Best Painting Contractors Danville – What to Expect from Painters
Getting to know the best painting contractors in Danville is not just important; it is essential to hire the right painter that you need to refurbish and redecorate your home or business.
As a customer, it’s usually when you have expectations from anyone who offers you services. This is no different when it comes to screening painters. Here are just a few of the many things to know and expect when you’re looking for painters to work on your home or business:
1. How long have they been in the business?
While this question won’t make you form the ultimate decision, it’s good to know how long painters have been in the business to get their story. How did they become painters, and why did they choose this industry?
Whether the painter has over 10 years of experience or is just starting (well, we have to start somewhere, right?), take time to evaluate their knowledge in the trade itself, as well as the different types of paints and paint brands, other coatings, tools, materials and techniques as well as their experience in residential, commercial and/or industrial painting.
The reason why you should ask painters for is that this will help you to decide which of these painters will be the most suitable to work in your project.
2. How will they paint?
The question may not only pertain to the painting job itself, but it also refers to the preparation of the surface.
Do they paint by brushing, or by brushing with other methods such as rolling or spraying? How do they clean the surfaces? Do they prime the entire surfaces or do spot priming? Or do they prime at all?
Of course, choose painters who prep surfaces before painting. A good painter knows that a topcoat can’t adhere to the surface if it has not been properly cleaned, repaired and primed. He will spend a good deal of time in preparation work to make sure that the surface is clean, smooth and ready to be coated with paint.
Every painter has his own way of doing their job. Some are good, while some are horrible. So, it is also important to ask candidates if they do prep work and if they do so, what kind of prep work do usually do in their projects. It’s also good to ask your friends and neighbors about the painters they worked within the past – who knows, they may recommend the painters to you or otherwise advise you not to hire them at all.
3. What kinds of paints do they use?
Naturally, customers also want to know the kinds of paints they use. Many painting contractors use mainstream paint brands Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Behr. However, keep in mind that painters use many types of different finishes and formulations. They may use paints that are ideal for certain weather conditions, or for certain surfaces.
There are “green” painting service companies that use only eco-friendly paints with zero VOC levels. So, if you’re the type who doesn’t want noxious paints around the house or you have someone in your household who has health and sensitivity issues, you may hire that type of painting company.
It’s good that your painter should be able to explain the type and brand of paint they’re using and why they think they should use a certain type of paint for your project.
4. What if I have a complex design in mind?
If you have chosen a style that is particularly intricate and complicated, then hiring a professional painting contractor will be the best decision. Of course, as they won’t be the one to execute the style by themselves, make sure that you provide them with a sketch of the design you have in mind, and what surface and/or details that you would like to be painted. That way, that will avoid misunderstandings or confusion in the future that could leave you frustrated or behind schedule. Only fully trained and licensed painters will be able to realize your dream design in a clean and crisp way.
5. Are they licensed and insured?
The painting industry is not heavily regulated in the country and you may find that in some states, there are painters that are not insured. Here in California, the regulations are strict regarding the eligibility of painting and building contractors for employment: they have to be licensed and insured.
It is important to ask painters the first thing: “Are you licensed?” Don’t take their “yes” for an answer; ask them for proof of a valid license. Because when they’re licensed, they are also likely to be insured as well. However, you may be even surprised to find out that some painters are licensed, but not otherwise insured. You still have to ask licensed painters if they carry both liability insurance and a worker’s compensation insurance. A painter having insurance will not only protect themselves and their workers, but it will protect you and your property as well.
6. Do they offer a warranty?
Look for a contractor who offers a warranty for his work. Good and reputable contractors know how confident and proud they are of their workmanship that they back it up with a warranty – whether it’s a one-year or a 10-year warranty.
As much as possible, good painters want to do their job well to satisfy customers who will call them back for a new project – not to do repeat work of a previous project. Each painting contractor is different, so it is important to ask questions that will give you the insight you need to hire the best painting contractors in Danville.
Can I Hire Commercial Painting in Manteca on Short Notice?
Businesses need commercial painting in Manteca not just to make their structures looking good, but also to fix the usual surface issues (such as fading paint, peeling paint, stains from water or rust from the pipes, as well as cracks, holes and many others). Any of these surface issues staying there for a long time would not be good for your business, so naturally you want immediate help from commercial painters. But will be they there right away?
The Internet is a quick and easy way for finding commercial painters that you want to hire. No need to thumb through that dusty Yellow Pages tome. You can search for commercial painters on search engines such as Google and Yahoo!, or on online directories such as the Yellow Pages website or Yelp. Once you have a shortlist of the commercial painters you may want to work with, you just hope that they will be open and available to possibly work for you.
Still, you may have a difficult time on finding good painting contractors who will be readily available to you. The well-established contractors are known to be professional, honest, have a good work ethic and have good relations with their clients. They provide their staff sufficient training as well as safe working environment and conditions to them. These contractors are committed to their work that they take their workmanship quite seriously. They are the type of contractors who do not want to cut corners. Instead, they want to provide the best paint job and service to their customers so that they won’t regret the money they have spent on them. Plus, they provide written warranties after the work has been finished, which states that they would provide service for a small fee or for free if the flaws are the result of faults of their own workmanship.
And due to such attributes, good contractors are usually sought after by clients. As a result, they are often in high demand, having a considerable number of projects that are lined up for them. As they provide quality paint jobs as well as after-service customer assistance, well-established contractors usually charge a bit higher compared to new contractors or contractors with a questionable reputation. One of the signs of a good contractor is that they are always busy, which means more customers turn to them for their service. Unfortunately, their engagements render them available to other customers who also want to avail to their services.
It can also be an issue of trust. Well-established commercial painters take their reputation very seriously. They just do not take clients, and they may “cherry-pick” their jobs. If a project or a prospective customer deems fit to them, they will take it. If they do not come across them as trustworthy or “too good to be true,” painters would not rather want to work with them. If a client receives too many bids, painters would rather look somewhere else that will be worth their time.
Ask people you know – your friends, relatives, colleagues, or maybe even your employees – who may refer you to a painter they have known or hired in the past. You may also ask for referrals from other companies, retailers, or specialty shops who may refer you to contractors they have worked with for a very long time. Most likely, these individuals and establishments have good connections to the best commercial painters in the area and would be willing to help you arrange a schedule for your meeting with any of those painters, especially if you have an urgent need.
While the Internet is the most popular way to look for painters, it should not be the only source. There are also traditional forms such as the television, radio, print media, billboards, and transportation where you may see advertisements from companies that offer commercial painting in Manteca services. Researching about the company allows you to have a better knowledge about the painters that you’re considering hiring.
How to Find a Budget-Friendly Commercial Painting Service Near Me
Finding a budget-friendly commercial painting service near me may be difficult, but not impossible. You are on a budget and want to stay within it, but at the same time you want a quality paint job that guarantees a clean and long-lasting finish.
As a business owner though, you should realize that hiring the best commercial painters in Fremont a professional painting contractor can also be considered an investment, so you should know how to make the most of your budget. You know why? It’s because a good painter will help boost your business, however indirectly it seems.
As someone who is considering a painting job, you should not rely on the skills and experiences of the painters alone to get the most satisfactory painting service. It’s also in the budgeting, planning, and scheduling before starting the project itself. But even though you are on a budget, you should not consider cutting corners because this may spell a big difference once the paint job is completed.
As an owner and/or manager of an establishment needing a painter service, you should come up with a step-by-step and detailed plan to prevent inconveniences that can otherwise interrupt the flow of your own business, in case you decide to keep the doors open for service.
When budgeting a commercial painting job, the quality of materials does matte, like many other things. Each commercial establishment has its own requirements and specifications depending on its business type and model. The location of an establishment, as well as the area’s weather and climate, should also be considered. You should mention these specifications to the painter so that he will make recommendations in accordance with the condition of your establishment.
As your candidate is making such recommendations, do not forget to ask him why you should consider his own recommendations over those of the other painters who are also vying for your job. The painter will get to explain why their choice of paints and materials is better compared to the materials offered by other contractors. As you arrived to the final decision, ask your chosen candidate which kinds of tools, brands of paints and primers, etc., are the most suitable for your establishment.
But even when there are good brands of paints to be had, the painting job will still fail without proper surface preparation – everybody knows that it’s the key to a good and long-lasting paint finish. A surface that is inadequately prepped, or simply is lacking any preparation, will show a variety of defects such as quick fading of colors; peeling, flaking or cracking paint; bubbling; dull spots, and many others.
Unfortunately, many painters may often ignore preparing the surface and go straight to the painting part to finish the job quickly, to save labor, and to make a quick profit. Beware of these red flags when looking for a commercial painter. You can tell that by the rates that he charges. If he charges way too low or too high than the industry average, it’s better look somewhere else. While it’s understandable that you are on a budget and want to save as much money as possible, still, do not consider hiring this type of painter. Probably, he is interested only in your money and isn’t likely to deliver his job well.
That’s why hiring a good commercial painter, with a fair price to match, is more than just important – it is essential. Such a painter has the right materials and does proper preparation of surfaces before painting them.
Properly cleaned, dried, repaired, prepared, and painted surfaces mean that they will require less maintenance in the future. As a result, you will be able to save more money down the road.
Safety should also be of paramount importance, as painting an establishment presents various possible hazards. Look for a contractor who has an excellent safety record, provides proper safety gear and employs workers who have undergone a safety training program. Do not put your business in jeopardy by hiring a contractor who does a careless and slapdash job. It will be a great inconvenience not just to you, but perhaps to your customers, too. For example: spilled paint on the floor may cause one of your customers to slip, resulting in possible serious injury. Worse, the customer may sue your company because of the accident, and this will seriously affect your business’ reputation.
To avoid this from happening, you should consider a painting contractor who is licensed, insured, and bonded. This will protect your business, keeping it safe from such risks. Hiring a licensed, insured, and bonded commercial painting contractor means that you will not be liable to pay for whatever damages these painters may have caused to your property. Having a painter that is licensed, bonded, and insured also means that you will not be responsible to pay for hospital bills in case of accidents and the workers get injured, since their contractor will be the one to cover these bills. You will be able to save more money, as a result.
One of the tricks to avoid going over your budget is to compare how much you have spent on every stage of the project, with the funds allotted to each project. For instance, you have allocated $1,000 for surface preparation, but have spent only $800, so you save $200.
Doing regular evaluations and cost estimates, while the project is still in progress, will also help in preventing possible large cost overruns. Staying within budget while achieving a satisfactory painting finish is possible when hiring someone for a commercial painting service near me to make your business more appealing to your customers.
Do Commercial Painters in Lathrop Need to Be Licensed?
When looking for the best commercial painters in Lathrop, you have to consider the importance of licensing. “Do I have to hire a licensed painter even it would cost me a bit more” or “Do I want to hire an unlicensed painter to save me some money?”
But here’s something you should know, first and foremost: not all US states call for professional commercial painters to have a license. But in Lathrop and in the rest of California, commercial painters do indeed need to have a license to perform their services in a legal and ethical manner. All builders and contractors should be licensed by the Contractor State Licensing Board (CSLB) to work or operate their business legally in California.
For a commercial painting contractor to become licensed, first candidates should have the qualifications to apply for a basic contractor’s license. They should be 18 years old and above and have the sufficient skills and experience and carry a valid social security number – these things are necessary to qualify for a contractor’s license.
For people want to contract for a construction work for any project whose total cost is at least $500 (the cost also includes materials and labor), they should also be licensed by the CSLB as well.
For a lot of applicants, cost is probably their biggest concern when applying for a CSLB license. The cost of applying for a CSLB license has considerably changed throughout the years. In California, painting contractors understand about the need of a license to provide services legally and ethically, and the fact that once their licenses expire, they need to renew them to continue working in the state.
Commercial painters have several ways to apply for a license: they can call CSLB’s 24-hour automated information line, write an application letter, or personally drop by at any CSLB branch.
Fingerprinting, undergoing a criminal background check, taking the required law and trade examinations are also strongly suggested. But applicants can forgo the exams if they are able to meet some specific criteria. You can refer to CSLB’s website (http://www.cslb.ca.gov) for guidelines to become qualified for the examination waiver. Painters shall also present a proof of a worker’s compensation insurance and a copy of a license bond, plus pay extra fees for processing their license. Finally, they are issued with an ID card that bears their official license number.
To know more about requirements and qualifications to obtain a license from the CSLB, download a PDF copy of a guide entitled “Blueprint for Becoming a California Licensed Contractor” or go to CSLB’s website.
Sure, hiring licensed commercial painters in Lathrop may make you shell out a bit more money, but the benefits of employing them to your project far outweigh the cost and the trouble. It also gives you peace of mind. Having a license means that painters have not committed crimes or any other serious offenses against local or state laws that would have prevented or disqualified them from renewing their licenses. Knowing that your painter is following the laws and regulations of your state is a good indication that they are a true follower to the rules.
How Commercial Painting Services Near Me Estimate Jobs
“How can I get commercial painting services near me?” That’s a question that won’t probably lead you to a single, simple answer. Finding for commercial painters take a lot of work, and one of the things that you should not forget is to study their estimates.
An estimate is given to you (as a client) after a painter inspects your property. For many commercial painters, the more complete and accurate the estimate, the bigger chances of winning the job. And for many clients, on the other hand, cost is probably the biggest concern. So, if they think that the estimate is complete, accurate and meets within their budget, then they will hire that contractor.
If the contractor provides an estimate that’s below than the average pricing, it means that they won’t be able to make money. But if they otherwise offer a way too high estimate, then they won’t win the job. Sure, low pricing means that contractors will get lots of jobs, and you will be tempted to hire such contractors because of their low estimates. But this will do your business more harm than good.
While it’s a fact that contractors work to earn a living, you want nothing less than a satisfactory paint job – of good quality, no less. Some contractors cheat on their estimates just to appear competitive – beware of such contractors.
When estimators that you’ve invited come to your property, they should be complete with their own equipment. They should not borrow anything from you such as a measuring tape or a step ladder.
The following are the typical guidelines that most contractors follow when assessing your property before working on their estimates:
1. Measuring the size of the space
Estimators need to know the square footage of a space by measuring its length and width of the walls, and then multiplying them. Next, they add the resulting product to get the total square footage.
However, not everything in the room should be painted because there are doors and windows. For this, estimators subtract the doors and windows from the total square footage.
For instance:
– Your room has a total of 700 square feet, with one door and three windows.
– The door measures 20 square feet
– Each of the three windows measures 15 square feet. So, 15 square feet x 3 windows = 45 square feet.
– Subtract the 20 square feet and 45 square feet from the total square footage of 700:
700 – 20 – 45 = 635 square feet.
Therefore, you will paint 635 square feet of space.
2. Determining the amount and cost of paints needed for the space
Now you have the square footage of space to paint – which is 635 sq. ft. – then you must determine how much paint you are going to buy.
Typically, a gallon of paint is enough to cover 250 square feet of space. If you have 635 square feet of space, then divide 635 sq. ft. by 250 sq. ft.:
635 / 250 = 2.54 (which means you will need roughly two and a half gallons of paint)
Obviously, the bigger the space, the more paint you will need. It also goes the same for textured surfaces.
3. Determining the labor cost
For painting companies, determining how much they should pay for their workers is just as important. A typical day of work from the contractor will cost about $500 or $600. However, the rate still depends on how many workers are assigned on the project.
For instance, two painters are assigned to your project and are required to complete 2,500 sq. ft. in two days.
If you have 635 sq. ft. of space needed to be painted, divide 635 sq. ft. by 2,500 sq. ft. = 0.25.
The result will give you an idea how much you will pay to the workers. In this case, if you get 0.25, it means that you will pay the two painters a quarter of a full work day (about $200).
4. Determining the cost of paints and supplies
Prices of paint products depend on the brand, color or quality. Price range from $20 to $50. In this case, you will need two gallons of the best-quality paint you can find, which means:
2.5 gallons x $50 = you will have to pay $125.
There are also supplies and materials needed for the job like brushes, paint rollers, drop cloths, painter’s tape, primers, caulks, paint trays, etc. Using good quality paints and materials will lead to a good-quality paint finish.
Let’s say you want your paint job to look best and long lasting, and you want nothing less than the best materials. It’s expected that you should pay a little more, but the good results are going to be worth it:
A set of brushes – $30
A set of rollers – $30
Caulking – $10
Drop cloths – $20
Paint tray – $15
Painters tape – $15
5. Determining the overall cost of the job
The typical formula of figuring out the total cost of a painting project is as follows:
Cost of paints + labor cost + cost of supplies and materials = total cost.
In this case:
$125 worth of two and a half gallons of paint + $140 worth of supplies and materials + $200 worth of labor = $465 total cost. That will be the rough result of the estimate.
Remember that the computations above are only for illustrative purposes, intending to demonstrate how painters typically estimate a space to be painted. There are other factors to be considered such as additional paints on trim and baseboards, and other architectural details. Even fuel and insurance are also factored in if you want to get a more realistic estimate.
“Do I really need an estimate to get good commercial painting services near me?” Of course. Without a correct and accurate written estimate, you will never have an idea how much you are exactly going to pay for the workers. Without a written estimate, contractors can even cheat by adding “hidden” charges that will put an unnecessary dent to your budget – and you don’t want that to happen.
All Commercial Painting Services in San Jose Are Not the Same
Not all commercial painting services in San Jose are supposed to be the same. Apart from the name, there are many other differences among commercial painters that include the kind of paints and materials, rates, estimates, contracts, warranties, schedules, the number of workers and lots of other things.
It is only you who can tell who among them is the best contractor to hire. To avoid the mistake of hiring fake or illegal contractors, here are some suggestions you should follow:
- Go to the Web. The Internet is a vast source of information, so nowadays it is normally the first place where people are looking for something they need, such as painting service companies. Their websites are important to the contractors as well as their clients, so take your time to check and navigate their pages that contain their history, the kind of services they offer, articles and blogs, portfolio, and customer testimonials. You may also have to check out their social media platforms as well.
- Ask around – you should also approach your friends, neighbors, co-workers or relatives who also happen to own or manage a business and ask them about the painters they’ve worked with in the past. They will give you a genuine and honest feedback, and may even invite you to their offices and commercial spaces where you will be allowed to check out and inspect their work. If they talk about this certain contractor enthusiastically and even recommend him to you, then it’s a good sign that this contractor is at least worth considering.
- Invite at least three contractors over to your commercial property so that they will also have the time to inspect around. Normally, after inspection, the contractors will give you their rough estimates. Pick up this hint: a contractor who takes a longer time to inspect is more likely to give you an honest estimate. Next, get to know more about the contractors – their skill level and experience, their competency and commitment to their work, and their professional behavior.
- Ask questions, like “How long have you been in this industry?” “Does your company use subcontractors or do you employ your own workers?” (Having their own workers is an indication of a good company.) “Is your company licensed and insured?” If the company answers all the questions affirmatively or reasonably, then that contractor may be almost a shoo-in.
- You will be given a written contract, which details everything that ranges from the paints and materials to the project timeframe and payment procedures. Read the contract carefully (and ask questions to the contractor if you find something uncertain) before signing it. Having such document will protect you from possible fraud and/or disputes.
- Ask for a written guarantee, always. It includes the surface problems and issues that can be the result of a defective paintwork from the contractor (like fading or peeling paint). However, surface damage from causes like graffiti, weather, a defective work done by the other contractor, or a natural disaster will not be usually covered by your chosen contractor. Normally, a written warranty has a period of up to three years.
Interviewing contractors, studying their professional behavior and checking their backgrounds are helpful because they prevent you from hiring a sham contractor. Doing these procedures furthermore allow you to hire the ideal contractor who will provide the right commercial painting services in San Jose for your commercial and office space.
House Painting Danville: To Add Value, Paint Before Selling
House painting in Danville serves a lot of purposes, and one of them is to “stage” a property when it’s put up for sale. As simple as painting your house may seem, it can help you to sell it more quickly.
House painting is a cost-effective way to increase your home’s resale value. If you want to make your home look attractive to potential buyers but you don’t have a big budget for remodeling or renovation, the more economical but effective alternative is to paint it. Even something as simple as re-painting will help your house to rise its value on the property market.
If you want to re-paint your home when planning to sell it but you don’t know how to start, here are some tips that may help you:
1. Repair and repaint the surface
You want your home not only to look good but also to be stable as well — and these are the things that your potential buyers also want for their future home. If the exterior isn’t properly prepped and repaired, how could you effectively sell it? Even if the interiors look good, house shoppers won’t bother to check it out if they are turned off by a house that looks old and dilapidated on the outside.
Before painting your home, it is extremely important to prep and repairs the surface. Proper preparation and repair mean less painting. Check the siding for any noticeable flaws like cracks, holes, fissures and rust. Fill these gaps and flaws with a spackling compound or wood filler. For peeling, flaking, or blistering paint, scrape it and then sand the surface to smoothen it. If the siding has accumulated a great deal of mold, use bleach or a solution of borax and vinegar to remove molds and inhibit the new spores from growing. Priming the surface adds an extra layer of protection to the siding and provides the topcoat a better adhesion, so it’s highly recommended especially when re-painting old surfaces.
2. Re-paint your kitchen
A beautiful kitchen, whether new or remodeled, can easily sell homes. A kitchen is probably the most popular communal room for renovations. Since it is usually nearby to the dining area, the kitchen is not just a place to cook and prepare meals but it is also the place for family bonding and for entertaining guests.
A fresh coat of paint will definitely bring new life to your old kitchen. No matter the color you choose, you should always go for paints that have a sheen as they are excellent in repelling dirt, dust, splattered oil and food, and grime.
If you want to repaint your kitchen altogether, be careful with the choice of your new color scheme to avoid turning off potential buyers.
White is the default color for most kitchens, but you may want to bring a pop of color by adding touches of red, blue, or yellow. If your kitchen is a bit dingy, brighten it up a little by painting the cabinets with white or shades of yellow, or by adding metallic colors (like gold and silver) to the backsplash to give the kitchen a little shimmer.
It’s also okay if you want your kitchen to remain white as it will leave the new owners the ability to add the colors of their choice once they’ve bought the property. You just have to refresh the look by re-coating it with a new white paint.
3. Re-paint interior walls
Most homeowners have little idea what the potential buyers want the interiors to look like. For this reason, they re-paint the safest colors such as white, beige, or light gray. This will leave the new owners the chance to personalize the space with their preferred paint colors and add new furniture and decor to complement the whole look.
Some homeowners though think that white or beige is too plain, dull or cold, so they insist on adding colors to make the rooms look more inviting to potential buyers. But just like in re-painting the kitchen, they should also be careful in choosing their new color scheme for the interiors or else it might repel house shoppers.
If want to re-paint your home with new colors but you’re still not so sure, it’s best to use one color but with varying shades so that they will blend well together, or choose the colors that match the other design elements of your home. It’s also helpful to consult with the best painting contractors in Danville in regards to choosing a new paint color scheme for the interiors.
4. Spruce up the bathroom
Next to the kitchen, a bathroom is also a popular area for renovations. Refurbishing an old bathroom doesn’t have to cost much, other than cleaning/disinfecting, repairing the toilet, faucets, shower heads, plumbing and other fixtures. Brighten up the bathroom by giving it a fresh coat of paint and perhaps replacing your old shower curtain with a new one. It is ideal to choose a paint and primer with anti-mold and mildew properties.
Aside from making your bathroom look good, it is also important to make it smell fresh as well! Buyers will definitely love a bathroom that’s clean and smells really nice. Place natural odor absorbers like a potpourri or a scented reed diffuser. Nothing beats like coming to a pleasantly-scented bathroom!
There’s another option to keep your bathroom looking good and smelling fresh: choose a citrus-based paint and paint products like solvents and primers. Citrus-based paints are considered as one of the eco-friendly paints that are made from natural ingredients (lemon is the common main ingredient). Usually, citrus paints have absolutely no VOC levels, plus they give off a pleasant fruity aroma.
When you plan to sell your home in the future, prepare it by house painting in Danville and see your property value rise, wow your potential buyers, — and eventually, peg that “SOLD” sign in front of your property in no time!
House Painting in Danville – Intumescent Paints Can Protect Your Home
House painting in Danville isn’t only for the sole purpose of beautifying your home. It can also protect your abode from natural elements such as heat and moisture. Not only does paint protect your property, it can even save your life. How? Paint can help save your live by acting as an extra layer of protection against fires.
If you haven’t heard of “intumescent paint,” then it’s time for you to know all about it. This may be important especially for those who are living in areas where forest fires often occur. California, with its mostly hot and windy conditions, is prone to forest fires which range from moderate to devastating. If you are living particularly close to the forest, maybe you should learn why intumescent paints will protect you and your property.
An intumescent paint is a special type of paint which can be incorporated into your regular exterior paint. Since intumescent is colorless and clear, it doesn’t conflict with any color scheme. You can use the intumescent paint to both painted and unpainted surfaces. Intumescent paints are also easy to apply as it is done in the same way just like regular paints. Anyone can use intumescent paint; but if you have to prove building compliance to a government agency or for insurance issues, it is best to let a professional painting contractor to handle this kind of paint.
Intumescent paints are not really new technology and, in fact, have been in use particularly on commercial structures for several years. However, it has been reformulated and redeveloped for better performance and quality. The best news is that intumescent paints are not that expensive any longer and thus are more reasonably priced. These paints are highly recommended for use for residential buildings in fire-prone areas. Intumescent paints can be used when painting the exterior of your home, even applied to most sidings. With intumescent paints, you will now be able to enjoy its benefits of safety and protection without sacrificing style.
An intumescent paint consists of a substance which when exposed to very high heat such as a fire, produces swelling. Indeed, it can swell by as much as 50% of its normal volume, and insulate between the heat source and the surface you’ve painted. When the paint’s swelling becomes larger, it is actually going through a chemical change which causes the paint to turn into carbonaceous char that is resistant to fire and a weak conductor for heat. Therefore, the intumescent paint protects whatever surfaces it has painted, for a time. Please keep in mind that despite these facts, an intumescent paint is not otherwise fireproof, and can’t be depended on to extinguish a fire. However, intumescent paint can buy time for other fire retardants to take effect, or for firefighters to reach the scene. The more coats of the intumescent paints you apply, the longer time you have before damage occurs.
For commercial buildings, the additional time could imply saving inventory. For homes, the extra time might mean the precious time you need to save your family and important items out of the house. Intumescent paint is reasonably priced but it saves lives and properties — and in that respect it is priceless. It could also make a difference between structural damage and cosmetic damage. By delaying the spreading of fires to actual components of a structure, it gives firefighters the extra time to arrive and apply water to put out the fire.
With all these factors, you may want to consider applying intumescent paints for the protection of your home the next time you’re going to do house painting in Danville.
House Painting Danville: Using Stronger Colors
There are times when you need a fresh change in your home can be as simple as house painting in Danville. It gives you the opportunity to choose the colors that you want for your room. Sometimes it’s fun to think out of the box and experiment with different shades or colors you wouldn’t normally use.
For instance, why don’t you try using dark, bold, and vivid colors? You may be tempted to avoid trying strong colors for your room. Why? You don’t know where to start? Well, take a look at the color of your furniture and your curtains, for instance. These will give you a good starting place. Decide which wall colors will complement them. The small color chips that you can get from paint stores may not always be of help when choosing stronger colors. Instead, try painting cardboard or a piece of plywood with the bold color of your choice, and set against the wall to get a better idea of how the color would look like when painted.
Perhaps some of you aren’t sure enough of your choice to paint your entire room in bold colors. But you may want to choose just one wall to paint the bold color, turning it into an accent wall to highlight artwork, souvenir collections, or an entertainment set.
The choice of colors will help you decide the overall atmosphere you will have in your room. For instance, if you want your room to feel cozy, go for warm colors such as deep red or orange, a goldenrod yellow or chocolate brown. This is especially suitable if the color of your furniture is neutral. These bold colors can also help you locate accessories more easily such as decorative pieces or throw pillows.
If you want colors that are more relaxing to the eyes, choose deeper shades of blue, green and purple. If you have natural-looking furniture such as mahogany cabinets and shelves, a dark forest green will perfectly complement them. Another suggestion is pairing ultramarine blue or indigo with gray trim; this combination will give a tasteful, exquisite feel. Dark lavender is also a good choice to set you in a relaxed mood.
You can also go for colors that are quite the opposite of your furniture. For instance, if your furniture is mostly warm colors; tone down the room by painting cooler colors. This gives balance to the whole space. If you have mostly cool-colored furniture, paint your room with warm colors to lift your mood.
This may sound odd, but painting dark colors on the walls does not to make the space recede as is commonly thought. You’ll be surprised that they will instead make your space larger and still allow it to feel cozy at the same time.
House painting in Danville can help you create the space you want. Your imagination is the limit so go on and paint your room in any color that you desire. However, it doesn’t hurt to seek the helpful advice from professional painting contractors in the area for more dark color ideas.
House Painting Danville: Safe Paint Strippers to Use
Most homeowners consider safety a top priority when house painting in Danville and then achieving an excellent finish. Sometimes there is a need to do away with old paint more effectively when a simple scraping won’t work. When this is the case, the situation calls for a paint stripper.
Before, the only available paint strippers were made of chemicals like methylene chloride (sometimes also known as dichloromethane or DCM). Such chemicals found in strippers are highly toxic because they have great quantities of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) that give off nasty fumes. Prolonged exposure to strippers containing high levels of VOC will likely result in a variety of respiratory and kidney problems. You may still use chemical-based paint strippers but do so ONLY when absolutely necessary and when your space is properly ventilated while being used and for as long as possible after they are used.
Thanks to a combination of scientific research, advanced technology, and growing awareness towards “green” building, we now have several safe and eco-friendly paint strippers on the market today. They are now commercially available and you can use them in your house painting in Danville, without worrying about health risks.
However, no matter how safe these paint strippers are, there are still some guidelines that you should follow. A paint stripper that is “green” doesn’t mean that it has zero harshness — it’s just that it’s less harsh compared to its chemical-based counterpart. Eco-friendly strippers may still irritate your skin, eyes and nose, but not as seriously as the harsher ones. It’s still necessary to wear protective gear like face masks, goggles, and hand gloves when using eco-friendly strippers.
The downside of “green” strippers is that they don’t have the same capabilities of removing paint as quickly as the chemical-based strippers. So you may need more patience when using eco-friendly strippers. After applying the stripper you may have to wait a bit longer until you begin to see the old paint has been entirely stripped off.
Here are some of the safe and environmentally-friendly paint strippers:
Soy-based paint strippers are one of the most common eco-friendly strippers available on the market. They are safe and even considered gentle that you can put them on your hands. Soy-based paint strippers can remove acrylic lacquer, shellac, urethane, and varnish, aside from old paint.
Milk-based paint strippers are available mostly in powdered form. Many people who have used milk-based strippers praise its effectiveness in removing old paint and its ease of use, as well as its pleasant, non-noxious odor. The powder is mixed with water, and then applied on the old paint. It usually takes about an hour before the old paint has been totally stripped off and the stripper has been completely dried. Afterwards, just rinse it with water.
Citrus-based paint strippers are also available on the market. However, there is some debate about how safe they really are. Citrus-based strippers may be less toxic and carcinogenic, but you should still use them with caution. They would still irritate your eyes and skin, as well as may cause some breathing problems. Their lemony scents are a particular allure to children and those who have sensitivity to odors. However, that very scent can cause the user prolonged exposure to the paint stripper, causing him/her to feel sick, especially when the space doesn’t have enough ventilation.
Eco-friendly paint strippers now make removing old paint much safer for your house painting in Danville. Contact your professional contractor to discuss which any of these “green” paint strippers is suitable for you.