’s tape or duct tape to avoid moistening electrical wires.
5.    Remove all wall accents, nails, and wall light fixtures.
6.    Lay down your drop cloths.
7.    Don your rubber gloves and place the solvent in your garden sprayer, or dip your sponge in solvent and soak a large section of wallpaper, about three feet wide and from floor to ceiling.
8.    Let the solvent sit for 20-30 minutes before stripping.
9.    Begin in one corner by gently pulling the paper while scraping with your putty knife. Scrub off the remaining glue with solvent and sponge.
If there is more than one layer of wallpaper, remove only one layer at a time.
10.  Once you have removed all the paper, mix some TSP with warm water and sponge any remaining glue off of the walls to leave a smooth surface for painting.
If you find that the wallpaper is really hard to remove, it may be glued directly to the drywall. In this case, it is best to simply primer or texture over it so as not to damage the drywall behind it.

Although it may take time and patience, successfully removing your old wallpaper is possible with the right preparation and the appropriate tools. Let the walls dry for one to two days, and they’ll be ready for a brand new coat of paint.  Once you have finished, you can always contact a professional to handle your interior painting job!