Colors in the blue range are often referred to as cool. What do you think of the house featured in the above photo? Can you imagine your house in this cool color scheme? The colors shown are from Sherwin-Williams.
Cool Exterior Color Idea
Tag: Best house painters in Philomath Oregon
Rustic + Refined
Gracefully giving classic farmhouse design a fresh, modern update, this palette offers hues of blue and green that are both airy and serene … and perfect for pairing to create rooms of respite and retreat.
See the full palette at Sherwin-Williams.
Sheen
When you are choosing your paint color be prepared to the answer the question of sheen, which is how shiny of dull you want your finished product. High-sheen (glossy) surfaces are typically easier to keep clean. These paint formulations traditionally produce the toughest and most stain-resistant finishes – that’s why high-gloss finishes are common in bathrooms, high-traffic areas and kids’ rooms. On the down side, glossy surfaces draw attention to even the smallest flaws in the texture of the wall. If the intention is to hide or downplay a space, high-sheen paint should be avoided.
Most brands of paint come in several sheens, and both latex and oil-based paints are available in different sheen levels. Gloss sheens have the highest light-reflective characteristics. Next are semigloss sheens; then satin, eggshell, or low-lustre sheens; and then flat or matte sheens.
The Right White
You’ve got some painting to do and you may be thinking, “I’ll just paint it white.” Not so fast, there Skippy. White is almost never pure white. There are undertones with as many tints, tones and saturations as you can imagine. So even when you are choosing white, you need to choose the right white.
To get a good idea of the range, you can visit Sherwin-Williams Digital Color Wall. You can enter “white” in the search or just check out the white end of the spectrum you see on your screen.
It’s also a good idea to get a bunch of color chips. You can get up to 10 2″ x 3″ ColorSnap color chips delivered free from Sherwin-Williams. With the color chips, you can see them in your home with other décor objects and in your home lighting.
White is a good choice. Which white is not so easy. Ask the Paint Doctor which whites they use the most.
Door Details
Painting an entry door is usually a project in itself. Often the color and sheen are unique and can really create a statement for the exterior of the home.
Entry doors are often made of materials you don’t find anywhere else on the house exterior – perhaps fiberglass or steel. These surfaces require a thorough knowledge of primers for coverage, adhesion and longevity. Often the finish coat application is similar to automotive painting and requires a deft touch with the sprayer.
Windows in doors (called lights) can vary in configuration and construction techniques. Some door manufacturers will premask the lights. Some lights require experience with the glazing, which can spill over onto the surface to be painted. Think about the number of masked edges on a 15 light door. That’s 45 pieces of tape per single door side or 180 pieces on a double french doors inside and out. That’s a lot of masking!
Door sealing along all edges is essential, since it is exposed to higher humidity than most interior doors. Sealing the edges can prevent moisture penetration, which can prevent discoloration, delamination and warping.
Got an entry door that needs painting? Call the doctor.
Loaded Brush, Pro Move
Pro painters know how to properly load a brush for cutting in, for outside corners, open wall space and trim details. Not enough paint means you’ll over work it trying to get the coverage. Too much paint means you’ll lack control on your edges and eventually have a dripping mess on your hands.
Pro painters know how to load the brush and how to get consistent coverage and leveling by applying paint with the right speed and pressure. It’s a pro move. Your best pro move might be to call the Paint Doctor to avoid those unsightly brush marks.
Ladder Safety
Depending on terrain, building design and ground conditions, ladder work can be a two-man job.
Just another reason to call the pros at Paint Doctor’s Painting.
Brushing Up on Paint Brushes
Professional painters use professional equipment. It may seem to some that a paint brush is just a stick with bristles. There is a lot more to these essential tools than first meets the eye. You will get your best results matching the brush to the paint and to the job at hand. Sherwin-Williams offers some great help with it comes to choosing the right brush for your project:
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 Wise
We’re all aware that the layer of marine air that comes off the coast is the thing that keeps the Emerald Valley, you know, emerald. But the fog, mist and rain we experience creates some challenges as well. We construct our roads with crowns and proper ditches for run off. We avoid building houses in the flood zones. We all own some decent rain gear for our outdoor activities.
Our famous rain presents some distinct challenges for painting contractors as well. First of all is the selection of the best products for our particular climate. Paint adhesion for primers and finish coats in a damp environment are important considerations. Mold and mildew resistance and drying dynamics are also factors. Be sure to ask the Paint Doctor about using paints with anti-microbial properties, such as Sherwin-Williams Harmony and Duration Home.
Paint surface preparation is also very climate driven. It doesn’t take long in our valley for microscopic mold and mildew spores to gain a foothold and our world famous agriculture and natural pollens create dust that also settles onto our buildings. Surfaces must be properly cleaned for improved paint adhesion and to kill mold and mildew. Cleaning is a very important step in the painting process. The Paint Doctor knows how to get the job done right for the best protection for your building.
Paint application is also very weather dependent. Paint must be applied within an optimal range of temperature and humidity. The Paint Doctor knows the best time to apply your paint and the best tools to do the job right the first time.
Our weather makes our state green but it presents some challenges for our painted surfaces that are best left to the pros at Paint Doctor’s Painting who know what products work best and what preparations need to be made. They also know when and how to best apply the product. Call Mike at 541-497-3804