Preparing and Priming Different Exterior Surfaces for Painting

Concepts In Color knows that exterior walls come in many different styles and materials. Preparing and priming each exterior surface properly will help achieve long-term protection for your home and drastically increase the life of any paint job. Here are a few ideas and tips. (For more about Exterior Painting for your home, visit Matt at Concepts In Color about Exterior Painting in West Los Angeles and surrounding areas)

Stucco Surfaces
On stucco areas you want to thoroughly scrape off any loose paint and repair all cracks and holes. To fill gaps around windows and door casings use a caulk to fill the cracks. If you are working with previously painted exterior stucco you want to use a good exterior primer or surface conditioner.
A reaction may occur if the new stucco is not allowed to properly cure. Make sure the curing time is past before applying primer. 30 days is a standard cure time for new stucco before it can be primed and painted.

Wood Siding and Trim
When it comes to priming wood surfaces, you want to scrape off all of the loose and cracking paint. After scraping off the loose paint, sand the exterior area to remove any additional loose paint and create a smoother surface.
If scraping and sanding do not work and more than 25% of the coating is cracked and peeling, you may want to consider stripping.
When you strip, you’ll use chemicals or heat to remove all of the existing coatings down to the substrate. The stripping process can be a very laborious process so you may want to weigh the pros and cons of costs vs. benefits.
An alternative to stripping is to use a penetrating sealer  to glue down the edges of the loose paint then prime that with a thick high building bonder/sealer to fill and bridge the cracks and rough surfaces.

Metal Surfaces
When you are painting iron or steel, the most important thing is good contact between the surface and the coating. Metals rust when air and moisture get under the protective coating.
Rust can be like a cancer. Once rust is in the metal, it is almost impossible to get rid of. Surface preparation is so important on iron or steel. You want to use a good rust inhibitive primer. Rusting metal must be sanded to remove loose rust, and then cleaned. Using a phosphoric acid rust conversion product can ensure that all remaining traces of oxidized iron have been eliminated. Sand to smooth out any roughness and clean then dry thoroughly. Then prime with a rust inhibitive primer.

Masonite Siding
Most Masonite siding is delivered with its face primed with some sort of paint. However, if the paint has peeled or the Masonite has swelled due to water then special preparation is needed.
Pay special attention to the edges of this siding as this is its most vulnerable spot. Remove loose paint on embossed Masonite siding by carefully scraping or using a wire brush. The overlapping edge can be hand sanded with a medium/course sanding sponge. Smooth siding can be carefully sanded with a palm sander or rotating paint sander. The face of embossed, wood grained, siding cannot be sanded. Using oil base primers seem to work the best. Apply two coats of primer to avoid any future problems. (Talk to Matt at Concepts In Color about priming and painting services.)

Cement Board
Cement boards, also known as Hardie boards, are a type of fiber cement siding. Cement board is highly durable, resistant to fire, mold and mildew, and it does not rot.
Cement board does not need to be primed unless it will be exposed routinely to harsh weather conditions. If you do choose to prime your cement board, use an exterior acrylic latex bonding primer. Also, do not paint a cement board unless it has been thoroughly cleaned first, or you will have problems with adhesion.

Before preparing and priming any substrate on older homes, before 1978, check for existence of lead. Homes with lead based primers and/or paints must follow the EPA RRP rules for containment and removal.

Contact Matt at Concepts In Color about Exterior Painting in Los Angeles.

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At Concepts In Color we are dedicated to make your project successful.

All our painters are skilled professionals who understand the finer points of proper preparation and repair. We use superior products and you will be very happy with the results when our painters are finished with your project.

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Los Angeles Exterior House Painting Advice

Everyone wants their home to be the envy of the street. Popular DIY shows spend countless hours and dollars working the landscaping and really trying to bring curb appeal to the property, but often the home itself is overlooked. Painting the home is an integral part of having that “pop” that sets your home apart. Not only is it important for aesthetics, but paint serves as a barrier between the elements and your investment. That’s why painting deserves star treatment!

Exterior painting allows you improve the appearance of your home and extend the life of its surfaces by many years. Only one coat of paint is usually needed on your home if it is not peeling or chalking, the substrate is in good condition and a change of color is not desired. Even the slightest color change will require two coats for optimal coverage. Two coats of paint are always preferred and often necessary. Several premium paints require two coats for their warranty to be effective. Different sheen’s and colors can also play a pivotal role in how long the life cycle of the painting job is going to last. Typically, paints with a flatter sheen are more porous and will fade quicker, while higher gloss paints tend to last longer. Darker colors also tend to fade sooner.

 

With a trained eye, you will be able to spot when your home needs a new paint job. If the paint is starting to get “chalky” (rubbing your hand on the surface leaves a chalky residue on your hand) it is time to paint! Putting this off now may mean more money later! When paint chalks, it is breaking down and no longer protecting your home the way it should. Peeling paint equals moisture problems. When paint peels, it allows moisture to come in contact with the substrate. It can also lead to additional damage to the remaining paint.

A good paint job will last anywhere from five to ten years. This depends on several factors: quality of the coating being applied, mil thickness of the paint, the substrate, but most importantly – THE PREPARATION! Proper preparation is the single most important part of any painting project. Any professional painter should be able to explain exactly what is going to take place during this process. I assure you preparation is 50% labor and 110% important to the outcome of the job.
Once the house is fully washed, scraped, sanded, caulked, primed and dry it is ready to receive paint. An important issue to keep in mind is the quality of the paint. Premium coating materials can leave you with a sense of “sticker shock” when comparing price per gallon. If you compare this price to the amount of labor involved to apply any coating, the pro’s outweigh the con’s.

The reality of all this is the homeowner needs to be informed, do their research and check to make sure they are getting what they pay for. The saying could not be more true, “You get what you pay for!” If you get three painting bids and the bottom line is drastically lower on one, throw it out! Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Just because the least expensive painter assures he will do all the prep, doesn’t mean he will. A cheaper painter has to do the same amount of work a more expensive painter has to do so how come they are so cheap? It is because they are NOT going to do things the proper way. They will cut corners and finish quickly so they can make a profit. Most homeowners assume when they hire a professional, they will not have to be double checking, making sure they are getting what they are paying for.

It is important to feel comfortable with the company you hired and rest assure you’re being treated professionally. A professional painter will take the time to educate the client and fully address all questions and concerns. They should not make you feel intimidated or embarrassed to answer even the simplest of questions. The unfortunate fact is “cheap” painters usually do “cheap” work and skip on the quality materials. A professional who takes satisfaction in their work will show up early, dress the part and work with pride. Keep all these factors in mind when choosing who you hire and you will get the results you want and paid for!

For more info on Exterior House Painting in Los Angeles contact Matt at Concepts In Color.

The Online Checklist for Finding a Good Painting Contractor

Q: Who is going to paint my house?
A: The following checklist will help you sort through the process of finding a painting contractor that is right for you.

Start simple. Ask around.

If you see a house that’s been freshly painted, it’s a good opportunity to find out who did the painting. Sometimes you shall see a sign in the front yard advertising for the painting contractor. This is an indication that the customer is very happy and is willing to allow advertising in the front yard.

Successful word-of-mouth advertising doesn’t happen unless a painting contractor has satisfied customers. You can learn a lot about a painter from past clients.

Ask for references.

This step is slightly different from asking around. Now you’re speaking with a specific contractor. You want a list of references. If a painting contractor cannot give you references, it’s a good reason to check that contractor off your list. Ask for a minimum of at least three references, and follow through with contacting each person the contractor claims to have worked with.

Ask the right house painting questions.

How long ago did you hire the painter? A reference for a recent paint job isn’t as valuable as a reference for a paint job that was completed a few years ago. A customer is more likely to give you valuable information if the job has stood the test of time, and the customer is still happy.

Did the contractor do quality work? It’s important to understand what quality work looks like. Even if your friend is happy with the results, you might want to take a look at the finished paint job. Check out areas such as windows, doors and trim. Careful work in these areas is a positive indication of a good painting contractor.

Was the painter polite and pleasant to work with? This is more important than it might seem on the surface. It’s important to find a contractor you communicate well with and feel comfortable around. A courteous demeanor is a hallmark of professionalism and will save you unnecessary stress. Also, a painter who is enthusiastic about his job is more likely to do a good job than one who is burned out and just in it for the paycheck.

Did the work start (and finish) in a timely fashion? Good contractors let their customers know their planned schedule in advance. And professionals do their best to stick to it. Look for a painting contractor who arrived at a reasonable time every morning. Just remember that exterior paint jobs can be affected by the weather, so watch for customers who hold a bad rainstorm or unseasonably cold temperatures against the contractor!

Was a warranty included? A contractor that stands behind his/her work is a sign of a professional. Remember a warranty only has value if it is in writing and extends for a reasonable period. If the painting contractor only guarantees work for one year, it could be a sign that some aspect of the painting work could be low-quality.

Finding a Painting Contractor Just Got Easier – Get Free Price Quotes

Get more Info: Matt Kimble at www.ConceptsInColor Exterior Painting in West Los Angeles

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Contemporary Architectural Exterior Painting in Los Angeles, CA

At Concepts In Color we know that contemporary architectural exterior painting colors are not just for modern houses. Architects and designers develop contemporary color schemes for different architectures, whether the homes are original or are built today in that style. The smooth lines of contemporary houses call for a restrained color scheme while the decorative details of Victorian houses lend themselves to contrasting colors.

Considerations

Start your exterior painting color scheme by considering the architectural style of your house. Contemporary color schemes extend the traditional colors of that period with modern hues and often add a punch of a modern color for contrast. Your exterior color selections should blend with the other houses in your neighborhood yet show your personality. Use dark colors to highlight architectural details and light colors to hide flaws. Warm colors, such as yellow and red, advance towards the viewer, while cool colors tend to recede. Every color comes in shades that have underlying warm, neutral or cool tones, so you’re not limited to just one color family.

Contemporary Homes

The eclectic designs of contemporary homes often have clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Natural paint colors, such as shades of white and cream, gray and brown highlight the shape of the home. For a monochromatic look, use a light squirrel gray for the siding or stucco, an off-white for the door surround and pure white for the window trim. Mix neutrals such as ashwood, a light gray and mid-toned bison brown, and add a punch of color with a licorice red door. For ultimate contrast, use black and white, but choose a cool, blue-toned, shade of white. Check out Concepts In Color for ideas about painting Contemporary Homes.

Victorian Homes

Contemporary colors for Victorian houses reflect the original dark jewel colors of the period but with a modern twist. Choose rich but muted colors, such as a mid-blue-gray and a red mahogany with white trim for a strong contrast. Lighter, but still muted, colors offer a more gentle contrast. Try pink-beige with a warm-toned white and soft blue-gray. To highlight the modern twist, paint the exterior in a soft white with lilac tones and a pale pink-lilac. Add strong color with mid-range purple trim. Check out Concepts In Color for information about painting your home.

Bungalows and Ranch Homes

These architectural styles appeared around the 1950s and are still built today. Coordinate your exterior colors to the brickwork, often in shades of red, yellow or gray. A color palette of soft ivory and pale gray-taupe matches gray stone and complements a door of soft brown-red. Choose a monochromatic palette of a yellow-toned white, a warm taupe and a pale raffia color for sophistication. Highlight the size of your bungalow by using two different shades of white for the walls, and highlight the trim with a rich blue or brown.

Contact Matt at Concepts In Color for Ideas about painting your home.

Awesome Beach House Paint Colors

At Concepts In Color we know there are lots of paint options to consider when you’re painting the interior and exterior of a beach house. Whether you opt for traditional beach house colors or a more contemporary theme, the end result can be just as effective.

Nautical Colors

Create a jaunty, traditional nautical look inside your beach house by using blue and white paint. Painting the walls with pure white paint and highlight the woodwork and skirting boards in a royal marine shade of blue.

Multicolored Pastels

Choose paint in a range of pastel colors and adorn the interior and exterior walls of your beach house with an array of pastel shades. In beach homes that have wood paneling, this works particularly well, as you can paint each panel a different color. Alternatively, use one pastel color per wall or per room. (Complement the look with matching flooring, fabrics and furniture.)

Bold and Bright

Use bold and bright colors, such as red, yellow, orange, green or cerise to create a stunning effect in your beach house. Pick a couple of favorite colors, or use a rainbow palette. Be creative and experiment with colors you may normally shy away from, as a beach house can be the ideal place to use bright colors. Paint the exterior of the beach house in colorful shades too, plus the front door, to create a cheery and welcoming look.

(Matt at Concepts In Color can talk to you about even more great ideas for your beach house)

Natural Beach

Bring the colors of the beach into your home, through the use of warm sandy shades. Choose one sandy color for the walls and a darker shade to add definition to the woodwork and skirting boards. (Email Matt for more ideas along this theme) Teamed with natural wood flooring and textured wall tiles, these colors will create the ambiance of the beach within the comfort of your own four walls.

Contemporary Colors

Experiment with using contemporary paint colors, by choosing a palette of shiny metallic silver, matte silver and gray paints. Use matte silver or gray paint on the walls, adding accents with the shiny metallic silver. These colors will help create lots of light in your beach home and work very well alongside black or silver furniture and kitchen appliances.

Contact Matt Kimble at Concepts In Color for a free consult and more great ideas!

Exterior Paint Ideas for Contemporary Houses

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The crisp lines and modern features of contemporary homes often set them apart from more classic residences. While painters can select nearly any colors they want to cover their abodes, some hue selections are more appropriate for these modern structures. When preparing to give your mod home a fresh coat of paint, talk to an expert about some of the options more appropriate for contemporary homes.

Earthy Hues

Many modern homes are designed with the Earth in mind. If your home features an assortment of eco-friendly additions, keep this eco-conciousnes in mind when selecting your exterior paint hues. Choose colors that are as earthy as the eco-friendly features your home contains. For example, paint the majority of the exterior a mossy green, using earthy browns as accents to tie this masterpiece together and show your affinity for all things green.

Two-Tone Painting

Highlight the contemporary features of your home by following a two-tone painting plan. Select two tones that contrast significantly, like white and black, and feature them both on your home for an attention-getting option. For example, paint the majority of your home white and the modern trims in black, making them stand out from the rest of the home and, in doing so, accentuating their individuality.

Metallic Grays

Many modern home designs feature metallic trims in place of the standard wooden ones. If your deck is crafted of metal and your trims are metal beams, accentuate these features by selecting grays to paint the rest of your exterior. Choose a dominate gray a few hues off of the metal accents on the exterior of your home to create the desired contrast and make the metallic trim on your home truly stand out.

Color Pops

Contemporary decorators are often not shy about using color, and the exterior of your home should be no exception. While you likely don’t want to cover your entire home in apple red, featuring this bold-as-can-be hue somewhere on your exterior can set your home apart. For example, painting your front door and garage door with this color, using a color that contrasts well, such as steely gray, on the rest of the home. This choice is particularly appropriate if there is something special about these items you choose to paint so boldly, such as a vivid wood design on your front door.

For more information about Exterior Paint Ideas for Contemporary Houses, Contact Matt Kimble at Concepts In Color

Information on Exterior House Paints

Exterior house paint isn’t just about color. Choosing the right paint for your house is also about where you live, the amount of sun your home gets and the architectural style of your home. Additionally, consider cost and quality of the paint. Also, consider hiring a professional painting contractor that is right for you.
Read more: Concepts In Color

1.    One-Coat Paint
You probably would prefer to use only one coat of paint when repainting your home. Some brands market their paint as one-coat coverage, which is possible; however, one-coat paint will work only on a home that has been previously painted.
Talk to Matt at Concepts In Color for advice on one-coat painting.

2.    Geography
When choosing the paint color, think about your location. If you live in an area close to the ocean, the color you use will appear even brighter due to the reflection off the water. Bright colors are often used in oceanside communities. While these colors might look appealing near the sea, they might not work well in a Southwestern location. Talk to Matt at Concepts In Color for advice on geography.

3.    Considerations
The exterior materials used on your home will be a decisive factor when you choose paint. Whether it’s siding, stucco or wood, this must be considered for the highest-quality paint job. For best results, be sure to prime your home first, which will help give the house a smooth professional finish.

Read more: Information on Exterior House Painting
Exterior Color Ideas

How to Design Exterior Colors of a New House

Matt Kimble of Concepts In Color

A new house is a blank canvas, and with all the paint colors available, it can be difficult to decide on a color scheme. The exterior colors of your home should be a reflection of your personality, but there are some basic rules of design to keep in mind. The ideal color combination greatly enhances your home’s appearance and increases curb appeal. Pick wisely so your home stands out in the neighborhood for all the right reasons.

Browse home design magazines and consult an expert to get inspiration for color schemes you like. Tear out the pages (or make a color copy) of ideas you like.

Consider your home’s existing fixtures – shingle color, brick or stone accents and guttering, for example. Try to incorporate these into the color scheme rather than ignore them.

Pay attention to your surroundings. No one wants a cookie-cutter home, but make an effort to choose colors that don’t clash completely with neighboring houses. Your landscaping also can give you color scheme clues. If you live on a heavily wooded lot, consider lighter colors to avoid having your house blend in with the background. Lighter colors can also make a small house seem larger.

Study the color wheel for clues. Painting your house one solid color is a design faux pas – you’ll want to use colors that go well together to accent shutters, trim, windows and porches. Successful color schemes often use monochromatic colors (different shades of one color), complementary colors (colors opposite one another on the wheel) or adjacent colors (colors next to one another on the color wheel). Concepts In Color can help you find the right colors for your home.

Pick up color swatches or paint samples of hues you like. Be sure to take your notes and design examples with you to the home improvement store so you can match swatches to your wants.

Consult a professional. If you are still on the fence about design colors, get an expert opinion before purchasing paint.  A great contractor may also be able to provide you with a consultation.

Learn more: Conceptsincolor.com

Getting Your Home Ready For The Real Estate Market

Think you’re ready to put your home on the real estate market and sell it? You may think you have completed your mental checklist of getting your house ready for the real estate market and the public, but have you considered all the things you can do—and the things you should get ride of, too—to increase the value and worth of your house beforehand?

Before & After. Concepts In Color, Inc

Some of these considerations include generally “spiffing” up your home to improve its overall look; making any and all necessary repairs to fix everything that is broken or not working properly; cleaning the house from top to bottom, especially the bathroom(s) and the basement; de-cluttering and reorganizing the house; making your home look more attractive and appealing on the inside; cleaning your gutters; and increasing your “curb appeal” by tidying up and fixing your yard and increasing the overall attractiveness of your house from the outside.

Painting To Benefit Appreciation

One way to up your “curb appeal” factor is through exterior painting. Painting is also often highly recommended for the interior of your home, as well, before you put it on the real estate market and have potential buyers scrutinizing your every nook and cranny.

Painting your house—both inside and out—can greatly benefit and enhance the real estate appreciation of your home, and will increase buyer appeal and potential and your chance to sell your home at the price you want.

Exterior Painting To Increase Your Home’s Worth

When sizing up a home from the outside, one of the biggest indications of whether or not a buyer will consider seeing it is the exterior paint job. A poor color choice or color combination, a poor paint job, or old and peeling paint will more than likely turn potential buyers away, or cause interested buyers in putting a low bid on your home—lower than you know it is worth.

Take some time and invest some money into repainting the exterior of your house. Not only will it up its real estate appreciation (increase the value of your home—what it’s worth), but a good paint job will actually help to attract more potential buyers who are willing to offer a price more closely matched to what you are looking for.

Make sure to choose neutral and complementary colors when shopping for paint for the outside of your house. Neutral colors are important, because they appeal more to the masses and give you better resale. Make sure to also take the necessary time to find  a top-quality painter, someone that will make your home look good and become something of which you can be proud.

Interior Painting To Increase Your Home’s Worth

Next, think about the interior of your home. While the exterior paint job is important for the outer look and curb appeal, the interior paint job is just as if not more important for real estate appreciation as well as for increasing the appeal of your home, thus attracting more potential buyers.

If the paint job is old, if the colors are too bright or otherwise questionable, and if it has busy wallpaper, it’s time to invest in a new paint job.

An old, peeling paint job says you don’t take care of your home and looks unattractive. Too-bright colors are sometimes a turn-off. Neutral colors appeal to the masses. You don’t want to be known as the owners of “that house with the bright purple and orange bathroom,” do you? Most people don’t like busy wallpaper, or wallpaper at all. Fresh, high-quality paint in appealing, neutral (and matching) tones can make all the difference in the world.

Another way in which interior painting can help with the real estate appreciation of your home and its overall appeal is in the case of having a small room. Some homes have that one room that is so small it almost seems like a closet. If this is the case with your home, consider a new paint job in a light-colored, neutral tone. Light-colored paint will help to make any small room look substantially bigger, not to mention brighter.

Painting Benefits

If you don’t have the time or think you can do a good enough job, and you have some extra money, consider hiring a professional painting company for either the exterior painting or interior painting of your home, or both.

Painting the inside and outside of your home is definitely a worthwhile consideration and an investment of time and money if you want to increase its real estate appreciation and attract more potential buyers who are willing to pay the price you feel your home is actually worth. Contact Matt at Concepts In Color to talk about Getting Your Home Ready For The Real Estate Market