How To Make Your Paint Last Longer

It is fascinating how our beautifully painted walls become dirty and worn looking so quickly. Whether your children or your pets are the culprits, it is inevitable that scuff marks will appear on the walls of our homes. However, there is a way to clean your painted walls in order to keep them looking freshly-painted all year long.

Basic Wall Paint Maintenance

There is a little preventative maintenance you can do to keep your walls free from dust. Most vacuums come with a soft brush attachment which works well on your walls. After, spray your walls with a dusting agent and wipe them down with a mop or cloth.

How to Clean Walls Painted with Latex Paint

Always start by cleaning walls painted with a latex paint with the above dusting method. Next, dip a sponge in warm water that contains a non-abrasive cleaner. With the sponge, wash the wall! For tough spots that just won't come out, make a mixture of water and baking soda and wipe the area.

How to Wash Walls Painted with Oil-Based Paint

White vinegar is all you need to successfully clean a wall painted with oil-based paint. Dampen (don’t soak) the cloth or sponge with the mixture and rub the wall gently.

How To Clean Flat Painted Walls

There is no harder wall to clean than on that is painted in flat paint. The porous texture allows dirt to set into the surface of your wall and stay there. However, the longer you leave dirt or stains on the surface of your walls, the harder it is to remove. It is best to begin with the gentlest solutions first and then work your way up:

• First, try cleaning the smudges with a soft rag soaked in warm water.
• Next, try a  melamine-foam-based product, like the Magic Eraser. If your wall is a dark color, this may leave a white residue behind. If it does, blot the area with a white towel.
• If this job is requiring something a little more intense, try a mixture of 1 tablespoon of laundry soap mixed with a gallon of warm water. This method can be too harsh for many paints, so proceed carefully or test the solution on a hidden part of your wall (behind the couch) before taking it to an exposed area.
• If none of these cleaning methods work, you may need to repaint your wall.

Keep your house feeling and looking in tip-top shape as long as possible. Clean walls are a great way to do this. If your home is in need of a fresh start, give us a call at Hensel Painting. We are offering 15% off all interior painting jobs booked before December 31st. Feel free to contact us online or give us call for a free estimate.

5 Things To Know Before Starting A Painting Project

Although you may think painting is an easy, DIY yourself project, chances are you don't know what you're doing. Before doing any sort of painting, whether that be the painting of a room, a door or a piece of furniture, you must know these tips before starting.

Know the Weather Forecast

The ideal painting weather is dry, so make sure to skip rainy or humid days. Start your painting project on a day where the relative humidity is between 40% and 70%. If you are painting the interior of your home, simply open a window and let the paint dry completely before starting the next coat.

Know The Size Of Your Space

Not only will you spend way more money than expected but you will find yourself with not enough paint for the job. One gallon per 400 square feet is a great rule of thumb. If you are painting a surface with a rougher texture, you may need more.

Know How To Keep A Wet Edge

By painting over an area of the wall that begun to dry will leave you with lap marks all over your walls. Keeping a wet edge or having each stroke overlap the previous one will help you avoid lap marks altogether.

Know How To Properly Prep Your Surface

If the surface of your walls aren't properly prepped, it won't matter how expensive the paint is or how carefully you applied the paint, your work will result in bubbling, cracking and chipping. To prep your surface correctly, sand and scrape any areas of the existing surface that is flaking or peeling. Take soap to any greasy areas and wipe all the walls with a dust-free rag.

Know The Correct Tape Removal Techniques

Before yanking the tape off the trim and ruining your hard work, take a second and remove the tape correctly. You need to wait 24 hours minimum before removing the trim tape, should use a utility knife to cut through the film and pull the tape at a 45-degree angle as you cut the paint.

Not everyone is suited for the meticulous, cautious work that is painting, which is okay!  If you are reconsidering painting yourself, call Hensel Painting or reach us online.

Reasons Your Interior Looks Outdated

Trends come and go, especially in the world of interior design! Before you know it, you're looking into a room that looks like the set of The Brady Bunch. But just as fast as trends die, new ones resurface! Forget about keeping up with what's trending and make your home your own. However, if it has been decades since you’ve changed things up, it's time to take a hard look at your space. These six interior elements are contributing to the dated aesthetic of your home.

Wood-Stained Cabinets

It's hard to believe that oak and maple stained cabinets were once trending. Since the kitchen is a high traffic, central room in your home, a simple update can transform the entire space. With a fresh coat of paint (consider white), your cabinets will bring a  modern feel to the home.

Old Paint

There is nothing like the look of a fresh coat of paint. This simple fix will keep the room looking modern and clean. When you notice the paint on your walls looking dingy and a little drab, refresh the room with a fresh coat.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is making a comeback! However, wallpaper borders from the 1980s and 90s have got to go. Say goodbye to that wallpaper border around the perimeter (top of the wall or the middle) of the room! This trend is the fastest way to make your home looked dated. If wallpaper is your thing, find a modern pattern to cover the whole wall and accent with paint!

Sponge Pattern

The sponge wall trend of the 90s will never be forgotten, but it shouldn't have a place in your home. The interior trends of today are bold and mod, which means no sponging necessary.

Particular Wall Colors

Not all colors can be classics, for example, peach, hunter green, and plum. Switching to neutral colors are always a good choice. Not only are they a safe choice but they work well with a variety of style adjustments.

 Old-Fashioned Cabinet Pulls

Sometimes it's the little details that make the largest impact! Cabinet knobs, hinges, and even faucets have a large impact on the look and vibe of your interior. By swapping the old ones with new pulls, your home will look refurbished and renovated!

 Although fads and popular trends are fun to follow, they don’t last forever. A trick to keeping your space looking great no matter what, is letting your personal style be the guide! Here at Hensel Painting we are here to help you achieve the look you’ve always wanted. With some fresh new paint and a few fixes, your home will look better than ever. Contact Hensel Painting today for a free estimate.

A Guide To Choosing the Best Colors For Your Bedroom

Out of all the rooms in your home, your bedroom should be a place to relax, unplug and unwind from life’s stressors. It should also be an environment designed for optimal sleep! The influence of many factors is needed in order to create the perfect bedroom space. Although decor and furnishings are important, the colors of your walls and ceiling will make all the difference. Part of choosing the best paint color for your bedroom starts with understanding how colors influence mood.

Colors and Their Effects

Although this process is hardly scientific, studies show that certain colors affect our mood and how well we sleep. The results showed that bedrooms painted hues of blue are optimal for sleep. Shades of yellow came in at second best for sleep and green and silver took third and fourth. the study revealed that individuals with bedrooms painted gray, brown and purple received the least amount of sleep.

Neutral Colors

Not only are neutral colors a safe choice, they are also calming! Beige, cream, and tan are subtle and mind easing, perfect for a relaxing bedroom. Although neutral tones aren't the most fun, they go perfectly with a variety of decor, furniture pieces, and linens.

Cool Colors

Cool colors are optimal for a sleepy and calming bedroom setting. Also, the cool colors spectrum offers a lot of variation! Experiment with hues of blue, violet, blue-green and gray!

Pastel Colors

Pastels don’t look childish when done right. A pastel colored room with bright accessories and dark wood accents is both grown-up and soothing. Consider soft greens or blues, lavender, or even light pink.

Tips to Try

1. Consider the overall effect you are going for. Relaxed, intimate, cozy, or something else? Gather inspiration from magazines or interior design websites!

2. Take your surroundings into consideration. What goes well with your furniture? Does natural light effect your space?

3. Test out potential colors on portions of your wall. See how the colors change throughout the day.

Bring in the Professionals

Whatever color you choose, you will get the best results if you hire professionals. Here at Hensel Painting, we are confident in our ability to transform your home with our professional painting services and appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Contact us today and request a free estimate for your next painting project.

5 Home Maintenance Tips You Shouldn’t Skip

We love our homes! They are the places where memories are made, a space of comfort and peace for our families, and where our everyday lives happen. However, in order to keep our homes healthy, minor maintenance is necessary. The summertime is a great time to check on the condition of your home. If you are unsure of where to begin, here are 5 places to start with this summer.

Tune Up the A/C

The status of your air conditioning is the most important and often the most forgotten maintenance tip on our checklist. Just as your car needs the occasional tune-up to prevent mechanical damage and malfunction, so does your A/C. This tune-up should consist of an inspection of the refrigerant levels, which ensures that your A/C is running cool and your electricity bill stays low. Check to see if the fan is functioning properly, that the coils are cleaned and the wiring is intact. We advise you to change your air filter at least once a month if your unit is being used frequently.

A Roof Check-Up

Although the roof of your home should be inspected annually, the summer months are the perfect time to get up there. Seeing the condition of the roof yourself (you or a professional) is the most effective way to catch potential problems or minor issues that can be fixed before further damage ensues.

A Gutter Cleanse

We recommend cleaning the gutters of your home twice a year, especially after the fall and spring seasons. Cleaning the gutters frequently will prevent leaking and clogging!

Don’t Forget the Windows

While the A/C is cooling the inside of your home, check the sealants and the condition of your windows to prevent the heat from getting in. If you stumble upon open areas, caulking is a simple way to seal up cracks. Also, check the weather-stripping! If there is damage, replace it immediately.

Even the House Needs a Bath

A routine cleaning is great for the exterior of your home. The easiest and most effective way to do this by pressure wash. Pressure washing is the best way to remove mildew, dirt or stains that have built up over the year. Be sure to cover any electrical outlets, plants, and open windows before the washing gets started. 

Do what it takes to keep one your most valuable possessions looking great! In order to ensure the longevity of your home, pay attention to the little things. After your home has received its summertime check up, consider a fresh paint job! For more information about Hensel Painting and our services, contact us today.