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Embrace the winter season with engaging and productive indoor activities. Dive into our SEO-optimized guide to discover small in-home paint projects that will breathe new life into your space. Explore creative ideas and follow our comprehensive checklist to ensure a successful and hassle-free painting experience during the colder months.
Indoor Paint Project Ideas Create an Eye-Catching Accent Wall: Elevate your room's aesthetics with bold and vibrant accent wall colors. Discover how deep blues, rich greens, or warm reds can transform your space into a cozy winter retreat. Furniture Makeover Magic: Revitalize old furniture with a fresh coat of paint. Our guide provides insights into choosing the right colors to rejuvenate chairs, tables, and bookshelves. DIY Canvas Art Inspiration: Unleash your artistic side by crafting unique canvas art. Follow our tips on using blank canvases to experiment with abstract designs, geometric patterns, and brushstroke techniques. Stenciled Wall Accents: Enhance your walls with intricate patterns using stencils. Learn how to achieve a wallpaper-like effect on a budget without the long-term commitment. Chalkboard Creativity Corner: Turn a section of your wall into a functional chalkboard. Our guide covers using chalkboard paint to create a space for notes, doodles, and artistic expressions. Items Needed for Your Winter Paint Project High-Quality Interior Paint: Explore our recommendations for low-odor, quick-drying interior paints in a variety of colors to suit your winter aesthetic. Emerald by Sherwin Williams and Aura by Benjamin Moore are some of our favorites. Primer for a Flawless Finish: Ensure a smooth and lasting result by applying a primer, particularly if painting over dark or uneven surfaces. Not all primers are built the same, and a high build primer like Wood and Wall by Sherwin Williams does the trick. If you are sealing in a stain of some sort an oil based primer will be necessary and something like Kilz or Extreme blocking primer will do the trick. Premium Paintbrushes and Rollers: Invest in top-notch brushes and rollers of various sizes for optimal application. Purdy, Corona and Wooster are some of the top brands of brushes. A good standard 2.5 angle or flat edge brush is ideal for most projects. Painter's Tape for Clean Lines: Achieve professional-looking results by using painter's tape to mask off areas you don't want to paint. You’ll want to use at minimum a blue tape or a frog tape for sharp lines and cut-ins Protective Drop Cloths or Plastic Sheets: Safeguard your floors and furniture from accidental paint splatters with our recommended drop cloths or plastic sheets. Old bed sheets and towels work as drop sheets also. But if you have a space you are protecting the floors of don’t hesitate to get canvas drop clothes. Sandpaper for Surface Perfection: Smooth out imperfections with our suggested sandpaper to ensure a flawless finish. The higher the grit the smoother the finish, for removal of many laquers and stains we use an 80-100 grit. With 220 and 320 being some of the smoothest you can find for residential work. Stencils and Chalkboard Paint Recommendations: Explore our curated selection of stencils and chalkboard paint to bring your creative vision to life. Sealer or Varnish for Durability: Seal the deal with our recommended clear sealer or varnish to protect your painted surfaces and enhance durability. There are many types and applications for sealer and varnishes, but our go to is typically wiping stain with a spray coat gloss sealer. Minwax makes some great products in this area. Transform your winter indoors with our guide to small in-home paint projects. Follow our curated tips and checklist to infuse color, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment into your living space. Embark on these projects with confidence, and watch your home become a cozy haven of warmth and style this winter season.
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Paint is a vital element in enhancing the look of your walls and surfaces, but over time, it can lose its sheen, leading to a dull and faded appearance. If you want to keep your paint looking vibrant and shiny, it is crucial to understand the reason why paint loses its shine and what you can do to prevent it. In this blog we will discuss the common causes of paint sheen loss and provide tips to maintain your paint’s luster.
1. Sunlight Damage: UV rays from the sun are one of the primary causes of paint sheen loss. Direct sunlight can cause paint to fade, crack and peel, reducing its shine and leaving your walls looking dull. 2. Moisture and humidity: Excessive moisture and humidity can also cause paint to lose its sheen. High levels of humidity can cause paint to crack and peel, leading to a loss of shine and a dull appearance. 3. Age: Over time, paint naturally wears and fades, reducing its shine and leaving your walls looking dull. Regular maintenance and repainting can help maintain your paints sheen. 4. Dirt and Grime: Dirt and grime can accumulate on painted surfaces over time, reducing the shine of the paint. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help keep you paint looking shiny and new. To prevent sheen loss, it is important to clean your painted surface regularly, avoid exposing them to direct sunlight and moisture, and reapply paint as needed in maintenance not emergency. If you notice that your paint has its sheen, it is best to consult with a professional to determine the best course of action. In conclusion, paint sheen loss is a common problem and the first sign to the need of a new coating of paint and can be prevent with proper care and maintenance. By understanding the reasons why paint loses its shine, you can take the necessary steps to protect your paint and keep your surfaces looking vibrant and beautiful for years to come. Your home’s exterior appearance has a significant impact on its overall look and value. Maintaining it through regular painting is crucial. But how do you determine when it’s time for a new coat of paint? In this blog, we’ll discuss the signs that indicate your home needs exterior painting.
1. Loss of Sheen in Paint: The loss of sheen is the first warning sign that you are soon to need exterior paint coating. These areas will look muddled in or discolored in appearance to the original color. One active way to test this would be to get some water on the siding. If you see it bead off then sheen exists, if it soaks into the coating discoloring it, then the sheen is leaving those areas. 2. Faded or Chipped Paint: The sun, rain and wind can cause paint to fade and chip making your home look old and worn. If you notice faded or chipped paint on your home’s exterior, it’s time to consider repainting. 3. Cracking or Peeling Paint: Cracking or peeling paint can be a sign of structural damage or allow water, vapor and moisture into your home, causing mold and other problems. If you see cracking paint on your home’s exterior, it’s time for a new paint job. 4. Algae or Mold Growth: Algae and mold growth on your home’s exterior can deteriorate paint and be difficult to remove without repainting. If you notice algae or mold growth on your home’s exterior, it’s time to consider a new paint job. 5. Rust stains: Rust stains on your home’s exterior indicate corroding metal components and can be unsightly. If you see rust stains, it’s time to consider a new paint job. In conclusion, by keeping an eye out for these signs you can ensure your home’s exterior always presents a quality aesthetic and retains value. If you’re not sure if your home needs a new paint job, it’s best to consult a professional for a thorough inspection. A professional can assess the condition on your home’s exterior and recommend the best course of action to maintain its appearance. If you didn't know, i co-host a podcast with a friend of mine named Luke. On our "How To" podcast, we talk about all sorts of topics. This week's topic is all about prepping for contractors to come into your home. Making the process of a home improvement process easier for all involved. It's a quick podcast, with lot's of fun banter and helpful tips.
Quick Podcast recap: - Access to the home. - Power & water outlets. - Contact information - Landscape, garden work, and other "pain points". - Pets - Protecting your vehicles. - Follow up and communication. One of the MOST common questions I get, revolves around color fade. What causes it? How do you stop it? What colors are better at staying true to their hue over others?
First, know that the grays are still "in", but I will say I feel like a shift coming back to some of the popular colors we saw in the 90's. As you look to paint your home, here is a quick science lesson on how to make the right color choice for your home and the inevitable fade that will happen. It's all about verbiage. I don't like the word "bold" when describing a lot of color and I also don't like "bright". Instead I have turned to a more articulate word that helps customer understand color choices, and that is "saturated". Paint is a science, chemistry to be specific, and the first thing to understand is that there are four main components of paint. Pigments, binders, solvents and additives. When we talk about color "fading", we are referencing 2 of these components. Pigment (obviously, it's the color that you see) and the lesser known, the binder. Pigments stick to the "binders", and some will even call them "solids". If you are a super nerd, take a look at an MSDS sheet and you will find a phrase "percent of solids". This is an important number, and typically the higher the number the better. All paint begins as a "base" (extra white, deep, ultra deep) are the most common. To make a saturated color like "Showstopper SW 7588", Sherwin Williams must add a whole bunch of magenta pigment to the base it is paired to in the system. As the pigment goes in, the paint is actually getting thinned down a bit. Kind of like adding more liquid to your roux when cooking, you can't add too much. As the paint is thinning down, it is decreasing the percentage of binders that can stick to the pigment. When you get so much of that ratio out of whack, suddenly you have pigment without anything to bind too. The pigment isn't paint, so it oxidizes in the sun faster in comparison, thus showing fade quicker. Sheen - More sheen helps protect against UV rays, and gives longevity in your paint. Most commonly we go satin on body and trim. With semi gloss on the doors. You should expect 15-20 years out of a good paint job and neutral tones, but without sheen and a saturated color, its probably closer to 10-15 years. Exposure - If you have a house that has large walls facing south or west with no trees, or other shade to break up the UV rays, be cautious with saturated color. Wear and Tear - Keep your bushes trimmed and off the wall. Keep your yard sprinklers from hitting the house, and pressure wash it every 2-3 years. Houses sit and get dirty just by being there. They require love in order to keep looking their best. The decision to sell a home is and will always be an undertaking few want to do. From the contractors perspective, I personally dislike with prejudice when a soon to be new homeowner or about to vacate homeowner calls for an estimate. 99% of the time they are calling me too late and there isn't a way for me to meet their time line to get the house on the market or to get them into the home after closing.
#1 - Call early - shoot call before you call a realtor if you have to. If you think there is a possibility that the work needs to get done as a contingency to the house sale. You need to call early so that a contractor can fit you in the calendar. MOST GOOD CONTRACTORS ARE 3-6 MONTHS OUT. If you find one that can do the work within' a 7 day period to when you contacted them, It should be a massive red flag, ie. "why is this person not busier?" #2 - Poke at it No one is excited to find deficiencies in their home. But just closing the door or not looking at it won't make it go away. If you see something. call someone.
#3 Your color isn't the color they want
And last, every single homeowner enters their new home and wonders "why did the previous owner do "x"?" - every time every home. You aren't trying to get it perfect. You're trying to make it sellable. As the sun comes out, the snow subsides and spring begins, we start looking toward exterior work. One question I get the absolute most is "How do I know if it's ready for paint?" This question is perplexing for homeowners, so often we don't walk around our house because of time, and also the fear of what we may find like dry rot. I encourage you to do this early and relatively often, about once a quarter. Let's talk about the signs of needing paint, and trouble areas to watch for too. I think this scale can help you understand the timetable as a homeowner, and be helpful to budget a project in the coming years. 1. Spray water on it - when you spray water on a house with fresh paint and good amount of sheen that water should bead like water off a ducks back. If you are seeing a water soaking into the paint and likely darkening it. This is the first sign you are within 1-3 years of NEEDING paint. Think of paint as its components, resin, colorant, additives and sheen. Without the first layer of protection (sheen) you will begin to see sun fade happen faster. 2. Noticeable color change/fading - primary colors are the first to go. Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. I believe most quality paint jobs should last near 15-20 years depending on exposure. If you are seeing color fade, it means that the sheen has already left and the sun is now oxidizing the colorant in the paint. The paint is still holding onto the home, but the colorant is ultimately getting sun bleached. You are now in a space where paint is need in that same year and likely not more than 2 years from that point. 3. Chipping/Flaking - once the paint is leaving the wall and you are left with a raw substrate underneath. You have now reached a point where it is a must paint this year or the next. With nothing protecting the siding or trim from the elements, moisture is now sitting in contact with raw materials, mold and dry rot begin to set in. Remember, water isn't smart, it travels in a path of least resistance and it has no problem sitting in silence while you live in your home. 4. Fungus - Unfortunately many builders use lower grade materials or materials that shouldn't exist on an exterior. If you see mushrooms or any fungus growing from your siding....immediately remedy this. Call a contractor, shoot me a DM. This isn't good. 5. Dryrot - Rot is crunchy when it's dry, and arguably easier to find when it is dry because of the crunch. Walk around your home with a metal falanage or screwdrive. Don't stab the siding or trim, but poke it. If it gives, test more. Dry rot can live under the paint, often we see the paint act as shell hiding dry rot from view. Be diligent, check horizontal spaces, spaces where you have a lot of moisture, whether it's sprinklers or rain water from a leaky downspout. A 30 minute walk around your home quarterly, can save you thousands down the road. Between 1-5 years with these issues, you can expect to see about 10-25% increase in labor and material costs, as that 1-5 years pass the problems will only get worse. Paint is a preventative maintenance measure, it was never designed to help in the emergencies. It's job is to protect, once you start seeing the signs it's not protecting something, you are racing the clock, so don't wait. Happy hunting out there! Love you all.  Let's talk cabinets. Through two years of pandemic life, my bet is that you have painted at least one room in your home, if not most of the house. Now all that's left are some stained cabinets that look dated and need some love. The first thing to know on cabinets, even for a professional painter, they are a pain! Most pro's will take 3-5 days on a cabinet set. If you have aspirations of this being a 1 weekend show, you are setting yourself up for failure. It's going to take some time, and based on personal experience of painting my own, this will take you 3-4 weekends of your time for a standard cabinet set of 20-25 doors and 10-15 drawers. This is a project that you have to ask yourself, do you want to take on the task or hire the professionals? If you're going the DIY route, here's what you need to do. It's all about the prep work:
Tips:
Remember to take your time and have fun with your DIY projects. These memories are what make your house a home.  |
A note from Ben...Welcome to the Box Painting blog! Here you will find my personal tips & tricks, recommendations and more! Archives
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