Cleaning

interior painting,painters,home,commercial

Regular Post

Written by Colleen Kalil

22 September 2018

Preparing to Paint

Fall is a great time to refresh your home’s interior. The weather is cooler and it’s an opportunity to get ready for the upcoming holiday season. The time it takes to prepare properly is well worth it when you see the results.

Furniture

If at all possible, remove the furniture from the room and cover the floor with a drop cloth. If you can’t take all the furniture out, push everything into the middle of the room and cover with plastic or another drop cloth.

Before you paint, clean your windows inside and out. It isn’t necessary for painting, but it will add to the freshness of the room. You can also check the frames and glass for any signs of wear or damage. When the windows are done, cover the glass with plastic using painter’s tape to protect them from drips and splatters.

Repair any cracks, chips, or other damage to your walls. If you have to use putty to fill holes, make sure you sand it smooth. If you don’t, you’ll see the outline under the paint. Dust the walls and ceiling if you plan to paint it. Wash the walls with warm water and a little mild cleaner. By removing the dust first, you avoid creating dirty streaks when you wash the walls. Vacuum any vents in the ceiling or in the floor.

Taping

The best order for painting is trim, ceiling, and walls. Tape around the trim and around the ceiling, then paint. Let the ceiling paint dry completely before taping the top of the walls. Some people hate taking the time to tape, but it saves time and creates a finished look.

Painting

If the current wall color is very dark and you’re applying a lighter color, prime the walls first. However, some brands of paint include primer or the texture makes primer unnecessary. Using a small brush, cut into the corners of the room, where the ceiling and wall meet, and around the trim. Do this for any place your roller won’t be able to reach. Paint the walls using a “W” pattern starting in one corner and covering a 3′ x 3′ area. This reduces visible seams where the paint overlaps.

Drying

Most latex paint dries to the touch in a few hours, but you shouldn’t let anything rest against the wall or wash it for at least 48 hours.

The professionals at University Painters take the time to prepare every surface in your home to achieve the best results. Call us today and schedule your fall refresh today.

exterior / interior painting, home painters

Regular Post

Written by Colleen Kalil

21 June 2018

Pressure Washing Around Your House

exterior painting, interior painting, painters If you think pressure washing is just for your home’s exterior, think again. Pressure (or power) washing is a great way to clean and refresh many large areas quickly. A washer can be used on most any surface. Let’s start with your home’s exterior. As the years pass, your home’s exterior can take a beating. Rain, snow, dirt, birds – well, you get it. Pressure washing is good for cleaning aluminum or vinyl siding, clapboard, brick, or stone. Be careful with wood shingles as the pressure may gouge or damage them and can push water under the shingles causing mildew problems. You can add a mild detergent to the power washer for the first cleaning and then follow up with clean water to take off all soap residue.

Like wood shingles, any wood surface should be treated with care when using a pressure washer. Be sure to use a low-pressure nozzle or you could strip the finish or other coatings off the wood, or oversoak the wood. Proper use of the washer on wood will help you remove dirt, grime, mildew, or other stains.

Metal surfaces such as rain gutters, drains, and fencing are also good targets for a power wash. Even an outdoor grill can be power washed. Don’t hold the jet too close to the surface though to avoid scratches.

Concrete, stone, and brick can also be cleaned with a power washer. Make your garage floor look like new by adding a little detergent to your washer to get rid of grease and oil. Whether your driveway is brick, stone, or concrete, it can be washed too. Never use a pressure washer on asphalt surfaces unless you want to replace it.

Power washing is also off limits for roof shingles, especially asphalt shingles. It’s likely to cause more damage than good including loosening shingles, driving water under shingles, and blowing them off entirely.

Your in-ground swimming pool or a Jacuzzi can be pressure washed. If the washer is able to create steam or use hot water, you can eliminate germs and other contaminants from these vulnerable areas.

University Painters not only paints interiors and exteriors, they can pressure wash surfaces around your home for a cleaner, fresher look. Contact us today for a free appointment.

Regular Post

Written by Colleen Kalil

27 May 2018

Pressure Wash Carefully To Prevent Damage

painters, repair,, maintenance services Pressure washers are a quick way to clean up discolored surfaces around your property. A pressure washer uses a powerful blast of water and steam and should be used carefully to prevent damage and prevent personal injury. They can be used for many purposes but can damage some wood, aluminum siding, and stone surfaces.

Pressure washing a deck can clean off built-up dirt and grease and even remove old paint. Newer composite deck materials may not require such a high-powered device. Most wood used for decks can stand up to a pressure washing but first test a small, inconspicuous place to be sure the wood can handle the pressure.

Do not pressure wash your painted house! It may be tempting, but will likely damage the paint and take it off in some places. If you want to wash down your home, a little soap and water with your normal garden hose are more than sufficient for cleaning. Sometimes a pressure washer can be used on vinyl – not aluminum – siding, but it’s best to check with an expert before proceeding.

Another area to avoid using a power washer is the roof. Regardless of the material used for your roof, power cleaning can cause damage and be expensive to repair. If you have trouble with moss or other natural grown on the shingles, try a little bleach and water. The problem can also be prevented by cutting back branches that overhang the roof and block sunlight.

Concrete is the perfect surface to power wash and remove mold, mildew, and grease. University Painters are knowledgeable and experienced and know how to clean the surfaces around your house without damaging them. Call us today for a free consultation.