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House Painters Commercial Painting Services
Written by Colleen Kalil

Why You Should Hire a Professional Painting Service

House Painters Commercial Painting ServicesNow that you have looked at the outside of your home with a critical eye, you realize it needs to be refreshed, updated, and repainted. The next question is whether or not you will hire someone to do the work for you or if you will take on the momentous task all by yourself. Here are three good reasons to outsource the job.

  •  Your home is usually your largest investment and maintenance is paramount to protecting it. Unless you have experience in the area of painting a large project like your home, it is advisable to consider the alternative. A professional painting company is adept at addressing little imperfections you may not realize need special attention. These flaws can come back to haunt you and cost more in the end.
  • The purpose of any home improvement project is to maintain or add value to your residence. Residential and commercial painting companies are licensed and insured. This is advantageous in the event of an accident or other unforeseen mishap. Insured businesses offer the guarantee of being able to right any problems.
  • Residential and commercial paint companies often come with years of knowledge in all aspects of the painting process. There are plenty of online resources that the amateur DIY homeowner can refer to in order to approach home projects on their own. But there are certain projects that are better left to the professional. Talk to a professional painting company before you decide to take on the house painting yourself!

The net result is that outsourcing the job to a professional can save you a considerable amount of time and stress. Ultimately it is difficult to put a price on this. It’s one thing to think about taking on the painting of your home or business exterior or interior but the actual undertaking can be highly stressful. First there’s the amount of time that you must set aside, in addition to your daily activities to complete the project. Then there’s the matter of ensuring that you are able to do the job properly. It is more challenging in reality than it seems in theory.

So if you are contemplating refreshing your home or business, we suggest you rely on the expert services of a professional painting company. The painting specialists at University Painters, Inc. are just a phone call away and would welcome the opportunity to work with you!

Interior Painting Home Painters
Written by Colleen Kalil

It’s the Little Things!

Interior Painting Home PaintersWhile we focus mainly on exterior painting, we are experienced in all aspects of the painting process, inside and out! For instance, we have some great advice for the weekend handyman or handywoman who is going to tackle an indoor painting project. You’ve decided to paint the wall (or walls). People tend to think that it’s an elementary task. However, there are little things you should think of and attend to before actually popping open the paint can. In other words, a few moments of pre-preparation will make the job go much faster and more smoothly. Then you really will be able to pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Clear the walls. Take down any hangings or fixtures even if they don’t appear to be near the area to be painted. Accidents happen all too often and are more likely to when you are not prepared!

Inspect the wall for nicks and imperfections. Now is the time to make repairs prior to beginning the painting process. If there are cracks in the paint or you have mold and mildew, attending to these issues before dipping the brush in paint will make the job go more quickly and result in a nicer presentation.

Now wash the walls. That’s right, walls get dirty just like floors and windows. Think about the variety of cooking smells that waft through the house, or odors that are not that enticing. Some of them leave a residue that dulls the color of the walls and makes them look and feel dirty. If you are not one to wash the walls, there are service companies available to do it for you.

Tape, tape, tape. One thing is true about paint – it drips. When you dip the brush in the paint, there’s always a chance that paint splatter can happen. If you want to avoid leaving a paint job on your woodwork, window panes, cupboards or other trim, take the time to buy and use tape that will not allow paint to seep.

The experts at University Painters, Inc. take pride in offering superior exterior painting services to homes and businesses. But that’s not all we know! If you have any paint questions, we will be happy to speak with you.

exterior painting,painters, residential painting job
Written by Colleen Kalil

Updating Your Home’s Look for Less

exterior painting,painters, residential painting jobDoes your home seem to look duller these days? You can’t put your finger on it, but it needs to be updated. The whole house is not in need of a paint job. It’s only the shutters that could use a fresh coat. Shutters are a common addition to many homes. They serve many purposes. They can be a decorative addition or may be used to keep harsh sunlight out. If it’s the shutters that you want painted, here are some hints to tackling this job properly.

Choose a complementary or contrasting color that you are going to enjoy. Many people don’t realize just what an important role shutters play in the overall look of the house until they are painted a color that doesn’t look right. Try to find pictures of homes that are similar to yours and are sporting shutters in a color you are considering as a precursor to making the decision.

Clean the shutters thoroughly prior to the painting process. You may need to use a little bleach to rid them of mold and stains. Allow them to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Just as you would when painting a house, the next step is to scrape off any paint chips or flakes. Otherwise they become part of the new paint job.

Now, prime the shutters just as you would the house. This helps to ensure they are ready to bond with the paint and allows the paint to adhere more thoroughly. A good priming job prior to painting also helps to guarantee a cleaner, brighter look that will last longer!

When you begin the actual painting process, start at the top of the shutter and work your way down. Apply the paint with a lighter stroke so the painted areas do not have tell-tale signs of paint brush marks.

Finally, apply two coats of paint. One will simply not give you the long-lasting paint job you are looking for.

Sound like a lot of work? Too busy to do the job yourself? Then turn to the professionals at University Painters. We have been in the interior, exterior and commercial painting business for  32 years. We will treat your home as if it’s our own.

Exterior Painters,paint,painting company
Written by Colleen Kalil

Prepping Your House for that New Exterior Paint Job

Exterior Painters,paint,painting companyYou’ve finally decided it’s time to spruce up the outside of your home. Maybe you are getting ready to sell it or maybe you just want to have a house that looks good inside and out. Well, everyone knows you need to pick out the color. That’s the fun part of the job. But there’s more to painting a house than putting on paint. There are a number of steps that must be taken to be sure the surfaces are prepped and ready to receive the color and reflect it in the best way possible for years to come. Let’s consider these steps more closely.

  1. Trim back shrubbery, trees and other landscaping so they do not become part of the paint job.
  2. Begin the painting process by cleaning the entire exterior of your home completely. You want the house to be fully clean so the paint doesn’t dry with dirt and other pollutants mixed in. The best way to do this is to power wash your home. If you do not own a power washer, they can be rented at most home repair and construction stores. Use a cleaner or additive only if you find mold and stains.
  3. Allow at least 24 hours for the exterior to dry thoroughly before beginning the next step, which requires a paint scraper and patience. Methodically move around the entire outside of the house scraping paint chips and flakes. These become quite obvious if they are painted over and not removed beforehand.
  4. Caulking is the next step. Here too, patience and attention to detail are necessary. The most expedient way to carry out this task is to fill cracks with caulk until it seeps beyond the edge, then wipe away the excess with a damp rag.
  5. If you have been cataloging areas of the exterior that need repairs, this is the time to complete them. Rotted boards or other problems that are too difficult to handle on your own require calling in a professional, such as a painting contractor, to complete the job.
  6. Next, prime the house with a quality primer. It seals the wood from the elements and will help make your paint job last longer.

Now it’s time to paint! Or you could hire the painting professionals at University Painters. We have been in the business since 1986 and we’ll treat your home as if it is our own! Contact us at  800-390-4848 for more information.

exterior painting, home painters
Written by Colleen Kalil

Preparing Your Home For An Exterior Paint Job

Nearly half of the painting process for painting the exterior of your home is preparation, so make sure to follow these steps to guarantee that the exterior paint will look great and last.

Wash Your Home’s Exterior

Wash your house’s exterior from top to bottom prior to having it painted. A thoroughly washed surface can maximize the adhesion of the new paint to the exterior surfaces. Consider renting a power pressure washer, which can save you hours of time and effort you would otherwise spend with hand washing. You can wash your exterior with regular tap water; use clean additives only when there is mold and heavy stains. Allow your home to dry for at least one day prior to having it painted.

Make Repairs

Paint isn’t the solution to damaged or rotten surfaces of your home. It will only cover the unsightly marks. Repair any damaged areas of your home first prior to painting it. You may do this on your own but there are instances when you have to seek help from a carpenter or a handyman. Get professional help when the job calls for replacement or repairs of crucial parts of your house, such as stairs or overhangs.

Trim Nearby Plants And Trees

Be sure to trim the trees, plants and bushes close to your home before getting your exterior painted. This will provide enough space to work outside around the house without the painters having to brush off branches and thorns that can potentially injure them. Trimming plants that are in close contact to your home can also prevent foliage from hitting the wet paint once applied.

Scrape Away Flaking Paint

After washing your home’s exterior, you need to scrap and sand away any loose paint. Taking off this old flaking paint may involve a lot of work but this is a crucial step. The condition of the surface that needs to be painted will determine the success of the project.

Houses built before 1978 may also have lead paint, so scraping and sanding the exteriors of these homes need to be done with care.

Prepping your home prior to a painting job will require a lot of work. Fortunately, these tasks can be included in your painting project when you hire a professional. This can help you save a great deal of time, effort and money. Contact us here at University Painters for professional painting services.

interior painting,House Painting Pressure Washing
Written by Colleen Kalil

How To Prepare Your Home For An Interior Paint Job

Hiring a professional can save you the hassles of painting the interior of your home yourself.  All you have to do is sit back and relax while the painter does the hard work for you. If you want things to get done faster, however, here are some things you can do prior to the arrival of the painting service contractor:

Remove Hangings On The Wall

If you have framed wall decorations, pictures and mirrors hanging on the wall, take them down before the painter arrives. This will not only expedite the painting process but moving these valuables out of the way can also protect them from accidental damage. 

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