Understanding the Most Effective Way to Apply Paint Primer

The right paint job can completely transform your living environment. The look and feel of a home can also be optimized by adding color. You also have option to hire professional exterior painting services to make your home look extraordinary. But you must remember that the paint always looks better in the can. So you have to choose and apply paint primer to make the paint look perfect on the walls.

How to Apply Paint Primer

Measure the Surface: You must consider several factors to decide the amount and type of primer. Along with measuring the square footage of surface that needs to be covered, you also need to identify the paint material. The minimum square footage of the area to be painted can be determined by measuring the length and height of the wall, and then dividing the figure by 12.

Decide the Amount of Primer: The amount of primer required for the painting project will vary according to the square footage and specific characteristics of the surface. If the surface is smooth, you will require about a gallon of primer for each 350 sq/ft. On the other hand, one gallon of primer can cover only 250 square feet of a rough textured wall. Also, you need to consider the current as well as new color. If you are planning to apply a lighter color to cover surfaces already painted with a dark color, additional layers of the primer must be applied.

Prepare the Surface: The surface or wall must be prepared properly before applying the primer. You must wash the surface thoroughly using a solution made of warm water and dish soap. Use a rag to wipe the surface thoroughly, and then allow the wall to dry completely.

Apply Primer: The primer must be applied to cover the entire surface. It is also important to apply the primer in even and long strokes. After applying the first coat of primer, you must allow over one hour to let it stand before applying the paint. You can further read the manufacturer’s directions to understand the best way to apply the paint primer.

Sand the Surface Lightly: Once the primer has dried, you have to smooth the surface out by sanding the surface lightly. The sanding will further provide a strong bonding agent to the primer. You can simply pick a fine grade of sandpaper, and rub it lightly over the primer, before applying the initial coat of paint.

As you have option to choose from a variety of paint primers, it becomes essential to pick the best primer according to your requirements and budget. Along with providing a smoother finish, a good quality paint primer will further allow the paint to bond and stick to the surface better.

Understanding the Right Way to Rate Exterior Paints

A homeowner has to consider a number of factors to optimize the exterior painting project. In addition to deciding and buying the correct amount of paint, he also needs to ensure that the exterior paint is the most appropriate option to cover the surface. Based on your requirements and budget, you have option to choose from the hugely popular as well as smaller or regional brands of paint. So you must rate different brands of exterior paint appropriately to choose the best product for your exterior painting project without spending a lot of money.

How to Rate Exterior Paints

Evaluate the Surface

While evaluating exterior paints, you must keep in mind the surface to be painted. It is also important to pick the best paint according to the type and needs of the surface. The 100% acrylic or water-based paints are considered to be more effective in making the paintjob durable. Also, the oil based paints often deteriorate or fade due to constant exposure to sunlight. However, you still have option to choose from several types of water-based exterior paints.

Consider Price of the Paint

The quality and rating of exterior paints vary according to their prices. Normally, very good quality exterior paints cost more. But you can avoid applying additional coats of paint, while making the paintjob more durable. So you must compare the prices of different types of exterior paint, and choose the one that complements your specific needs and budget.

Check the Rating Assigned by Consumer Product Rating Organizations

The consumer product rating organizations often rate exterior paints. But these organizations often provide rating for large or popular brands of paint. You can always refer to the rating provided by these organizations to determine the quality of a specific paint. You can even refer to various online sources to gather detailed information about a particular brand of paint.

Don’t Ignore the Local or Smaller Brands of Paint

The consumer product rating organizations normally ignore the local or smaller brands of paint. But the absence of clear rating does not mean that these exterior paints are of poor quality. Along with being of good quality, the local or smaller brands of paint are also inexpensive. The local paint manufacturers often develop paints by keeping in mind the prevailing weather and climatic conditions of the area. So these paints can be effective in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home over a longer period of time.

Ask Specifically about Pigments

Regardless of your choice of exterior paint brand, it is always important to inquire about pigments. When you are inside the paint store, ask specifically about the red, blue, yellow and similar pigments that deteriorate and fade quickly due to sunlight. You also need to avoid the dark colors if you are residing in a hot and sunny climate. The paints of medium or lighter shades are more suitable for sunny climate.

Many homeowners even prefer hiring exterior painting services to effectuate their exterior painting project without putting any extra time and effort. Based on their experience in painting a wide variety of establishments, the consultants deployed by the exterior painting service provider will help you in deciding the quality and quantity of paint required to cover your home exterior.

Exploring Flooring Options as Part of Your Basement Renovation Project

While planning the basement renovation project, you can choose from a variety of floor coverings. However, before exploring the basement flooring options, you need to ensure that the floor has been waterproofed adequately. The proper waterproofing of the floor is essential to protect the carpet or vinyl tiles from damages caused by excess moisture. At the same time, you also need to decide the most appropriate way to complete the flooring.

Evaluating Common Basement Flooring Options

Carpet Tiles: Unlike conventional rolled carpet, the carpet tiles can be lifted and replaced without any hassle. So you can easily remove and replace the stained or damaged carpet tiles. Further, these tiles can be laid on the concrete floor directly, if the floor is leveled and fully clean. You can simply affix an adhesive disk onto the back of each tile, and then press it onto the concrete floor. However, some carpet tiles are also designed with self-adhesive backing. You have to use a utility knife to cut the tiles around the basement walls and other fixed furniture.

Vinyl Tiles: Along with being more durable and inexpensive, the vinyl tiles are also available in a wide range of styles and colors. Further, you can easily clean these tiles by wiping off stains. These tiles are also designed with self-adhesive backing. So you can easily lay these onto the basement floor without using any additional adhesive or equipment.

Rubber Floor Tiles: Similar to vinyl tiles, the rubber tiles are also durable, and available in a variety of colors and styles. The rubber tiles can further be removed and replaced without any hassle. The interlocking of these tile also make the basement floor look like a solid surface.

Painted Floors: As an alternative to these tiles, stained or painted floors are popular among many homeowners. Along with avoiding an additional basement floor covering, the flooring option further helps you in preventing the damage caused by moisture. You also have options to paint or stain the concrete basement floor directly using several colors. Also, you can consider painting a design onto the basement floor using the stain. However, the basement floor must be cleaned thoroughly and remain chemical-free before starting the painting or staining process.

As you have option to choose from several types of basement flooring, it is important to evaluate the pros and cons of each option. You can even consider hiring a reliable basement remodeling service provider to implement the flooring idea without any delay and hassle.

Exploring Different Types of Screen Porches

The right screen porch can make a huge difference to your property. You can consider building a screen porch as a functional addition to your outdoor living space. In addition to providing your family with a warm and comfortable outdoor area to hang out during the spring and summer months, the screen porches are also effective in keeping mosquitoes, bugs and pests away. You also have options to build a screen porch from the scratch, or add screens to your existing porch structure. As you have several screen porch options, it is a good idea to understand some of these common options.

Evaluating Several Screen Porch Options

Stapled

The staples screen porches are popular due to their simple and easy-to-install features. As the screen fabric sheets can be stapled or meshed over existing porch beams or structures, these can be installed without any hassle. After stapling the material using a staple gun, you have to use a scissor to trim off the sections that are larger than the porch being covered. However, you need to ensure that there is adequate material to secure the screen with staples. Also, you need to keep the material properly taut to prevent the chance of wrapping and deformation.

Framed

As the name indicates, the porch screens are designed of material that can be easily stretched over metal or wooden frames. Based on your existing porch structures, you can simply order custom-made frames featuring rubber splines at their edges. The grooved structure of these splines will help you in fitting the frame screens in several places snugly. Further, the splines will make it easier for you to maintain and clean the screens.

No Frame

The style of screen porches using frameless screen panels is considered to be more versatile. Some of these panels can be easily rolled up just like window shades. Further, these can be removed completely in a manner similar to removing framed screen sections. However, you have to use adhesive strips to stick the frameless panels to the porch beams.

Type of Screen Fabric

Similar to the screen porch panels or sections, you also have option to choose from a variety of screen fabrics according to the usage of the porch. For instance, many people opt for fiberglass screen due to its effectiveness in resisting creasing, denting and unraveling. Also, you have option to choose the heavy-duty fiberglass screen fabric designed specifically for patio, porch and pool applications.

You can further hire a reliable company to build screen porches without any hassle. At AdvantageHandy, our team has to expertise, skills and experience required to build screen porches according to the requirements and instructions of each client. Further, you have option to avail customized screen porch installation services based on your requirements and budget.

Factors You Must Not Forget while Choosing Interior Paint

The interior painting project can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your living environment. But the complex nature of the project makes it essential for you to consider a number of factors. You can always avail professional residential painting services to save your time and effort. The experience and expertise of the handymen deployed by the residential painting service provider will further complete the project within a short span of time. However, you must choose the type, color and finish of interior paint by keeping in mind your lifestyle. It is also important to keep in mind that your family has to look at the color designs over a longer period of time.

How to Choose the Perfect Interior Paint

1) Elements in Your Home Interior Before evaluating the interior paints, you must decide the area of the room that needs painting. At the same time, you also need to consider some other elements of the home interior. If you are painting the home interior from the scratch, there are more options. Otherwise, you have to choose an interior paint color that complements the overall décor of the house interior including furniture, carpeting and artwork.

2) Surface of the Room You also need to choose the interior paint according to the surface of each room. Normally, the effectiveness and durability of a paint job is affected by the type of surface. For instance, the wallboard masonry or plaster surface needs to be covered using latex paint. On the other hand, alkyd paints are more effective in covering painting or repainting your metal or wood surface. So you must evaluate the surface of each room before comparing the interior paints

3) Color Scheme You have options to pick from a wide variety of common paint colors to cover your home interior. Along with black, white and gray, you can also consider common colors like red, blue, green, orange, pink and brown. But the overall feel and mood of the room will vary according to your choice of color. So you must compare these common interior paint colors according to your personal choice, lifestyle and commonly used standards. At the same time, you can even consider creating different impact by applying multiple colors on different walls or ceiling.

4) Interior Paint Finish Similar to colors, you have options to choose from a variety of finish the interior paint. However, you must choose the interior color finishing according to the specific area that will be covered. For instance, you can cover wood grains by choosing the gloss, semi-gloss, flat or egg shell finish. On the other hand, a flat or eggshell finish is conventionally considered to be more appropriate for painting the walls and ceilings.

5) Primer Some interior paints need to be used along with primer. Normally, a coat of primer is applied on the wall to cover the existing paint. After applying the primer, the new paint color will effectively cover the old paint cover. However, you have to evaluate the surface that needs to be painted to decide if primer is needed. Many experts recommend homeowners to use primers when they are changing the existing color of the wall by applying a different interior paint color.

It is also a good idea to avail the consultation services offered by the interior painting company. The consultant will help you in evaluating the pros and cons of individual interior paints according to your personal choice and lifestyle.