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painting,University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Welcome to The Rock

There is something about a stone wall. They are beautiful, and can add a peaceful and calming effect to any room. What is not peaceful and calming is the bill that is associated with a stone or marble wall. There is a way to give your room that same rustic appeal without putting a dent in your bank account. A faux finish is a decorative painting technique that replicates the appearance of marble, stone, or wood, and the skilled professionals at University Painters are experts in this technique.

There are many other looks that can be created through faux finishing techniques other than wood and marble finishes. Sponging is one of the more popular and easiest options. This effect is best achieved by creating a paint mixture, then using a sponge to layer the paint over a pre-primed wall. Color washing can give a room a weathered look, and is also known as a “broken finish.” This look is produced by using a rag or towel to apply a translucent glaze over a bold base coat. Using long, light brush strokes will help produce a calm, light texture. Once you have primed the wall, and applied your base coat, take the rag and dip it in your glaze paint. Then apply it using light, circular strokes.

The stone and marble looks are a little more difficult to produce. After you have selected your color, apply it to a pre-primed wall in a base coat. Then take a flat or stain paint that is lighter in color than your base coat and apply a layer to the wall. Then with a rag or cloth, apply a darker shade of your base coat. You can use your creativity here to help produce a marbled or stone look that is perfect for lightening up any room, especially around a fireplace.

There are a number of different looks that can be achieved through the art of faux finishing and they are easier to describe than to perfect. The trained painters at the Angie’s List Award Winning University Painters, are masters of these techniques and are ready to help provide your home with the perfect finishing touch. For more information or to set up an appointment for a quote, visit universitypainters.com.

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professional painters,University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Lead Based Paints and what you should know

As with any interior paint, you want to know that the paint that is on your walls is the best paint for your walls. As far back as 1978 and even before that, the Federal Government realized the dangers of lead-based paint. In 1978 the Federal Government put a ban on the sale of lead-based paints to consumers. Unfortunately, even today there are still older homes with lead-based paint on their interior walls.

The Federal Government believed that there were many ways that humans could be exposed to lead-based paints. It was believed that the exposure could be airborne, or through food, drinking water, soil and of course dust from peeling paint. But what were some of the reasons behind the ban being ordered? Here are a few ways that humans were being affected that set the ban in motion:

Depending on the amounts of exposure, it ranged from learning disabilities, severe behavioral problems to brain and nervous system impairments. Whether it was from toddlers ingesting the paint to pregnant women being exposed to the lead-based paint, the threat was real for mental and physical disabilities. Pregnant women were believed to give birth to children with disabilities if exposed.

In recent years, many precautions have been put in place to protect the consumers from exposure. Starting with sales of lead-based paint being discontinued to painting contractors having to take classes and become certified to work on older homes, the government is stepping up to assure consumer safety.

If you have any concerns about your home and would like some answers from a qualified professional, please feel free to contact us at University Painters.

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interior painting, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

The Art of Cutting In

So it’s about that time. The interior of your house hasn’t had a new coat of paint since 1976, and it has been put off long enough. You’ve gone through the color wheel, the paint has been picked out, you have your brushes, rollers and all the necessary tools. It’s time to start painting. It sounds easy enough. You just put the paint on the roller and get it on the wall. But first. . .. the tricky part. This is when it comes to the edges. What should you do here? You could pull out the masking tape, or you could cut in by hand. These are the tough decisions you have to make in order to get that paint job perfect, and these are the types of decisions and techniques that the skilled professionals at the Angie’s List Award Winning University Painters specialize in.

Cutting in is a technique that requires skill and patience. It involves using a brush to put a layer of paint around the corners and edges of the area being painted. It truly is an art. When cutting in, it is difficult to get the paint to dry the exact same shade as the paint that is being rolled on. One thing I have learned is that it is important to pick the right brush. A high quality brush doesn’t have to be expensive; you just have to know what you’re looking for. A firm, angled brush, 2-3 inches in width is perfect. But once you have the brush, then what?

If you look online you will find a laundry list of articles about the proper way to cut in when painting. Some say put on one thick coat, some say two coats with the first being a light coat, some say to let it dry, others say leave it wet. You can spend more time looking at videos and reading up on the process than it would take you to do the actual painting. This is such an unnecessary headache. The trained craftsman at University Painters have perfected this technique, and are ready to provide the perfect paint job for you. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit universitypainters.com.

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interior painting, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

The Prep is Half the Fun

When you decide to take on the job of painting the walls of any room in your house, it is important to make sure that you have covered all the bases. You need to select the color, pick the paint, and get your tools ready, but do not forget about the prep work. Making sure that you have properly prepared the area that you are going to paint is 80% of the job, and if you do not get that part right, the paint job itself will never turn out the way you envisioned. The highly skilled and well trained professionals at University Painters know the importance of the prep work that comes with any task, and will properly prepare your area before applying the most spectacular paint job that you have ever seen.
Naturally, you want to make sure that you have moved the furniture and protected the floor and anything you do not want to paint. You have to remove all wall hangings, and electrical outlet plates from the wall. Now the walls are ready to be cleaned. That’s right; you have to clean the walls before you paint them. Grease and stains can show right through the paint, so it is important to make sure that you take soap and water and give those walls a good scrubbing. Do not forget to rinse and give them plenty of time to dry.
It is also wise to sand the walls before you start painting. There could be bubbles in the old paint job or bumps in the dry wall, and if you want your new paint job to really freshen up the room, you want to start with a smooth surface. Drips and accidents happen, so make sure to tape up all the baseboards and molding. It is also important to put a coat of primer on the wall before applying the paint.
There is a lot more to painting a wall than just painting the wall; the award-winning and talented staff at University Painters knows this all too well. If you want a truly jaw-dropping fresh look for any room in your house, it is important to have the job done correctly, and if it is done by University Painters, you can rest assured that not only the paint job will be perfect, but any necessary preparation work will be done properly. For more information or to set up an appointment or request a quote, go to universitypainters.com.

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interior painting, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Interior Molding Ideas for Your Home

Adding moldings to any home not only adds character to the room but also adds elegance. When choosing molding around your windows, ceiling and doors, use a painting company such as University Painters who is capable of carpentry work, as well as painting. There are different styles of moldings and trim to help enhance your home. Trim can be added if you want a clean, simple look around windows and doors, but you will want it to flow well with the moldings that you are adding. Here are a few of the different molding types.

Crown Moldings: Crown moldings cover a large family of moldings that are available in many styles and designs that are used to create visual eye appeal for ceilings. They can be simple or elaborate, depending on the desired look. Some of the types available are Cove, Colonial, Classic Dentil, or solid, covering the transition between the ceiling and the wall. This type of molding will help add a decorative appearance as well as enhance the room’s appearance.

Chair Rail Moldings: Chair rail molding is a trim that is used on a wall to display a decorative look by drawing your eye away from the continuous pattern. It is attached horizontally and is typically between 2” to 3” wide and placed on average 32” to 36” from the floor, depending on the ceiling height. In earlier days it was believed to be designed with hooks to hold chairs, hence the name chair rail.

Casing: This type of molding is used to cover the space between windows or doors and the walls to help keep the area insulated. This molding type is generally known as trim. It is normally less wide than a base trim/molding and not as thick.

A lot of thought should be put into the types of molding used in your home, whether you are planning to do it yourself or plan to use a professional company like University Painters. Do your home work and be knowledgeable of what the result is you are trying to achieve.

Feel free to contact us at University Painters for advice or a free quote.




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mold issues, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Interior Painting and Mold Issues

From time to time homes have interior mold issues from water damage caused by plumbing leaks or flooding. That said, it is possible for bathrooms especially, to have problem areas, because of the constant humidity and lack of ventilation. If you do not have proper ventilation such as adequate air flow from fans or windows, mold or mildew can be present and bleed through the paint not only causing ugly yellowing but also health considerations. Here are some things to know that might save you time and money.

For years consumers have been told that using a bleach and water mixture will kill the mold and keep it from returning but is more of a misconception than a fact. It is believed now that the bleach mixture will wipe it off the walls but not destroy it. Now professionals are recommending cleaning the walls with a borax and water solution and allowing this to dry completely before the next step. Of course, you can always retain the services of a professional like University Painters to handle the job for you from start to finish, saving you time and money.

After you are sure the walls are completely dry you will want to add a primer such as Kilz that has a latex stain blocker built in. You want to be sure that every wall surface in the room has been covered completely so there is no bleed-through from the mold spores. You may choose to add an additional coat of primer. Again, it is extremely important that you find the origination of the mold and fix the problem.

As stated before, mold or mildew is not just an annoyance that you have to deal with because of the de-colorization it causes but it is also a health issue. It can irritate your eyes, causing burning and itching. It can cause breathing problems, headaches, fatigue or make you feel like you’re in a fog. If you have sinus difficulties, you can be at risk for other health related problems. As you can see, it is imperative that you destroy any interior mold in your home.

We at University Painters have the experience and knowledge to help you with any of your mold and cleanup needs. Feel free to call us for a free quote or any questions you may have.

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interior painting, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Pre-qualifying the professional interior painter

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.

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professioanl painting, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Painting Older Homes

Whether you have just purchased an older home or are updating one, there are some things to consider when beginning your painting project. Older homes quite often have peeling, yellowing paint and possibly lead paint with many blemishes that will need to be removed. You may also be dealing with wallpaper that is old and peeling that needs to be stripped before you refinish the walls and apply new paint. If you are concerned about the lead-based paint being an issue, you can go to Lowes or Home Depot and purchase a test kit.  You can of course hire a professional painting team that will be equipped for a project of this undertaking. While you are there be sure to bring a list of the items you will need for the project; there is nothing worse than starting a project and having to stop and go to the store in mid-process.

Once the walls have been prepped for painting the next step is choosing a color palette you would like for your home.  When making this decision try to accompany the actual style of the home itself. Is it more earth tones or is it more rustic? What was the style of homes from that period? A lot of older homes used wainscoting which protected the lower part of walls from scuffing and dirt marks.  If you want to modernize the home, then use the colors that suit your taste and are trending currently. Whether your goal is to restore a historic home back to its original beauty or just make necessary repairs, there will be a lot of work involved but the reward should be well worth it.

Please feel free to contact us at University Painters for tips or a free estimate. We may be able to help you save money and headaches in the long run. e 7 Co

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interior painting, university painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Minimalize with an accent wall

Many individuals and families are now leaning towards a more minimalist lifestyle. Whether it be de-cluttering their homes or moving to smaller spaces, the use of an accent wall in your home as a focal point can make your home interior pop. If you do not want to have a cluttered feeling with knick-knacks throughout your home, consider doing an accent wall just a few pictures on the adjacent walls.

Choosing which type of texture and material to use for this project is ultimately up to you, but the use of a professional painter/paper company will be a great asset in making the right choice. Many professional painting companies will hang paper or do light carpentry when painting your home.

There is a vast color palette to choose from as well as wallpapers or even the use of molding to create a textured look to a wall. Tying in throw pillows to the accent wall also adds a bit of flair to the room. When deciding the materials to use, keep in mind how it will work with the room. You want it to stand out but you also want to feel that there is a coherent flow to the room.

Using Paint

With a little research or the use of a professional painting company you can find out what paints are trending for the region you live in. Once you have chosen the color and the painting is complete you may find that you want to touch up the adjoining walls also.

Using wallpaper

Whenever you are using wallpaper in a space be sure the area is not in a high traffic area where it’s subject to being damaged by pets or kids. Wallpaper is a fantastic way to add not only depth but bold patterns to a room, creating a nice and inexpensive visual appearance.

Using Molding

One option for creating depth is by utilizing moldings attached to the wall to design different shapes and sizes. This can be done on a wall that is the same color as the rest of the walls in the room, but this will create the visual affect of an accent wall.

As you see there are many options available when adding an accent wall to your home. Please feel free to contact us at University Painters for ideas and a free estimate.

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interior painting, home painting, University Painters
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Interior Painting through History

Throughout the ages, humans have wanted the interior of their homes to be beautiful. Dating clear back to the cave man days over 40,000 years ago, history has shown, through artifact and drawings on the interior walls of caves, that men (and women) liked to decorate their dwellings. Of course, the paints would have used all-natural ingredients like berries, clay and plant materials. Most likely they would have bound it all together using fatty oils. The original paint brushes were believed to have been made from stone and animal hair bound together with straps. The walls were mainly decorated with pictures of animals that were hunted or part of their everyday life. There were at rare times, human representations of handprints and other items.

As you progress forward in history you can see influences of the styles of the regions, not only in what was painted but also the different color schemes in use. There were many regions where darker images were more often portrayed. As far back as 32,000 years ago paintings were drawn on interior cave walls in France and other countries that showed the history of earlier times, displaying horses, lions, buffalo, bison, and mankind.

As you travel through time, the type of artwork in homes changed from drawings on the interior walls to walls being painted one solid color and then paintings added to the walls, giving much more flexibility for enhancing the home’s beauty. There was also the additional choice of wall paper which could add depth as well as create unique looks. Most of the homes were painted or papered by professional painters, which is still a practice today.

If you would like to beautify your home, please contact us at University Painters for ideas or a free quote. We will gladly share our knowledge with you.

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