17
January
2012

Hӧmm Earns 2011 Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

 

  

 

Hӧmm, Certified Painting Systems Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

 Hӧmm, Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“This is the fourth straight year we earn this award, and all of us at Hӧmm are very proud of it! The effort that the staff and crews put into their work every day, accomplish achievements like this one” said Andres Matheu, Owner and President of the company.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Hӧmm, Certified Painting Systems can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

 Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Informative, Promotions | No Comments »

6
August
2010

Renovate Right. Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

It ’s the Law!

Federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to

be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractor’s certification.

Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating more than six square feet of painted surfaces

in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement

or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

• Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet before starting work.

• Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, and the families of children under six years of age

that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child care facilities and general renovation

information to families whose children attend those facilities.

Who Should Read This Pamphlet?

This pamphlet is for you if you:

• Reside in a home built before 1978.

• Own or operate a child care facility, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, built before 1978, or have a child under six years of age who attends a child care facility built before 1978.

You will learn:

• Basic facts about lead and your health.

• How to choose a contractor, if you are a property owner.

• What tenants, and parents/guardians of a child in a child care facility or school should consider.

• How to prepare for the renovation or repair job.

• What to look for during the job and after the job is done.

• Where to get more information about lead.

This pamphlet is NOT for:

• Abatement projects. Abatement is a set of activities aimed specifically at eliminating lead or lead hazards. EPA has regulations for certification and training of abatement professionals. If your goal is to eliminate lead or lead hazards, contact the

National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) for more information.

• “Do-it-yourself” projects. If you plan to do renovation work yourself, this document is a good start, but you will need more information to complete the work safely. Call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) and ask for more information on how to work safely in a home with lead-based paint.

• Contractor education. Contractors who want information about working safely with lead should contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) for information about courses and resources on lead-safe work practices.

Renovating, Repairing, or Painting?

• Is your home, your building, or the child care facility or school your children attend being renovated, repaired, or painted?

• Was your home, your building, or the child care facility or school where your children under six years of age attend built before 1978?

If the answer to these questions is YES, there are a few important things you need to know about lead-based paint.

This pamphlet provides basic facts about lead and information about lead safety when work is being done in your home, your building or the child care facility or school your children attend.

The Facts About Lead

• Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Lead is also harmful to adults.

• Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible.

• Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978.

• Projects that disturb painted surfaces can create dust and endanger you and your family. Don’t let this happen to you. Follow the practices described in this pamphlet to protect you and your family.

Lead and Your Health

Lead is especially dangerous to children under six years of age. Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing:

• Reduced IQ and learning disabilities.

• Behavior problems.

Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies.

Lead is also harmful to adults. In adults, low levels of lead can pose many dangers, including:

• High blood pressure and hypertension.

• Pregnant women exposed to lead can transfer lead to their fetuses. Lead gets into the body when it is swallowed or inhaled.

• People, especially children, can swallow lead dust as they eat, play, and do other normal hand-to-mouth activities.

• People may also breathe in lead dust or fumes if they disturb lead-based paint.

People who sand, scrape, burn, brush or blast or otherwise disturb lead-based paint risk unsafe exposure to lead.

What should I do if I am concerned about my family’s exposure to lead?

• Call your local health department for advice on reducing and eliminating exposures to lead inside and outside your home, child care facility or school.

• Always use lead-safe work practices when renovation or repair will disturb painted surfaces.

• A blood test is the only way to find out if you or a family member already has lead poisoning. Call your doctor or local health department to arrange for a blood test.

For more information about the health effects of exposure to lead, visit the EPA lead website at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm or call 1-800-424-LEA D (5323).

There are other things you can do to protect your family every day.

• Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.

• Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.

• Make sure children eat a healthy, nutritious diet consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines, that helps protect children from the effects of lead.

• Wipe off shoes before entering house.

Where Does the Lead Come From?

Dust is the main problem. The most common way to get lead in the body is from dust. Lead dust comes from

deteriorating lead-based paint and lead-contaminated soil that gets tracked into your home. This dust may accumulate to unsafe levels. Then, normal hand to-mouth activities, like playing and eating (especially in young children), move that dust from surfaces like floors and window sills into the body.

Home renovation creates dust.

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips.

Proper work practices protect you from the dust. The key to protecting yourself and your family during a renovation, repair or painting job is to use lead-safe work practices such as containing dust inside the work area, using dust-minimizing work methods, and conducting a careful cleanup, as described here.

Other sources of lead.

Remember, lead can also come from outside soil, your water, or household items (such as lead-glazed pottery and lead crystal). Contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) for more information on these sources.

Checking Your Home for Lead-Based Paint

Older homes, child care facilities, and schools are more likely to contain lead-based paint. Homes may be single-family homes or apartments. They may be private, governmentassisted, or public housing. Schools are preschools and kindergarten classrooms. They may be urban, suburban, or rural.

You have the following options:

You may decide to assume your home, child care facility, or school contains lead. Especially in older homes and buildings, you may simply want to assume lead-based paint is present and follow the lead-safe work practices described in this brochure during the renovation, repair, or painting job.

You can hire a certified professional to check for lead-based paint. These professionals are certified risk assessors or inspectors, and can determine if your home has lead or lead hazards.

• A certified inspector or risk assessor can conduct an inspection telling you whether your home, or a portion of your home, has lead-based paint and where it is located.

This will tell you the areas in your home where lead-safe work practices are needed.

• A certified risk assessor can conduct a risk assessment telling you if your home currently has any lead hazards from lead in paint, dust, or soil. The risk assessor can also tell you what actions to take to address any hazards.

• For help finding a certified risk assessor or inspector, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323).

You may also have a certified renovator test the surfaces or components being disturbed for lead using a lead test kit. Test kits must be EPA-recognized and are available at hardware stores. They include detailed instructions for their use.

For Property Owners

You have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of your family, tenants, or children in your care.

This means properly preparing for the renovation and keeping persons out of the work area. It also means ensuring the contractor uses lead-safe work practices.

Federal law requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Make sure your contractor is certified, and can explain clearly the details of the job and how the contractor will minimize lead hazards during the work.

• You can verify that a contractor is certified by checking EPA’s website at epa.gov/getleadsafe or by calling the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323). You can also ask to see a copy of the contractor’s firm certification.

• Ask if the contractor is trained to perform lead-safe work practices and to see a copy of their training certificate.

• Ask them what lead-safe methods they will use to set up and perform the job in your home, child care facility or school.

• Ask for references from at least three recent jobs involving homes built before 1978, and speak to each personally.

Always make sure the contract is clear about how the work will be set up, performed, and cleaned.

• Share the results of any previous lead tests with the contractor.

• You should specify in the contract that they follow the work practices.

• The contract should specify which parts of your home are part of the work area and specify which lead-safe work practices will be used in those areas. Remember, your contractor should confine dust and debris to the work area and should minimize spreading that dust to other areas of the home.

• The contract should also specify that the contractor will clean the work area, verify that it was cleaned adequately, and re-clean it if necessary.

If you think a worker is not doing what he is supposed to do or is doing something that is unsafe, you should:

• Direct the contractor to comply with regulatory and contract requirements.

• Call your local health or building department, or  Call EPA’s hotline 1-800-424-LEA D (5323).

If your property receives housing assistance from HUD (or a state or local agency that uses HUD funds), you must follow the requirements of HUD’s Lead-Safe Housing Rule and the ones described here.

For Tenants and Families of Children Under Six years of age in Child Care Facilities and Schools You play an important role ensuring the ultimate safety of your family.

This means properly preparing for the renovation and staying out of the work area.

Federal law requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb

painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 and in child care facilities and schools built before 1978, that

a child under six years of age visits regularly, to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent

lead contamination.

The law requires anyone hired to renovate, repair, or do painting preparation work on a property built before

1978 to follow the steps described on pages 9 and 10 unless the area where the work will be done contains no lead-based paint.

If you think a worker is not doing what he is supposed to do or is doing something that is unsafe, you should:

• Contact your landlord.

• Call your local health or building department, or

• Call EPA’s hotline 1-800-424-LEA D (5323).

If you are concerned about lead hazards left behind after the job is over, you can check the work yourself.

Preparing for a Renovation

The work areas should not be accessible to occupants while the work occurs. The rooms or areas where work is being done may need to be blocked off or sealed with plastic sheeting to contain any dust that is generated. Therefore, the contained area may not be available to you until the work in that room or area is complete, cleaned thoroughly, and the containment has been removed. Because you may not have access to some areas during the renovation, you should plan accordingly.

You may need:

• Alternative bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen arrangements if work is occurring in

those areas of your home.

• A safe place for pets because they too can be poisoned by lead and can track lead dust into other areas of the home.

• A separate pathway for the contractor from the work area to the outside in order to bring materials in and out of the home. Ideally, it should not be through the same entrance that your family uses.

• A place to store your furniture. All furniture and belongings may have to be moved from the work area while the work is being done. Items that can’t be moved, such as cabinets, should be wrapped in plastic.

• To turn off forced-air heating and air conditioning systems while the work is being done. This prevents dust from spreading through vents from the work area to the rest of your home. Consider how this may affect your living arrangements.

You may even want to move out of your home temporarily while all or part of the work is being done.

Child care facilities and schools may want to consider alternative accommodations for children and access to necessary facilities.

During the Work

Federal law requires contractors that are hired to perform renovation, repair and painting projects in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 that disturb painted surfaces to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

The work practices the contractor must follow include these three simple procedures, described below:

1. Contain the work area. The area must be contained so that dust and debris do not escape

from that area. Warning signs must be put up and plastic or other impermeable material

and tape must be used as appropriate to:

• Cover the floors and any furniture that cannot be moved.

• Seal off doors and heating and cooling system vents.

These will help prevent dust or debris from getting outside the work area.

2. A void renovation methods that generate large amounts of lead-contaminated dust.

Some methods generate so much lead-contaminated dust that their use is prohibited.

They are:

• Open flame burning or torching.

• Sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools and equipment

not equipped with a shroud and HEPA vacuum attachment.

• Using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F.

There is no way to eliminate dust, but some renovation methods make less dust than others.

Contractors may choose to use various methods to minimize dust generation, including using water to mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before separating components; and prying and pulling apart components instead of breaking them.

3. Clean up thoroughly. The work area should be cleaned up daily to keep it as clean as possible. When all the work is done, the area must be cleaned up using special cleaning methods before taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest of the home. The special cleaning methods should include:

• Using a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by

• Wet wiping and wet mopping with plenty of rinse water.

When the final cleaning is done, look around. There should be no dust, paint chips, or debris

in the work area. If you see any dust, paint chips, or debris, the area must be re-cleaned.

For Property Owners: After the Work is Done

When all the work is finished, you will want to know if your home, child care facility, or school has been cleaned up properly. Here are some ways to check.

Ask about your contractor’s final cleanup check. Remember, lead dust is often invisible to the naked eye. It may still be present even if you cannot see it. The contractor must use disposable cleaning cloths to wipe the floor of the work area and compare them to a cleaning verification card to determine if the work area was adequately cleaned.

To order a cleaning verification card and detailed instructions visit the EPA lead website at www.epa.gov/lead or contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) or visit their website at www.epa.gov/lead/nlic.htm.

You also may choose to have a lead-dust test. Lead-dust tests are wipe samples sent to a laboratory for analysis.

• You should specify in your contract that a lead-dust test will be done. In this case, make it clear who will do the testing.

• Testing should be done by a lead professional.

If you choose to do the testing, some EPA-recognized lead laboratories will send you a kit that allows you to collect samples and send them back to the lab for analysis.

Contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) for lists of qualified professionals and EPA-recognized lead labs.

If your home, child care facility, or school fails the dust test, the area should be re-cleaned and tested again.

Where the project is done by contract, it is a good idea to specify in the contract that the contractor is responsible for re-cleaning if the home, child care facility, or school fails the test.

You may need additional information on how to protect yourself and your children while a job is going on in your home, your building, or child care facility.

The National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) or www.epa.gov/lead/nlic.htm can tell you how to contact your state, local, and/or tribal programs or get general information about lead poisoning prevention.

• State and tribal lead poisoning prevention or environmental protection programs can provide information about lead regulations and potential sources of financial aid for reducing lead hazards. If your state or local government has requirements more stringent than those described in this pamphlet, you must follow those requirements.

• Local building code officials can tell you the regulations that apply to the renovation work that you are planning.

• State, county, and local health departments can provide information about local programs, including

assistance for lead-poisoned children and advice on ways to get your home checked for lead.

The National Lead Information Center can also provide a variety of resource materials, including the following

guides to lead-safe work practices. Many of these materials are also available at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/brochure.htm.

• Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting.

• Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home

• Lead in Your Home: A Parent’s Reference Guide

For Additional Information

For the hearing impaired, call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to access any of the phone numbers in this brochure.

Hӧmm is a Certified Lead Renovator Contractor. Please contact us for any further assistance.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Informative | No Comments »

17
March
2010

Learn Your Home’s Architectural Roots from Benjamin Moore

Cape Cod

(1600-1955) Cape Cods are one of the oldest traditional American architectural home styles.

Early colonists in New England modeled the Cape Cod style after the countryside homes they left behind in England. The beautiful simplicity of Cape Cod design complements the style’s sturdy structure, which was built to withstand harsh, New England winters. Classic Cape Cod style homes are modest 1-story dwellings with dormers (windows set vertically on a sloping roof, which have their own small roofs). The windows on a Cape Cod are multi-paned and double-hung with shutters. These homes have a center hallway, one or more fireplaces, and hardwood floors.

Color scheme: Soleil AF-330 (siding); Blue echo AF-505 (shutters); Swiss coffee OC-45 (trim)

Dutch Colonial

(1625 – mid 1800’s) As the early Dutch settlers made their homes along the Hudson River in New York State, they built brick and stone homes that were reminiscent of those found in the Netherlands.

Original Dutch Colonial homes are not “true” colonial style homes – the name references the Dutch colonists that settled here. However, Dutch Colonial Revival style is a type of colonial style, blending elements of Colonial Revival and Dutch Colonial style homes. One of the most distinguishing features of a Dutch Colonial style home is the gambrel roof. The gambrel has four slopes; two at the top with a slight pitch, then another two along the sides that are longer, steeper and have a distinctive “flipped” edge. Original Dutch Colonial style homes included dormers which allowed homeowners the advantage of having almost an entire second floor without the construction costs and taxation levied on a two-story home. Other identifying features of Dutch Colonial style homes include clapboard or shingle siding, sometimes with a stone or brick front, small, round windows in the gable end, 8 over 8 windows, gable-end chimneys, and columns for porches and entries. Porches were usually placed under overhanging eaves, and while the overall shape of the home is symmetrical, many also have side entrances.

Color scheme: Westin Flax HC-5 (siding); Ice mist OC-67 (trim)

Lodge

(1630-1880, 1930-present) Most often seen in the Midwest and southern mountain regions of the United States, log cabin style homes were popular until the mid-nineteenth century.

Abundant evergreen forests in Northern Europe inspired immigrants who were from those areas to bring their homebuilding skills with them to America. Today, modern log-style homes are still popular in many resort areas in the mountain regions of the west and south.

The solid construction of log style homes makes them warm shelters from the harsh elements of cold, windy climates. Classic construction of these homes did not include nails. The logs were notched to fit together snugly, then any gaps that remained were tightly packed with fill that could include mud, sticks, and wood chips, also called chinking. Any opening such as windows and doors, were kept to a minimum to preserve heat. The main source of light and heat in traditional log homes came from the fireplace. Today’s log style homes have abundant windows, inviting natural light and beautiful views into the homes’ living areas.

Victorian

(1860 – 1910) There are numerous styles of Victorian architecture, and many Victorian style homes often include design elements from several of these styles.

The most elaborate of Victorian style homes were built between 1880 and 1890, during the then burgeoning Industrial Revolution.

Generally, Victorian style homes have an overall asymmetrical shape, with a pitched and irregular roof. Spindles on the porch posts are elements attributed to the Eastlake Victorian style, so named after the similarly styled furniture of famed English designer Charles Eastlake.

Queen Anne Victorian features are varied and can include bay windows, balconies, stained glass, turrets, porches, brackets and abundant details.

Color scheme : High park 467 (lighter siding); Garden path 466 (dark siding); Bordeaux red 1365 (trim); Brilliant white E-01 (trim)

Colonial

(1876-1955) Colonial style homes remain one of the most popular of what we consider classic American designs.

There are numerous home styles within the Colonial design genre, including Colonial Revival, Georgian Colonial, Federal style and Greek Revival. Many Colonials have several design elements from these various styles incorporated into a single home design.

 Colonial style homes are identified by their overall rectangular shape and symmetrical façade. Windows are multiple-paned and double-hung, often with shutters and, sometimes, dormers. Dormers are windows that are set vertically on a sloping roof, with their own small roof above them. Colonial style homes are typically 2 or 3 stories, with brick or wood siding. A paneled front door is often surrounded by side lights (narrow windows) and canopied by a portico topped by a pediment, which is a low-pitched gable.

Color scheme: Calming cream OC-105 (trim); Deep royal 2061-10 (shutters); Cottage red E-22 (siding)

Tudor

(1890-present) Tudor style homes reached a peak of popularity in the 1920’s and 1930’s and again in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The architectural features of Tudor style homes evolved from medieval times. Such homes were constructed in a post and beam fashion, with roughly hewn lumber, and finished with plaster between the posts. While today’s Tudor style homes aren’t typically built in such post and beam construction, the look of these homes has been copied.

Tudor style homes typically have complex and steep roof lines, with plaster, stucco and sometimes stone or brick façades. Detailing includes “half-timbering” which are strips of wood frames on masonry that form a pattern. Tudor style homes also often have multiple chimneys that are both tall and wide and are typically topped with a decorative, round top. Windows are tall and narrow – some with leaded glass – and doorways are low and arched.

Color scheme: Brilliant white E-01 (trim); Sonnet AF-55 (siding)

Ranch

(1920-1970) Also known as a California Ranch, ranch style homes hit their height of popularity between the 1940’s and 1970’s.

With their clean lines, low to the ground profiles and unadorned exteriors, ranches were a blend of both modern and western styles. They reflected a shift in lifestyles from formal to casual, and celebrated the burgeoning desire to move out of the city to the more spacious suburbs.

Ranch style homes include a low pitched roof, deep-set eaves, large double-hung windows with a sizable picture window in the front, and sliding doors that open out onto a patio. Ranch style homes are typically 1 level, and have a rectangular shape with no basement.

Color scheme: Interlude AF-135 (siding); Townsend harbor brown AC-64 (shutters and front foor); White dove OC-17 (trim)

Contemporary

(1965- Present) “Contemporary” can be a relative term, since it refers to a period of time that is conditionally “recent” — a measure of time that is not fixed.

Architecturally speaking, Contemporary style homes have specific characteristics. Two styles of home often referred to as Contemporary include Post Modern and Neo Eclectic. While these two styles share many Contemporary elements, each has its own unique design, separate from the Contemporary style.

A true Contemporary style home has large, tall panes of glass for windows, which can be rectangular and sometimes trapezoidal. Typically, the overall shape of a Contemporary style home is irregular, lacking any real exterior ornamentation. Natural materials, such as stone, are often used to harmonize with nature, and most have flat or gabled roofs. Post Modern styles have greatly exaggerated modern elements, while Neo Eclectic styles infuse historic details into modern design – something you’ll never see in true Contemporary style.

Color scheme: Gray cloud 2126-60 (siding); Shadow gray 2125-40 (trim); Hale navy HC-154 (front door)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Informative | No Comments »

5
March
2010

Exterior surfaces: Common problems and their causes

Spring is almost here and the time for exterior preventive maintenance has come!!!

This task is inevitable for home owners since the weather affects all exterior surfaces in many ways. Such task can also become very expensive if  the weathering problems are not addressed periodically every 2-5 years as an average cycle for this region.The most common surfaces that suffer from abrasion and deterioration are surfaces such as wood, brick, stucco, vinyl, aluminum,  iron, concrete/cement. The common problems and their causes have been described below, so you, the home owner; can understand what is happening around your home and why. Now, what are the solutions and what systems are to be applied in order to prevent them? We have all the answers for you. Contact us today so we can assist you in any exterior project!

Alligatoring

Description: Patterned cracking in the paint film resembling the scales of an alligator.

Causes: (1) Application of a hard drying topcoat over a non-drying coating; (2) The top coat drying too quickly from being in the sun; (3) Natural aging of oil-based paints. As temperatures fluctuate, the constant expansion and contraction forces result in the loss of paint film elasticity and eventual cracking.

Blistering

Description: Bubbles resulting from localized loss of adhesion and lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface.

Causes: (1) Painting a warm surface in direct sunlight; (2) Application of oil-based or alkyd paint (oil based) over a damp or wet surface; (3) Moisture escaping through the exterior walls; (4) Exposure of latex paint film (water based) to a dew, high humidity, or rain shortly after paint has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface preparation.

 Chalking

Description: Formation of fine powder on the surface of the paint film during weathering, which can cause color fading. Although, some degree of chalking is a normal, desirable way for a paint film to wear, excessive film erosion can result in heavy chalking.

Causes: (1) Use of an interior paint for exterior application; (2) Use of an alkyd based paint (oil). In general, alkyd based coatings will chalk more than their latex counterparts. Use a latex coating if the structure is subjected to severe sun exposure.

Cracking / flaking

Description: The splitting of a dry paint film through at least one coat, which will lead to complete failure of the paint. Early on, the problem appears as hairline cracks, later flaking of paint chips occurs.

Causes: (1) Older substrates with multiple layers of paint; (2) Overthinning the paint or spreading it too thin; (3) poor surface preparation, such as not using a primer over bare surfaces prior to the painting; (4) Painting under cool or windy conditions that make latex paint dry too fast; (5) Use of low quality paints, which will not adhere properly and have poor flexibility.

Efflorescence

Description: It is often seen as a white fluffy deposit of salt crystals on cementitious wall surfaces. It depends on the presence of salt and moisture. The growth of crystals will continue as long as both are present. The salts are present in the mortar blocks or concrete structure and the moisture is usually attributable to some building defect. When emanating from mortar in brick or block buildings, efflorescence will appear as narrow bands corresponding to mortar joints.

Causes: (1) Failure to adequately prepare surface by removing all previous efflorescence; (2) Excess moisture escaping through the exterior masonry walls from the inside; (3) Insufficient curing time for new cement or mortar.

Fading / Poor color retention

Description: Premature and/or excessive fading of the paint color, which often occurs on exterior surfaces facing southern and western exposures. This is relatively easy to see because hidden areas such as eaves will not usually fade. Fading/poor color retention can also be a result of chalking of the coating.

Causes: (1) Colors will fade slightly when exposed to intense sunlight; (2) Use of an altered paint, leading to rapid degradation (chalking) of the paint film; (3) Use of paint colors that are vulnerable to UV radiation, most notably, lighter reds, yellows and oranges.

Mildew and algae

Description: Black, gray, or brown spots or areas found on the paint film or caulk bead.

Causes: (1) Continuously high humidity or dampness. As the humidity increases, mildew growth becomes more rapid; (2) High average temperature; (3) Poor ventilation. Still air increases mildew growth on any surface that provides a nutrient, even dirt; (4) Mildew occurs more often on light colors of paint film. colors that do not absorb the sun’s heat provide a surface for mildew growth. Dark colors become hot and discourage mildew growth; (5) Cement based products are more prone to support algae growth. 

Peeling

Description: Paint or coating lifting from a surface due to poor adhesion. Peeling may involve one or several coats.

Causes: (1) Excessive moisture in the substrate – more likely if paint is oil based; (2) Painting over a dirty surface; i.e.-wax, mildew, grease, chalk; (3) Inadequate surface preparation; (4) Applying an oil based paint over a wet surface; (5) Earlier blistering of paint – see blistering; (6) Use of poor quality paints.

Tannin staining

Description: Brownish or tan discoloration appearing on the paint surface due to wood tannins migrating from the substrate through the paint film. Tannin staining typically occurs with “staining woods,” such as redwood, cedar and mahogany, or over painted knots in certain other wood species.

Causes: All woods, but especially red-colored woods, contain a water soluble dye called tannin. Tannin is not soluble in most solvents. Application of latex topcoats directly to these red-colored woods may develop a red-colored stain on the finish coat. If the dry film is intact and discoloration occurs at a later date, then staining is being caused by water moisture within the board wall. This moisture will migrate and eventually carry staining substances from within the wood to the surface of the paint film.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Informative | No Comments »

20
February
2010

The New Color Book

 

 A best-selling, must- have color manual for the home decorator, THE COLOR BOOK has helped hundreds of thousands of people choose perfect palettes for their homes. Now, with the THE NEW COLOR BOOK, this indispensable tool has been completely revised, offering an all-new range of contemporary color schemes.

As practical as a paint brush, this innovative guide presents ninety six pages, each cut horizontally into three sections- floor, walls and ceiling- that allow you to flip back and forth, mixing and matching until you find the colors that are just right for you. Covering the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, THE NEW COLOR BOOK visually demonstrates 45,000 different color combinations, offering near endless inspiration. All the colors in the book are conveniently coded, making it easy to find your favorite combination at your neighborhood paint store.

See how this unique mix-and-match method can help you eliminate the guess work and discover the perfect color combinations for your home.

For purchase information visit: http://www.chroniclebooks.com.

Search: The New Color Book 

Posted in Informative | No Comments »

18
February
2010

Color 101 by Sherwin Williams

sdfsdf Color Theory

Why Color MattersWhy ColorColor is a language. Color is one of the most fulfilling elements in our lives. Color can attract your attention or change your mood. It speaks to who you are, how you feel and where you’re going. At Sherwin-Williams, we can help you put together the perfect colors for your life.Color is one of the first things you notice when you walk into a room. Is it any wonder that color, and how you use it, is one of the most important decorating decisions you’ll make in your home? Inside your home, the latest colors and the way they’re applied give voice to your personality and décor.Color sets a mood. From floor to ceiling, paint color reflects your style and makes a personal statement of what home means to you.Color unites one-of-a-kind accent pieces with manufactured items throughout your home.Electrifying hues, inspired by technology, bring a touch of whimsy to spaces that also feature natural carved wood, woven textiles and wrought iron. Bright colors are further enhanced when paired with large areas of negative spaceWhy Color Matters

 

Color is a language. Color is one of the most fulfilling elements in our lives. Color can attract your attention or change your mood. It speaks to who you are, how you feel and where you’re going. We can help you put together the perfect colors for your life.

Color is one of the first things you notice when you walk into a room. Is it any wonder that color, and how you use it, is one of the most important decorating decisions you’ll make in your home? Inside your home, the latest colors and the way they’re applied give voice to your personality and décor.

Color sets a mood. From floor to ceiling, paint color reflects your style and makes a personal statement of what home means to you.

  • Color unites one-of-a-kind accent pieces with manufactured items throughout your home.
  • Electrifying hues, inspired by technology, bring a touch of whimsy to spaces that also feature natural carved wood, woven textiles and wrought iron.
  • Bright colors are further enhanced when paired with large areas of negative space.

 

Color Theory  

Learning the basic “language of color” will help you achieve your decorating goals.

Hue

Hue identifies the general family of a color, such as red, yellow, blue or green. The traditional color wheel is made up of twelve color families: red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue-red-violet, violet and blue-violet.

Color Wheel

Colors on the opposite side of the wheel from each other are called complementary colors. In combination, these create striking contrasts. For less contrast, choose colors next to each other on the color wheel, which are called analogous colors. Choosing colors of different tints within one color family creates a monochromatic color scheme.

Warm or Cool?

Different colors in the same family may be described as being “warm” or “cool.” Colors with yellow undertones will seem warmer, while the same color with blue or red undertones will appear cool. Cool colors – blue, green, violet – invite relaxation and thought. Warm colors – red, orange, yellow – encourage conversation and play. Experts suggest using both warm and cool colors in rooms where you desire balance and variety.

Value

Value describes how light or dark a specific color may be. On Sherwin-Williams color strips, lighter values are at the top, mid-tone values are in the middle and darker values are at the bottom. When you combine colors from a single color strip, you’re creating a monochromatic color scheme – perfect for creating a sophisticated, spacious look in a single room.

How to Choose Colors

Begin at the Beggining

Determine what features or existing finishes in the room you would consider permanent. Consider the cabinets, tile or a brick fireplace. For example, if the wood of your kitchen cabinets has a red undertone, make sure the paint color you choose works well with that hue.

Create a Focal Point

Emphasize your home’s attractive architectural features, such as crown molding or arched window treatments, with contrasting paint — lighter or darker than the wall — or by painting them with a glossy finish. You can also make one wall an accent wall by painting it a different color, giving it a faux finish, adding wallpaper or a border.

Unify the Color Flow

You can unify rooms by using a common color palette. Create distinct spaces by altering the shade and hue within the common palette.

Emphasize or Minimize

Color can emphasize certain features – and minimize others. A long narrow room will look wider if you use a slightly darker color on the shorter walls and a lighter color on the longer walls. You can make a ceiling appear higher by applying a lighter color, or lower with a darker color. To give a big room a more intimate feel, paint the walls in colors that advance toward you, such as red, gold, orange and brown. To help a small room seem larger, paint the walls in colors that make them appear to recede, such as blue, green or violet.

Reflect on Light Sources

Remember that the color you choose may look different at various times of the day and night. The warm tones of incandescent lights will have a different influence on the color than the natural light of day. Once you’re aware of how different light sources can affect your color choices, you can change your room’s “mood” to match the pace of your day.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Informative | No Comments »

8
February
2010

Hiring and Contracting with a Professional

  Before you decide to hire the least expensive painter you can find, or “do it yourself”, here are important points to consider that suggest the lowest price may not be the best value.

 

Safety:

Painting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust. Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about these problems.

 

Health:

If your home or business was built before 1978, it may have been painted with lead-based paint, which can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting. Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you. Painting contractors are required to furnish EPA-produced pamphlets to their residential customers before they begin a job that involves disturbing lead-based paint in or on a residence. Professional painting contractors will understand and be willing to follow the recommendations on this pamphlet.

 

Preparation & Painting:

Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.

 

Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them:

The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job. Professional contractors utilize and partner with professional paint, coatings, and wallcovering suppliers.

 

Cleanup and Disposal:

Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.

 

How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Project:

Once you have decided to contract with someone to do a particular painting and decorating project, how do you go about selecting the right company? Do you make your selection on price, size of company, years in business, or other criteria? To locate the names of reputable contractors, there are many sources of information. Some of these sources are PDCA’s Find a Pro search engine, friends, relatives, architects and design professionals, and local “quality- oriented” paint supply stores. However, these sources can only give you limited general information. In order to make an educated decision, you need some specific information about any person or firm you are considering hiring.

 

Always verify the contractor is licensed and insured:

Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their certificates of insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs. Not all states and municipalities require licensing however business registration with your state and municipality is generally a minimum requirement.

 

Written Contracts are a Must:

Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted, methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive

with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field. The contract serves to protect both you and the contractor.

 

Invest Time in Verifying References:

Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, some of the projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done. Discuss any guarantee or warranty programs the contractor may offer. Ask about the manufacturer’s warranty on the products to be used on your project. Remember you are looking for long-term durability from the paint job. The use of high quality products is as important as the selection and performance of the contractor. Verifying references will provide a return on your project investment.

 

Is Your Contractor a PDCA Member?

Determine if your contractor is a member of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. It has been in existence since 1884 and has over 3000 members all over the country and parts of Canada. The focus of the association is the education of its members and the promotion of professionalism within the industry. Look for the PDCA logo on your contractor’s business card, bid sheets, or trucks. The PDCA offers many programs for the education of painting contractors. This education includes training in the area of safety, business management, technical areas of painting and surface preparation, and more. Quality painting and decorating contractors are well educated on the different aspects of any painting project and that knowledge helps eliminate surprises.

Excellence in paint application is as important with your selection of a contractor as are the skills to properly manage their business and your project.

 

Not all Memberships Associations are alike:

National Associations such as PDCA and the Better Business Bureau are Non-Profit Associations who are interested in making the contracting world better, not just selling their products, which many marketing and sales type groups are in business for. PDCA is the only national association for painting and decorating contractors and one of the oldest contractor associations in America. Industry standards are another benefit of industry associations. PDCA produces nationally recognized Painting Industry Standards that cover many different aspects of a painting project. Use of these standards in proposals and contracts helps improve communication between the client and the contractor, assists in ensuring quality, and becomes a basis for evaluating the job’s requirements.

 

In Closing:

Good contractors are very eager for your business. They are also very proud of their craftsmanship. Once you have made your selection, step back and give the professional room to execute the project. You have both done your homework, so give the professional the opportunity to meet and exceed your expectations. Remember, as with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. If you want high quality and reliable service, be willing to pay the price that comes with it. Here’s to your successful painting projects. The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America is a full-service national trade association representing over 3,000 companies engaged in all sectors of the coatings application industry. PDCA has developed this article to assist you in making an informed decision when you next contemplate a painting or decorating project.

To find a PDCA contractor in your area, visit the PDCA Find-a-Pro Search Engine on www.pdca.org, or call PDCA at 800-332-PDCA.

 

© Copyright 2005 PDCA All Rights Reserved. Painting & Decorating Contractors of America

 

 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Informative | No Comments »