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Like many homeowners, you may wish to renovate or remodel your home, but simply do not have the budget for it at this time. An inexpensive way to give your home a new look is to simply repaint or replace your wall coverings! A new coat of paint can make a room look almost new again. Satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss are just a few of the varieties of paint you can find on the market today. Specialty paint includes novel paints that mimic the finish of a chalkboard, allowing you and your family to write on the walls. Stencils, faux painting techniques, and murals are all ways to use paint that can make your home uniquely yours. Wall coverings go above and beyond simple borders. Velvet and other fabrics can add new life to walls. Wallpapers are now easier to install than ever, simply wet and hang; no more mixing and applying glue! Clip ideas from magazines and print out images from websites for ideas on color and design. Just a gallon of paint and a roll of blue painter's tape can lead to some amazing creations!

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Eco-Friendly Painting Contractors

Article By Hal Major

Whether you are painting the interior or exterior of your home or business, you want use materials that don't add to the pollution of the atmosphere and soil. This doesn't include visual pollution because of the colors your neighbor chose to paint his house. That's a completely different issue.

Interior Painting
It is a simple task to be "green" when you decide to have a painting contractor do a little interior face-lift to your home. All you need to do is tell him to use eco-friendly materials. The paints will be latex-based with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). Latex paints are commonly referred to as water-based paints, meaning that no inorganic or organic thinners or chemicals that could pollute the air and soil are needed for cleanup. A little dishwashing soap and tap water is all that is needed.

Drop cloths should be made of cotton canvas and not plastic. The cotton drop cloths can be recycled and made into the underwear you'll get for Christmas. The cheap plastic drop cloths usually end up in the land fill and last forever.

Ladders should be made of wood or aluminum, both of which are recyclable.

Exterior Painting
Exterior painting should have the same eco-friendly materials used as talked about in the interior painting section. Today's high quality latex exterior paints are formulated to give you a beautiful finish that is low maintenance. An annual washing with the garden hose or pressure washer to remove excess dirt and dust will bring back the original color.

Because the paints are latex, the cleanup is the same as the interior paints. A mild soap such as dishwashing soap and tap water is all that is required. You want to ask your painting contractor to use an exterior grade latex that contains a fungicide and/or mildew inhibitor. This especially important for the places on your house that get very little sunshine, which can promote the growth of mildew and fungus. If you have noticed black spots or a bright green film any place on the exterior of your home, you will definitely want the fungicide enriched paint. It will keep the mold and mildew from returning, which in turn stops you from using strong chemicals like bleach to clean the areas.

Although painting appears like a job anyone can do, it does require skill and experience. The coats of paint must be evenly spread if you are to avoid color differences and the correct amount of paint applied to critical areas to stop chipping and peeling with a short time. A professional painter will provide the experience and skill. You need to supply the choice of colors.

Simple Guide To Exterior Painting

Painting Prep Is Paramount

The proper preparation of the exterior of your home before painting is a critical step if you want the finished product to look good and last for years. Improper preparation or taking shortcuts is almost certain to come back and haunt you within a very short time. Lets get started on the right foot:

Clean the exterior of the house thoroughly
The best and simplest way to do this is by renting a pressure washer from an tool and equipment rental company or buying one if you think you may have other uses for it. Give your home a good going-over with the pressure washer. Be sure to tell the rental company what you are doing so they can set you up with the correct equipment. The pressure washer should deliver at least 2000 psi and have a variety of nozzles. You should have a 150 and a 250 nozzle. You may need a zero degree nozzle or an extra long wand if there higher up areas of the home to clean. Be careful if you get on a ladder with the pressure washer wand. They can pack a pretty good wallop. Paint doesn't stick to dirt and flaking paint. Get it clean and let it dry for a few days before starting to paint.

Use a power sander or a wire brush to remove flaking and loose paint
If there is paint that is cracked, blistered, and peeling off, be certain to give these areas special attention with a wire brush. The pressure washer will get some of these trouble spots for you. However, you will need to give them some personal attention before you start painting.

Fill any cracks or openings in the siding.
Using a good grade of exterior silicone (paintable) caulk or putty, check around windows, doors and all openings into the house to make certain they are sealed. Let the caulk cure for at least 24 hours before painting over it.

Wood Primer
If there are areas where the bare wood shows you will need to prime these with an exterior grade wood primer. Allow the primer to dry for at least 24 hours before painting over it.

Painting the Exterior
Once the siding has been properly prepped, you are ready to start painting. Begin by painting the trim first. This will allow you to lean your ladders against the old paint and you won't have to worry about scratching the new paint job. Once the trim is thoroughly dry, mask it off so the siding paint doesn't get on the freshly painted trim. Now it is time to rent or purchase an airless spray painter to do the bulk of the house's siding. After sliced bread and canned beer, the airless paint sprayer is the best thing to come along in making a long and tedious job into a quick and easy one. It takes a little getting use to the paint sprayer, so you might want to practice first on a piece of old plywood or some cardboard. However, once you get the feel for it you will glide right along.

A couple of pro tips:

• Two light coats are always better than trying to cover with a single heavy coat. Trying to apply too much paint all in one coat will end up giving you runs and drips.

• Be aware of the wind or breezes. Even though the airless painters produce very little overspray, they do spray and a breeze or gust of wind will blow the paint away from the house. Your neighbor's may not like their cars, trucks or houses with a polka dot finish.

Before you cleanup and put away all the painting tools, go around the house and check for areas that may need an extra coating. Once you're sure everything is satisfactory, it's time to cleanup and stand back and admire how great your new home looks.