What to Consider Before Choosing Paint for Your Home
Improving your home is a major project to partake as a homeowner. It can be an expensive affair, even tedious, depending on how big your planned home improvement project is. Planning for a home addition design is another story. You can avail affordable home additions from professional home remodeling architects that will suit your budget. But sometimes, home improvement can be as cheap and simple as buying good quality paint. Instead of tearing up the walls or replacing old cabinets, you can opt to repaint them for a fresher, more renewed look. Applying a fresh coat of paint is also a good idea if you are planning to sell your home. But first, you need to consider several things when choosing paint. Types of paint For starters, paint comes in different sheens. Two of the most popular ones are latex and oil-based paints. Latex paints This one is more common and more preferred to use because it is easier to clean up. Plus, it can last for many years as well. Latex paint is also less susceptible to premature fading and bubbling, hence the durability. It is also said to be more eco-friendly than its oil-based counterpart. You can use this type of paint to work on various surfaces including wood and concrete. Oil paints Meanwhile, oil-based paints came earlier than latex paint, existing for more than 50 years. But it is still being used until now mostly wood trims and moldings, as suggested by most architects builders. Oil paints also tend to dry longer than latex paint, so make sure to allow drying time. Some use an oil-based primer and use latex paint as a top coat, but it depends on your paint preference and requirement. Types of paint sheens And then there are different types of paint sheens, popular of which the glossy, semi-glossy, are and matte finishes. When to use glossy paint? Home remodeling architects recommend using glossy paint in high-traffic areas such as the living room, kitchen, or the playroom. You can easily clean and wipe walls and other surfaces with glossy paint. On the downside, glossy paint can highlight surface imperfections including bumps and other blemishes. When to use semi-glossy paint? Home improvement experts suggest using semi-gloss paint for bathroom and kitchen areas. Semi-glossy paint is also a little cheaper than glossy paint, making it a good alternative to the latter if you are aiming for the glossiness of paint. When to use matte paint? Matte or flat paint, although can hide imperfections more effectively, may not be recommended in high-traffic areas. This is because it may not be easily cleaned unlike using glossy paint. But if you want to use matte, you can opt for eggshell sheen. It also resembles matte paint but easier to maintain and wash, smoother, and more long-lasting. What to consider when choosing the paint color It can be overwhelming to choose the right paint color for your home, as there are a lot of colors to choose from. Well, it depends on your objectives. For example, experts suggest using white or off-white paint for walls if you are planning […]
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Ways to Make Your Home Smell Good After a Paint Job
A good paint job is a must for every home. It can be a fun but tedious activity depending on how big the area in your house that you are going to paint. Painting requires careful planning including the timeline, whether to hire manpower or do it on your own and where to temporarily store furniture and other things before starting the paint job. It can take days or weeks to complete a paint job. It is also a cost-effective way to spruce up your exterior and interior walls and even your cabinets and other furniture. You can hire a home additions builder to help you achieve the home you’ve always wanted. And then there’s that familiar stench While the painting is, as mentioned, a cost-effective way to improve your home, it can leave a mark in the room. An unpleasant smell, rather. Well, that lingering smell is inevitable after a major paint job. For one thing, the paint’s smell is not good at all. It can even cause a headache for others who can get a whiff of the scent of paint. You can simply open the door or the window to get rid of the smell of paint. But you cannot simply do so if it’s raining or it’s “pollen season” and you get allergies from it. There is no denying that we get used, even immune, to the scent of our home. It can be a smell of different things. It can be the smell of daily homecooked meals. Or the musty smell of your natural body scent. Or the smell of your pet dog resting in the living room. Regardless, there are still ways to get rid of unpleasant smells especially the smell of paint. Getting rid of paint smell For some reason, the smell of paint can be addicting… but not good for your health. Whether you are building a home addition or just hired a home addition builder for your home improvement project, you need to get rid of the smell of paint as much as possible. Fortunately, there are easy ways to do so. Baking soda This white, scent-free powder is a blessing to mankind. It can do a lot of things, from whitening your teeth, clean bathrooms, and even use it as a baking ingredient. And yes, it can remove the strong scent of paint. Your home additions builder might also recommend using this humble kitchen item after a paint job. Simply put a good amount of baking soda in a bowl, leave it in a room, and let it do its magic. Scented candles Candles are not only for… well, romantic candlelight dinners. It is also a great way to get rid of paint smells. While there are different candles to choose from, there are also candles specially made to get rid of strong paint odors. Coffee Not only the smell of coffee can jolt you awake every morning but is also a great odor absorber. Simply pour coffee grounds in a bowl and leave it in the room to get rid of the paint smell. But remember, do not use […]
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Effective Ways to Save Money on a Home Painting Job
There is nothing more satisfying than the smell of fresh paint. A fresh coat of paint can signify new beginnings, and one of the most exciting parts of home improvement. If you are planning for a home remodel, you have to consider the paint colors that you will use. Also, a home remodeling addition means hiring the best home additions builders out there. Getting started If you are planning for any home improvement project this year, you should think about the best color scheme to work on. You also have to have an idea of how much it can cost you for all the paint you will use and the labor (if you are going to hire professional painters). Or if you decide to do the job by yourself, make sure to do your research to avoid regrets later on. You should also have the right tools and supplies to take on the painting project. Also, you should know what to do before painting a wall or furniture, painting wall corners, saving on paint costs, and so on. Finding reliable home remodeling architects is also important if you decide to let professionals handle the job. What you need to know about the painting cost breakdown In choosing paint, you need to consider the material or surface you are going to paint. This includes wood, concrete, metal, and so on. Paint also comes in different textures and finishes such as glossy, semi-glossy, matte, and eggshell among a few. If you are planning for a condo remodeling, you may also want to hire professional painters for the painting job. As mentioned earlier, you need to consider two major contributors to painting costs: Paint and material costs It is said that paint usually cost at least $20 per gallon depending on the finish, brand, and other features. Some paints are mold-resistant or odor-free as well as a lifetime warranty, which can also contribute to the cost of the paint. When buying paint, never settle for cheaper ones – it may also mean cheaper quality and durability. Experts suggest using middle-grade acrylic paint for all-around painting needs. Consider other painting materials like paint brushes, rollers, painter’s tape, and other supplies. Labor expenses Another major cost is the cost of painting a surface. This includes the time spent on prepping so that the paint will adhere to the surface. At the same time, this will ensure that the paint job will last for a long time. The paint can be expensive or cheaper than the usual brands, but the labor and the output quality should be worth the price. How to save on a paint job Now you know that labor costs have the larger chunk of your budget. On the one hand, you can do the painting job on your own. However, it may not be recommended especially if it is your first-time or if it is a major painting job. If it’s the latter’s case, you may have to leave it to the experts instead. The good news is that it is possible to save money on a home improvement project. There are […]
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My House’s Walls Need Some Repainting. Now What?
Every home needs a refreshing change from time to time. It can be boring to stare at the same wall color every day for many years. Your child has already grown into a teenager and may already be bugging you to revamp his/her room for the longest time. There are many options you can do to improve your home depending on your budget. On one hand, you can plan for a home addition design as part of your major home improvement project. There are affordable home additions that you can consider if budget is your concern. Building a home addition can either be creating an entirely new living space within your property. Or using your existing space at home in building a new room for your family. Revamp your home with paint If you are in the mood to revamping your home without having to tear down walls and buying building materials, you may want to consider repainting instead. It is cheaper and easy to do. However, there are some things to consider before proceeding with the home improvement project. Nonetheless, painting is a cheap, practical, and quick alternative to improving your home. As mentioned, it can be boring staring at the same wall and ceiling color for so many years. At some point, you should update your home in any way you can. One way to do so is by applying a fresh coat of paint on every wall of your home. What to consider in choosing wall paint In case you don’t know, there are different types of paint that you can choose from. Each paint type has its pros and cons so make sure to choose the right type according to your painting needs. Whether you are planning for a home remodeling addition or simply update your wall color, you should know what kind of paint to choose. Water-based One popular type of paint is water-based. In fact, a lot of builders and homeowners choose water-based paint mostly due to its easy use. Water-based paints do not need pre-treatment; meaning, you can go ahead and paint your walls immediately. It also doesn’t promote mildew growth, has low VOC levels, dries quickly, resists cracking, doesn’t easily fade, and can be applied on different surfaces. It is also easier to clean up. Oil-based This is another type of paint being used by builders and homeowners. Like water-based paints, it can also be used on different surfaces. It has a nice glossy and durable finish. It is also the better type of paint to use in high-moisture areas such as the kitchen and bathroom. However, oil paint may emit overwhelming fumes that can be potentially risky to health. It also requires solvents to wash away oil-based paint on the walls or the brush used to paint it. Matte This is a popular paint method that provides a classic appeal to any room. It has no sheen and instead provides a feeling of a velvety surface. It can also help hide any imperfections in ceilings and walls and makes you appreciate the wall color more. Gloss/semi-gloss This type of paint finishing […]
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