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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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Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Award Winning Painters

There are a number of different ways to judge the quality of a business.  Many times the work speaks for itself, but what about when you don’t have the ability to see the work first hand?  How can you be sure that you are selecting the best company to provide the service you need when you can’t see the quality of their work in person?  Angie’s List is an online directory of different home services that exists for exactly this purpose.  They are a crowd-sourced review site of local businesses and contractors that specializes in rating companies based on customer feedback.  When you can’t see the results first-hand, word of mouth is a very good way to determine the quality of work a business provides.  In addition to listing businesses based on customer satisfaction, Angie’s List uses those same customer reviews to hand out awards.  Awards that are based on the satisfaction of customers are awards that are truly earned and deserved.  The Lancaster, Pennsylvania branch of University Painters won Angie’s List’s Super Service Award in 2018, making them the best option for all of your painting needs, as decided by the consumer.

University Painters are professional painting contractors who have been in business since 1986.  Since then they have built the business based on exemplary customer service and satisfaction, which is what earned Jonathan Frank and his team at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania location the Superior Service Award.

Whether you are in need of an interior painting spruce-up, or a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your house, Jonathan Frank’s crew at University Painters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania are up to the challenge of providing the best quality and customer service in the industry.  University Painters pride themselves on understanding the best way to beautify and protect your most valuable asset, your home.  The folks at University Painters Lancaster are trained and skilled professional craftsmen, who combine their expertise with the highest quality products to ensure that you are beyond satisfied with the job.

University Painters commitment to customer satisfaction and quality service has earned Jonathan Franks and his team in Lancaster the trust of their clientele, so you know you can trust them with your next paint job.  If you are looking for professional commercial and residential painting services, contact University Painters. They are environmentally responsible and offer outstanding work.

Angie's List, Awards, Blog, Creative, Maintenance, Paint Colors
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interior painting, home painting
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

Interior Paint colors and your moods

On a normal basis we have many reasons for feeling anxious or even angry, so why add paint to the equation? Painting the interior of your home is something that should bring you joy and comfort when you walk in, but be aware that certain colors are known for causing anxiety or depression. It does not mean that you can not use the colors that you like but just be reserved in your choices.

Let’s look at the different colors that make the list and what reactions they cause.

Yellow: One of the colors that seems least likely to be an issue is Yellow. However, tests have shown that yellow in large amounts make people feel angry, stressed or even aggressive.

Pink: Pink is a color that has proven to have a very calming effect; prison studies have confirmed this. When used in small amounts in a smaller bedroom, pink would be a good interior color.

Blue: Many shades of Blue seem to be calming and widely accepted by everyone. However, some darker blues may be overwhelming when used throughout an entire room and may make a person anxious, while some lighter blues can make a person feel a sense of cold when used in rooms with very little light.

Black: Black many times denotes negative feelings of depression or a lack of being in control.

Brown: Dark Browns in large amounts, especially on interior walls, make a person feel depressed. Lighter Browns add a more calming, earthy feel to a home.

Red: Red is a fascinating color in that it can make you excited, feel stimulated, or even energized. As much as this works great for interiors, it also must be used in moderation as it can also make a person feel in danger or even angry.

As you can see there are many different ways that interior paint colors can affect your mood. Knowing these concepts ahead of time can save you the time and the expense of having to repaint rooms afterwards. As everyone knows, knowledge is power, so go forward ready to make your home more appealing. Be sure to contact University Painters for our professional color recommendations.

Blog, Creative, Design, News, Paint Colors
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interior painting, home painters,paints
Regular Post
Written by Colleen Kalil

When to Repaint Your Home’s Interior

For many people, painting is a thankless chore. It is a lot of work and all too often the amateur painter does not realize the magnitude of the undertaking. People tend to think repainting your home’s exterior is a do-it-yourselfer weekend job. Unfortunately, that is how it usually looks in the end – just a bit unprofessional. Now this is not to take away from the intent of the painter and their earnest desire to be involved in their home’s upkeep. Most times however, it’s best to put your trust in the hands of professionals!

Having said all that, the interior of your home is subject to the wear and tear of daily life just as your home’s exterior is to the elements. Everything from sprays, smoke, kitchen odors and pet odors can cling to your walls and cause them to look faded and worn. If you live there everyday, you may even have a tendency not to notice the way a room begins to look faded and worn.

One hint would be to schedule a time each year (perhaps even every six months), when you walk the interior and exterior of your home looking for necessary repairs and upgrades. This should be a habit whether you intend to put your home on the market or continue to live there for years to come.

As you do your room by room inspection, look at the interior as if you are seeing it for the first time – like through the eyes of a stranger. Do the colors seem faded? Are there areas within rooms that appear to have a fresher presentation than others? For example, in the bathroom the paint may appear faded or peeling nearer the steamy shower or tub than in other areas.

Also, consider how often the room is used. Do you entertain frequently in the kitchen or family room but hardly use the guest bathroom? Prioritize areas that get the most traffic, but remember, your bedrooms are sanctuaries and a fresh coat of paint can make them more warm and welcoming as well.

Finally, get an estimate for the cost of painting your home’s interior room by room and in its entirety. Sometimes, it’s best to redo the interior all at once, giving your entire house an updated feel to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Whatever your painting needs, contact the professionals at University Painters. We treat your home like it’s our own.

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