Announcements

We will be featured in Groupon’s Home and Garden Section deals on Monday, May 23rd. Groupon is a wonderful website to purchase daily/weekly deals from local businesses. Please check out our deal because it is a great way to save some money on painting your home! You will have the entire week to buy the deal, so be sure to spread the word to family and friends. Visit Groupon’s Dallas Home & Garden Section Monday to save from DFW Painting. Happy Saving!

Keeping it Green: The myths and truths of zero VOC paints by John Lanzillotti – Excerpts taken from American Painting Contractor April 2011 issue.

These days, being green has never been so colorful, thanks to many of the latest developments in zero-VOC paints. But, caveat emptor. There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about zero-VOC paint. You might even say that, ironically, a volatile issue has erupted around the zero-volatile organic compounds in paint subject. And that issue centers upon the addition of colorant to paint — an addition that, in many cases, means the addition of VOCs. Disturbingly, the VOC content of colorant is a critical detail that doesn’t seem to get communicated, nor is it adequately regulated.

Aside from the confusion about colorants, what are some of the “myths and truths” about zero-VOC paint? Here are just a few:

Myth: Zero-VOC paint is difficult to use.
Fact: With the development of new zero-VOC formulations, paint performance has been improved. Several companies are reporting that, in mastering new technologies to produce zero-VOC paint, their scientists have discovered ways to incorporate added performance virtues such as better flow and hide.

Myth: “Green” products are almost always more expensive than their traditional “non-green” counterparts.
Fact: More often than not, for a given level of performance, there is till a slight premium to go green but not nearly as much as just a few years ago. As manufacturers and, more important, their raw material suppliers begin to use more of the newer low-and zero-VOC raw materials, the prices for these materials should continue to drop, eventually eliminating the cost premium associated with green alternatives to conventional coatings.

Myth: No matter what the reality, most consumers will not buy “green products, because they perceive them to less effective or more expensive.
Fact: As long as they perceive green products as requiring a trade-off in performance to be green, then many consumers will still shy away from them.

Myth: Too many people, claiming that their products are “green” have rendered the term virtually meaningless.
Fact: Regrettably, there is a lot of “green-washing” as manufacturers see the value and urgency of bringing greener products to market. Unlike those that have recently raced to keep pace, it’s the ones that are consistent leaders with a historic, long-standing track record in their manufacturing practices and in the development of products that are environmentally friendly with a minimal adverse impact on the planet that you can rely upon. So, look for a company that not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.

Are you ready to begin painting in your home, but are unsure of what colors to use? Well, you’re in luck! There are some great online tools for you to use in order to help you choose the best colors for your home. We have provided links below to some of our favorite!

One of the quickest and easiest ways to select your colors is to go to any paint store and pick up a sample to apply to your walls. Take a look at them throughout the day in different lighting to make sure the colors work for you. Again, if you have any questions or would like help in choosing your colors for your DFW Painting project, we are happy to help.

Glidden Professional Color Visualization

Benjamin Moore Color Creators

Sherwin Williams Color Ideas & Tools

Home Depot Paint Samples, Posters & Fan Decks

Behr Color Smart

икони

If you haven’t checked out our gallery before, today is a great time! We have added some new pictures in all of the categories! Our gallery has exclusive photos of interior
painting, exterior painting, cabinet refinishing, front door refinishing projects and much more. The pictures can help
give you ideas about what other homeowners are doing with their painting projects, as well as, provide you with ideas of what type of work you would like.

If you’re looking for color options for your painting project, you can take a look at Glidden Professional’s new tool for
choosing colors.

DFW Painting would like to wish everyone a very Happy
Easter! We hope that everyone enjoys time with their family and friends! For your convenience, we have listed some fun events that are going on throughout Dallas over the Easter weekend, as well as a guide to decorating your Easter eggs.

Easter Events around Dallas

Easter Egg Decorating Tips

Enjoy!

We were very pleased with the service your company provided. Hector did a fantastic job on our front door! Feel free to use our name as a referral in the future.

Deborah
Plano, TX

Honeysuckle: How to use this hot color to brighten things up by Sarah Wolfe, Associated Press – Taken from heraldnet.com

Bright red-pink and bursting with energy, honeysuckle is dominating home decor trends in 2011 as a playful and vibrant alternative to the serene turquoise of 2010.

The hue is everywhere this spring, and design experts say there are many easy ways to incorporate it into your home without breaking the bank.

Honeysuckle is the official color of 2011 as chosen by the Pantone Color Institute, the research arm of Pantone Inc., which largely sets color standards for the fashion and home industries.

Paint and wallpaper

One easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your home is by painting an accent wall in honeysuckle.

If pink walls seem a bit daunting, try a wall in the bedroom first, said interior designer Carey Vizzi Jacobs.

A new wallpaper collection by Thibaut Designs features honeysuckle in a variety of vibrant lattices, damasks and florals on frothy pastel and rich velvety backgrounds.

Bold wall choices like honeysuckle are a good balance to neutral furniture, particularly white, cream and tan, said Thibaut’s Molly McDermott Walsh.

Throw pillows

Bright and lively throw pillows are another cheap and easy way to pepper your home with this warm hue.

Bed, Bath and Beyond is carrying several pillows with bold honeysuckle stripes and other prints for less than $50, as is World Market, said Texas blogger Morgan Cullen, who created the home decor blog Casa Cullen. She also suggests heading to the fabric store and making your own pillows.

Textiles

If pillows aren’t your thing, try drapes or linens in a honeysuckle print in the kitchen or bedroom, Vizzi Jacobs said. Brighten up your bathroom with a pink rug or shower curtain, such as Pottery Barn Teen’s white cotton percale shower curtain ($49) edged with a honeysuckle ribbon, Cullen said.

Table runners, napkins and sheets are also showing up in shades of honeysuckle.

Accents

Honeysuckle can be popped into small accent pieces for a more understated look. Cullen suggests painting three frames with honeysuckle-colored spray paint for framing black-and-white photos.

She also suggests painting the back wall of built-ins, media or bookshelves in honeysuckle for a burst of color.

Anthropologie offers whimsical touches of honeysuckle this spring in a pink poppy ceramic door knob ($8) and a melon-colored ceramic and brass drawer pull ($6), Cullen said.

And don’t forget artwork, even in unexpected places. “All bathrooms deserve great art, so invest in a cheery honeysuckle-colored piece that will make you smile year-round,” Cullen said.

The Seven Most Common Drywall Problems…and How to Fix Them by Lynnie Winter, CP – Taken from PWC January/February 2011 issue.

Painters and wallcovering installers find all types of surprises on the job every day – the most common of which is drywall damage. Drywall damage can range from miniscule nail holes to huge, gaping holes requiring a drywall installer to replace entire pieces. Usually it is the painting contractor or the wallpaper installer who has the “pleasure” of repairing the drywall damage. Here are the seven most common drywall problems contractors encounter and the best way, to repair them.

1.) Nail Holes, Gashes, Nicks & Scrapes – These are simple enough to fix. Sand surface smooth, if necessary, then fill with either quick-dry spackling or quick-setting joint compound. Allow to dry, sand lightly if necessary, then prime with a good-quality paint primer or wallcovering primer (depending on whether you’re painting or papering the wall), and you’re good to go!

2.) Nail Pops – For nail pops, remove the loose drywall mud. Screw in a drywall screw above and below the popped nail if possible. Hammer the screws in slightly to form a dimple, then apply drywall mud to the dimples and to the hole where the popped nail was. Let it dry, then sand smooth. Apply a sealer/primer before painting or wallpapering.

3.) Holes – Whether they are caused by a door-knob, wayward flying objects, indoor sports or an adolescent fist, holes require some attention. This type of drywall damage can vary widely, making it difficult to give an exact repair recipe, but there are some general guidelines for repairing these types of drywall holes. Repair patch kits are ideal for some of these; they are made of nonrusting aluminum and are fiberglass mesh reinforced. However, drywall tape and drywall mud may be all that are necessary for repairing some of these damages.

Clean off any rough edges or protrusions on the wall surface. Apply the repair patch according to the manufacturer’s directions, then apply drywall joint compound to the patch with a broad knife or taping knife. be sure to feather the edges into the surrounding wall. Allow to dry overnight; sand with sandpaper or sanding sponge, and apply a second coat of mud, repeating the process until the patch is invisible and the wall is smooth.

In all instances, it is critical to apply a good-quality sealer/primer to seal the porous surface of the dried joint compound. When choosing a good sealer/primer, be sure to look for a product that is zero or low VOC. Gone are the days when contractors could use those smelly, oil-based primers with reckless abandon, leaving the client to suffer with toxic fumes for several days! Customers won’t tolerate that anymore, and it is much better for contractors, too.

4.) Damage Causes by Electrical or Plumbing Issues – Oversized outlet openings and new holes created by changing light fixtures can be repaired by using either drywall tape or the mesh repair patches, cut to size, as outlined above. For larger holes, such as those areas cut out to access plumbing, you will need to have new drywall and cut to size for the repair.

To begin, cut the edges of the hole with a utility knife to make them straight and tidy. Clean off any rough edges, loose paper or protrusions on the wall surface. After trimming the hole into a tidy square or rectangle, use a piece of paper and a pencil to make a simple template for cutting out the piece of drywall that will fit into the hole. Use rosin paper if the hole is on the larger side. Just lay or tape the paper on top, lay your pencil lead sideways against the cut drywall edge and go completely around the hold. (Be sure any tape you use is non-damaging and removable.) You now have an accurate template to lay on your new drywall piece to cut out a very well-fitting piece.

Screw in a piece or two of backing wood as an anchor for the new replacement drywall. Cut a one-by-four strip of wood at least 4 inches wider than the widest part of the hole you are repairing. Insert the wood into the hole, leaving 2 inches on either side behind the existing wall. While holding the wood, insert drywall screws into the drywall, then into the backing wood, making sure you are at least an inch from the cut drywall edge. Install a screw or two on the other side. You should now have a secure backing to screw into when setting in your new replacement drywall. Place the drywall into the hole and fasten it securely with screws. You are now ready to tape and mud the cracks, following the standard procedure.

5.) Torn Drywall – This is often caused by wallpaper hung on unprimed walls and is every homeowner, painter and paperhanger’s worst nightmare. your client wants to freshen up the house by replacing the existing wallpaper with a fabulous grasscloth or paint color, and you have the job of removing the old wallpaper. Trouble is, whoever installed the wallpaper took a shortcut and didn’t prime the walls correctly with a good-quality sealer/primer, leaving you with torn drywall and a real mess. What to do?

First, you’ll need to finish removing the wallpaper, if possible. Remove any loose, torn pieces of drywall paper; sand edges smooth. Apply a penetrating drywall sealer/primer to the walls and allow it to dry. Look for a zero- or low-VOC product that will penetrate the drywall without smelly solvents or ammonia. Once dry, apply drywall mud where necessary with a broad or taping knife. Allow to dry, then sand; repeat where necessary. When you are satisfied that the walls are smooth, apply another coat of the penetrating sealer/primer to seal the drywall mud and prepare the walls for painting or wallpapering.

6.) Scoring Tool Damage – Countless small holes left by scoring tools that dig into drywall during the wallpaper removal process are truly annoying and completely avoidable. If you use a wallpaper removal scoring tool, be suer to choose one that is designed specifically to prevent this type of drywall damage.

For repair, the wall will most likely have to be sanded smooth, then completely skim coated with drywall mud. Sand mud when dry, then apply a zero- VOC penetrating drywall sealer/primer to the walls. They are now ready for paint or wallpaper installation.

7.) Water Damage and Water Stains – If the walls have suffered water damage, the drywall must be completely replaced after the water source has been stopped. The potential for mold and mildew growth is too large to risk not replacing the drywall.

But for water stains on drywall ceiling where there was perhaps a small roof leak that was quickly fixed or below a window where the window was left open during a rainstorm, there is hope. There are many products on the market designed to completely seal these stains before painting. Look for one that is low VOC and environmentally friendly. This will benefit both you and your client! Apply according to manufacturer’s directions and let dry thoroughly before proceeding with painting or wallpapering.

These are some of the most common drywall repairs contractors must make on everyday jobs. Fortunately, there are many good products in the marketplace today to help make the job of repairing drywall safer, faster and easier!

As a Dallas painting company that offers exterior painting services we are very excited to see the warmer weather
arrive. Spring and summer is a great time to start looking at your homes needs. One of the best ways to update your home is with a fresh coat of paint! Exterior painting can help protect your home’s exterior surface and give you a chance to add
your own personal touch to your neighborhood with choice of color. Another thing you can do for the exterior of your home
is to get a power wash to remove dirt and allow weak paint to
chip off. Once the power wash is complete, let us go and do what we do best, paint. Happy Spring Painting!

Hotel Stay – Up to 3 Nights Free

During the month of February we are offering our customers, that purchase cabinet refinishing or popcorn removal, up to 3 nights at the Gaylord Texan or NYLO Hotel. Ask your estimator for details on this offer.