Monday, July 4, 2011

Shady Side Painting

Painting outside this time of the year can be a real chore. Start early as possible in the morning and start the opposite side of the sunrise and work your way around staying in the shade while painting. If you're not finished when the sun approaches find a good stopping point and save it for another day. Painting in the hot sun and high temps will cause the paint to dry too fast and possibly crack. If the area you're painting is in the shade such as a soffit or ceiling and you are in the sun its still ok to paint that area but it maybe too hot for you!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Sizing for Wallcoverings

Do you know what sizing is? Years ago we used to use one gallon of sand n sealer and one gallon of mineral spirits and apply to bare drywall after is was finished of course and then apply our wallcovering such as wallpaper, fabrics, wall carpets or a pva primer. Today we use stripable adhesive on our wallcovering materials and never apply a primer to the sheetrock unless the wallcovering is transparent and you can see the through it and see the raw sheetrock. If the customer still wants to pay for a primer on the raw sheetrcok or the wall can be seen through the wallcovering using a flat white latex paint works just fine and you can thin it down up to 30% before applying to the wall. The stripable paste works very well and the wallcovering can be removed without damaging the sheetrock but you must let it cure at least one week before removing.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Stilts

Using Stilts to cut in at ceiling heights up to 11' saves time for Painting Contractors and time is money!


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Staining Doors

When staining a new door it is beneficial to sand first with a 180 grit sand paper or a fine sanding sponge.
 Another trick of the trade: if you have a spot on the door where water may have dripped on it, just take a brush or rag and wet the door with water, be sure not to leave any dry spots and allow to dry over night. After the door is dry you may then apply the stain and any would be spots from water spots will not be visible. Wiping stains are the easiest to use if your inexperienced in working with stains. Apply the stain with a nylon brush or a staining pad and then remove the excess stain with a clean rag wiping in the direction of the grain of the wood. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bradley-Coatings-Inc/113086078779423

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Removing Old Paint

When removing old paint be sure to choose the right product. I recommend Peel Away Paint Remover and Peel Away 7 is normally the product I would use for Latex and Oil Paint removal. When applying any paint remover only brush or roll in one direction and be sure not to brush or roll back over the area from the opposite direction. Remember to wear your safety glasses and the proper clothing and gloves before beginning work.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Painting finish coats with brushes

When painting final coats of finish be sure to let the brush do the work. I often see people that have little or no experience DRY BRUSH which means trying to continue applying paint when the brush does not have enough paint on it. When dipping the brush into the paint submerse the brush 1 to 1 1/2 inches into the paint and then lightly slap each side against the bucket walls, (this will minimize dripping), now your ready to apply the paint to the surface. When stroking the brush you should be able to apply the paint to about eight inches of surface area at an angle and then lay the brush flat and go back over the same area and your done with that brush stroke (Don't over brush). If using quality paint such as Sherwin Williams Super Paint or Duration you will notice as it dries how the paint lays down and dries to a nice even finish.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Water Based Paints

Did you know that water based paints can be used on metal surfaces? That's right in today's paint world we use water based products on metal door frames, metal posts etc. however the prep work is very important. Many different manufacturers offer waterborne products but be sure to use the correct primers after sanding and cleaning of course!!

Painting

In today's world of painting many people think they can save money and create the same look that professional painting contractors do on a daily basis.

Let me be the first to tell you that after being in business since 1986 and completing many many jobs, I still have not learned it all, lol.


I would like for people to ask or suggest a topic on painting that they would like know more about. Such as what type of paint products should I use on Wood, Metal or any surface. Most surfaces can be painted these days because of the variety of paints and finishes that are readily available to the consumer.

After being a business owner for 25 years along with my business partner who is my brother also we have come across and learned many tricks of the trade.

Most people ask right off "Which brand of paint do you prefer" the answer is Sherwin Williams and Porter there are others but these companies in our region are the best for several reason:-)