Category Archives: Paint Colors

So, you have decided to take the plunge and have your commercial property upgraded with a new paint job. You have done your due diligence and gotten no less than three quotes. You’ve compared them for similarities and differences to help determine what best fits your needs at the most reasonable price.

1. Compare the number of hours the contractor bids to complete the job. If there is a wide discrepancy among the bids, question each contractor on how they arrived at that number and then use your common sense. Some contractors will underbid the number of hours just to get the business and then either cut corners to complete the job during the listed time frame or come back and say there were time and cost overruns. The internet is an excellent resource to get an estimate for this information.
2. Go over the terms of the contract with your painter prior to both people signing it. The painter has the option of visiting the site more than once to ensure they have given the job its ‘due’. Any changes or decisions to back out should occur before both parties agree. Otherwise, it can become a legal matter.
3. This is your business! Walk through the job with the painter and have them explain what they intend to do. Because it is only fair that the professional be paid for their time, expect that they will require a fee for these services.
4. It is a good idea to visit a few jobs the painter has completed previously. It will give you a better idea of what a finished product looks like. Any reputable painter will be more than happy to provide references.
   You are a smart business owner – otherwise you wouldn’t exist! Do the smart thing by keeping your property presentable while also getting the best bang for your buck. One last piece of advice – you might take the time to visit a work site in progress. There is nothing more insightful than seeing the painting company at work.
   
5. If you are in the market for a reputable and expert painting company for your commercial property, contact the professionals at University Painters, Inc. We look forward to working with you.

There are so many different styles of homes in the United States! People who live in certain locales tend to find them clustered. For example, if you live along the northeast coast you will find a lot of Cape Cod type homes. Floridians go for a more coastal look. In the Midwest there are blocks of Victorian homes mixed in with the colonial look, which, by the way, is a favorite style of Virginians. In Texas you’ll see lots of ranches. Yes, your home usually reflects the general style of the community.

As a result, when it’s time to paint the exterior to give it a fresh look, the paint company you choose should know the best colors to accentuate your home. In fact, they should be able to assist in the decision-making process of color selection by offering suggestions based on their professional knowledge. However, here are a few recommendations that should help you start thinking about the right color for your home.

If you own a home by the water, particularly the ocean or a lake, the best colors that blend with the environment are blues, grays and white. These colors help the house blend into the scenery using the water as a backdrop to tranquility. Interestingly, recent decorators suggest that a bright colored door can give the home a fun look. But, approach this idea with caution!

A colonial home generally presents best with classic colors such as grays, greens, soft yellows, blues or the quintessential whites. Again, decorators in recent years have recommended a bright color door to offset the mild look of light colored paint. Take pictures of homes that have made that choice and think it over before using this idea for your own home.

Ranch homes are one-floor styles of the 1950s. In their heyday they could be painted any color and often were! Today, however, they present best in muted tones of browns, grays, blues or even avocado. Bright colors are no longer acceptable.

Finally, Victorian homes tend to look good in any number of colors, so you are able to choose a color that suits your personal taste. Don’t forget that the shingles, driveway and other accents of the home can be tailored to your style as well. Looking to redo your home’s exterior? Let the professionals at University Painters, Inc. provide you with exceptional service!

We have all seen that house on the block that stands out for one reason or another.  Sometimes the house stands out because it is the only pink house in a neighborhood filled with muted blue and grey homes.  There are also homes that are picturesque that stand out because the contrast from the white siding, to the red door, and black window frames are so aesthetically pleasing that we feel at home just driving by.  In order to maximize the value of your largest asset, it is important to freshen up the exterior paint every few years.  Sometimes a bold change may be in order, and other times a fresh coat of paint is all that is needed.  Regardless of the reasoning, the professionals at University Painters are seasoned experts when it comes to all things about painting, and can not only provide the award winning paint job you are looking for, but make sure that you find the color scheme you desire.

            With spring right around the corner, it is almost prime painting season.  The season, the style of home, personal preference, and frame of mind all come into choosing the paint color for your home.  The most common colors chosen for exterior home painting are grey, black, and white.  These neutral colors tend to blend into any neighborhood, and match any style of home.  If you want to utilize your home’s design and help it to stand out, bolder color options are always available.

            Choosing a bold color to go with a neutral base can bring out all the beautiful details that are designed into your home, as well as show off a little bit of your personality.  Purple, a color that is known to represent nobility, can be the perfect accent to a white home.  Grey and white, combined with a little yellow have been known to add a subtle sophistication to a home.  A bold red used as the main color of the house, accented by white and black trim and window panels can stand out in a manner that shows strength and confidence.  For a calm, peaceful, and serene vibe, a mild green is a perfect color. 

            Color theory plays a large role in many aspects of life, and should not be overlooked when it comes to your home.  Never be afraid to let your personality shine through the exterior of your home as it does on the inside.  The trained specialists at University Painters are experts in all things paint, including how to use color to accent your home’s finer attributes.  For more information, to schedule an appointment, or request a quote, please visit universitypainters.com

One of the nice things about designing and decorating the interior of your home is that you are not locked into one style. Because there are multiple rooms of different sizes, each room with its own special purpose and personality, you do not have to decide on just one or two color schemes. Another thing that is nice about painting individual rooms is that they are smaller. If you choose a color for a room then realize halfway through painting that the color just does not fit, it is an easy fix. There are a number of thoughts and tricks that come along with choosing the colors for the inside of your home, and the multi-talented professionals at University Painters are adept at helping you through the entire process.

When choosing the colors for a room, your personality plays a large role. Some people prefer bright, loud colors, while others prefer more subtle and muted tones. No matter what you are feeling, the first step is seeing how those colors will look in your space. Get multiple samples and swatches of the colors you are interested in so that you can see how they look in your home. The bright fluorescent lights in stores make paint samples look different compared to the natural lighting from your living room window. Take your color samples, put them on the wall, and see how they look at all times of the day; morning, afternoon, and night. See how they absorb the sunrise and reflect the light of the moon.

When you think you have found the color, collect multiple swatches of that color and tape them together on your wall creating a larger swatch. See what this color really looks like in your space. It is also important to test the paint on all of the walls in the room. The color will look different from different angles, and reflect light differently in certain areas. This will also give you the opportunity to test your color against different options for the color of your trim.

Decorating and painting the inside of your home can be stressful, so make sure to take your time and have fun with it. Play with different options and see what really appeals to you. You never know when the green you wanted in your bedroom may actually fit better in the bathroom. When you are ready to start painting, or if you need recommendations in choosing your paint, the trained eye of the staff at University Painters is ready to help. For more information, to set up an appointment, or request a quote, please visit univeristypainters.com.

So you’ve decided to use a professional painter to do your interior paint job – now comes the important part – choosing a reliable firm. There are many painters out there that claim to be professionals but knowing their qualifications and insurance coverage will help save you time, money and headaches in the end.

One of the first things to do is go to your state’s business search website to see if they are registered with the state for interior painting and not just as a handyman.  Another way is to look at online Yelp reviews and the Better Business Bureau in the originating town of the business. Be aware that if you ask the business for customer references, if the business is not reputable in the first place, they may try using friends and family as references.  Always verify a business through several sources.

One of the reasons you need to check their insurance is to be sure they are current with their general liability and workmen’s compensation coverage. I know this does not seem like something that might affect you, but it definitely could. If they are not current on their workmen’s compensation coverage and someone gets hurt on the job on your property, it could be the responsibility of your homeowner’s insurance to cover their medical bills. As for the general liability, if there is damage to your home or personal belongings during the painting process you want to be sure there is enough current coverage in place, otherwise you will be out the cost of the damages.

One other thing is to ensure that all workers in your home have had background checks performed; you need to know who will be in your home around your personal belongings and family members. This should be a prerequisite to you hiring a company. When all is said and done, you want to know that the work will be done in a timely manner with the least risk and intrusion into your life. University Painters is fully insured with $2,000,000 of General Liability Insurance and are Fully Compliant with all Worker’s Compensation requirements. The University Painters Estimator will provide proof of their insurance at the time of the estimate. Contact us at University Painters to learn more about our quality, dependable, insured painting services.