Tips for a DIY paint project
Ace Painting of Akron, LLC is not only dedicated to providing the best services to customers that choose us for their commercial or residential painting needs, but also to assisting those that still prefer to perform such painting services themselves. Although Ace Painting of Akron, LLC can provide professional services in less than half the time that it takes the individual to perform the job, the following are some tips that you can use to paint like a professional and get the best out of your commercial or residential property. Many of these tips are applicable whether your canvas is the interior or exterior of your property and most require only cheap additions to your painting arsenal.
Keeping Track of Paint Colors
Some paint colors are so close that it can be difficult to match your previously painted home or business with the paint at the store when you need to repair scratches or touch up the surface. If you keep track of the color in a notebook or on the paint can, there is still a danger that you will lose your note keeping device in the months that it can take before repainting is necessary. However, one of the ways that you can make sure that you keep track of the paint color and type that you need is to write it on the back of a light switch panel. By doing this, you will likely discover the information while removing these covers before repainting - even if you have forgotten where you wrote it down. Many people actually go as far as to write down the serial number for easy access later.
When should I paint exteriors?
When you decide to paint the exterior of your home or business, pay attention to what the weather will do during the day before getting set up. For the best drying times, avoid painting when the temperature is below 60 degrees F or when it exceeds 90 degrees F. In addition, avoid painting when it is raining or windy outside. The rain can dilute your paint before it has a chance to dry. Wind can blow dirt onto your fresh paint or cause it to dry far too quickly. If you can, avoid painting in direct sunlight. Not only will this make painting a much more tiresome task, it will cause other adverse effects as well.
Painting FAQ
The following is a Frequently Asked Questions section containing questions that we regularly receive at Ace Painting of Akron, LLC and their answers. If you cannot find the information that you need in the Painting Tips section of our web site, you will likely find it here. If you have any questions that are not addressed in this FAQ, you can always feel free to email the friendly Ace Painting of Akron, LLC customer service team at cswright@goacepainting.com or call us at (330) 376-5455.
Q1 How do I determine how much paint I will need to purchase before beginning a job?
Although it is best to have a little paint left over for touch ups or nicks, paint can be expensive and home painters often purchase much more than they need when tackling a painting project. All that you need to calculate how much paint you will need is a tape measure. Measure each of the walls in the rooms that you will be painting (or the exterior) and write the numbers down. Next, measure the height of the ceiling or area that you wish to paint.
For each room or exterior, calculate the circumference first (the area around the room or building by adding each wall together) and multiply it by the height. For example, if you have an area with two walls that measure 30 feet and two walls that measure 40 feet, the circumference is 140 feet. Multiply this number by the height of 8 feet and you have your square footage (1,120). When you purchase paint, take a look at the square footage on the paint container. For the most part, a gallon will cover 400 square feet. However, remember that most paint jobs require 2 coats. So, for the example above, you would need about 6 gallons of paint and primer.
Q2 How do I choose a tasteful paint color for my home or business exterior?
You can choose a great color for your home or business exterior by considering a few elements about the property and how your paint can contribute to them. For example, if your home contains a great deal of brick that are not painted, look closely to find some of the hues in the brick and consider some of those colors. You can also consider the type of property. For example, if it is a Victorian era house, you might choose some colors that were popular in that era to add to the aesthetic appeal of your property. If you want to express a calm and collected environment, choose warm colors. On the other hand, for a bright and busy environment a brighter color might be necessary.
Your local Sherwin Williams store is also a great place to start with color selection. They have many color selection tools available on line as well @ www.sherwin-williams.com
You may also use one of Sherwin Williams’ in-house decorators often at no cost.
Q3 Does paint expire?
Yes, paint does expire eventually. However, the specific life of paint depends on how well you store it, among other factors. When you are ready to store your paint, make sure you thoroughly clean the can's rim so that the lid can form a proper seal. Too much paint around the rim can build up and crack - letting air into the can. If you are using latex paint, you can pour a tiny amount of water around the edge to make sure it seals properly. You can also use plastic wrap over the top of the can before securing the lid. You can then store the can upside down after making sure that it is securely shut. This will almost guarantee a tight seal.
When you take out paint to complete a job, simply use common sense to determine whether it is still good. If it still has that paint smell, it is probably still acceptable. However, if it smells stale or off, it is likely expired. You can also try painting a small test amount on a surface to see how it dries before covering the whole wall. If it looks good when it dries, the paint is likely still acceptable.