Painting Ceramic Tile
Painting ceramic tile can be done. Careful attention to the prep work and choosing the right coatings will guarantee success.
Continue reading “Painting Ceramic Tile”Month: January 2017
Color Tracking
Color tracking can be a challenge on any job. On larger commercial projects it can become a nightmare. We have been on large projects that have different colors on almost every wall. As tough as that is to figure out, what is even harder is when a project is completed and occupied and you need to go touch something up. We normally retain the blue prints and color specifications but it doesn’t make things any easier.
Continue reading “Color Tracking”Paint Removal
Paint removal is one of the least enjoyable aspects to being a paint contractor. We previously discussed chemical strippers. My favorite being Peel Away. Heat guns are another option and as long as you remain below 1100 degrees you are safe from lead base paint fumes, if there is any lead based paint. The biggest drag to using a heat gun is holding it for long periods of time.
Continue reading “Paint Removal”Painting A Drop Ceiling
Painting a drop ceiling is something we do on a regular basis. It is not difficult but it can take more prep work than usual if it is in an occupied space. Dropped ceilings are the ceilings installed below the structural ceiling and are commonly comprised of acoustical ceiling tiles and a network of metal grids and wall channels.
Continue reading “Painting A Drop Ceiling”Testing for Lead
Testing for lead is easy to do and if you suspect lead may be present either inside or outside your home, then you should find out. This is especially important if you have children since lead exposure in children is very dangerous, more so then in adults.
Continue reading “Testing for Lead”Straining Paint
Straining paint and mixing paint together (boxing) are key to a great paint job. Once you strain a gallon of paint you will see why. It is amazing how much stuff is sometimes in there that shouldn’t be. There does appear to be a correlation between the price (quality) of the paint and how much gunk can be strained out.
Continue reading “Straining Paint”Paint Disposal
Paint disposal can pose a real challenge. You cannot dispose of paint in it’s liquid form but If you do a fair amount of painting around your home you can quickly accumulate paint you no longer have any use for.
Continue reading “Paint Disposal”Primer Know How
Primer know how is not hard to acquire. Knowing which primer to use and when is easy and I will share a few tricks as well. Primers basically do one of two things. They deal with a problem or they prevent a problem for occurring. For example primers that act as a sealer deal with water stains, smoke stains and odor, etc. (problems). Bonding primers act as an intermediary coat between the substrate and the top coat. They ensure a good bond of the top coat to substrate, (prevent problem).
Continue reading “Primer Know How”Wood Stain That Doesn’t Dry
Working With Wood Stain
Wood stain that doesn’t dry is not uncommon. If this happens to you it can be for a few different reasons. The first thing to consider is the type of stain you are working with.
Oil Stain. This is the most common stain and it is what most people are familiar with. This is the easiest to work with and is the most forgiving when used by non professionals. Fastest way to determine if it is an oil stain is to look at the clean-up instructions on the label. If it says to use mineral spirits, it is an oil stain. Biggest advantage to using an oil stain is it gives you plenty of time to work with it on the wood before you need to wipe it off. Oil stains usually have pigment added to them for the color but can also have dye added as well.
Continue reading “Wood Stain That Doesn’t Dry”Chemical Strippers
Chemical Strippers are very dangerous. There are basically two types in use, caustics and solvents.
Continue reading “Chemical Strippers”