Planning Your Budget

Real Cost of paint

Product quality is determined by a number of factors such as hiding power, abrasion/ dirt or stain resistant properties and washability.
Consumers are often misled when buying paint solely on price. The most important thing to remember is not the cost of a tin of paint but rather what you will get out of it. See example below:

Paint Precautions

As with all DIY projects there are a few precautions you'll need to follow. Besides preparing your surfaces for paint and making sure that you clean up all the spills and overzealous brush strokes there are also a few other considerations you'll want to keep in mind.

Common Problems

We have identified some common paint problems for you as well as ways in which to combat them.

Paint Troubleshooting: Identify the Problem and Find the Solution Are the brush marks on your wall driving you mad or do you want to scream every time you see blistering on your walls?

Paint Aftercare

A good painting job will make your home come alive but painting alone will not keep your walls looking great.

Some Paint Aftercare Tips

Some simple precautions and small steps can help make sure that your walls keep looking new for a far longer time.

Clean Up Tips

As we all know - painting is harder than it looks. There are inevitably going to be a few spills and slips of the brush along the way.
Cleaning of paint drips on flooring and other substrates is tedious work as it involves a good amount of time and care to clean up after any accidents.

Getting Started

Now that you've read about what you need to do in order to plan your painting project, it's time to get started.

Protecting from Paint

Painting can be a messy job. In order to protect surfaces and items from being ruined by the paint, be sure to:

Planning Your Project

Painting is not as easy as it may appear to be. Unfortunately it's not just about slapping a coat of paint onto a wall. There are several considerations you will need to take into account before you begin to transform your home.

Applying Paint

Before you begin your painting project consider that the choice of paint application can be affected by the type of finish. A good finish depends on having the right equipment & materials.

And now for something different: Edible Art!

Is your fridge door so covered with your kid's paintings that you don't have room for another masterpiece? Have her make her next work of art on a piece of bread. She can gobble it up when she's finished (and when you've finished admiring it).

How to Make Shaving Cream Paint

So I came across this great little article about painting with kids! You know what it's like, you break out that new Medal Paints Roof paint and suddenly the kids are interested in helping.  To keep them busy while you beautify your Roof - try Shaving cream paint.

Tips n Tricks

Prep Work for Painting

• Fill any holes or imperfections with spackle, wait for it to dry, and then lightly sand the patches. If you have a crack, you must first widen it slightly before spackling or the spackle will just sit on top.
• Scape away any peeling, cracked paint, then sand the area smooth.
• Clean the walls if they may be dirty (especially in a kitchen or bathroom), and always take a damp cloth to clean the dust off of trim and the tops of doorways.

Grey Shades - When selling your home

Grey shades have gained in popularity over the last few years as go-to choices for decorators wanting to add chic, urban sophistication to their rooms. When combined with furniture and trim in light, neutral shades, a dark gray accent can become a bold focal point. In addition, the right decor and gray wall combination can work well with a handful of bright, colorful accents, such as a shiny green lamp or metallic red chair.

Tips when painting in Neutral Colours

Neutral colors sound like a big snooze, right? Sure they do. But the point is to sell your house, not style it for a spread in "Martha Stewart Living." Everyone, from real estate agents to decorators, recommend painting the interior of your house in neutral colors. Why is that? For one thing, a new home buyer always sees dollar signs. They don't want to buy a house and then have to spend additional money to fix it up or paint it. Moreover, some people have very strong reactions to bright colors.

Tips when Painting with Beige

When it comes to interior colors, Earth tones, including shades of brown, green, blue, orange, and some reds and tans depict the colors in nature, and they're warm and inviting colors for living rooms and dining rooms. Because they're flat and muted, they're soothing and relaxing and work well with most colors and tones. Earth tones also complement rooms with a lot of wood, stone, metal or glass.
Coffee, in all of its shades and textures, is a popular Earth tone that is a great match for stained hardwood floors, wicker furniture and rattan. Coffee is also a rugged color that can be accented with forest greens, muted reds and touches of white. And dark colors, such as espresso, are wonderful to warm up small rooms.

White Exterior - Selling your House

Sellers need all the help they can get in today's housing market. If the outside of your house looks weather-beaten or if there's any sign of mold growing on the lower clapboards, then you should paint the exterior. Think about it: The first thing a potential buyer sees is the color of the house. And in real estate, first impressions are everything.

Tips for Painting with Children

The first tip for painting with children is the MOST important one.  It will allow you–the adult in charge–to be carefree, happy, and relaxed to thoroughly enjoy the experience with the little ones.

Find a place where it is okay to get messy.  Otherwise you will be stressed about the paint getting on the furniture or floors or on the beautiful new wallpaper you just had installed.  Believe me, that kind of limitation will kill the experience.

Sling paint in the basement, outdoor patio, garage–just anyplace where a little drip won’t hurt.

Now that you’ve found the place to paint,

Tips to Help Sell Your Home

First impressions are everything when selling your home. A buyer may ask questions about house maintenance, the condition of your appliances or the quality of your neighborhood and schools, but these factors pale in comparison to the feeling a buyer gets the first time he or she steps into your home. If you want to sell your house in a short amount of time and with minimum hassle, it's critical that the decor is up-to-date and attractive.

Can you paint one room of the house while your two-month-old is in another room or will it make him sick?

Q: Can you paint one room of the house while your two-month-old is in another room or will it make him sick?

A: Don't paint the room with your kid in the room. Paint when you can keep the windows open and point a fan in the opposite directions. As far as paints causing cancer if you see a label on a paint can that says it can cause cancer doesn't mean it will cause cancer. All paints that have warnings on them only put them on cause of liability. Same thing with cigarettes.

How long does paint emit VOCs into the air?

Q: How long does paint emit VOCs into the air?
A: The word organic is usually a positive term to see on a product label. But in the case of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), you don't want any part of it if you're trying to lead a greener life. These chemical compounds are in a variety of products that you may be using around your house, and exposure to them can be unhealthy for children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. They're not great for healthy adults, either.

Is it safe to paint or be around paint fumes during pregnancy?

Q: Is it safe to paint or be around paint fumes during pregnancy?
A:  The answer depends on what type of paint you're using or being exposed to.
Some paint contains ingredients that you should avoid during pregnancy. In general, paint contains a pigment or dye that's suspended in a liquid to which thinners, solvents, and drying agents may have been added. The pigments in paint can include metals such as lead, zinc, and aluminum.

Paint Techniques – Ageing.

Ageing.  
Distressed and aged painted furniture is commonly referred to as ‘shabby chic’. Various techniques are used to give a relatively new furniture piece a finish that recreates the look of old peeling paint. Over the years bright colours fade and bright white paint slowly becomes cream. Residues of wax, dirt or dust are lodged in small scratches and in the curves of carvings.  All of this results in a piece that is full of character and charm.