If you are ready for house painting in San Ramon, check out these great tips and tricks if you want to end up with a smooth, professional-looking finish. After you have done all the prepping and priming work, then you’re ready to start painting.

Painting in San Ramon is one of the most popular DIY activities. Just applying a fresh coat of paint will give a big transformation in your rooms. For a relatively easy, quick and professional-looking finish in your paint job consider these invaluable tips:

1. Do you know how much paint will be required for your room? First, determine the square footage of your interiors. According to the professional housepainters, they recommend one gallon of paint per 400 sq. ft. It also depends what kind of walls you have before it is covered with paint. For instance, a rough, textured wall or a wall that has not been primed will require much more paint. Otherwise, if you have a cleaned, sanded and primed surface, it will be smoother and therefore a smooth surface will need less paint.
2. You may use paper or plastic drop cloths, but we recommend that you use canvas which is the best material for drop cloths. Plastic may a less expensive option, but canvas has many benefits as a drop cloth and is a better investment of the two. First of all, canvas is definitely more durable. With plastic, it may be prone to rips and there is a hazard of slipping and tripping. Canvas lays flat on the surface and doesn’t have the same hazards as plastic has. Canvas is easily rolled or folded around the wall corners when plastic can’t. And canvas can be re-used, unlike plastic which you’ll throw away after using it, therefore creating more waste.
3. Ceiling painting is always the most challenging part of the project. Instead of stepping up a ladder (which poses more hazards), use an extension pole instead. You can use poles of various lengths depending on how tall your ceilings are. Poles are available in a variety of lengths ranging from 36 inches to 18 feet. You can buy those poles if your room measures about 8 or 9 feet tall. Buying a good extension pole can be considered an investment indeed, so choose a pole that has a rigid metal core instead of a pole with a plastic handle. A pole with a plastic handle may have the tendency to bend, but a metal-reinforced pole gives you more control painting your ceiling.
4. Instead of using a paint tray, try using a paint grid for quicker painting. A paint grid is a rectangular plastic or metal screen that latches onto the rim of the bucket. The recommended size of the bucket is five gallons so that the paint grid will fit into it quite well. Fill the five-gallon bucket halfway with paint, and then hang the paint grid inside the bucket. Dip your paint roller into the bucket. Drain your roller against the grid to squeeze and remove excess paint. Then you can paint your walls and ceilings quickly. A grid is a better option than a paint tray because it also gives you less chance of creating a mess. Buying a paint grid is a good investment. If you dread spending long hours painting, a paint grid is a relatively quick way to finish the job.
5. House painting professionals recommended painting the trims first before painting the ceilings and walls. For a more flawless edge, allow your paint to completely dry first before applying painter’s masking tape to protect the trim while painting the walls or ceilings.
6. Maintain a consistent color scheme by mixing several cans of paint into one large paint bucket.

Do you want to end up with a smooth, professional-looking painting job finish? House Painting in San Ramon has never been easier and quicker when you follow these steps.

Do you want an excellent, professional-looking finish on your exterior when house painting in San Ramon? Read the preparations which can be made in five easy steps.

1. Wash the exterior of your entire house. You may want to wash it with a regular brush, and for high-reaching areas, you may want to use a pressure washer. A pressure washer will speed up the cleaning process and more likely your house will end up with a good, clean surface. Use a cleaning solution such as a mixture of bleach and TSP (trisodium phosphate) to get your house clean by killing mold and mildew present on the walls. This mixture will also help prevent mold and mildew from growing back in the future. It is alright to take your time doing this step to ensure that you get rid all mold and mildew, as well as dirt, grease, and other elements.
2. To remove old, peeling paint, the usual method is scraping and sanding. This step is crucial because painting over it will cause the new paint to peel off with the old. You may want to take your time to ensure you scrape all the peeling paint off and then sanding to achieve the smoothest surface possible to paint. The smoother the surface, the better the paint will adhere. Be sure to dust off the surface after you’re through with sanding.
3. Repair any cracks, holes or edges using caulk (a waterproof filler and sealant). You may also want to check the trim, window frames, and door frames for possible cracks that have been unnoticeable. If any cracks are present, repair them with caulk, as well. Some brands of caulk may need to be sanded after it has been applied. Check the instructions on the caulk tube.
4. Use a mask. There are two different types of mask. One is a face mask to protect your nose and your lungs from the dust and other elements while you’re doing the scraping and sanding work. Another mask is the one a tape mask, used to cover the trim, windows and other fixtures that you don’t want to paint.
5. While using a primer is not really necessary, it is recommended. Using a good quality primer will help the topcoat paint hold more securely. A good primer will also help seal the walls, and facilitate the transition of changing the color of your home’s exterior.

Proper preparation work is the key to a great exterior when house painting in San Ramon. So if you follow these steps, more than likely you will end up with a house that is beautiful and professional-looking.

Are you house painting in San Ramon? Choosing what paint colors to use for your interior requires more research than you would think. A fresh coat of interior paint color can make a difference in your room. This is just more than a matter of guesswork, as careful consideration and planning will directly affect the paints you purchase and how you apply it in your rooms.

First, study the size of your room, which help you decide when buying an interior paint color. If your room is small, a light-colored paint will give the illusion of being larger and adding height. A darker, more subdued paint color will make a spacious room seem more comfortable.

It is also important to take the elements of your house into account such as molding, trim and columns. If you want them to stand out, apply a different color than is used for the wall color. On the other hand, if you want these elements to blend with the rest of the room, apply the same paint color as with the color of your walls, or at least choose a paint color with a slightly different hue. This decision will lead you to the type of paint color you will buy and use.

You may also want to base your decisions by judging your room’s function. If you have to paint a bedroom, choose a color that is relaxing to the eyes, and conducive to sleeping. Examples of these colors are blue and green; some even apply deep purple or black to the bedrooms. For a kitchen and dining room, the ideal colors are the bright and vivid ones such as yellow and red, as both whet your appetite. White and beige are also ideal kitchen and dining room colors. A brighter kitchen and dining room also enables you to see spots, grime, spills, etc. while you’re cooking or cleaning.

After you’ve prepped your interior for the painting job, it’s time to choose a color palette. As you’re the owner of the house, you should also have a say in choosing the color scheme. If you still don’t have any ideas, you might want to choose the color scheme from your mood or personality, the color of your favorite dress or flower. You may also base your room’s color scheme from existing items in your home, such as your favorite art or piece of furniture. Apply this inspiration to the type of interior paint that you buy.

In regards to paint finish, choose the one that is ideal for your room. There are different kinds of paint finish such as flat, semi-gloss or glossy. Paints with a flat, solid finish are ideal for walls and especially ceilings. Paints with a flat finish will do excellently in covering surface flaws and cracks. Semi-gloss or glossy paints give off that shiny quality and are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms, although they can also be used in bedrooms and living rooms.

Since buying paint is also seen as an investment, you will want to purchase the best quality paint as possible. A good quality top coat paint may cost you more, but at least you won’t be bothered with applying another paint all over again. Better quality paints are easy to apply, offer protection, and have the ability to withstand age. Some excellent quality paints have primer in them, offering extra durability to the surface. Other good paints have the ability to dry quickly, are easy to clean, and are dirt- and dust-resistant. There are also environment-friendly paints, too.

In choosing between water- and oil-based paints, it’s your preference. Many people still use the conventional oil-based paints, but a water-based paint is more recommended as it has fewer odors and is easier to clean.

Turn to the experts at Custom Painting, Inc. if you need professional advice when it comes to house painting in San Ramon. Our painting contractors are fully licensed and insured, so you can be confident we will provide the best interior painting services.

When house painting in San Ramon, the one thing nobody wants to see when the job is done is blistering in the exterior paint. In order to avoid having these appear, you will need to know what causes them. There are also ways to fix them if they show up anyway.

Blistering is what happens when the top layer of paint is separated from the layer underneath by air or water. Sometimes the possibility of blistering is apparent, while at other times it sneaks up on you. Either way, there are ways to avoid them so that it is less likely to happen.

Moisture is a big reason for blistering in exterior paint. If it has been raining or if the area was washed but not dried thoroughly, or if there is a leak, then moisture is in the area. Being careful to make sure that the entire area is dry and there are no leaks is one way to prevent moisture from causing blistering. This is obviously more important in humid areas, since there is more ambient moisture in those conditions. Choosing to paint an exterior surface on a dry, sunny day is the best option.

Mixing types of paint can also cause blistering. Because latex and oil paints do not respond the same way to heat, one will expand more quickly than the other and blistering will occur. There are primers that can be layered between paint types to help them bond more effectively. However, it is usually best to just paint the new coat with the same type of paint as was used previously.

Painting a new coat before the previous one is dry can also cause blistering. Because you are cutting off lower layers from the factors that speed drying, the upper layer is likely to dry first, leaving a layer that may still be releasing solvent vapors. These will blister, or bubble, because the upper layer will not allow it to be released into the air.

Additionally, if the area is not clean enough, residual dirt can cause blistering. Paint that is spread over dirty surfaces will not stick properly, and will pull away from the surface.

If you have done all you can to prevent blistering, but still find yourself faced with blisters in your exterior paint, the best way to handle it is to scrape the affected paint off, smooth it with sandpaper, dry it completely, and repaint. If the same area blisters again, check for leaks or other moisture traps in the wall behind it.

It is not always possible to prevent blistering when house painting in San Ramon, but if you know what to look for, you have a much better chance of avoiding them.

The environment has become very important to many people, due to a growing understanding of the effect of personal actions on it. Eco-friendly is a buzzword that can help find alternatives that have less of a negative impact when renovating or house painting in San Ramon. Eco-friendly painting techniques can help you get a new look without compromising your values and while still protecting the environment.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ingredients that are often used in commercial paint products that can affect your health and the environment in a negative way. These are especially bad when used in areas that have little or no ventilation. They are particularly bad for those who have allergies or sensitivities to them.

Since allergies and sensitivities to VOCs are fairly common, “green” paints that leave out these substances have become available. When you hire a contractor, you can request this sort of paint to be used. Natural ingredients make up these paints, and they usually have zero VOC. Low VOC paints are also available. Lacking toxins and not requiring cleaners with petroleum bases, these paints also have less negative impact on the environment.

Along with choosing a more environment-friendly paint, there are other things that you can do that can make your painting task more “green.” For instance, many painting tools are made of synthetic materials. If you choose to use natural, hand-made tools, you can often get a better quality product that will last much longer, with proper care. Besides brushes, you can also get a natural painter’s putty that contains ecologically friendly, non-toxic ingredients.

The painting contractor you choose in San Ramon will also have an impact. If you choose the right contractor, you can be sure that they will honor your requests to use eco-friendly paints and techniques. Some of the paint manufacturers who offer an eco-friendly line of paints include Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Frazee Paints, Natural Interior Paint, and Dunn-Edwards Paint. There may be others, and these may not be available everywhere. The right painting contractor will know where to get eco-friendly paints if they are requested.

Before beginning a project, seal the vents and ducts to prevent dust or chemicals from getting into the system. This will prevent this type of contaminant from being circulated throughout the house. This applies both to the preparation, such as scraping old paint, as well as to the cleanup, when other chemicals may need to be used.

It is not difficult to maintain a healthy home, but it does take some thought and effort. These techniques and tips can help your house painting in San Ramon effort if you follow eco-friendly painting practices and lower the impact of repainting on your family or employees.

While it has always been common when house painting in San Ramon or elsewhere to paint a whole room one color. Some people find that this becomes monotonous. To break up the sameness, an accent wall is an excellent possibility. An accent wall is a wall that is painted a different color from the rest of the room, but complementary, that adds interest.

Any room can have an access wall, even foyers or hallways. An accent wall goes well behind a focal point or the ‘odd man out’ of your furniture, to help to draw the room together. It can bring your personality to the room.

Choosing the color is not as difficult as it might seem. When you are using the accent wall as a focal point, choose a color that complements the rest of the room and is present in some piece or another of furniture. For instance, if you inherited a chair from your grandmother that does not really match the rest of your furniture, you can use one of its colors as an accent wall, and place the chair by that wall, and it will fit the room despite its differences. One of the colors that is present as an accent color – or your primary decorating color, but different from your wall color – is ideal.

While there is always a dominant color in a room, other colors should always be used to keep it from being overwhelming. The walls are often a neutral color, but an accent wall does not have to be neutral. It can be a bright or even patterned wall that helps to add interest and cohesiveness to a variety of colors in a room.
Some choose wallpaper, but stripes, a sponged or rag finish, or mural make great choices, if you would rather not have the accent wall a solid color. No matter what you choose, an accent wall will perk up your house painting.

The wall you choose is important, too. It is best for the accent wall to be a wall without doors or windows, unless you want to accent a picture window. However, if your room has a natural focal point, such as a fireplace, this would be an excellent accent wall. Otherwise, choose the wall where you have placed your focal point. Remember that an accent wall can change the apparent size and shape of a room, which can help alleviate apparent flaws. For an accent that is subtle, use a color that is just two or three shades different from the rest of the room.

If you want to get a professional opinion about an accent wall when house painting in San Ramon, painting contractors such as Custom Painting, Inc. can help you.