Home Improvement: What Exterior Paint Should I Use?

Author: James Nystrom

So you have come to the decision that you want to update your home, starting with the outside. The first thing that you need to think about is the preparation for the outside painting of your house. It would be very unwise just to paint over the old exterior with a few coats of paint as this will cause the paint to peel quickly and won't adhere properly to the house. Instead, clean the walls thoroughly and remove any old peeling paint with a pressure washer or industrial sander. This will help the new paint to cover the area better and mean that you won't have to go over it with four or five coats.

When you have the area prepared, you should start to think about what sort of paint you are going to use. There are many different types of paint that range from anti mold paint that has special antibacterial properties which stops the mold from growing to special finishes that give the appearance of pebble dashing etc. All exterior paints should be able to withstand all the elements such as wind, rain, sun and frost.

Finally you should consider the color of your exterior paint. You may live in a particular neighborhood that has a certain style of house which leans towards specific colors. If this isn't the case then the world is your oyster!

You could choose and color you like from classic white to wild pink! If you do decide to go for a dark color, it might be nice to paint your windows, doors and panels with a bright white paint. This will make them stand out, give your dark color a bit more of an edge and will also brighten up your house. Painting your exterior is a great way to add value to your home so why not think about what color you could paint your home!

Whether you are planning to put your property on the market or make it more comfortable, there is a lot to be gained from making home renovations. Visit us today if you're looking for Minnesota exterior painting or Minneapolis interior painting contractor.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/home-improvement-what-exterior-paint-should-i-use-4399643.html

About the Author

I'm a fulltime feelance writer and my many years of experience make me a truly hands on expert in the field of home remodeling.

How To Prepare Different Surfaces For Painting

Author: Jessica Ackerman

The discovery of the existence of the so-called Lascaux cave paintings in France in 1940 has proven that man's need to express himself through art has long been with us since the ancient times. A passion for painting has been imprinted into the human soul even at that early stage of our development. It is therefore unsurprising that our fascination for paintings has not waned over the years. Part of this cultural evolution includes the ever growing demand to hang paintings on our walls as an integral part of our home decor.



If you would like to buy a painting for your living room but have never tried it before, and you have no idea where to start, consider the three basic tips below to help you make the right choice.



Identify your personal taste- Definitely, this is the most important thing you have to consider when buying a painting. You are in fact expressing yourself through the design pieces that you choose for your home. Thus, when buying a painting, you have to choose one which is in sync with your taste. If you are the romantic, traditional type, then you may prefer paintings that adhere to the realist style. Typical examples include still life paintings, landscapes, and portraits. If you are the type who prefers modern wall art, you can opt to buy abstract paintings. Some of these artworks come in the form of multi-set paintings that you can hang as a group to accentuate your living room.



Set your budget- In order to prevent you from making an impulsive purchase at each seemingly good buy you encounter, try to set your budget. Ask yourself if you are willing to settle for prints or the real deal. Of course, original paintings, especially those created by the "masters," command a higher price tag. If you want the look of a Renoir, for example, but simply cannot afford the real thing, try to look for good prints or other artists whose works match your design aesthetic but do not command a steep price. While you're at it, now is the chance to help out a good friend or even a community artist by considering their artworks for your home decor.



Do your homework- By going online, asking around, and seeking help from experts, you increase your chance of buying the perfect painting. In fact, by doing a bit of background research, you will be able to expand your options to help you choose from a variety of artists and styles. At the same time, doing your homework will also help you identify the best painting within your budget.



Visualize- It also helps if you have a clear vision of where you would like to hang the painting. If you have decided to buy a multi-set painting, for example, try to consider if the colors will not overpower the other elements in the room.



In the end, different homeowners prefer different looks, and what you buy for your home should be in accordance to what you really want. Through the tips above, you can now begin looking for the perfect accent for your home.

About the Author:
This article was written by Jessica Ackerman and provided by WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, a site featuring unique abstract canvas art and metal artwork.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Prepare Different Surfaces For Painting

Painting Parties For Kids

Author: Terry Henman

A kids painting party is a great way for your children to get to know their new schoolmates. The difference between a painting party and any other party is that is has a structure in that there is an obvious set activity. Not only is this much more fun for the kids but it also ensures pandemonium will not break out as kids get bored or run wild.



The party itself is fairly straight forward- all it requires from you is a little bravery! The key to success is really in the planning. Before you do anything else, send some invitations two weeks in advance so that everybody has time to arrange other plans around it and so that you have a fair idea of the number of children attending. As a fun precursor to the party, involve your children in creating some fun personalised invitation cards. Remember to include the date of the party, your telephone number so that people can reply or ask any questions they may have and your address so that they know where to go. When you have received most your replies it is time to stock up on party provisions. You will need enough paint brushes to go around, lots of paper (A3 is best) a selection of paints (water colours, poster paints or any water based paints a best as the are safer than oils and can be washed from surfaces and fabrics), an apron for each child and perhaps yourself- if you can't find aprons, cheap T shirts will do the trick, though stick to one colour to avoid tears and the threat of an uprising and mutiny. Other things you may want to include are some blank pieces of pottery for the children to decorate and take home for their parents and name badges. For party food, cartons with straws are always popular and avoid spills, Satsuma's, yogurts, sandwiches, cupcakes, jelly, miniature sausage rolls and chicken drumsticks. Some children may have special dietary requirements or allergies that you will need to cater for so be sure to discuss this fully with their parents well in advance of the day.



A nice little touch is to stencil the name of each child on their apron or T shirt. Not only will this help you remember who is who but the kids will feel really special. Obviously you would need to know exactly who is coming otherwise it could cause more trouble than it is worth.

On the day of the party, blow up balloons and tie together with some bows that you can create out of some cheap fabric, you can also use this fabric to cover the table and any other surfaces you would like to remain paint free. Clear away anything hazardous or breakable and prepare the food in a separate room. Structure the day by painting first, eating second, that way all the newly created works of art will have had time to dry before they are taken home. Ahem....simple really....

About the Author:
Terrys Fabrics retail in a wide variety of curtains and fabric.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/painting-parties-for-kids-782535.html

Interior Painting: What Colors to Choose

When thinking of a home improvement project that can splash your New York home with the needed ambiance and considerably change its look and feel within the budget, then Interior painting is your best bet. Though it is seemingly simple, do not get fooled as there is more to the job than meets the eye. To make a success out of it, the wall preparation should be done accurately. There are also a lot of things to consider like the paint, finish, and wall painting techniques and processes. Depending on how you see it, choosing the right paint color for your inter painting project can be a daunting or the most fun task.

Through all the plethora of choices, you are bound to find the perfect one for the room you need to spruce up in your interior painting project. What you need to do first is answer these questions:

. Are there constraints to the color selection such as needing to fit into a historical or conservative neighborhood?
. What impression or effect do you want to achieve? Would you like to implement something peaceful and harmonious or would you rather have it bold and bright?
. How long do you intend to live in your New York home?

Neutral or safe colors are the way to go if by chance you have plans on selling the house in the n ear future or live within a historical neighborhood. By going neutral, you will not risk having to turn off any potential buyer just because yours and his tastes doe not jive. This color option also helps preserve the classical look of any periodic home adding more value to it.

But if you are in a situation where you are free to exhaust every possible color schemes to integrate into your interior painting, then here are the most common color schemes to look into: the monochromatic using just one color of varying tints and shades; analogous and complementary. These color coordinations can be achieved with the help of a color wheel. If want to get more ideas you can browse through other home interiors, nature, photographs, paintings, fabric designs or just anything that could inspire your color selection.

There are also other factors that you need to consider when choosing colors to get the most out of your interior painting project. Not unless you also plan to buy a new set of everything for the room to undergo interior painting, choose a scheme that would best complement the rest of the fixtures and furnishings. The space or area of the room, artificial and natural lighting, existing elements, fabric furnishing or flooring should also be taken into consideration.

When deciding on whether to pick the darker or lighter hue of your color choice for the interior painting project, here are several tips to help you:

. Light colors give any room a more spacious look and are not ideal to be used with unevenly proportioned walls if you have no plans on highlighting it.
. Unknown to many homeowners, the darker shades require more effort to maintain, absorbs more heat and fades sooner than that of lighter colors.
. And colors presented on the color chips, swathes or just any color samples may slightly vary from the actual look. Be sure to consult with an expert before making that final choice.

Exterior House Painting: Making Your Neighbors Envious

By: Elisa Cruz

Many home owners have subtle, or blatant ongoing rivalries with one or more of their neighbors. These rivalries can range from things such as the type of car they drive to the size and appearance of the inside and outside of their home.

Although it can become very expensive to continuously outshine your neighbor with new cars, a less expensive way to keep your neighbors envious is in the appearance of your exterior house painting. One thing you should not do is let your home painting become faded or worse yet, let it begin to peel. An unkempt exterior house painting can be an eye sore to a neighborhood, and can make you subject of unpleasant conversations between neighbors.

It can be relatively easy to stay up to date with your exterior house painting. Each time you have a new home painting completed, ask your contracted painter when you should schedule the next paint job and then mark that time period in your calendar. Be sure to book an appointment with your contracted painter well in advance of when you would like the project completed because professional painters tend to book up fast, and you do not want to have to let your paint project go overdo, or worse yet, have to take extra time out of your day to find a new reliable contracted painter.

Additionally, even if your exterior house painting is not in need of being repainted, if you begin to notice problems with the outside of your home, you should be sure to have them addressed as soon as possible. Some examples of problems that can occur with your home painting include rust stains, mildew growth and cracking paint. Rust stains and mildew growth can quickly get out of control and turn into a large problem, so be sure to get them resolved and prevented as soon as you notice the problem. If you notice that your exterior house painting is beginning to crack or chip, but it is not yet time to have the project completed, this may be a sign that a low quality paint was used in your last paint job, or environmental conditions have sped up the weathering process of the paint. Even if it is not time to have the project completed, if you notice that the paint is peeling or cracking, it is best to call your painter to have the project completed because you could be risking damage to the outside of your home by not taking action.

The way your home looks is a statement of how you care for your investments and is a measure of how much pride you take in the things that you own. Let your neighbors know how much pride you take in your home and keep your home looking its best by staying up to date with your exterior house painting. It is relatively inexpensive to do and this simple update can do a lot to improving the look of the outside of your home.

Author Resource:-> Visit http://college-works-painting.net/college-works-painting/ for more information on College Works Painting and http://www.collegeworkspainting.com for more information on College Works Painting home improvement in your area.

Article From Freebie Articles

Painting - getting started

Someone has to show you where to begin.
Putting paint to canvas is a desire many of us have. It seems like a calming way to spend a few hours. Imagine standing at an easel with a brush in your hand, creating a picture of a striking red flower you saw on a walk, not a flaming red, but a creamy kind of tomato red and you were able to match it perfectly. This would be the ideal way to find some serenity in your daily life. The right hobby can bring tranquility, satisfaction, and pleasure. It can center your thoughts and challenge your mind. The perfect hobby will bring out the secret passion you’ve kept inside. The only question is, “how do I start”?
Someone has to show you where to begin, but it’s never easy to take that first step. The thought of sitting in room with a group of strangers, judging what you’re doing, is terrifying. Trying to learn how to paint can make you feel intimidated and inferior. Classes always seem to start a few steps ahead of where you are. But what if everything you needed was in a kit? You could begin to paint at home, where you could learn in a safe and comfortable environment, with no one around to judge you. Having someone who understands what you feel and who will take you step by step through the whole process could change everything.
Finallypaint has created a kit that includes all that you’ll need to begin your new hobby, plus the advantage of a secret weapon, a step by step how-to that will help you comfortably learn what you need to begin to paint. The eBook is created with 17 years of mentoring experience in creative arts behind it. The kit itself includes: six essential studio size and quality oil colours that are specifically selected, a set of three top-quality brushes, one disposable greaseproof palette book to mix colours, one bottle of top-quality medium used to thin the oil paint, one bottle of thinners to clean the brushes, 2 canvas panels, and a mesh zip-lock art case to hold everything. However, what gives this kit that something extra is the eBook that is included. Together the supplies and the eBook will push you over the hump that has kept you from starting to find the quietude you seek within yourself.
Rebecca Lenton tried the Finallypaint kit, hoping to bring the artist she knew she was inside, to life on a canvas. She discovered the kit is simple, to the point, and works. “I wasn’t sure the kit would be able to get me started. But I am very pleased with what the kit has done for me. I am painting regularly now, and the kit gave me the confidence to add more colours, brushes, and larger canvases. I have created over 10 paintings and I feel like I’ve finally achieved a lifelong dream”.
If the idea of learning to paint excites you, then take the time to scan the Finallypaint web site at www.finallypaint.com. Read about the kit and the joys of painting, and see the money back guarantee that only a company who whole heartedly stands behind their product would offer. Have the confidence to believe you can paint, and start to find that harmony in your life that a great hobby will bring.

Author:
Cindy Dalgleish

Finallypaint
Flameworks Arts Facility
7 Richmond Walk
Plymouth
PL1 4LL
Devon
England
UK

http://www.finallypaint.com

Terms: Articles may be reprinted provided content is not edited and links are kept live

Source: www.articledepot.co.uk

House Painting: Finding Your Color

By: Beth Ibarra

If you are like most home owners, you have probably grown tired of the way your home looks at one point or another during the time that you have lived in your home.



Whether you have become tired of the way you have decorated the inside of your home, or you are tired of the color of the outside of your home, you should not let yourself feel like you are stuck with the home the way that it is.



If you are tired of the color of your house painting, you should look into the option of changing the color. You may be amazed at what a difference a new exterior home painting color can make in restoring the love that you feel for your home if you have grown tired of looking at the same color day after day.



There are many house painting colors available, so you may become a little overwhelmed with trying to narrow down the options to just one that you really love.



If you find two colors that you fall in love with and want to incorporate them both into your exterior home painting, you may want to consider using one as the main color and the other color as an accent tone for the outside trim of the home.



Think about which shade you like the most out of the two and which would look best as the main color. You should also determine whether the two colors that you would like to incorporate into your house painting will go well together once they are applied to your home.



One way to do this is to test out the colors together and see if they complement each other when paired side by side. You can also consult with a contracted painter to see what their input is on how the colors will look together. The contracted painter that you hire may even have examples of previous projects that they have completed that may be similar to the color palette that you are considering for your house painting.



Looking through previous work of a contracted painter can help solidify what colors you like and dislike and what you would like to use for your exterior home painting.



If you are a little hesitant to choose a new house painting color that is very different from the color that you currently have painted on the outside of your home, you could try having the home painted in a different shade of the current color.



There are usually many shades of one color available and even a subtle difference from the color that you currently have can make a huge difference in refreshing the look of the outside of your home.



If you have grown tired of the way the outside of your home looks, you may want to consider having it repainted. It is quite normal to become tired of looking at the same thing day after day, and even a small change can make a big difference.

Author Resource:-> More information on College Works Painting, College Works Painting estimates and College Works Painting home repair opportunities in your area is just a click away.

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