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.

When To Paint: Before or After You Move In?

Moving into a new house is never a simple task. Along with packing, organizing, and planning, you still have to decide what interior work will need to be done in the new place. Should you paint the walls now? Or should you wait until to move is complete? To help you determine which option makes sense for your situation, read along!

Pros of Painting Before Move In

For some, painting before the move in date is completely ideal. With so much on the to do list, adding one more task may seem trivial. Might as well get everything done while the energy is there, right?

1. Choosing to paint before moving in allows the painting process to go much smoother. Without furniture in the way, decorations on the wall, or worrying about protecting furniture from wet paint, your move may feel less stressful should you choose to paint beforehand.
2. And what about the paint smell? If you prolong the painting process until after the move, chances are you will be stuck in a home that gives you a headache.
3. Moving into a house that is ready for you is going to be a huge relief. This way you can unpack at your leisure and tackle the next project without feeling overwhelmed.

One of the best parts of moving into a new space is settling in and feeling comfortable with your surroundings, which is hard to do with a big paint job on the brain.

Pros of Painting After You Move in

Certain situations are better suited for prolonging the painting process.

1. If you decide to paint before your furniture and decorations are in the home, it may be a challenge to pick the right paint color. You don't want to choose a color that doesn't work well with your home decor. In fact, many home designers believe that painting before moving in is one of the greatest mistakes people can make.
2. You want to feel confident in your color choice for your home, and the only way to do that to see your color over a period time and in diverse lighting.
3. Paint a section of your wall and live with it for a few days to get a full understanding of the color. This way you can ultimately decide if the color works for you and your space. 

Whatever decision works best for your personality, schedule and lifestyle, ensure the job is done right. A paint job well done will set the tone for the whole home. Here at Hensel Painting, we are ready to paint your home before or after you’ve moved in. Call us today for more information, or contact us for your free estimate.

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.

What Hot Weather Means For Your Next Home Painting Project

It is not uncommon to assume that warmer weather means improved outdoor painting conditions. Although this is true, there are some complications that come along with painting in warmer weather. Since Colorado weather tends to be on the dry side, humidity is one less factor that we as painters have to take into consideration. When taking on any residential painting project during the spring and summer months, we consider a few factors before the painting begins.

Hot Weather Painting Techniques & Tricks:

• The health and safety of our crew and the residents in the home is our number one priority! In order to cut down on the diffusion of fumes or unwanted smells, we like to begin all painting projects as early in the morning as possible. 

• As the day heats up, paint fumes have a tendency to linger or find their way throughout the home. With the help of fans, we can better manage air circulation and control the dispersion of any fumes from freshly painted areas of the home.

• We always work from east to west! By staying with the natural pattern of the sun we can avoid direct sunlight from blasting the fresh paint. It is in the project's best interest to apply paint in the shade.

The Positive Aspects Of Painting In Warm Weather

• Warm weather allows the primer, spackling and joint compound to dry at the same rate! This significantly cuts down on the time we have to spend on prep!

• Heat causes the paint to warm up, which is great for application

• The paint dries more quickly

Each season presents its own benefits and challenges to the painting process! However, no matter the season, Hensel Painting is prepared for and ready to handle whatever the may job bring. Contact us for a free estimate on your next project today.

Painting Is More Than Just Applying Paint

There is nothing quite like the site of a beautifully painted home! Precise, clean lines, rich color and accentuated textures are achieved only through professional experience and quality prep work. Although painting a home may seem like a simple task, outstanding results require more than just applying paint to a given surface. Achieving the best results and the professional quality you are looking for requires knowing a thing or two about the painting process.

Before painting of any kind begins, there must be surface or wall preparation. Prepping the walls of your home, whether exterior or interior, is a process. In order to get the finish and final product, a certain rules of the prepping process must be abided by. Without it, there is no way to achieve the high quality look you desire.

Before breaking out the tools and paint, the space undergoing work must be clear and clean. After the removal of any electrical and HVAC covers, there should be an thorough inspection of the surface of your walls. Any imperfections, holes, or blemishes will be filled with spackling and a putty knife. After the spackling has dried, these areas will be sanded down and wiped clean in order to remove dust or other residue.

After the surfaces of your walls are made even, the masking process begins. In order to achieve clean and even lines, portions of your home will be lined with tape.  Tape will be added to areas where the wall meets the wooden baseboards lining your floor and between walls that will be painted different colors. The final step in the prepping process is the primer. Primer is just as important as the paint and should be treated accordingly.

Don't go it alone! A professional looking home requires professional painting experience. A fresh paint job can do so much for your home, but not if crucial steps are missed. Here at Hensel Painting we are dedicated to providing our customers with a quality final product and level of service. As seasoned painters, we are fully prepared to take on the most unique and difficult projects. Contact us for a free estimate today!

Paint Finish: Which is Best for your Interior?

Paint comes in many colors and also a variety of finishes. Finishes can be categorized by sheen, matte, glossy or clean.  Ultimately, the finish chosen when it comes to finalizing a color for your home depends on the coverage and durability you are looking for. Finish is just as important as the color you choose! Here at Hensel Painting, we believe in keeping our customers informed about the painting process.

Paint is made in 5 different finishes:

An eggshell finish is best described as subdued. This particular style of gloss is what we would choose in a room with medium amount of activity. Eggshell finishes are practical, long lasting, and great in rooms with little potential for moisture. Eggshell finishes do not have much gloss but still  bring an attractive look to any area it covers.

This type of finish is known for its ability to conceal flaws or imperfections on the surface of your walls. Flat or Matte finishes are our first choice when painting a home with older walls. This type of finish allows us to keep the character of the walls in tact while still receiving a fresh coat of paint. One thing we take into consideration with matte and flat finishes, is how frequently the walls are washed or exposed to water.

Known for both its washability and durability, semi gloss has a medium sheen making it perfect for just about any room in the house. We tend to use semi gloss in rooms that experience the majority of the traffic or an area exposed to moistures.

Like, Egg Shell, Satin finishes are easily maintained in busier areas of the interior. This type of finished offers quality covering from surface imperfections or glare. A satin finish is frequently used to paint window sill, trim, and cabinets.

Gloss is the type of finish that offers the best durability! In particular, gloss works well on small surface areas that tend to be older. We use glossy paints as a way to highlight trim on woodwork, architectural pieces and doors.  As a general rule of thumb, the glossier the paint, the more expensive.

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We take into account all the variables when it comes time to choose paint and finish! We take into consideration both the space we are painting and your budget. Here at Hensel painting, we always find the paint and finish that best brings the vision of your home to life.  If you are ready to transform your home with a top of the line paint job, give us a call today for a free estimate. With Hensel Painting, you can have the home you’ve always wanted!