best house painters in Corvallis – Page 3

Don’t Just Stair

Stair with color and flair. Not sure what to do with your wood stairs. You’re not alone, it’s complicated, it’s time to call in the pros at Paint Doctor’s Painting.

Check out this recent project, which included some challenging stair work. Mike can fill you in on the details, but foot traffic adds another aspect to the finish selecting process. In addition to the usual water penetration and UV protection considerations, penetration is a key component for trafficked surfaces.

Details on this project included the posts and rails and working around some cool cable infill. Note the metal stays between posts. Getting the right adhesion for this mixed media stair case is among the important components to the selecting the right coatings.

Don’t just stair, stair with the Paint Doctor. Give Mike a call. 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

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.

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!

April 2023 Color of the Month

Sherwin-Williams says their Color of the Month palette is a playful blend of the cozy-warm, welcoming vibe of a countryside cottage with a more thoughtfully refined sensibility. Capture the homey feel of a cottagecore look with comfy layered textiles and throws to help bring the feeling of fireside warmth to your space. The tonal shades of Malted Milk and Emerging Taupe add to the soft glow and bathe the room in natural beauty. There’s an effortless elegance beneath the sweet surface of Malted Milk that carries the look in its own unique way.

When something is delicate beyond words, we do the best we can and call it ethereal. That’s the essence of Malted Milk. Though outwardly elegant and romantic, there’s a lightheartedness in the shade that embodies the beautiful simplicity of the everyday. Even as an accent, the whimsical charm at the heart of this dainty hue softens the more sophisticated side of the cottagecore look with a characteristic wink of quirky fun. With Snowbound playing main attraction, you get the perfect airy backdrop for a space that feels both elevated and eclectic.

WHAT IS THE OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE TO PAINT OUTSIDE?

According to Sherwin-Williams, “Until a few years ago, painting needed to done when temperatures were going to be above 50°F. However, with advances made in waterborne technologies, products like Duration®, Resilience®, SuperPaint®, A-100®, in addition to WoodScapes® products can be applied when temperatures are as low as 35ºF.

Please note that surface, air and product temperatures must be at or above 35ºF and that environmental conditions during and after painting need to be considered. Stable conditions and temperatures above 35ºF are needed early in the paint’s drying schedule. The first 48 hours could be critical to successful drying.”

We’re ready when you are. Give us a call so we can give you a bid on your exterior house paint project. Mike 541-497-3804

March 2023 Color of the Month Kestrel White

Sometimes opposites really do attract. When it comes to Modern Traditional style, you get the best of two vastly different worlds, and in the middle, you find a beautiful hue like Kestrel White with just the right blend of cozy sophistication to carry the look. The warm, inviting vibe of this stunning white effortlessly balances elements of traditional and modern design. It’s perfect for playing host to a family gathering space where you want to sit and stay a while. Play up the earthiness in the tonal colors of this palette, layering Dhurrie Beige trim and a Kestrel White wall with warm wood tones to fully embrace the authentic charm of this style.

ColorSnap Visualizer for iPhone and Android INSTANT PAINT Feature

The newest version of ColorSnap^® Visualizer for mobile integrates a cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) experience called Instant Paint. This feature provides a fast, seamless way to visualize any of our 1,700 colors on walls—in real time. Easily create custom palettes, save colors, try different color options and share results in a variety of ways.

It’s the most innovative update yet, leading to faster, more confident color selections.

Opportunity Cost

The idea sounds good. I’ll just paint it myself. But there can be a lot more to a painting project than many homeowners realize. Just tracking down the basic supplies (masking materials, drop cloths, brushes, rollers, pans…) takes time and money.

You may not have considered the opportunity cost to your diy project: what could I be doing to make money if I wasn’t working on this paint job? It’s another good reason to call the Paint Doctor, 541-497-3804.