Prepping for Interior Paint

To the casual observer, painting an interior room is simply a matter of dipping a brush or roller in paint and brushing/rolling it on. The reality is that a quality paint job involves a lot of preparation. If you are thinking about doing your own interior paint project, here are some of the steps involved:

1. Clear the Area

Furniture: Move all furniture out of the rooms to be painted. If moving them out isn’t possible, push them to the center of the room and cover them with plastic sheets or drop cloths. Wall Hangings: Take down pictures, mirrors, and other wall decorations. Store them safely in a different room.

2. Clean the Walls

Dust and Dirt: Wipe down the walls to remove dust and dirt. A clean surface helps the paint adhere better. Grease and Stains: Use a mild detergent to clean any greasy or stained areas, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.

3. Protect Fixtures and Floors

Outlet Covers and Light Switches: Remove cover plates from outlets and switches. Cover the exposed outlets with painter’s tape for protection. Floors: Lay down drop cloths or plastic sheets to protect floors from paint drips and spills. Secure them with painter’s tape to prevent them from shifting.

4. Address Repairs

Nail Holes and Cracks: Fill any nail holes, cracks, or dents with spackle or putty. Allow it to dry completely, then sand it smooth. Loose Wallpaper or Peeling Paint: Remove any loose wallpaper or peeling paint. Smooth the edges and sand the area to ensure a uniform surface.

5. Gather Supplies

Tools and Materials: Gather any tools or supplies you might need, such as ladders, tape, brushes, and rollers. Organize them in a convenient location. Lighting: Ensure the room has adequate lighting. If the room is dark, consider adding temporary lights so you can see your work clearly.

6. Confirm Paint Details

Confirm paint colors, coordinating colors and finish types.

7. Safety Considerations

Pets and Children: Keep pets and children out of the work area for their safety and to avoid interruptions. Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in the rooms being painted. Open windows or use fans to help with airflow and reduce paint fumes. Ladders: Falling is a serious hazard associated with ladder work and can result in injury or death.

Alternatively, you can call the Paint Doctor and we will take care of most of the steps listed above as normal part of our scope of work, 541-497-3804

October 2024 Color of the Month

Pairing the rich blue-green of Mount Etna by Sherwin-Williams with leathers and natural wood adds a level of sophistication to existing casual décor. Call Mike 541-497-3804 to schedule your interior transformation.

Dark and Light Color Inspiration

When the colors are called Dark Night and Extra White, you know you are going to see some serious contrast. We found this combination at HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams. It was featured on Christina on the Coast Episode 505.

Throughout the open concept, natural wood and leather add to the contrast of colors.
Black appliances and black hardware add drama to the dark blue cabinets.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster, Extra White and Dark Night

Max Monochrome

Check out this approach to interior color. Using one color for the entire room, “brings harmony and creates the impression of open space,” according to Sherwin-Williams. Notice the extent to which this concept was taken. Walls, ceiling, book case, window seat, casing and desk all in the same color. The color is Mount Etna SW 7625. We can do this. Call Mike 541-497-3804.

Photo credit: @our_edith_house via Sherwin-Williams.

Sheen

You’ve finally narrowed down your paint colors, and now you must make another decision – it’s time to choose a sheen.


A non-reflective sheen that helps hide surface imperfections, making walls appear smooth. Visually this finish smooths walls that are dented or rough. However, it can be harder to clean. Best for:

Adult bedrooms
Formal Living Rooms
Ceilings
Uneven or textured walls
This flat finish is great for hiding surface imperfections, while its angular shine helps make walls smooth and washable. Use this sheen for:

Living rooms
Dining rooms
Exterior siding
With a slight shine, Satin and Eg-Shel finishes offer a richer look. Washability makes these sheens ideal for high-traffic areas most likely to attract nicks and scuff marks such as:

Hallways
Woodwork
Children’s bedrooms
Family rooms
Exterior surfaces
This moderately reflective, durable finish is perfect for areas that get cleaned frequently, such as:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Utility area
Closet doors
Trim
Gloss sheens have higher light-reflective characteristics. This shiny, durable finish works great for any element of a room you would like to highlight such as:
Wood trim
Cabinets
Doors
Furniture

If you have questions about choosing the sheen of paint to use for interior or exterior finishes, give us a call at 541-497-3804.

New Construction Schedule Options

Painting for our long-time general contractor clients requires that our team learns the sequence the builder prefers and bids the jobs accordingly. The interior photos in this blog post are from a recent project where the general contractor wanted a “wall-out” right after the drywall texture was completed and before any cabinets, doors or trim were installed. One advantage to this approach is that wall paint is much tougher than drywall texture so the paint protects the wall from minor scrapes and impacts during the finishing stages. This order works well for contrasting trim colors.

Other contractors may do the sequence differently for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they want to paint all of the trim and doors the same color and sheen as the wall paint. Maybe they want to eliminate an additional time slot for the painters before the finish carpenters begin, which can help a tight construction schedule. We can even put more than one crew (each with their own equipment) on one job to speed up the process.

In addition to the two approaches listed above, hybrids of these approaches can be employed such as primer between drywall prep and texture to help hide drywall joints.

Whatever the approach, we can accommodate your construction schedule and will bid the job according to your system. As a valuable member of your trade team, we can make suggestions and work with your other trade partners to help make up for some lost days on the construction schedule when needed.

Call Mike 541-497-3804 to talk schedule, bids and sequence for your upcoming new construction projects.

July 2024 Color of the Month-Heron Plume

Sherwin-Williams says, “This inviting shade of warm white seamlessly blends modern simplicity with traditional style. Heron Plume’s laid-back energy is perfect for the refined yet relaxed sophistication of California coastal style. When paired with the nature-inspired coordinating hues of the California Love palette, this airy shade makes crafting casual style a breeze.”

Heron Plume white is combined with Pachyderm SW 9596 wainscot.

Settle into serenity with the subtle, relaxing influence of simple color. A layered approach to the soft, tonal neutrals of this month’s palette builds to evoke a cozy sense of tranquility in a bedroom retreat. Heron Plume’s warming shade of creamy white paired with Pachyderm’s soft greige tone creates a clean backdrop for other elements of coastal style to stand out. Textured natural materials like jute and wicker mix with layered wood tones to add depth and contrast while highlighting the organic, outdoor feel of the space.

paintdrspainting.com suggests this shade of white for modern décor
Whether inside or out, Heron Plume’s warmth radiates an easygoing, welcoming vibe to greet guests. A rich blue-green shade like Mount Etna makes a striking first impression, adding bold contrast that elevates the exterior and sets the tone.

At Paint Doctor’s Painting we often say white is never really just white. Subtle tints make a white warmer or cooler or comfy. Call Mike with help to choose your white and expert help in applying it in your home or business. 541-497-3804

Protect Your Investment

When you consider the amount of money you have invested in your siding, professional paint application makes a lot of sense to protect your investment. Call Mike at 541-497-3804.

Many exterior building products are engineered to have a protective layer of paint. Paint provides protection against water intrusion and against ultraviolet light deterioration. Many siding types are not particularly strong or resilient unless they are properly sealed and painted.

According to the Engineered Wood Association, “Proper finishing protects siding from the weather, reduces maintenance and promotes long-lasting performance. Weather can cause surface damage to unprotected wood within 4 weeks of exposure and adversely affect the performance of subsequently applied finishes. Preprimed products should be top-coated within 60 to 90 days of installation.”

The Paint Doctor takes into account the specific recommendations provided by the siding manufacturers. These recommendations are not just for the chemical characteristics of the primers and paints, but timing and how to apply the product. For example, “The first coat should either be brush-applied or sprayed and back-brushed while the finish is still wet. This is essential for textured surfaces, such as rough-sawn. Brushing helps work the finish into the siding, therefore providing better protection to the siding surface and optimum finish adhesion,” according to the Engineered Wood Association.

Additionally the edges and transitions must be sealed with proper caulking products professionally applied.

When you consider the amount of money you have invested in your siding, professional paint application makes a lot of sense to protect your investment. Call Mike at 541-497-3804.

Wainscot Colors

Choosing colors for your decor projects can be a daunting task, which is why it’s a good idea to get some paint samples so you can test the color on a larger area at home.

Paint samples can help home owners decide what colors to use when planning a project. Paint Doctor's Painting can help.

According to Sherwin-Williams, “By sampling colors at home, you can be sure you’ve selected the right colors for your space. Color to Go samples make it easy. These small, Twist-n-Pour containers cover about 75 sq. ft., which helps you try colors to see exactly how they work with your lighting and decor. Color to Go helps you narrow in on the right color when you can’t decide between favorites.”

Lebanon Oregon Painter helps with color selections. One of the 5 best painters working in Lebanon Oregonn.
When Corvallis Oregon customers need help with their painting projects they turn to Paint Doctor's Painting.
This customer wanted to see this trim color applied on their project before eventually deciding on the darker color as the base and lighter color as the trim.
Wainscot colors can be a challenge to choose. Paint Doctor's painting can help. Listed here among the top 5 painters in the Mid-Valley area, Albany homeowners trust the Paint Doctor.

A neutral color for wainscot can also be used dramatically simply by changing the color of the wall above it.

Albany Oregon painter Paint Doctor's Painting can help you with your paint color choices.
Corvallis painting contractor Paint Doctor's Painting can help you choose your wainscot colors.
Sweet Home Oregon painting contractor Paint Doctor's Painting can help you choose your wainscot colors.
Lebanon Oregon painting contractor Paint Doctor's Painting can help you choose your wainscot colors.

Buying Time and Safety

Your time is worth a lot. Your safety is worth everything. Leave it to the pros of Paint Doctor’s Painting. Call Mike at 541-497-3804.

You’ve probably heard the expression “your time is worth something” and at Paint Doctor’s Painting we know it’s true. When you consider the amount of time involved in doing your own paint project compared to hiring the Doctor, we think you will agree. Many property owners significantly underestimate what it takes to wash, prep, caulk, fill, sand, scrape, mask, pack, place, climb, spray, roll, brush, move and do it all again.

However, when you hire the pros at Paint Doctor’s Painting, you get an entire crew that is doing all of these operations at once with the speed and accuracy that comes with doing the job right the first time every day. Rather than having your house in that paint-job-in-process mode for weeks, you can have the whole job completed in a day or two.

Listed here among the top 5 painters in Albany Oregon, Paint Doctor's Painting can save you so much time and keep you safe.

Consider also the safety factor. We have the equipment and knowledge to do the job safely. When you consider how each time you move a ladder and reset it you have to get it just right and even then you are climbing, reaching and working off that ladder… Better left to the pros. Plus our guys know how to handle all of the products with the proper level of masks, respirators, gloves, face coverings, etc. Did you know many paint-related products have components that can be absorbed through the skin?

Top 5 painters in Lebanon, Oregon include Paint Doctor's Painting.

Your time is worth a lot. Your safety is worth everything. Leave it to the pros of Paint Doctor’s Painting. Call Mike at 541-497-3804.