A curb painting business is extremely lucrative and easy to start business that can make money fast. What might you be painting a curb for, you may ask yourself. Well, in many places people have their house number painted on the curb which is a necessity. This type of business requires only a small investment that anyone can afford. It is also extremely easy to learn. At a hundred dollars a pop you could be making very good money curb painting.
In order to start your business you will need some materials to start with. You will need stencils to produce the numbers on the curb along with the proper paint. You will want your numbers to be highly reflective so that night time viewing is possible. This will be your catch! Most numbers are painted cannot be seen at night. You will have a much better response for work if you do something or provide something most others are not. So when thinking of starting this type of opportunity you must make sure you have the correct materials.
Now in order to make money people will have to know you exist. You need to get the word out. You will need to make up some flyers and get them out there. Advertising in cheap places is also good just keep your advertising to a minimum. You can easily make around 200 to 300 per day with this opportunity. In areas that folks have their house number on the curb it is necessary for them to have it so there is a lot of potential for money here. You may also use internet advertising to spread the word of your business.
Good luck with this extremely low investment business opportunity that anyone can start. Curb painting is becoming evermore popular. You may want to also remove fading numbers as well for even more money. Just have fun curb painting and make some dollars. I would love to here from those that have done this and are making money!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Curb Painting Business
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Painting Business Property Insurance for Equipment
When getting general liability insurance for your painting business you may want to consider insuring your equipment by purchasing extra Painting Business Property Insurance Equipment you may own. Typically your home insurance may cover the equipment up to 3,000 dollars, so if you have more than that you should look into getting the extra Painting Business property insurance for equipment when you are away from home with your equipment.
You may ask yourself, “Should I get insurance to cover my painting equipment?”. The answer is; Yes! It would not cost too much more for having Painting Business Property Insurance for equipment. Ladders, sprayers, power washers and tools can run thousands of dollars and to have them stolen or destroyed could be very costly.
The premium is usually calculated per 100 dollars of equipment, but at a low amount. What if you were on the job and a fire broke out burning the house and your equipment to the ground. You would be out of luck if you did not have painting business property insurance. There are so many things that can happen. You should also have commercial insurance on the vehicle that you are using for business. Checking with various agents and insurance companies I am sure you will find a reasonably decent quote for your painting business property insurance.
Once you have found a few good quotes it is very important to read the document and understand all that is covered. You may find subtle differences between the policies. You must decide which is more important or which fits your needs closer. Once you have done that you will then compare the premiums and choose the one you like best.
You should have many local agencies in your area that you can get quotes from. Usually it will be the larger well known companies that will have larger quotes and more stringent rules. The larger companies will also make it difficult for the new business owners to get coverage by having strict qualifying rules that you will need to comply with. You will probably be better off finding a broker.
Never make an uninformed decision when getting insurance, and do not allow the agent to push you into making a quick decision either. Take your time and really investigate all the policies for what and how much each specific category covers. Good luck in getting your painting business property insurance for equipment.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wood Deck Maintenance Tips
Wood deck maintenance tips does fall under interior painting for the fact that some decks have enclosures leading to exterior parts of the home. For this reason I will publish this article. You may head over to Exterior Home Painting blog to read more about Wood Deck Maintenance
- Mill Glaze – Is when the surface of the wood is new and has a sheen on the surface from the mill that hiders penetration of stain A shiny surface on the wood which comes from the mill when the wood is cut.
- Stripping a Wood Deck- This when you remove any old finish that is on the surface of a wood deck. Best done by sanding but can also be done with or without chemical solutions but with a pressure washer.
- Sanding a Wood Deck - This is done with a comercial sander and it completely strips the deck of it's finish. When sanding a wood deck you should not use any wood brighteners or chemical cleaning solutions.
- Power Washing After Sanding - Once the wood deck has been sanded you will need to wash the deck off with a pressure washer that is 1000-1200 psi, a wide 40 degree spray nozzle, and the nozzle should be held at least 12 inches from the surface.
- Power Washing with Brighteners and Cleaners - This is where wood brighteners and cleaning solutions are used to clean the deck. The chemicals will strip most stains but will not strip solid stains or paint, for that you will need do sanding. A power washer between 1500-1800 psi will work and a 25 degree spray nozzle held at 12 inches from the surface will work.
- Power Washing without Brighteners or Cleaners - a strong pressure washer between 2000 and 2500 psi and a spray nozzle of 15 to 25 degrees held at about 8 to 10 inches from the surface of the wood should work. There may need to be some sanding and then a repeated wash. You must be careful with this method because you can easily damage the wood.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Hiring a Painter for a Painting Business
Whether owning a painting franchise or painting business you will eventually need help with your work. You can hire painters with experience and laborers who do not have a lot of experience. When hiring a painter or painter’s helper you will need to think about what you are doing. Most importantly you will need some business insurance other than liability insurance which will protect you and them should they get hurt on the job called Workman’s Compensation Insurance.
First order on your list will be to go get the workman’s compensation insurance which your local insurance broker or agent can quote for you. In Pennsylvania the cost for Liability insurance for a painting business is about 500 dollars and for Workman’s Compensation Insurance the base is about 1500 dollars and then at the end of the year there is an audit of your payroll and the amount is adjusted according to your payroll.
The next order of business is you need to decide how much help and what type of help you need. Someone with a bit more experience who can do more without direction will cost more than just a helper. You will need to discuss with the person how you will pay them, whether it be weekly or biweekly. Having a payroll company take care of the payroll for you can help as well.
There are a number of ways to get a helper or painter. You can advertise in the newspaper, print flyers or a very good way is through Craigs List. You will need to state what you are looking for and how much you will pay. With Craigs List they will respond to an email which you can screen the prospective employee out and then exchange numbers.
When screening the prospective Painter for the position you will want to know their experience and have them back that up. You may also want to have them work on a probationary term to see how they work out. If they work out and can meet the expectation that you expect and they have portrayed then you are in luck.
You may find that the person does not work out but you should now have a list of possible people to choose from. Hiring a painter for your Painting Business or Painting Franchise is no easy task. Just make sure you have some business insurance coverage to protect you and your employee in case of any injury on he job.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Blue Collar Heroin Addiction On the Rise
Heroin addiction among blue collared workers is on the rise. Crack used to be the drug that plagued many blue collared workers but that has declined over the years only to be replaced by heroin according to a quarterly ‘Pulse Check’ study. The study is based on interviews with, researchers, law officers, and drug treatment workers.
As a result of this the Columbian Cartel has been increasing the production of heroin to make up in lost sales of cocaine.
Heroin carried a stigma of being a junkie which deterred many from ever using it. However that is no longer the case and the use of heroin is does not carry such a heavy stigma any more. Crack cocaine however is now building an image on the street as a loser drug instead.
Some interesting findings in the study are:
Until two years ago
Three quarters of heroin users inject the drug intravenously. Which, most that inhale the drug eventually switch to injecting the drug.
To learn more about heroin use visit Heroin Addiction Detox
Heroin Withdrawal Promising New Treatments
Heroin Addiction Residential Inpatient Treatment
Heroin Addiction Suboxone Treatment
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Creating a Painting Business Plan
Writing a House Painting Business Plan is probably not something you are looking forward to but is one of the most important tasks when running or starting an exterior or interior painting business. It will force you to objectively develop and evaluate your tactical and strategic plans. It will also help you identify the opportunities and risks encountered as a result of your decisions. Your Plan should outline your goals, expected costs, marketing plan and exact strategy. Both exterior and interior painting can make good money if managed properly and that starts with a good painting business plan.
Painting Business Plan Part 1: Summary Outlining Goals and Objectives
The first part of the plan should be a summary outlining all of your goals and objectives for the painting business. This part will be introducing the strategy for your business which will prove to be the most important part for any lending institutions you mat try to receive a painting business loan from.
Painting Business Plan Part 2: How the Business Formulated
In this part you will just discuss how the business began or how you came up with the business.
Painting Business Plan Part 3: Business Goals
Here is where you will list the short and long term goals for your painting business.
Painting Business Plan Part 4: Qualifications and Background of Those who will be in Charge
This part you will list all the qualifying backgrounds of those that will be in charge and any prior experiences related to the business or part that person will play in the business.
Painting Business Plan Part 5: Your Product and Service Offered
You will be laying out exactly what services you will be providing and how you will be doing things in comparison to your competitors
Painting Business Plan Part 6: The Market Demand for Your Product
This will require you research the demand and growth potential for your product and provide that data.
Painting Business Plan Part 7: Your Advertising plan
How you will be advertising to gain business and the costs involved.
Providing a detailed painting business plan and doing all the necessary research to provide detailed data will ensure you will get any necessary loans you may need. There are many companies and software you can use that can help you put create a professional painting business plan.Here is more info on starting a painting business:
Start a Painting Business No Money
How to Bid Painting Jobs
Painting Business Insurance Costs
Top Painting Franchises
Painting Franchise Opportunities
Start a Painting Business No Money
To start a painting business with little money is easy to do. In fact you can start a painting business for under a hundred dollars. When I first started out I went down to an insurance broker to find out what it would cost to get insurance for my painting business I wanted to start. The premium at that time was only Four Hundred Dollars. I had no equipment and no vehicle. As a matter of fact I had no license. My insurance agent asked me if I would paint their building outside. My very first job! The contract was for Three Thousand Dollars, which covered my equipment I needed, the insurance premium plus materials. I was still left with a nice profit when complete and was in business. My girlfriend, now wife, would take me to job sites with her Honda Civic which my 24 foot ladder fit through the hatch and across the car. Eventually within a year I got my license back and bought a Dodge Van. From there my business grew. It is very possible to start a painting business with little money or even no money as in my case.
So you may not get as lucky to have your insurance broker offer you a contract as I did, but there are ways to pull your painting business together with little money. You can make flyers and distribute them, you can print business cards on your computer, and you can place cheap ads. If there is a will there is a way to drum up business, and you will find some if you put forth effort
Flyers are probably the cheapest way to go about finding work. These can be printed on your computer for very little money. On the flyer you will want folks to see “PAINTING” very clearly. The business name should be on the flyer as well as address and phone number. All the services that you want to provide should be on the flyer. You will also want to state you are insured because your first contract you are going to get a policy in place.
Business cards can be printed on your computer as well saving a lot of printing costs at the printers. The business card should state your painting business name, phone number, address your name and that you’re insured, and brief services you provide. Business cards are important so that clients know who you are and do not forget. Especially when they recommend you they have the information handy to give to others.
Other things that you need for your business can be accumulated as you sign contracts; such as, more equipment, vehicles, employees and more. There are some things you may need to get in the beginning that are required by various states; like any licenses and such. If your state requires these you must get them. Otherwise, starting a painting business with little money is easy. Good Luck!
For more on Starting and Owning a Painting Business see below:
Curb Painting Business
Creating a Painting Business Plan
How to Bid Painting Jobs
Painting Business Insurance Costs
Top Painting Franchises
Painting Franchise Opportunities
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
How To Bid Painting Jobs
This article will give you a general idea on how to bid painting jobs successfully. Every geographical area can be very different in the final cost of a particular job so it can be difficult to explain that aspect of bidding a painting job. You must know your market and the competition that is in that market before you can really provide a potential customer with a price. There are some general rules that apply to coming up with a bid price for your client and winning the bid. There are also certain procedures you should follow to ensure you have the best chance of winning that bid and that is what this article will touch on. You can never win all the bids you place and if you are then your price is probably too low. Learning how to bid painting jobs in the beginning can be stressful, but with practice it will become second nature.
When contacted by a potential client it is very important you return that call the same day as soon as possible. This ensures the client you are easily reachable and builds trust. Once contacted you must discuss with the client what the work is that they have and give them a brief on the services you provide and how long you have been in business. If not long in business then you need to provide them some security by letting them know you have references to provide and how you will take care of their work they need done. This rapport is very important in building trust. Get all the information you need from them such as name, address, phone numbers and directions to take a look at what they have.
In setting a time to meet them you must show up on time or just before that time. Upon getting there you will state who you are and have a business card to hand them. Have a note pad, pen and tape measure in your hands. You must look appropriately professional. Showing up in paint clothing is better than showing up in suit and tie. Ask to take your shoes off before entering the house if you are to go inside. This shows you will have respect for their home and again builds trust. Get right down to business in getting all the information. Chatting along the way is good but try to keep it mostly on your professionalism.
Once you get the information let them know you will be putting together their estimate and will fax it to them by the following day. Do everything you say you will do and be where you say you will be. Let a customer know that if they are to receive more bids that they should call you if there are any lower than yours and that you may be willing to adjust your pricing. This way price cannot stop you from getting the bid if you want it.
You must be on the edge at all times and do whatever is necessary to win the bid. Of course if they call you and say they have a bid much lower than yours you must ask to see it if you are thinking of matching it or going below it. If it is just below yours then chopping a few bucks off without seeing it is ok. You may decide it is so low that you cannot match it or go below it. This is where you need to sell yourself and your services, letting them know why you cannot go below that number. This is how you bid a painting job if you want to win it.
For more info on owning a Painting Business:
Curb Painting Business
Creating a Painting Business Plan
Start a Painting Business No Money
Painting Business Insurance Costs
Top Painting Franchises
Painting Franchise Opportunities
Painting Business Insurance Cost
Running a painting business is a lot of work and keeping costs to a minimum is essential if you want to stay in competition causing a lot of Painting Business owners not to carry Painting Business Insurance. This is a huge mistake that can be costly and put your business out of business for good and may even cause you to end up in jail. Every Painting business should carry Painting Business Insurance.
There are two main insurance policies that should be carried each has different premiums depending upon the state and area you conduct business. Checking with an Insurance Agent or Broker for policy premiums is just a matter of going in and talking to them. Most times a policy can be put in place the very same day.
General Liability Insurance is the number one insurance policy your painting business should carry. The premiums in my area for a (1,000,000) one million dollar policy range from (500) five hundred dollars to (1,200) twelve hundred dollars. Sometimes they will allow you to place only (20) twenty percent down and some will require the entire premium be paid up front. The premium is a minumun cost and one your painting business should definitely carry for it will cover any accidental damages and even some injuries.
Workmans Compensation Insurance is the next very important policy you should have in place. Every state has different rules on Workmans Compensation so you will need to talk with your agent about it. In my area the base premium will cost (1,500) fifteen hundred dollars. How it works is based upon how much your payroll is and they will audit you at the end of the term. Some states allow you to carry Workmans Compensation for your self as well as any employees. Workmans Compensation is extremely important and should you have employees working who are not covered you can go to prison for it is a felony in addition to being sued by an injured worker. If you have workers who work for other companies besides yours you can consider them to be sub contractors who would be required to carry their own Workmans Comp policy and show proof of it.
Having Painting Business Insurance is very important and there should always be a policy in place for your own protection.
For more articles on owning a Painting Business:
Creating a Painting Business Plan
Start a Painting Business No Money
How to Bid Painting Jobs
Top Painting Franchises
Painting Franchise Opportunities
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Top Painting Franchise Opportunities
Finding the top painting franchise opportunities can be very difficult since there are many franchises available to choose from. What this article will do is provide a quick overview of some of the top painting franchise opportunities that are available so that you may have a nice quick view of what each has to offer. Of course before choosing the best painting franchise opportunity you must do some research.
Certa Pro Painting Franchise
Required Capitol - $119k - $144k dollars
Units - 50
Established – 2004
- Franchise 50,
2007 top 50 award - Entrepreneur Magazine,
top 500 franchises - Entrepreneur Magazine,
#1 in class - Success Magazine,
Gold 200
Fresh Coat Painting Franchise
Required Capitol – $31k to $51k dollars
Units - 50
Established – 2004
Offering Financial Assistance
Financial assistance available. Franchise Fee: $24,900.
Special Incentives
VetFran Participant
Home Based Franchise
VetFran Incentive
Veterans make ideal franchise owners in this segment. We offer an exclusive and generous incentive package to our veteran franchisees, including a $1,000 discount on franchise fees.
Five Star Painting Franchise
Required Capitol – $10k to $20k dollars
Units – 53
Founded - 2000
Franchising – 2005
The Five Star system has been developed by a team of leading software consultants and painters. The result has been one of the easiest to use estimating software available.
Five Star Painting is the fastest growing painting franchise in
The Painting Pros Painting Franchise
Required Capitol – 68k to 148k dollars
Units - 13
Founded – 2003
Franchising - 2006
Here is more info on starting a painting business:
Start a Painting Business No Money
How to Bid Painting Jobs
Painting Business Insurance Costs
Painting Franchise Opportunities
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Painting Franchise Opportunities
If you've ever been interested in starting and running your own painting business, then you may want to look into establishing a painting franchise business opportunity. Aside from making good money from a painting business, there are many reasons why choosing to invest in a painting franchise is a smart decision. Nearly every commercial and residential property building is going to need paint or repainting every three to seven years. Compared to the rest of the contracting world, the start up costs is low and the margins are high and the work is plentiful.
Of course before buying any franchise you should always make sure you understand a little bit about owning and running a painting business. Surely you will have to know how to estimate projects, and at the same time be able to paint a bathroom or how to paint wood paneling. Unfortunately, some entrepreneurs overlook this element, and end up buying franchises that don't match their talents and abilities. This will only lead to failure of the franchise opportunity.
You will need to investigate the painting franchises that are available very carefully before deciding upon the right one if you are going to be successful. When it comes to choosing the right painting franchise not every painting franchise will give you the right tools, materials, and freedom to run your business the way that will be most successful in your area. To be successful, you are going to need the full support of the franchisor, especially when it comes to training you and your staff.
Another important way to look into the franchise you are considering is to talk to someone who owns one. Find someone who's owned the franchise system you're considering, and find out how they're doing, what they like and don't like about the franchisor, and if they would buy the system again if given the opportunity. You sure do not want to purchase a painting franchise opportunity only to find out it does not deliver what they promised. Over the coming weeks I will write more article on Painting Franchise Opportunities.
Here are some Franchises Listed Below:
CertaPro Painters
Five Star Painting
Here is more info on starting a painting business:
Creating a Painting Business Plan
Start a Painting Business No Money
How to Bid Painting Jobs
Painting Business Insurance Costs
Top Painting Franchises
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Debt Consolidation Pave a Way To Home Improvement
Debt consolidation is becoming very popular in these hard times and seems to be one answer to getting things done around the house. As gas prices and products seem to be on the rise debt consolidation is just another way to level the playing field when it comes to money to spend.
Over the years as times were good it seems everyone had all the money to spend that they wanted. Credit card debt was on the rise and borrowing seemed to be like brushing your teeth in the morning. Now with rise in cost of many items there is little money left to spend after paying off the debt from prior years. with little money left it becomes difficult to do the home improvements one really wants to. Services like painting really go to the bottom of the list since this is something that can wait or be accomplished by the home owner.
Some homeowners just cannot perform a service like painting and really need to hire a contractor. One way of achieving this is to do some debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is primarily taking debts like credit card debt and loans and basically getting another loan that covers them all together for one lower monthly payment. Debt consolidation frees up money that can be used now for other things such as painting ones home.
If you have a a lot of debt and need to free up some money I would definitely take a look at some debt consolidation.
Debt Consolidation Resources
http://www.budgetplanners.net/
Christian Debt Consolidation
Franklin Debt Relief
Friday, May 23, 2008
Confusion Blog Linking
Very confused as to structure and the way a blog is linked through link directories. Click picture to enlarge
Tips: Painting Popcorn Cielings
When Painting Popcorn Ceilings there are few steps that are neede to be taken to ensure the room comes out right. Obviously the first concern is how you can roll over the bumps in the ceiling successfully. When using the correct roller sleeve you will be able to do this. Other concerns will be how to cut in a straight line when there are popcorn pieces up against the walls.
Preparing the Popcorn Ceiling For Painting
The first thing that must be done to ensure a straight line on the wall where it meets with the popcorn ceiling is to take a Spackle knife, preferably a smaller one, and run it around the edges where the ceiling butts up to the wall knocking off the popcorn. Once this has been completed you may now paint the popcorn cieling.
Painting the Popcorn Ceiling
When painting a popcorn ceiling you the roller you have will need to have a very thick nap so that it may fill all around the popcorn texture. A 1 1/4 inch nap will suffice. just roll the roller into the pan of paint and roll the popcorn ceiling out. The roller sleeve will soak up a lot of paint and you may need more paint than normal for the ceiling. Also, because it soaks up so much paint the roller will seem very heavy and tire your arms quicker, and with high cielings your arms may really tire. Just take breaks, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Following these simple tasks will ensure a really nice paint finish on any popcorn ceiling!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Faux Painting Classes
Faux painting classes are very intriguing and can be sought after for many reasons by those who want to start their own Faux Painting Business, refine their Faux Painting skills, learn new Faux Painting Techniques, or so they may apply their own finishes in their own homes. For whatever reason there are plenty of classes that can be taken all over the country.
What Type of Faux Painting Classes to Take
When thinking about taking Faux Painting Classes they should be actual places you will need to show up at and participate in with an instructor. Good classes will take what you are learning and practice them on sample boards which can then be used as a Faux Painting Portfolio to display your techniques and finishes to clients or for your own reference.
Places to take classes
Below is a list of places you can look at should you want to take some faux painting classes. As with anything you should check the reputation of the company and look at more than one place to compare. Calling the company is also a good thing to do as well. The first on the list is one I attended the Pennsylvania school and found it to be extremely reputable. I left with a very professional portfolio! Leave me a comment if you want to know more. I will continue to update this list.
If you know of more places please leave a comment and I will add it to the list once I review it.
ARIZONA
Faux Masters Studio
335 East Warner Road
Building 4, Suite 4
Chandler, AZ 85225
888-977-3289
CALIFORNIA
Faux Masters Studio
Directors: Bob and Mike Hoppe
22941 Savi Ranch Parkway
Yorba Linda, California 92887
1-888-977-FAUX
English & Spanish Communication
Artistic Painting Studio
Director: Jennifer Ferguson
352 W. Bedford Ave., Suite 106
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 449-1764
COLORADO
Oro Studios, Inc.
Directors: Teri Althouse, David McKendry, & Linda Kimble
2120 Market Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
Ph #.877-676-7883
Fax# 303-421-2252
FLORIDA
Faux Effects International Inc.
Corporate Headquarters
Manufacturing & Training Facility
3435 Aviation Boulevard
Vero Beach, Florida 32960
1-800-270-8871
Se habla Espaniol
Oro Studios, Inc.
Directors: Linda Kimble, Teri Althouse & David McKendry
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
239-841-8611 or 877-676-7883
The Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing
Director: Donna Phelps
5376 Catalyst Avenue
Sarasota, Florida 34233
1-888-454-FAUX
Beautifaux LLC
Directors: Linh Lam &
Cherylyn Apking
5556 Yahl Street, Suite A
Naples, Florida 34109
1-239-593-4582
GEORGIA
The Finishing School Source
Directors: Caroline Woldenberg
and Bob Turner
2086 Faulkner Road.
Atlanta, Georgia 30324
1-404-929-9522
Paintin the Town Faux
Director: Susie Goldenberg
2830 Holcomb Bridge Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770-641-7641
KANSAS
Surfaces Fine Paint
& Decorative Arts Studio
(Kansas City)
Director: Bruce and Rebecca Slaton
8190 Nieman Road
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66214
1-913-888-9996
ILLINOIS
Faux Design Studio Inc.
Directors: Sheri Zeman
101 North Swift Road
Addison, Illinois 60101
1-630-627-1011
KENTUCKY
The Faux Finish School
Director: Martin Alan Hirsch
1905 Bardstown Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
1-800-598-FAUX
MASSACHUSETTS
New England Institute of Faux Finishing
Directors: Jim Martin & Ed Tarca
#1 Avenue C
Hopkington, Massachusetts 01748
1-508-544-9800
jim@neiff.com
Southern Institute of Faux Finishing
Director: Virginia Weathersby
1091 Old Fannin Road, Ste # D
Brandon, Mississippi 39047
1-601-919-3289
NEVADA
Bev Daitch Studios, Inc.
Director: Bev Daitch
5860 South Wynn Road, Suite A
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118
1-702-739-FAUX
NEW YORK
The Finishing School
Director: Bob Marx
50 Carnation Ave. Bldg 2
Floral Park, New York 11001
1-516-327-4850
NORTH CAROLINA
Faux Works Studio
Director: Barbara Skivington
2638 Willard Dairy Road, Suite 106
High Point, North Carolina 27265
1-336-841-0130
OHIO
Prismatic Painting Studio
Director: Gary Lord
11126 Deerfield Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
1-513-931-5520
PENNSYLVANIA
The Finishing School / Pennsylvania
Director: Carole & Al Kemery
507 North York Street
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055
1-717-790-3190
Fauxever Beautiful Inc.
Director: Jay Elliot
5127 Bensalem Blvd.
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020
1-866-968-FAUX
SOUTH DAKOTA
Beauti-Faux Finishes
Director: Liz Twedt
47076 273rd Street
Harrisburg, South Dakota 57032
1-605-368-2800
TEXAS
FE Dallas, Inc.
4550 Sunbelt Dr
Addison, Texas 75001
1-972-733-0028
Anything But Plain
Director: Janie Ellis
12539 Duncan, Suite D
Houston, TX 77066
800-444-1170
or 281-444-2070
Vigini Studios
Directors: Nicola Vigini & Leslie Morrison Vigini
2531 Boardwalk
San Antonio, Texas 78217
210-212-6177
UTAH
Faux Assured Studio
Director: Mindy Harrell
2210 Highway 40,
Ste # A & q
Heber City, Utah 84032
1-877-328-9787
1-435-513-1179
WASHINGTON
Seattle's School of Decorative Painting
Directors: Todd and Susan Allemand
15 Central Way
Kirkland, WA 98033
425-827-7940
Arte-Faux International School
of Decorative Finishes
Director: Pedro Oveido &
Gelpis Collado
Francisco Carias Lavandier
#19
Urb. Paraiso Santo Domingo,
Republica Dominicana
809-383-6886 or
809-562-1008
www.acabadodecorativo.com
MEXICO
Dibaza De BCS De RL De CV
Tijuana
(011) 526646301744
Morelia, Michoacan
(011) 443-323-9222
Gunajuato
(011) 4433239222
U.S. – 619-864-3952
Myriam Montes De Uribe Design Centre
Juarez
(011) 526562793041
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Interior Painting Making Good Money
By Jeremy Berger
JB Qaulity Painting
Central Jersey / Easter Pennsylvania
908-310-8569
There are many painters are in
Start an Interior Painting Business
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Interior Painting Bathroom Walls
Interior Painting DIY Tips: Painting Bathroom Walls
By Jeremy Berger
Interior painting DIY folks tend to paint right around their toilets when painting bathroom walls. This can easily be see by everyone who uses the bathroom. The toilet is usually to close to the wall and therefore when painting bathroom walls people seem to just brush it in as far as they can.
How to Paint The Wall behind Your Toilet
The way to solve this problem is to get a "RollerLITE" small fabric mini paint roller, which is a very thin roller. The "RollerLITE" roller is very similar to the normal 9 inch rollers you see out there. You will need to pick the correct nap for the sleeve and this depends on what type of surface you have or if you will be using a textured paint on your walls.
Choosing the Correct Roller To Paint Your Bathroom Walls
Once you have chosen the type of sleeve you can also choose the appropriate handle that has will have the correct length you need to paint behind the toilet. Now you will need to choose the type of paint you want to use and just paint two coats on the walls as you normally would then use the "Roller Lite" roller to paint behind the toilet. Interior Painting DIY folks should now always have paint behind their toilet when painting bathroom walls.
Jeremy Beregr is a professional painter serving the Central Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania areas. He as served Hunterdon County (NJ) for the past 10 years and can be reached at (908) 310-8569 or email address is ljsberger@hotmail.com.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Interior Painting DIY Tips: Choosing The Right Brand, Finish and Color of Paint
When undertaking a project like the interior painting of your home careful consideration should be taken in choosing the correct brand, finish and color of paint. When I speak of paint finish this would mean a flat, eggshell or semi gloss paint finish. The decisions you make will have a major overall impact on the outcome of your DIY Interior Painting Project which includes the look, longevity and ease of maintenance for your painted surfaces.
Choosing A Paint Brand
First to consider will be the brand of paint you will choose for your DIY Interior Painting project. Why would you choose a particular brand over another? Some folks will choose because of price and some will choose because an article says a particular brand is the best and some will choose because it was recommended by a friend or family member who has used a particular brand of paint.
Lets go over a few things that may help you in deciding. First off as a contractor I like to use Benjamin Moore Paint. The reasons are simple. Benjamin Moore provides excellent coverage with vibrant colors. Chances are two coats will be enough. When checking the brand of paint you will need to know the square footage a gallon will cover. Benjamin Moore Paint has excellent sqaure footage coverage - meaning it spreads out well. But, that is not all, Benjamin Moore Paint also covers over well and has less translucency than some other brands of interior paint, resulting in less paint needed to complete the job as well as less labor. A 15 dollar can of paint may seem cheap but when it takes twice the amount to paint the wall you have been duped into buying that brand and will have spent just as much money and worked harder than had you chosen a more expensive and better brand of interior paint.
Do not believe all the reports out there that says these big supply stores like home depot has the best paint. This is rubbish! You go and ask all the paint contractors where they get there paint and I would be surprised if you found one that will say they go to one of the giant supply stores. It just simply is not true that the paint there is of any quality! I am not saying Benjamin Moore is the only good paint out there but it is one that I have successfully used over and over with great results!
Choosing A Paint Finish
For the type of interior paint finish you will want to use for your DIY Interior Painting Project will be somewhat a matter of personal preference. However, there are some important facts to know.
Eggshell Paint Finishes - Has a slight sheen to it and is considered washable. Many folks will paint bathrooms and areas where the kids may get their hands all over the walls. Fact is eggshell paint because of it's sheen poses some problems - it will reflect light off of any imperfection on the wall which can have a negative look, and does not touch up well after a couple of days because the sheen continually fades over time so that when you touch it up that area will be shinier than the rest giving the area a different look in color as well.
Flat Paint Finish - This particular paint finish hides imperfections well and has a wonderfull smooth finish across the wall. It also touches up well even months down the road. Contrary to what most folks will say that it does not clean up well and an eggshell finish would be better is just not true. You can clean flat paint of many things including hand prints! And what cannot be cleaned can be touched up. Flat paint is cheaper as well! I see no reason anyone should use anything but flat finished paints for their DIY Interior Painting Project on the cieling and walls.
Semi Gloss Paint Finish - This paint truly does wipe up well and has a very shiny surface. This paint should be used only for wood work such as doors, windows, moldings, shelves and the like.
Choosing a Paint Color
When it comes to choosing color, again that is all about personal preference on how you would like your Interior Painting DIY Project to look. Just keep in mind that very dark colors can get expensive and some may require three coats, especially red ( see my article on Interior Painting DIY With Red). Darker colors can close a room in as well as show imperfections a bit more than lighter colors. In addition some darker colors do not touch up as well no matter what finish you use, but any finish with a sheen will not match up well at all.
So when it comes to your Interior Painting DIY Project keep all these things in mind and I am sure you will have an easier time painting and the end result will be awsome if you really think about what you will choose as far as Brand, Finish and Color.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Painting Tips: Paneled Door
Painting a paneled door is actually quite simple. I will show you how to do a coat in less than 5 minutes. That would be ten minutes per door with two coats. What you will need is some small rollers ( roller Lite). These rollers are 3/8 inch fabric nap, small pan and also a good quality nylon brush.
What you need to do is place some cardboard or something under your doors so as not to drip any paint first. The trick to painting the door quickly lies in the small roller (Roller Lite). You will start with the first panel by rolling the inside squares on the top and the grove around the squares first. Once you have rolled those out you will roll the flat parts surrounding the squares. You must move fairly quickly and getting it perfect is not important because you are going to back brush it with your paint brush in a square manner starting with an up and dorm motion on the top square panels. Then you will outline the groves making sure the paint fills in. Once that has been done you then run your brush along the flat parts in the direction they run ( across for ones going across and up and down for those up and down).
The long panels you will work one at a time so the paint does not start to dry and drag when you brush it. Keep going until the door is completed. The first door may take you a bit longer but after you get the hang of it painting a paneled door should be a breeze.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Interior Painting Tips: Two Coats Of Paint
Is it necessary to paint two coats of paint? Alot of clients ask me if I can just paint one coat to save them money on the project. My answer is always "NO", unless there is not to much for marks on a wall that is going to get the same exact color that is their now.
The reason not is one coat just does not have the ability to fully cover a wall. Rollers create "holidays" (spots missed) and any change in color will show through on one coat hidering the true color of the paint.
Painting a second coat in a room while you are there is actually no trouble at all. A room 20 foot by 20 foot would take me just 30 minutes to get a second coat on. So, if you were to save money it would be so minimal that it is not worth the consequence of doing so.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Painting Tips: Textured Paint for Uneven Walls and Wood Paneling
Are your walls stressed and outdated with cracks and various anomalies and you do not have the budget to replace them, then maybe check out this painting tip? Painting your walls with textured paint can provide an excellent way to cover the wall and make it look good. This technique of using textured paint can be used to cover uneven Sheetrock, wallpaper, wood paneling, concrete and block walls and many other surfaces.
If you will be using textured paint to cover wood paneling you will need to remove any dividers between panels. Make sure to prime the paneling with a stain kill before filling in any seams with Spackle then sand it. For all other surfaces you will need to prepare your walls as you normally would for painting.
For the textured paint there are a couple of products you can use, an already mixed texture in the paint or an texture additive you will need to mix in the paint. The texture additive for paint is great because you have the freedom to choose whatever paint you want to use and the texture additive itself is inexpensive running around 4 dollars for every two gallons of paint. Once you have chosen your product ( one such product is Paint N Tex by Homax ), you are ready to set up get some textured paint on your walls.
Using a 1/2 roller sleeve you can roll out the surfaces as you would paint any other surface. A second coat, once the first has dried for 24 hours, can then be rolled on the wall. Now your walls should have a stylish updated textured paint look! You can even use this technique coupled with faux painting as well. Good Luck, now go update those walls with some textured paint.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Painting Tips: Painting Rooms High Cielings Without Scaffolding Needed
Most folks look up at thier high cieling and feel defeated right away because of the hieght and not knowing how to paint it with ladders and not scaffolding. This will be a very short article, painting a high cieling is a cinch quite frankly!
The room can be completed with ladders only and there is no need for a complicated set up of scaffolding to paint rooms with high cielings!
If you have a light in the middle you can use tall A-frame ladders and for cutting in you can use extention ladders. Make sure the ladder is secure and you have a person footing the ladder. Also placing a board accross the top of the ladder will help in being secure accross sheetrock. To roll a long pole will be used. Really that is all there is to it! Should take you not much longer than a normal room to finish!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Painting Tips:How To Stain and Finish Wood Trim
Staining natural wood trim is not the tedious project you might think. However, a smooth finish without bumps or brush marks will bring out the true beauty of your finished product. This article will show you just how to achieve that perfect stained and finished wood trim that will have an eye catching appeal in three days. You will learn what products and tools to use and how to use them. Let's begin!
Selecting the Wood Trim
When selecting trim at the store you want to choose trim that has been jointed for staining. This trim can be slightly more expensive because it has been jointed to conseal the joint as best as possible. Other trim is jointed with the idea that it will be primed and painted. When choosing the trim you will want to pick out the most appealing pieces that have similiar color, some pieces may be darker than others.
Sanding the Wood Trim
Sanding is the process that most folks in thier mind dread. This is really a very simple process in preparing your trim for staining and finishing. Sanding the bare wood plays an crucial roll in achieving a great finish by providing a uniform surface that can absorb the stain evenly and a smooth surface for the clear coat finish after staining the trim. We need to get rid of any sawmill "burnish" which is the shiny surface left from the mill cut. In addition sanding will remove any fibers and blemishes, which can be dirt, machine marks, finger prints or whatever can be sanded off.
There are different types of sanding equiptment and products you can use, but depending on the profile and size of trim will determine the correct one. For lage areas or areas that have chatter marks you can use an orbital sander. Sponge sanding can be used for flat surfaces, pads can be used for curves and folded sandpaper for crevices. Using 100 grit sandpaper you will always sand with the grain of the wood. Once you have achieved a smooth finish by touch and having a good look with some good lighting your piece will be finished. Achieving this will not be as bad as you think and should go fairly quickly. Once done be sure to clean the room of any dust!
Staining the Wood Trim
Using good quality finishing tools will make the process go easier and provide a quality finish. Purchace two good quality 2 1/2 inch china bristle brushes (around 20dollars each) to use for staining, dry brushing and applying the clear coat finish. Additionally you will need to have 100 percent cotton rags for wiping the stain. Disposable gloves to keep your hands free of stain and clear finish would be a good idea to. You will also need tack cloths to remove any dust between clear cot finishes that need to be sanded between coats.
Make sure you stir the stain and dip you brush in putting a generous ammount on then brush it accross the trim evenly. Once applied imediately wipe down the piece of trim and move on to the next piece doing the same. All the areas and pieces need to soak the stain with the same amount of time before wiping, so be consistant. Use new rags constantly when they become full of stain. Leave those rags out to dry up before disposing of them. Be sure the room you are staining in is well ventalated or and you have a quality charcoal mask! You will need to also dry brush any cracks and crevises the rags could not reach so the stain does not pool up and cause uneven dark spots. If the stain gets tacky before wiping just apply a little more stain to loosen it up. If thier are light areas or dark areas you can touch these up by wiping a bit more or putting more stain in the area and wiping it off again. The stained trim must now sit overnight.
Applying the Sealer
The stained trim is now ready for the sanding sealer. Brush the sanding sealer on the trim then "tip it off" immediately with long strokes of the brush down the length of the trim. Let this dry over night then sand lightly with sandpaper so there is a cloudy look to it. Then vacume any dust and use a tack cloth remove any remaining dust.
Applying the Varnish
Now just brush the varnish on, again "tipping off" as before for a smooth finish. Since trim does not get alot of use one coat should be good. If you desire thicker coats or thier were two many bumps and specks to just flick off you may sand the trim lightly with a fine sanding pad and put another coat of varnish on after making sure thier is no dust left over in the room or on the trim.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Interior Painting Tips: Accent Wall
Painting an accent wall can add a dramatic decorating effect to any room. The choice of one or more walls to be painted must be done with care as well as the color scheme to be used. Generaly the wall or walls chosen as an accent wall should be the focal point of the room. Whem more than one wall is chosen then there usually is a break in color that begins in one room into another rather than having two rooms of seperate colors.
When choosing the color for your accent wall that you want to paint careful consideration should be used so that the colors will blend well. I generaly will choose colors that are on the same strip that have a different hue ( one darker or two darker on the paint chips strip. When using more than one color you want to have the walls stack up with the different colors. Meaning, from a point in the room that would be a place most folks will be standing and looking you would want to see the wall colors of stack up ( one color then the next). This would be similar to stacking the paint chips up against each other. Having a look around the internet at some colors that bled is a good idea. You are always welcome to comment with your colors and I would be glad to give my opinion!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Painting Concrete and Masonry Surfaces
Painting a concrete surface can really liven things up if done properly. Concrete and masonry surfaces have two different types of surfaces, smooth and porous. Each will take on a different type of process. Garage floors are different altogether and I have written a three part series on painting a garage floor. The purpose of this article will be for other types of masonry and concrete painted surfaces.
Items you will need to paint the concrete
Power Washer: This will remove flaking paint, mold and dirt which is important for correct adherence of primer and paint.
Brush: This you will need to cut out edging with and get where a roller cannot.
Roller: You will need a couple of covers and you will need the appropriate nap for the type of surface it is to be used on.
Primer/Sealer: Most masonry surfaces will need to be primed or sealed before you apply paint.
Paint: Use a high quality paint that is appropriate for the surface(floor paint for floors, exterior paint when outside, etc.)
Floor Texture: This is an additive that is stirred into the paint to provide a surface that is not so slippery.
Concrete Patch: Use a ready-mix concrete patch to repair any cracks that are in the surface.
Scraper: Used where you cannot use power washer to remove flaking paint.
Wire Brush: Use where you have to and cannot get with power washer.
Tri-Sodium Phosphate: AKA - TSP. Good for removing any grease or oils.
Scrub Brush And Handle : You will need a scrub brush with a pole type of handle to clean the surface with TSP.
5 Gal Bucket: Use for mixing the TSP with water.
Brush Cleaner: If using oil based paint and primer you will need mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean up equipment and tools.
Block will require a block filler which is a very thick primer that fills all the holes in the block. If it is outdoors you will need to power was first and allow it to dry.
Clean and Prep Concrete Surfaces for Painting
Power wash any surface you can removing dirt, grease mold or whatever may be on the surface using the TSP, scraping with the scraper and wire brush where needed. Then fill the cracks with the concrete patch.
Concrete or masonry surfaces should be sealed with a sealer before painting to keep moisture from coming through for this will cause bubbling and peeling. Primer should then be used for the paint to adhere properly. Block can be filled with block filler primer. Once this has been completed you are ready to paint.
Paint The Surface
High quality paint should be used and if it is a floor then floor paint should be used. Always use the appropriate product for the type of suface you are painting. The nap on the roller can vary fron 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch. #/8 for solid smooth surfaces and 3/4 for rough surfaces. Cut in all your edges first then roll. If a second coat is needed then apply a second coat. Always make sure the sufaces are dry when applying coats and wait the correct time before placing second coats down. It is a good idea to read the maufacturer labels first.
Painting With The Color Red
By Jeremy Berger
Red tends to be one of the most difficult colors to work with when painting a room color. The reason for that is that red pigments are very translucent causing whatever is underneath to show. Therefore when overlapping paint you will see a darker spot on the overlap.
This is easily overcome in a couple of ways. The first should be that you choose a quality paint such as Benjamin Moore and use the top quality for the brand you are choosing. Flat paints do much better than eggshell or semi gloss finishes so choosing a flat finish would be more beneficial. The next is an important step to take so your not putting five coats of paint on and that is use a primer that has been tinted Grey. Ask you paint dealer to tint your primer Grey and put one coat of this on the wall or whatever you are painting first.
Following these steps will result in a much nicer looking red wall and you will not need to put as many coats on. Keep in mind that red tinted paint tends to be the most expensive on the market because of the translucency of the red tint and the need to put more tint in than other colors. A gallon of red can run up to 60 dollars per gallon, although more likely around 45 dollars.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Decorative And Faux Painting Is Fun But Don’t Start Until You Read This
Submitted By: Dorrie Ruplinger
I think decorative and faux painting techniques look great, are fun to do, and add a personal statement to a room. I’ve been adding my personal look to the walls in my homes ever since my husband and I purchased our first “fixer-upper.”
When I first starting using faux and decorative painting techniques on the walls in our home it was a financially motivated action. We didn’t have a lot of extra money. I couldn’t afford new furniture or flooring for a room but I could afford to buy some paint. But just painting the walls a solid color seemed boring to me so I started exploring faux and decorative painting. It didn’t take me long to get hooked.
Why do I like faux and decorative painting on walls so much?
1) It’s an inexpensive way to change the look of an entire room. Paint is the most economical way to change the look of a room.
2) A painting technique on the walls minimizes and hides cosmetic flaws such as surface cracks and less than perfect patching jobs.
3) It’s easy to change when you’re sick of it. Repainting a room that has paint on the walls is a whole lot easier and much less time consuming than stripping wallpaper off walls and preparing those walls for paint.
4) It adds your own personal look and style to a space. Color and texture are fun and interesting. An entire home painted the same off-white color is dull and boring to me. A faux painting technique can evoke any mood you want in a room whether it’s a Tuscan look, retro 70’s look, a country look, something elegant, a cheery bright look for a child’s room, or any other look you want.
5) The choices of techniques and paints are nearly endless. Some of the more popular technique choices include: sponging, ragging, dragging, color washing, stenciling, crackling (http://www.decorativepaintingzone.com/faux/cracklingfauxpainting), marbling, gilding, wood-graining, spattering, feather-dusting, and stippling. You could also use one of the specialty paint products on the market today such as Venetian plaster to create the look you want or buy a faux painting kit such as a Woolie painting kit to help make your project as fun and easy as possible.
While I highly recommend faux or decorative painting, there are a few things I’ve learned since I’ve started faux painting that I’d like to share with you. Some of these items are things to “not do” that I’ve learned the hard way.
Others are tips and suggestions that were helpful to me.
1) Go to your local paint store or decorative painting store and look at the samples they have. For example, Home Depot has lots of different booklets and paint chips with faux paint finishes on them for you to look at and even take home to look at in your lighting. That pretty metallic finish on a paint chip in the store make look garish when you get it home and look at it in your home’s natural lighting.
2) Consider taking a class before doing your first project. Some paint stores and home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, offer free faux painting clinics and workshops. You can also find some very good faux painting classes for a reasonable fee by looking in your local paper or doing an Internet search.
3) Practice your technique on a piece of scrap wallboard before doing it on your wall. This is especially important if you are blending colors. A few years ago my son wanted his bedroom painted. He wanted me to use a Woolie (a great faux painting tool available at most paint supply stores) to blend together a burgundy and a caramel color. Each color looked great by itself, but when they got blended together too much a dark fuchsia color emerged. And anything resembling pink was not something my son wanted on his wall!
Because I had been faux painting for years I didn’t listen to my own advice about trying the technique on a piece of scrap board first nor did I buy sample sizes of paint to try out. I bought gallons because I wanted to save time. Luckily the store agreed to exchange the paint for me free of charge but we did have to paint over a wall and wait for it to dry before starting over with new colors.
4) Remember that the texture of your walls will dictate, to some extent, what faux painting techniques you can and cannot use. If your walls are smooth you can do just about any technique you want. But textured walls are very common, especially in newer homes. You may see striped walls in a brochure or on a sample wall and decide that’s what you want to do in your home; but if your walls are textured it’s going to be nearly impossible to achieve straight lines for your stripes. Keep in mind that faux finishes on paint chips from a store are done on a smooth surface. They will look a little different (but may still look very nice) if you do that same technique with the same colors on a textured wall.
5) If you’re going to do a faux technique in an entire room don’t start on the wall that people will first look at when they walk into the room. That means don’t start on the wall directly across from the doorway. Unless you’re a professional, it takes a little while for you to get your technique perfected in a room. Put that less than perfect start in the least noticeable part of the room.
6) If you get tired while painting and need a break, don’t stop in the middle of a wall. Stop at a corner. If you stop in the middle of the wall and don’t come back to work on the project again until after the paint is dry, you’re going to have a noticeable line on the wall. It won’t be pretty.
7) Think twice about mixing your own color with paint you have at home unless you are absolutely positive you’re going to have enough paint to do the entire job. If you mix your own color and run out of paint before you finish it will be time-consuming and challenging to match that color. You might be able to match it because many paint stores have specialty machines that can match a paint chip you take in, but if you’ve mixed together two different sheens of paint (for example let’s say you mixed a flat paint and a satin paint together) you’re going to have a hard time reproducing that same sheen. In some cases it may not be noticeable; but in other cases it will.
If you’re a beginner, start with an easy paint technique. Sponging is very easy and looks great. Another favorite of mine is the Woolie I mentioned earlier. There are a couple of different types. I like the Woolie roller best. It’s really easy to use and the results are fantastic. It comes with a short video. Watch it before you start painting. If you’re not going to watch the video before you buy your paint, there’s one important thing to remember. Buy paint colors that are at least two places away from each other on a paint strip. For example, if you pick out a paint strip with 5 yellows on it, don’t buy two colors that are right next to each other because they will be so close in color that you won’t see much variation when you put those colors on the wall and start to blend them.
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