Easy House Painting Tips - Newsletter May, 2008

Issue #005 - Table of Contents

Some Recent Q&A - here are a couple of recent questions that I’ve received and some helpful advice

Hiring a Painting Contractor - here are some important tips when thinking about hiring a professional painting contractor.

Question: I cut in the corners of my walls with a brush, then using the same paint (Ben Moore, pearl finish latex) and a 3/8" nap roller (pro-line glossdel) I rolled my walls two coats and still my corners look darker. Am I using the wrong nap roller?

Answer: The corners will look darker in cases where you would apply too much paint with the brush compared to the thickness of the rolling on the main walls. As you already indicated, using a 3/8" nap roller will provide a smooth surface and it will obviously have lesser paint than in the corners. It's important, as you brush the corners, to keep it thin, not just for the light to dark situation, but also to prevent hatting or banding marks.

Most paint contractors will use a 1/2" nap roller. It will hold more paint for rolling and provide a layer of thickness sufficient enough to match the corners or brushwork. Also, s ometimes even one coat for cutting in the corners will work better - and two coats rolling.

Question: How do you remove or clean the white powdery residue on our concrete basement floor? We had a leak from the humifier and it left a white powdery residue.

Answer: The white powder is actually called "efflorescence". They're caused by the salts in the masonry/concrete and come to the surface after the water evaporates. You can remove it by using an "efflorescence cleaner".

I know of a few on the market - one being from Aldon Chemicals - here's a direct link to the clearer: Aldon Chemicals.

I've heard good results from this.

Question: A few months ago, I painted some built-in shelves with a few coats of semi-gloss latex paint. Even after all this drying time, the books still lightly stick to the shelves. In a few spots, the paint came off onto some of my collectibles. I am afraid something is going to be ruined by this paint problem. Please help!

Answer: Latex paint, due to its chemical nature, can retain a certain amount of "stickiness" for a long period of time after it dries. This residual tack is known as blocking. Though all latex paints, interior and exterior, have anti-blocking agents added to them, the final results are mixed. How much blocking you will experience with a given paint job is related to various factors… the number of coats you apply, the thickness of the paint coats, the temperature and humidity in the room, how well you mixed the paint, and the manufacturer.

Blocking is not a consideration with walls and, in most circumstances, doors and trim. One problem is that exterior doors painted with latex paints are notorious for sticking to their weatherstripping. I always advise against using latex paints for surfaces that will be in regular contact with anything.

Though there are some “band-aid” solutions, such as waxing the shelves or dusting with talcum powder, the best and most permanent solution is to repaint the shelves. The paint of choice for shelves and cabinets is a high quality alkyd paint. Alkyd is the best of the oil-based paints, drying to a hard, non-tacky surface every time!

My advice is to lightly sand the shelves with a fine (220 grit) sandpaper, then give them a complete coat of a fast drying primer… I really like the latex primer from Zinnser called “Bulls-eye 1-2-3”. The primer is important… alkyd oil directly over latex FINISH PAINT is not advisable. Then apply one or two coats of a matching alkyd paint in either gloss or semi-gloss. If you are a careful painter, you can probably just paint the top surfaces of the shelves… it will save you some work! Once dry, your sticking problems will be gone forever.

Painting is one of the most popular home improvement projects you can undertake, but it can be more difficult than you might think. Whether you're planning an interior or exterior painting project, hiring a painting contractor will save a lot of time and energy in the long run.

Before you hire a painting contractor, there are some things you should take into consideration:

* How long has the contractor been in business? There can be a high turnover rate in the painting industry. Be sure to hire someone who has been operating for at least two to three years.

* Are employees experienced painters? Make sure the company hires skilled workers. Ask what training or qualifications they have.

* Does the contractor have insurance? It is absolutely critical that they have the necessary insurance. A reputable, licensed painting contractor will have coverage. Remember , it protects him and any workers he may have on site, as well as you.

* What kind of preparation work does the painting contractor do? A cheaper job will skimp on the prep work to cut corners. A good contractor will take the time to do everything the way it should be done. The workmanship will show in the end, good or bad.

* Can they provide a list of references? Once you have the references in hand, call them.

* Can the painting contractor make recommendations on what materials will work best for your project? A professional keeps up-to-date on the latest products and techniques, makes suggestions for colors and finishes, and is knowledgeable about the latest trends. Experience counts.

* Make sure they put everything in writing. A professional provides customers with written contracts and specifications.

* Will they offer a maintenance program? Some will, it's worth asking.

* How much do they charge? Getting the lowest price should not be your first consideration. You want to get someone with skill, experience, insurance, awareness of safety issues and good workers. That will not likely be the guy with the lowest bid. It doesn't need to be the highest bid either. Just be sure not to hire on price alone. Look at the whole picture. Painters operate on very tight profit margins. Some homeowners hire college students and are happy with the work. If the price seems too good to be true, however, it probably is.

Now that you know how to look for a good contractor, where can you go to find one? At renovationexperts.com, you can get free estimates from contractors in your area who are prescreened for experience, licenses and insurance.

Renovation Experts is a premium network of over 3,000 remodeling contractors, who carry out remodeling projects for any part of the house, from attic to basement. Locate and hire a contractor, get an estimate for your project and do it with the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're using professionals.