Category: Paint Doctor’s News

August 2023 Color of the Month

Sherwin-Williams says, “Just like the surf that inspired it, Silvermist’s cool tone can look both blue and green. You’ll be ready to embrace both as you drift away on the coastal vibes of this gentle hue that’s so serene, you’ll be dreaming of breezy ocean air.”

Let us know if we can help with your interior color update. We also have plenty of good weather your exterior paint project as well. Mike 541-497-3804

Brushing Up on Brushing On, Part 2

One of the biggest challenges for amateurs is keeping the brush properly loaded. In an effort to be careful, they will not dip the brush deep enough and then wipe too much paint off of the brush. This promotes trying to spread too little paint too far resulting in poor coverage and poor flow.

The pros on our team keep the brush loaded which makes the job go faster, produces better coverage and eliminates over brushing. Over brushing causes paint to ball up and interferes with the flow, leaving brush marks and changing the texture of the surface. Experience matters, especially when it comes to handling a paint brush.

Call Mike to get it done right the first time! 541-497-3804

July 2023 Color of the Month

According to Sherwin-Williams, “Kale Green’s lush tone feels like it was picked straight from the tropics and placed into a maximalist oasis where no rules are the rules.”

Make room for more of what you love with a style and color that brings the fun in an eclectic but elevated way. Kale Green’s lush shade adds just the right amount of drama for a maximalist look that rides on tropical boho vibes. Whether you use a lot or a little of this hue, it makes a vibrant statement that sets the mood for your space. In a style that invites you to go for it, be sure to bring it with color!

Bold color transforms spaces. A dark neutral like Black Magic has the power to transport. Anchor your maximalist-influenced bathroom in this hue’s dark tone and watch as the brighter shades in the palette combine to create the carefree feel of a tropical escape. Alabaster provides a clean backdrop to heighten the pleasing sense of contrast and acts as a blank canvas. Just a bit of Kale Green amplifies the botanical tone of the foliage and artwork, while a tiny dose of Peppery’s fiery shade pops as an accent. Bringing these tropical pairings together brings an elevated but attainable feel.

When you’re working with such a gorgeous green, why not use it to greet your guests? Kale Green’s dialed-up energy sets the stage for your maximalist story to unfold inside and brings your front porch space alive with a little inspiration from the wild outdoors. Along with just a touch of Peppery, these bolder colors pop against the bright surrounding shade of Alabaster, and create a seamless and harmonious flow to what awaits.

Brushing Up on Brushing On, Part 1

Not everyone can get quality results with a paint brush. To begin with, you have to choose the right brush for the type of paint and for the area you are painting.

According to Sherwin-Williams, “paint brushes come in a variety of sizes, end types and bristles. A high-quality brush can mean a better-looking job with less effort. Why? Because a good-quality brush holds more paint and applies it more evenly, which can save you time and help you get the results you want.”

Types of Brushes

  • Natural-bristle brushes made with animal hairs are used for applying oil base paints, varnishes, shellac, polyurethane and other oil base finishes. The natural “flagging” (splitting or fuzzy tips) of these brushes creates split ends in the bristles that hold more paint and help assure a smooth paint release and finish.
  • Blended nylon/polyester brushes are easy to clean and work well with all types of latex paints. The combination of nylon’s durability and polyester’s shape retention is the mark of a high-quality brush – one that also produces a high-quality paint finish. What’s more, these durable brushes are built to handle numerous projects. So, with proper care, nylon / polyester brushes should last for years.
  • Polyester brushes are best for latex paints. These brushes hold their shape and stiffness in any paint and apply paint smoothly and evenly.

Brush Sizes

Sherwin-Williams paintbrushes are available in widths from 1 to 4 inches. The size you select is up to you, but a good rule of thumb is:

  • 1″ to 2″ – window and other small trim
  • 3″ – glossy paints for doors and cabinets
  • 4″ – large, flat areas

Brush End Types

  • Chisel Trim Brush – slanted bristles produce a good, straight line for trimming in corners and edges.
  • Square Trim Brush – the ends of the bristles are cut square and used primarily for applying paint over flat areas.
  • Angled Brush – bristles are cut to make it easier to apply paint to window trim.

Brush Styles

  • Thin Angle Sash – slanted bristles and a thin profile produce a good, straight line for trimming in corners and edges.
  • Angle Sash – features slanted bristles and holds more paint than its thin counterpart. Excellent for cutting in at the ceiling or painting trim.
  • Flat Sash – bristles are straight across and used primarily for applying paint over flat areas.
  • Trim – a flat brush excellent for painting large flat surfaces, especially exterior siding.
  • Wall – a thick flat brush that holds a larger amount of paint. Excellent for painting larger surface areas.

Weather or Not to Paint

On a recent trip to the coast we were marveling at how wet it was inside the ground level cloud known as fog. A steady drip from plants and power lines, questions like “did it rain?” and the search for rain gear had me thinking about the conditions needed for a quality exterior paint job.
Weather conditions are a big consideration for the timing of our exterior paint jobs. Temperature, precipitation and wind largely determine when and where we can paint. Doing it right the first time means, in part, doing it in the right conditions. That’s part of the call of our head painters.

June 2023 Color of the Month

Retro never goes out of style, and when it comes to pulling off a vintage look, it’s all about color. White Raisin’s muted hue delivers an eclectic dose of nostalgia as it brings the best of an iconic era into the present. It’s the ideal shade to anchor this month’s throwback palette of retro-inspired color in which we dial up the modern in mid-century styling with a fresh approach to a classic style.

Painting Dormers

A dormer is a vertical window that projects from a sloping roof. There is much more to painting dormers than one might think. First there is the matter of access. With conventional lift baskets, the roof interferes before the work surfaces can be reached and reaching is the big challenge because the walls of the dormer get tucked back up under the eaves as both planes meet.

Then there is the matter of masking (protecting all of the areas that don’t get painted). Protecting the dormer roof, the main roof, the facia and gutters of both areas and the window is no small task. Add all the necessary surface prep and caulking and you have a challenge fit for an experienced crew like ours!

Of course most people just noticed that it looks really nice. We take pride in doing challenging jobs like right the first time so your can take pride in your home. Call us for a free quote on your new construction or repaint project. Mike 541-497-3804.

Dormer access is one of the biggest challenges of doing it right the first time!

Paint Samples Applied

As we mentioned before, paint chips can be too small for some paint color decisions, which is why we picked up some paint samples from Sherwin-Williams and painted them on the wall of our new construction project.

In this case, we placed our samples where we could see them near the garage doors and near the facia trim of our metal roof. We decided that the color on the right was too similar to the roof color and decided to go with the color on the left. It’s called Cyber Space from Sherwin-Williams.

Paint Samples

Color chips are notoriously small for making such a big decision. A larger area is needed to get an accurate read on the right color.

Choosing a new paint color for the exterior of your home can be fun and a little scary. To keep it fun and make it less scary, you can get some paint samples from Sherwin-Williams and test them on your siding.

There are lots of ways to narrow down your paint color. Pay attention to other houses in your area as you go about your daily business. What catches your eye (in a good way)? How do you think this color combination would look on your house? How does it compare with your neighbors’ houses? You probably don’t want to use the same color as a next-door neighbor.

Once you’ve narrowed down your color choice, go to Sherwin-Williams and find the color on their charts with the help of an employee. Now you probably need to narrow down the shade of color you want and this is where some actual paint samples come into play. Color chips are notoriously small for making such a big decision. A larger area is needed to get an accurate read on the right color.

Ask for samples of your top two or three colors. The staff will mix up quart-sized color samples, which you can take home and test on your walls. Be sure to paint a sizeable area so you can get a real feel for what the color will look like on the entire house.

Of course if Paint Doctor’s Painting is your contractor, Mike would be glad to help with this process 541-497-3804.