Sharper Impressions Painting wants to help you protect your home for the winter season. Thanks to a 6 year old paint technology, we are now able to apply most exterior paints and stains in temperatures as low as 35°F, allowing homes to be painted safely much further into the cooler Fall months.

A fresh coat of house paint in the Fall may also be your last chance to protect your home from moisture and impending wood rot that often festers during winter months. Failing to take the necessary steps to protect your home can be very costly. If a home goes unpainted through the Winter, you could end up with extensive wood damage that may cost thousands to repair or replace. Where wood rots, moisture creeps inside your home and can cause even more interior damage.  The easiest way to prevent this is with a fresh coat of paint before Winter weather sets in. A good paint job can usually protect most surfaces of your home for 10 years.  On some surfaces, quality paint will last even longer.

Repairing any current wood rot, caulking any holes or gaps, and painting done prior to Winter will also help save on heating bills throughout the winter months. By protecting and sealing these surfaces, it helps to insulate the interior and prevents excess heat from escaping your home.

Another advantage to painting your home this time of year is less foliage that could get in the way of painting all the surfaces.  Think of the largest tree or bush around your home; are the leaves and branches near the siding of the house?  In the Fall, these leaves are bare and because it is easier to paint, this labor saving move reduces the cost of your painting quote.

Be sure to ask about our gutter cleaning option.  For a minimal fee, we can clean your gutters of any leaves or debris to help prevent clogging of the gutters and downspouts.  When painting, we are already on site with our ladders, why not have us clean out your gutters for you?  It is safer and more economical then you climbing around your home and roof areas yourself.  (Average home only costs around $75)

Contact Sharper Impressions Painting today to discuss protecting your home from wood rot and the types of paint we can use to paint your house into the Fall. We can schedule a free and quick painting quote for you this Fall season!

Sharper Impressions Painting has warned homeowners for years to hire a reputable, sustained painting company when hiring a paint contractor. The decision not to, haunts many homeowners and their wallets.  Take into consideration, the unfortunate case of Debbie B.

Sharper Impressions was contracted to paint the interior of Debbie B.’s home many years ago.  She was happy with the work and our service.  Years later, she decided to paint the exterior as well. She chose to hire an individual painter who would perform the work slightly cheaper than the other bids she had received from local, established painting firms.

She paid an $1100 deposit, and then the contractor completely disappeared.  His cell phone number was disconnected, his email address wasn’t valid and there was no way of contacting him.   She was out a lot of money with no other options, and an unpainted home.

Unfortunately, Debbie B learned the hard way; for that exact reason homeowners should only hire a professional painting company. No painting customer should have to pay a deposit, ever. Good painting companies offer a guarantee with their work. Established paint contractors also offer extended warranties and continued support for years after the project is complete. Knowing the company has been around for awhile, in Sharper’s case 20 years, allows the customer to have peace of mind that their painting contractor is not going to disappear.

Whether your project goes good or bad, Sharper Impressions Painting will be available to fix any issues or continue to help you finish a your new paint project.

Too many homeowners fall victim to a fly by night painter. You should never have to take a risk like paying a deposit.  The benefits of going with a professional company far outweigh the risks of hiring someone not established.

For more information and a complete list of painting services; visit www.SharperImpressionsPainting.com or call 877.665.5566.

Our painters at Sharper Impressions love pets. We want yours to be safe while we are hard at work repainting your home’s interior. Here are a few tips to prevent any mishaps or health problems when you have your home’s interior repainted.

Four-Legged Friends

There are a few things to consider for hamsters, guinea pigs, cats, dogs and other furry friends when Sharper Impressions is working in your home. Give them a vacation. Take them to a friend’s house or their favorite kennel for a day or two three. Since animals’ noses are much more sensitive than human noses, the paint fumes may bother them. Their bodies are smaller and they may feel the stronger effects from the fresh paint as it dries. We do use low-VOC paints, but that is not enough for our small furry friends.

Fish and Reptiles

Pets in tanks, such as fish and reptiles, should be moved to another portion of the house in a well-ventilated area and have the tank covered with breathable fabric for extra precaution. When Sharper Impressions is  painting the entire house, consider giving your pets in tanks a vacation, too.

If you are unsure, ask your local veterinary professional for advice on your particular pet.

Flowers starting to sprout above our wet soil, the sun shining as we wash our cars, and people taking leisurely bike rides are all signs that spring is finally here! Outside you now see what Mr. Winter Weather did to your home’s exterior. There are several things you may notice: chipping and peeling of the paint, grey spores and mildew growth, caulking popping out of the seams, gutter leaks, and worn stain on decks, fences, pergolas, swing-sets and trellises.

These are all signs that it could be time to paint and avoid future costly wood and siding repairs.

Chipping and Peeling

There are two signs you need to spruce up your exterior paint; obvious mass coating failures, or small amounts of chipping and peeling, about the size of a dime, which expose the wood underneath. These are both signs your top coat of paint isn’t protecting the wood from rain, wind and sun. Paint protects your wood the same way that skin protects your body.

There are several other ways to tell if your home needs to be painted and renewed; the color is fading and is noticeably lighter, there are water streak lines, the white colors are turning grey, and/or deep colors are losing their base and depth. Also, if you find chalking on the surface of the paint, it may mean you need to get your home power washed and painted.

To test for chalking, touch the paint surface with your finger; if it leaves a chalky paint residue on your hands this is a sign the paint is breaking down.  It is time to repaint; new paint will never leave any film on your hand.

Paint Chipping

Paint Peeling

Chalking of Paint

Mildew

Contrary to popular belief, mildew does grow in cold weather. It lays dormant throughout the winter and springs to life with the moisture and warmth of the spring season. Mildew will look like little spores and/or dark spots on the paint. Mildew is a sign that your slick, glossy paint surface needs refreshed; it allows spores to grow in the nooks and crannies of the paint surface.

Often, honest and established painters will let you know if a simple and cost efficient power washing is enough maintenance for that particular year. Mildew can easily be removed with a professional pressure wash, although sometimes it will require a new coat of paint to keep your home protected.

Caulking

Caulking failure can be extremely dangerous for your home. The caulk can pop-out or split open leaving you with these potential problems:

1.       Lose of energy efficiency from the inside of your home to the outside.

2.       Weather, like rain and wind can enter your home where caulk has failed.

3.       Insects and critters can enter where caulking failure occurred.

4.       Moisture can get behind the wood and paint, which leads to peeling of paint, rotting of wood and mildew growth on the surface and inside  the home.

Caulking is also important cosmetically; if it is done properly, it will look seamless with your paint color.  It will make the exterior of your home tight and secure. The look will be more complete and your home will instantly benefit from a solid and thorough caulking application.

Other Problem Areas

During the winter months, snow and ice settle into your home’s gutters; this means moisture often gets behind the fascia and paint. A few ways to tell if your gutters need a new paint job are: water stains, peeling and blistering of the paint, and bowing of the wood. If you notice these warning signs, it is best to have someone come out and fix problem areas very quickly.

The snow, ice and cold weather can also be a detriment to the staining on decks, fences and trellises. Seeing exposed wood means its time to protect the wood for spring; you may see heavy wood graining or see fibers in the wood, but they both require the same maintenance.  Bottom line, if water does not bead up on your deck surfaces, that water and sun UV rays are probably penetrating and harming the surface below.

Walkway surfaces and aggregate stone also need some help after the long, cold winter. One way to tell if your walkway or aggregate stone needs attention is when the spring rain hits; if the rain water doesn’t bead up, it means the water can penetrate the surface and cause decay and unforeseen underlying problems. The cure to this is to get the surfaces power washed and coated so that the next time it rains, the water will bead up preventing saturation of the surface of your walkways.

Final Recommendations

The tips outlined above are a good guideline to use when determining what type of work your home may need after a harsh winter.

-A new paint job with fresh colors that protects for years to come.

-A cleaning and staining of a deck to get it ready for months of grilling outside with friends.

-Or simply getting your home power washed to eliminate mildew, each improvement you make will help your home stay beautiful… longer.

A good painting contractor, like Sharper Impressions Painting, will provide an honest and detailed quote for what painting and preparation your home may or may not need.  Quotes should be free and you should always meet your contractor to walk around your home, this ensures that you and the contractor can point out and explain issues and solutions for your Spring painting project.

Enjoy the sun…we missed you this winter!

What is the most important thing to look/ask for from a painting contractor?

REFERENCES, REFERENCES, REFERENCES! Ask for both old and new references to ensure the current quality of work and confirm that the painter has jobs that have lasted a long time.

It is critical to make sure the contractor has:

• Liability insurance,
• a BBB membership (Better Business Bureau)
• a material and labor warranty provided in writing, and
• have been in business for several years

Before the painters start painting, be sure to confirm:

• whether they are going to apply 2 coats or 1,
• what brand and level of paint will they apply (you can buy good paint brands that have cheap paints or top quality paints, you get what you pay for in paint, so make sure your painter buys a top level product)
• your home should be power washed (pressure washed) prior to painting,
• preparation work should be detailed on your quote/contract,
• exact price of the work should be clear and discuss any additional charges that may be added to a paint job like yours

How often should exterior paint be refreshed?

There are different general guidelines for renewing exterior paint

• Decks 1-2 years
• Fences 1-4 years
• Trim on homes 5-10 years
• Wood siding on home 5-10 years
• Stucco 10+ years
• Hardie plank or aluminum siding 10+ years

Why was it important for you to run a “green” company?

We are only renting this big blue planet and it is imperative we leave it as clean as we can for the next generation. Often, damages to the environment can be permanent; fortunately, painting your home does not have to cause any damage to you or the environment. Latex paints, (hardly any oil based paints are used anymore) are waterborne and the norm now for the residential repainting industry. Low VOC paints, which dry without harmful emissions, protect the home, the occupants and the air.

In the past year, my company has erased our server carbon footprint, gone nearly paperless in our office, operated temperature control units that turn off heating and cooling during down office times, installed energy efficient insulation and new skylights to reduce the amount of energy used for lighting and heating the office and warehouse.  Hopefully your painting contractor is doing his best to protect our environment also.

Why is prep work (preparation) so important?

90% of any good paint job is prep work; it makes the final paint job look good and last a long time

• Power-washing – to ensure the surface is clean and the paint will stick. Click Here for more information.
• Tape and tarp – to protect surfaces and create nice clean cut lines
• Caulking – seals gaps and joints from weathering, bugs and makes the surface look solid and universal
• Scrape – removes old paint so it doesn’t cause the new paint to flake/peel/blister
• Prime – protects and seals the exposed wood grains, then has a nice smooth surface for the top coat to stick
• Paint – always 2 coats, any color, will last twice as long, looks thick and rich

What are common reasons your interior needs repainted?

The most popular reason for painting an interior is to update/change the color of the walls.

Another reason is for upkeep. Some common reasons to freshen up are:

• dents, scuffs, dirt, dust, animal hair, moisture stains, and faded walls from sunlight

The third biggest reason to repaint is to upgrade the quality of paint. When you repaint the walls with a top quality, deep, rich paint, the colors are deeper and the final result will look beautiful for a long time.

Ceilings usually last twice as long as the walls.  So often customers paint the ceilings every other time they get their walls painted.

• Over time they yellow out from sunlight, and smoke/moisture/oils.
• When you properly paint a ceiling, it can add an amazing amount of brightness to any room

Often a room’s trim, windows and doors will need painted as well. There are generally two reasons people choose to repaint these areas:

• To freshen up the area that gets a lot of abuse from foot traffic, vacuum cleaners and everyday wear and tear.
• To change an old, dated and dark wood trim color to an updated, fresh, bright glossy paint

Power washing (also called pressure washing) is defined as using a machine, wand and water to spray surfaces with high pressured H2O and sometimes chemicals to clean areas.

This is an imperative first step when preparing to paint or stain any part of a home. If a proper cleaning is not completed prior to painting, the new paint won’t stick to the surface and the new paint usually will peel off in big chunks and/or small flakes.

Power Washing Overview

Power washing cleans and prepares surfaces that will be painted by removing dirt, mold, mildew, pollutants, pollen and dust. Power washing also removes most chalking that may have taken place. Chalking is the naturally occurring breakdown of the paints skin surface from sunlight ultraviolet rays.

Using the right pressure washing machine will ensure the perfect preparation for exterior painting projects. The right amount of pressure will clean any surface, including wood, without causing damage. Also, using the proper nozzle will keep the appropriate angle and fan trajectory of water for each different surface. Experienced painting and power washing contractors will be able to prevent wand marks (or etching of the surface), which can be caused by too much pressure applied at the wrong angle.

Power Washing the Exterior

Often, a homes exterior will have dirt, mold, mildew, pollutants, pollen and dust; these all need to be removed prior to applying 2 coats of quality paint.

Cobwebs will be naturally present in the corners of many homes; most cobwebs and wasp nests will be washed away during the power wash, but some may stick and it is the job of a good painter to remove them by hand before later applying paint.

Paint chips will literally fly off the home while being power washed; however, a power wash will not remove all chips or peeling. Using too much pressure or applying pressure too close to the surface may result in unnecessary damage. The removed paint chips on the ground can be removed by hand once dry, by the painter. Also, a good painter will walk around your property to clean up any paint chips that may have landed around the homes yard, roof, landscaping and mulch beds during the power wash.

Stains are a tricky thing to try and power wash away. Simply put, power washing will not remove all stains around the home. Some stains are actually discolorations from years of weathering and will still be around even after a good power wash. After the proper preparation and two coats of fresh paint, the house will look great and fresh with any lingering stains covered and forgotten.

Power Washing Decks and Fences

Decks and fences are often prime candidates for power washing; and both stand to benefit from the cleaning. Decks can be power washed with bleach or deck brightener to penetrate the wood fibers. This will wash away old stain and brighten up grey wood fibers caused by foot traffic, sun and sitting rain water. Fences often have mildew on the surface that is caused by being a soft wood, and being so close to the ground and vegetation. Power washing will help remove these types of mildews and rejuvenate the look of any wood.

Chemicals

Some of the most common and best chemicals to use while washing the exterior of a home is water, bleach and tri-sodium phosphate. Other specialty chemicals do exist, but for the average project preparation, this will get the job done right. Many of the chemicals are organic which prevents harm to plants, lawns, flowers, and landscaping. The bleach is so heavily diluted with water; that the power wash should be like a spring rain storm to the shrubs and landscaping.

Dry Time

The time it takes for a home to dry after a power wash varies greatly on the humidity, rain and temperature. Usually, most homes can be painted within one day after power washing; although, the person who quotes the painting project, should walk the homeowner through a time table for the project.

Power Washing without Painting

For relatively low cost, a home’s exterior can be power washed to easily remove dirt and mildew. This cleaning will actually extend the life of an exterior paint job. Often, customers think their home needs a new coat of paint, when a simple power wash will give them the same desired result and add life to the current paint job. An honest and experienced painting contractor will inform the homeowner of this mistake instead of having them spend money on unnecessary work.

Price

Power washing should always be included with a turnkey painting price quote. Any painter who does not instinctively want to power wash a home prior to painting, is not taking the necessary steps to ensure the paint sticks and lasts a long time.

Final Thought

Receiving the proper preparation and power wash (pressure wash) prior to an exterior paint job is essential to the life of the paint job. The information outlined above is a great reference to maintaining the look of the exterior. The process should be simple with the choice of an informed, professional, residential paint contractor.

For more information, feel free to visit our power washing page: http://www.sharperimpressionspainting.com/power-washing.html