Best Commercial Painters Pleasanton – How Often You Should Paint?

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In business, appearances do really matter. It’s a fact that customers buy products and patronize services by sight, and companies and smaller enterprises alike have been taking advantage of that by making their businesses visually attractive. This should include maintaining the look of their own establishments.

Only the most qualified and best commercial painters in Pleasanton are able to transform the physical look of businesses and make them brand new again. That’s why commercial establishments should do periodic maintenance by hiring commercial painters who will be able to keep them looking attractive to new and long-time customers/investors alike.

It’s true that maintenance and repainting commercial buildings mean another set of expenses yet again, but the payoff would be worth it.

But the question is, how often should you paint or repaint your business?

The answer is: it depends. But that’s not just a vague answer. Look into these possible factors and see if any of them conforms to your business’ situation:

1. Change of color

Have you grown tired of looking at the same old colors on the interior or exterior walls? Or has any of your customers posted a review to say that your place looks drab and uninteresting, or too overwhelming? Even if that color is still your favorite and it has remained on your walls for five or ten years, but you think it needs a change, then go for it. Repaint the walls and replace the old colors with newer and more vibrant ones for a refreshing transformation.

2. Surface problems

Regular maintenance is beneficial to businesses because it allows them to determine if there is something that needs to be fixed and/or modified. Check the walls for any signs of fading, peeling, cracking and many other common surface issues. Imagine if you ignore your business and leave it like this, do not expect that customers and investors would want to visit it. That’s why you should maintain an impressive appearance of your business, inside and out. Make sure that the painting contractor you hire does the cleaning and preparation of the surfaces before starting to paint the walls.

3. The walls are too dirty

Commercial buildings are usually situated in the heart of a community, town or city which makes them more exposed to people traffic. Also, commercial buildings are more prone to pollution as well as various weather conditions. All these factors make the walls really dirty in the long run. There may be no need for a general repainting if the surfaces have been cleaned regularly. But if the walls are too dirty that they cannot be cleaned even by the strongest solvents, the last feasible option is to have them repainted. This will make your business establishment looking good, clean and brand new once again. Of course, as with other painting jobs, a good clean up, repair, and preparation of the surfaces are required before starting to paint them.

4. The choice of contractors

How long should your paint last also depend on the type of commercial painting contractors you have chosen and hired to paint your business. So, if you hire a contractor that is experienced, licensed, insured, bonded, professional, has the right paints and tools and employs his own workers, you won’t have to repaint that too often.

Try to choose the best commercial painters in Pleasanton who will make an exceptional and amazing paint finish that will last for a long time (usually five to ten years, or even longer).

Commercial Painters in Pleasanton: Consider Temperature and Humidity

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There are many situations which the best commercial painters in Pleasanton should earnestly consider when doing their job. They include temperature and humidity that may either have a positive or a negative effect on the paint, especially on how (and how long) it dries.

Temperature and humidity will pose little problems if you’re doing interior painting. But it’s going to be a significant concern if you plan to go out to paint the exteriors, especially if your business is in an area which experiences extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.

That’s why knowing when the best time is to paint outdoors is important, as well as knowing how to avoid painting in these extreme weather conditions. Having the right information can help you avoid exterior painting problems.

Here is a couple of rules of thumb when painting outside: if you’re using latex or acrylic paint, the ideal temperature should be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit; and if you’re using oil-based paint, the ideal temperature should be 45 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 48 hours. But you can find special paints that are formulated for application under extreme temperatures, even as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit!

Now, expect the worst-case scenarios when painting outside under extreme weather conditions. You can also check out the ways on how to prevent a bad paint job from happening due to such reasons.

Painting under cold temperatures

Painting in the bitter cold prevents the drying of paint altogether. The paint will fail to adhere properly to the surface. It will condense, thicken and become semi-solid. Since the paint still retains much of the moisture, it will sag and crystallize quickly.

But if you really had to paint outside in the cold, the trick is to do it during the daytime or just before nighttime falls. It’s because air temperatures drop below the freezing point during the evening. Since freshly applied paint still contains moisture, it will harden and crystallize under below-zero temperatures even before it starts to cure itself properly.

That’s why it’s extremely important to keep in mind that temperatures should be 45 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit when you go out to paint during cold weather. Not just that – the temperature should remain within that range for at least two or three hours to give the paint enough time to cure itself properly.

Painting in hot temperatures

Paint needs heat to dry itself quickly. But painting under extremely hot weather is a different matter. The paint will dry too quickly before its lower layers have the chance to cure itself properly. This results in a variety of surface problems such as discoloration, cracking, blistering, bumps or “alligatoring.”

Paint brushes and rollers will also be affected by the extremely hot weather. They will dry quickly, become hard and turn stiff, making them unusable.

But what if you need to change the looks of your establishment for the summertime, for instance? Here are the ways to achieve an optimal painting job (as possible) by considering any of these tips:

  • Start painting early before the day gets too hot.
  • Do not paint under direct sunlight.
  • Try painting in the shade.
  • Try to use any covering (such as a vinyl tarpaulin) to provide shade over your work site.
  • When the surface gets too hot, stop painting for a while. Then resume painting just about an hour before sunset or during sunset, if you can.

Extreme weather changes

Nothing is more annoying than experiencing unpredictable and extreme weather changes during the day as you paint outside. One moment it is a nice, sunny day as you begin to paint…only to experience heavily clouded skies and rain showers later in the day. This result is slower drying and curing, and your entire paint job will be practically ruined.

The best possible solution to this problem is to paint during the late summer or early autumn. The best painting contractors in Pleasanton should consider these seasonal periods as the ideal time to do exterior painting. It’s because they are least likely to experience sudden and unpredictable weather changes.

Humidity

Aside from temperature, another issue that constantly haunts commercial painters is humidity, especially high humidity. Higher humidity means a higher level of dampness in the air, and this means the paint will dry and cure more slowly than expected. It’s because moisture will enter the paint film before it has the chance to dry itself. Besides, it will attract dust and soot. That’s why painting on a damp surface is a big no-no.

This problem can occur in both exterior and interior painting (especially when painting in poorly ventilated areas).

That’s why painters prefer to paint in low humidity when there’s less moisture in the air. The drier the air, the bigger the likelihood that the paint will dry and cure itself properly.

So how to prevent humidity from ruining your paint job? Here are some helpful tips:

  • Refrain from doing an exterior painting when the day gets late, as the temperature begins to drop, and humidity becomes high.
  • Paint on warm surfaces.
  • Paint in thin coats as it will allow the paint to dry quickly and properly.
  • When painting interiors, make sure that the area is well ventilated by opening doors and/or windows and turning on fans.

Temperature and humidity are some of the main concerns among best commercial painters in Pleasanton. When the weather sometimes gets too extreme, they would rather prefer to wait first until conditions become ideal again for painting, especially painting outdoors.

Commercial Painters in Lathrop Know How to Choose the Right Paint for the Surface

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One of the benefits of hiring the best commercial painters in Lathrop is obviously their expertise. These professional painters are well trained in every aspect of their profession. They also know which types of paints and coatings to apply on a certain type of surface.

Of course, commercial painters also know all too well that proper cleaning and preparation of the surface will allow paints to coat well on the surface. The combination of the proper prep work and the right kind of paints will lead to an excellent finish.

Bare wood

Use a very fine sandpaper to smoothen the surface. Once completely smooth and level, remove the fine dust with a tack rag. Next, apply a stain-blocking primer on it. After priming, apply a latex or an oil-based paint.

Brick

Masonry such as brick may be time-consuming. A wire brush is the only effective tool to thoroughly remove dirt, dust, grime, soot as well as efflorescence or “chalking.” Brush them off in a gentle manner so as not to scrape out the mortar. Scrub the surface with soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Let it dry for 48 hours.

A quality latex primer should sufficiently coat the surface. However, an elastomeric paint is more recommended as it is specifically formulated for coating masonry. An elastomeric paint is formulated to close off the cracks, holes and gaps on the surface. It also creates a barrier to prevent moisture from entering the brick (since it has a porous surface), but it also allows the brick to “breathe” as to let the moisture to escape in the form of vapor.

Ceramic tile or porcelain
Using a 150-grit sandpaper, sand the surface – this will improve the adhesion of paint onto it. Next, clean the surface with TSP (trisodium phosphate) or any non-residue cleaner.

The ideal coatings for ceramic tile or porcelain is a fine-quality acrylic primer, and then an interior paint with a semi-gloss finish. Painting the grout with a contrasting color is a good idea, but you should do so with a steady hand.

Concrete

Remove dirt, grime, soot, and excessive mortar from the surface using a wire brush. Clean the surface with a TSP solution (or any non-residue cleaner). Rinse it completely and let it dry for 48 hours.

When painting concrete, an elastomeric paint is a good choice. Another alternative: since concrete is porous, apply it with a masonry sealer to close off the gaps, cracks and holes. Let it dry completely. Once dried, apply an acrylic primer before painting it with a good quality acrylic latex paint.

Drywall

If the drywall is new, make sure that it is free of dust by removing it with a damp rag. If the drywall has been previously painted, remove any loose paint if you find any. If there are cracks, holes and other surface imperfections, fill them with a spackling compound and let it dry. A good quality acrylic latex primer is recommended for this type of surface.

Metal

Remove dirt, loose paint or rust using a wire brush. Then smoothen it with a 220-grit sandpaper. Use plain water to wash it off and let it dry. (no need to clean it with soap)

Let it dry. Next, apply an exterior primer and topcoat it with a paint which is specifically made for metals.

Painted or sealed wood

First, clean the surface. A wet rag will do, but you can also use TSP (or any other non-residual cleaner) for surfaces with stubborn dirt, marks, etc. Smoothen the surface with sandpaper until completely level. A quality latex paint is a good choice for a topcoat.

If you plan to have your business painted but are not sure which types of paints to use, do not hesitate to ask the best commercial painters in Lathrop. They are ready to give you the best advice regarding the right paints for surfaces, as well as the best paint finishes and colors.

 

Commercial Painters Pleasanton: Best and Worst Office Colors

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Every new season is the best way to refresh and renew our outlook in life. As for companies and commercial establishments, it’s also the best time to reset their goals and their vision, and to give their businesses a whole new branding.

Of course, along with the renewed goals and the vision, companies should not forget the more physical aspects of their business: that is, to give their establishments a refreshed look, from exteriors to interiors. Even just a fresh coat of paint will go a long way. If you are not too sure what kind of paint color should be right for your business, you can always consult the best commercial painters in Pleasanton and they will give you the best suggestions about the right paint colors.

It may sound trivial to say that the color of your office can affect the mood of your employees and clients, as well as your professional behavior and relationships with them. But it’s true – the colors painted on your office will greatly affect your mood. Choosing colors is as important as choosing   comfortable and ergonomically designed workspace furniture, tools, fixtures, etc. Companies know all too well that their employees’ mood and behavior can significantly affect the direction of their business. The right color palette will help employees focus more on their work and become more productive.

Businesses can choose colors which what they seem to them as appropriate. However, below is a general guide of the colors that you should use – and you should not use – for the office.

The best colors:

1) White, off-white or beige – Neutrals are often the best and safest bets for office painting. You cannot go terribly wrong with white, off-white or beige, as you can match this color with accent colors or the right kind of furniture. White, off-white or beige is economical as well. It is the best color to use for smaller office spaces, as it gives a bright enough look and the illusion of a bigger space.

2) Gray – Gray is another neutral color. You may be surprised to learn that gray is a good color, if you use the right shades. It’s not really a dull choice for an office color as many people perceive it to be. Gray is a soothing color that will help you ease down your stress, especially when things get really tense around the workspace. Plus, depending on the shade, gray is a versatile and easy-to-work color. It can be matched with other colors like brown, white, red, purple, green, etc.

3) Red – The color of passion and energy, red is believed to bring increased blood pressure and heart rate. Thus, if you are feeling groggy as you come to the office, some hits of red will help you to get yourself awake and energized. Red can also whet your appetite and stimulate closer communication and collaboration. However – except when used at fast-food establishments and restaurants – too much of red can also trigger negative emotions such as anger and anxiety, so it’s best to use it for an accent wall.

4) Brown – Brown is a calming and reassuring color, no matter what shade. But unlike blue and green, which engender a peaceful, tranquil or even a soporific effect. Instead, brown brings out an impression of confidence, credibility and security.

The worst colors:

1) Pink – Pink is the perfect choice for your little girl’s bedroom. But it’s definitely a no-no for the office space. Bright and vivid pink is too bold and too stimulating to the eyes that it can distract you from finishing your all-important deadlines. It’s best reserved for little office accents.

2) Yellow – Yellow has that image of being a happy and cheerful color. It’s the color of sunshine, sunflowers and lemonade. It can help boost people’s mood and inspire creativity. However, yellow is not the best bet to paint for your business, especially the entire office interiors. Just like pink, yellow is too bold, too stimulating and too distracting. It can even trigger intensely negative feelings such as frustration, anxiety and anger. It’s okay if you use yellow as an accent color. If you had to paint your office with yellow, the best way is to use white or softer shades of green, purple or blue to complement it.

3) Turquoise, bright green and bright red – At first, these colors may be attractive to the eyes. But imagine staring at these colors for long periods of time, and you may eventually feel irritable, uncomfortable or dizzy. These colors are also too distracting which prevents you from focusing on your job. Avoid using any of these colors on all four walls of your office.

While preferences also matter, you still have to consider the effect that color can have on office employees. That’s why the right colors for the office do matter, as they can encourage an atmosphere of energy, positive vibe, creativity, productivity, good business relationships and interaction – and when these things come together, they will make any business successful.

However, it’s also important to know that relaxation matters a lot. Choosing colors that are meant to recharge and re-focus one’s priorities are also great for some office spaces, especially when employees are going through a stressful workday or experiencing burnout.

Hiring the best commercial painters in Pleasanton is the best option because they have the experience and the expertise regarding the best colors and color combinations for any commercial spaces.

Are All Commercial Painters in Pleasanton the Same?

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You don’t have to look hard for commercial painters in Pleasanton and nearby. Nowadays, they’re just a call away, and they will be right there to serve you.

Like in many businesses, commercial painting companies do many sorts of ways to attract clients. It’s obvious that not all commercial painting services in the area the same exactly. They offer a different line of services, the paints and the tools they use, the rates they charge, the estimates, contracts and the warranties they offer, as well as the number of workers, scheduling, payment options, as well as discounted rates, etc., among all other things.

So, the thing that you should do is to hire the best contractor that you could possibly find. Doing a bit of research will ensure that you will be able to get the best contractor to work for your commercial property:

1. The first thing that most people do nowadays whenever they are looking for the best painting contractors in Pleasanton is to look for them on the Internet. The first place that they go to is to look at their websites and browse anything in it – history, vision, services as well as customer reviews.

If you would also like to know whether a company is notorious for receiving several complaints from customers, check out the Better Business Bureau website and enter the name of the contractors you’re considering to hire.

2. Ask friends, neighbors or any of your colleagues around who also happen to operate a business establishment. They may recommend you to the commercial painter that they have worked with in the past. They would even invite you to their property so that you could inspect the latest work by the painting contractor.

3. When you finally have a short list of contractors (at least three) – invite them over to check your property what needs to be painted or repaired. Then they will give you estimates. You should also consider the other points that you are looking for a contractor – their professional behavior, skills, efficiency, punctuality, good communication and relations with the contractors, even the uniforms they’re wearing. If a certain candidate has all these positive attributes, then you should consider hiring them.

4. You may have a lot of things going on in your mind, but do not forget to ask them the most important questions, like:
– Is your company licensed?
– Is your company insured?
– How long have you been in the industry?
– Do you subcontract, or do you have your own workers? (people generally prefer a contractor who employs its own workers)
– Are you affiliate to any commercial painting affiliations?
– Am I going to worry about the workers who will come to my property?

If the candidates are able to answer your questions satisfactorily, then you’re a few steps away from hiring that contractor. After that, you will be able to proceed to other things such as a contract and a warranty. It is important to read thoroughly what’s in the contract and in the warranty. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your contractor.

A contract provided by your painting contractor typically includes the cost of the materials and the labor, the timeline, the type of paints, supplies, and other services, as well as payment options.

A warranty, on the other hand, usually contains the things that a painter usually covers. If a paint failure appears soon after the work has been done, for instance, it’s usually the result of a poor workmanship. The company will provide labors and materials to correct the paint issues at little or no cost. But a warranty may exclude other things such as incidental damages, moisture, cracks, etc., which the contractor will not cover.

Since commercial painting companies in Pleasanton differ, you have to start doing a thorough research and investigation, so that you will hire the ideal contractor who will be able to meet your needs (as well as your budget).

House Painting Pleasanton – How Long Does Exterior Painting Take?

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Most of us want to see certain things done quickly, including house painting Pleasanton.  So, we couldn’t help asking: “how long will it take?” or “how long will it take to finish?”

In exterior painting, we are all hoping for good weather conditions to enable painting outside the house. But it’s not always the case. There are other factors that come into play such as the number of coatings, the size of the house, the size of the painting crew, the type of surface to be painted, and a lot more. These things can cause the topcoat to take a lot more time to dry than we’ve hoped.

The following are some reasons why exterior house painting may take a while and why there may be some delays to your job:

  1. The weather– The weather – especially bad weather – is always the top reason why there are delays to most of our painting jobs. When the weather is wet, you cannot go out to paint the exterior. If you do try to paint while it’s still raining, the moisture could delay the proper drying of paint. This could result in unsightly overlap marks and water streaks, and they’re not the results you want to see in your home’s exterior.It’s always better to wait out until the rain stops and the weather becomes better. It’s also important to check whether the surface becomes perfectly dry again to be painted. Even a whit of leftover moisture should not remain on the surface; otherwise, it could ruin your entire paint job.
  2. Temperature and humidity – Both the temperature and humidity also play a big role to the paint’s drying speed. While drying time depends on the paints you use (latex or oil-based), the general rule of thumb is that latex paints are applied when temperatures go between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and oil paints in temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.Painting under too hot or too cold temperatures can ruin your paint job. It may not dry or bind properly to the surface, which can lead to cracking, peeling or blistering. And of course, the surface problems mean that you have to start painting all over again, which takes additional time.

    It is always better to paint during late in the summer season or in early autumn, where the extreme changes in temperature during the day are low.

    The optimum degree of humidity – the amount of moisture in the air – should play around 40% to 70%. It’s always better to paint when humidity is low. Higher humidity can lead to the slower drying time of the topcoat. Plus, other things like dust and soot can stick to the wet surface, and you don’t want a dirty paint finish. Both water- and oil-based paints are prone to such problems when they’re exposed to high humidity.

  3. The size and condition of the house – It goes without saying that the bigger the house is, the longer the job takes to finish.Another factor is the condition of the house. If your home’s exterior doesn’t have a lot of serious surface problems, then the preparation and painting would be relatively easier and faster. But if your exterior has acquired any sorts of surface issues like peeling, flaking, molds and mildew, rust marks, etc., then the prep work and painting shall take a lot longer.
  4. Hampering the work in progress – If you’re the nosy type who likes to check and double-check on how the painting job is going, you’d most likely follow the workmen around and scrutinize their every move to see if they’re doing their job right. Your kids and pets may follow you all the way to the work area and may run around the work site. Not only it will be annoying and distracting, it can also be dangerous as it can lead to accidents – especially when there are solvents or high ladders around, for instance. If that happens, the job may take longer than expected.It’s better to leave the workers to do their job first. When their break comes, discuss with them about the progress of their work.

    Also, make sure that any obstruction (rocks and stones, overgrown bushes, a garden hose that’s strewn across the lawn, etc.) is out of the way before the workers arrive. If you plan to cut on painting costs, you may also do the cleaning and prep the surfaces by yourself. This will also reduce the task on the part of the painting crew, speeding up the job in the process.

  5. Lack of communication – The project of exterior painting may get hindered by the lack of good communication between the workers and the homeowners.As a homeowner, you are the one who knows what you want for your house to be painted. It is important that you should discuss this with your contractor to avoid disputes in the future. Better, provide the contractor your own list of specified work (such as the number of preferred coatings, inclusion or omission of primer, or areas that you want or don’t want to have them painted) that you’d like to be done so that they would have an idea on what you would have wanted the space to look like when it’s done.

    If contractors find something that’s beyond repair or potentially harmful (like lead in old paint), they inform the homeowners that there is no other alternative than to have them removed or replaced. They may sometimes discuss their suggestions to the homeowners and together they try to reach an agreement or compromise.

There are a lot of reasons that can hamper exterior house painting Pleasanton from getting finished within the defined time frame. While there are factors that are beyond our control such as the weather, there are other things that can be managed and this will help to speed up the painting job as desired.

5 Reasons to Consider House Painting in Pleasanton

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House painting in Pleasanton is beneficial in a lot of ways. Our homes give us protection and privacy, so they only deserve the best care, including the best paints. Here are the five reasons why you should consider painting your home:

1. To increase resale value
When you plan to move out and sell your home, it’s always better to re-paint it. Giving your home a fresh coat of paint will give you a better chance that your house will be sold more quickly. A freshly re-painted home with a well-placed and attractive color scheme will also easily nose out the competition. Even just painting the door, window frames, and trim can help boost your home’s resale price and attract potential buyers.

2. To improve the condition of your home
If your house is all worn-out, that’s a good opportunity to repair the surface and re-paint it. When your house has been standing for a long time (and hasn’t seen a paintbrush in many years), it has taken a lot of beating from many factors like weather conditions (moisture, too much or prolonged sun exposure and humidity, for some) and some impact. These things have led to many surface issues like fading paint, peeling or flaking paint, blistering paint, alligatoring, mold and mildew, chalking, and a lot more.

What’s good about re-painting your home is that it allows you to see the problem first, and then repair the affected surface. Always remember that preparation of the surface will bring back most of its old appearance and quality.

3. To increase your home’s curb appeal
Sometimes, we need to change the outside appearance of our home once in a while by making it look brand-new again. It just feels gratifying to see a new color and refreshed look in our abode. A newly re-painted home looks also inviting to guests as well.

4. To improve air quality
Re-painting your home regularly and using a good quality paint will help improve your home’s indoor air quality. It will help minimize dust, dirt, and other air pollutants. Re-painting your home also discourages the growth of mold and mildew (whose spores can be carried by air when disturbed).

If you or other members of the family are especially sensitive and suffer from respiratory conditions (such as asthma), you may want to forget using conventional paints and instead buy “green” or eco-friendly paints. These paints are all-natural and use ingredients like milk, clay, and even citrus fruits. Since these green paints have zero VOC levels, they emit no harmful chemical vapors.

5. To renovate your home in more affordable way
If you want to renovate your home but you don’t have a big budget for that, a fresh coat of paint and a new color scheme can dramatically transform your drab-looking home into an attractive and engaging space.

No matter which of the reasons you should choose, house painting in Pleasanton is always a good idea! You may go the DIY way or, better yet, choose to hire a professional contractor like Custom Painting, Inc. if you desire a smooth and flawless paint finish.

Saving Money When Exterior House Painting in Pleasanton

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House painting in Pleasanton can be a costly thing to do. While one day you may do necessary upkeep of your home’s exterior, there some ways to cut back the expense without sacrificing the quality work that is done.

Maintaining your home’s exterior — which also includes painting and repairs — is a key to maintain the high value of your home’s property as well as to reduce future expenses. The fewer issues that your home’s exterior has to be repaired before starting on your paint, the less you will spend on preparing the surfaces.

A lot of homeowners choose to have the professionals do the work of exterior house painting in Pleasanton. For the budget-conscious homeowner however, this may not be a feasible option — but this may be possible if you discuss the matter with a professional painting contractor and make arrangements regarding the job to be taken. For instance, you may have to split the tasks between the two of you — you doing the prep work and the contractor doing the painting part. This will save the contractor time and you money. The paint contractor, as well as you the homeowner, will want such any agreement to be expressed in writing, because that paper will serve as protection for the both of you. However, it is likely that the contractor will not give any warranty since he will not be doing all the work himself. So it’s important that you discuss this matter with your contractor before arriving at the final decision.

Now that you and your contractor may have reached an agreement, you should know how the prep work on the surface should be done. It usually includes washing the surface, getting rid of mold and mildew, removing dirt, grease and grime, scrapping old peeling paint, repairing damage (if any), filling any gaps with caulk, and sanding.

But if you have decided to do the entire project by yourself, you will definitely save money. You will want all the surfaces to be prepped properly. Buy only good quality paints that your budget can afford, as the quality of the paint has much to do with the “finished product.” If you choose to buy cheaper paints, you may save a lot more money at the beginning of the project — but you should be aware that cheaper paints also mean cheaper and inferior quality. If you use cheaper paints, it is highly likely that you won’t be satisfied with the end result — colors fading, thin coating, etc. — considering the hours and the labor you’ve spent on the job. Buying premium quality paints may not be cheap, but at least it will last for more years before you will be required to paint again. This means that the price of buying expensive paints will be lower in the long run.

To make the paint last even longer, you will also want to use a good-quality primer. A primer is a preparatory coat which applied on prepped surfaces. This will help the paint adhere better to the surface and thus will give it an even result. It will also help reduce the number of coats of paint necessary to achieve the desired color and finish. These are just a few of the many ways you may be able to save money when doing exterior house painting in Pleasanton.

House Painting Pleasanton What to Do About Blistering Paint

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One of the things that no one wants to encounter while house painting in Pleasanton is blistering paint on the exterior walls. Knowing what factors cause paint to blister is a vital part of discovering solutions on how to prevent it from happening again.

A blister refers to a paint problem where the top layer of paint raises above the layer beneath it. Have you seen these “bubbles” on the surface? Those are blistering paints. Unfortunately, there is no way for us to predict when the blistering will happen but there are ways to make it less likely to happen.

Moisture is the number one cause of blistering paint. Did you paint the exterior walls while it’s a bit rainy? Did the paint dry properly? Was the surface still wet as you started to paint it? Any of these may be the source of moisture which causes blistering paint. So the key solution to avoiding possibility of blistering paint is a thoroughly dry surface. It is important to make sure that all areas are completely dry before applying paint. Some areas like the basement and bathroom tend to be quite humid. If you’re painting in these areas, it’s important that you should take careful steps that will remove as much moisture from the area while you’re painting.

Mixing different paints types is another culprit of blistering paint, particularly on the exterior walls. For instance, the current paint on the walls is oil-based and you’re trying to coat a latex paint over it. Since heat leads to expansion and oil and latex respond to it differently, the blistering or bubbling occurs. It’s better to apply an a new coat of oil-based paint over a surface already painted with an oil-based paint, and a new latex paint over a surface already coated with a latex paint.

When you paint layers rather quickly, you may be encountering problems with heat which will cause the paint to bubble. The top layer may be dried before the lower layer, which will lead to solvents turning into vapors beneath the top layer. This results into blistering paint.

Dirt is also one of the common causes of blistering paint. When you apply paint on a dirty surface, the paint will change as it dries. It will shrivel just enough that areas that aren’t painted properly due to dirt will pull up off the surface below.

When you discover that the exterior walls have blistered paint, first scrape off the affected areas, and then sand. Make sure the surface is completely dried before painting. If blistering paint still reappears, inspect behind the wall (inside the room or the basement) to make sure that there isn’t a moisture problems that causes blistering.

These solutions may not be the sure-fire ways to prevent blistering paint in when house painting in Pleasanton, but they are a beginning place. At least knowing what causes it will give you an idea on how to avoid them as best as you can.

House Painting Pleasanton – Choosing Mixed Colors

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Choosing colors for house painting in Pleasanton may be the most fun part of painting, but it doesn’t mean it’s less complicated. It’s no wonder, as there are a number of paint manufacturers offering a gazillion colors and shades, some of them with curious names. When you’re offered color chips to review and still can’t decide which the perfect shade is for your room, it’s suggested that you choose a custom mixed color that will match your belongings.

In order to attain custom mixed colors for your room, you have two ways to do it. One way is to mix the paint on your own. Buy a shade that is close to the color of your preference. Then start experimenting by lightening, darkening or deepening, or including undertones by adding paints of a different color. Another way is to take a sample of the color you want to the professional paint store or other related businesses in Pleasanton. They will take care of matching your sample with the help of computer technology. Of the two options, the latter is the easier way as the professionals will be the ones to match your samples with other colors via modern technology.

However, obtaining a sample may be difficult if the only sample you know of is on your walls (especially when they’re painted with the same color). It is suggested that you take pictures of your wall in varying light set-ups, and then print these pictures out. Once your paper is available make a good match with the walls then you’re good to go. The other way to obtain a sample is to cut a piece from your wall (preferably from an inconspicuous area of your room such as behind the switch plates) and bring it to the paint store. A 1″x2″ sample will do. If you are unable to find a larger section there, the other alternative is to find a secluded corner of your room and cut out a small piece, and then have the drywall repaired.

You can do the mixing and matching by yourself. It may be more difficult, but the good side of this is that you can also have fun in doing it. It will also give you a decent excuse to enjoy your creative side. This is the option you may want to take if the ideal color exists only in your imagination. Having a color wheel handy will be greatly helpful. During the course of your project you may also want to paint a sample piece of drywall which can be taken to the paint store to do computer color matching.

For the base shade, pick a couple of shades of the same color you prefer. Make sure that you get enough for your project, especially if you have to do some touchups. If your ideal shade is darker, slowly pour just a little black or gray paint into your base paint. A little bit of black will quickly make a recognizable difference in color. Slowly stir until it is well combined. If you prefer a lighter shade, you might gray instead of black.

To lighten your base shade, add white. But unlike adding dark or gray, you may need a lot of white paint to make a noticeable change in color. It is also ok if you have white as a base and then add the color you want to have lightened.

Other options for achieving custom colors are to add in more of one of its base colors. For instance, to make a dull gray more brilliant, choose a bright yellow to add to it. Or if you want to tone down the intensity of a color, add a paint of a complementary color (one of the colors that are opposite of it on the color wheel. Incorporate darker yellows for a warmer tone, or blue colors to achieve a cooler tone. Changing the hue, however, is a bit tricky, so begin by just having a base color that is already close to your preferred hue.

Custom mixed colors for house painting in Pleasanton may be a bit mind-boggling for sure, but it can also be fun and bring out your creative side. In the end you will achieve the colors you want for your space.

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