The 411 On Painting With A Roller

Contrary to popular belief, painting with a standard paint brush and painting with a roller do not produce the same results. If your newest home project requires the work of a roller, but you are unfamiliar or new to using one, there are a few things you should know before the painting begins.

The Proper Tools For The Job

Quality work comes from working with good quality tools. In order to tackle your next painting job with a roller you will need:

• Extended Handle

• Roller Cover

• 5-gallon bucket

• Bucket screen or a Painting tray

• Paint Roller Frame

Refrain from purchasing the paint roller kit sold at most hardware stores. This seems like a great purchase (and an affordable one), however cutting corners on this type of equipment will end badly. A high-quality roller cover and frame will give you the best results. Purchase a shed-resistant roller cover with a plastic core instead of cardboard. The cardboard will absorb the paint and eventually break down.

Rolling Paint Onto Your Walls

Before you get to painting, remove any loose fibers from your roller, even if you bought a shed-resistant roller. With a little bit of tape, you can easily remove any loose fibers. Next, roll the cover into the paint which is either in a bucket or a tray. Do this multiple time to ensure the roller is completely covered. In order to ensure full coverage, work in a “W” pattern when rolling the paint onto the wall. It is also a good idea to paint in two to three-foot length sections. Move your pattern to fill in any unpainted areas until the wall is covered.

Extra Tips

• Start at the top of your wall and work down.

• Avoid applying pressure to the roller when painting. If you find yourself pressing hard just to get the paint to stick, it's time to add more paint to the roller.

DIY home projects are fun but the final product may not end how you envisioned. If you are looking for some assistance on your next home improvement project, call Hensel Painting. We are here to help! Call us today for your free estimate.

Tips For Choosing A Color Palette You Wont Regret!

As a homeowner, choosing the color palette of your new home can be tough! Although this aspect of the painting process is important, it shouldn't drive you crazy.  In order to help ease any confusion over which color pallet may be best for your home, here are a few things to consider when it comes time to finalize the color scheme. 

Visualize the Whole Home

When choosing the palette, think about the entire home instead of a room by room basis. In order to keep the colors consistent throughout the home is to limit your palette to five colors:

• Neutral: Perhaps a gray, tan, or blue! Something that you know blends into staple furniture piece in your home.

• White: Use the exact same color that was used for the doors, ceilings, and moldings

• A Personal Favorite: Pick a color that you really like

• A Complementary Color: This would be a color that coordinates well with your personal favorite color

• Another Coordinating Color: The final color should go well with the personal favorite and the complementary color

Consider Your Surroundings

The most beautiful homes have owners and designers who take into consideration the color values of the outdoor surroundings when planning the color scheme. The landscape and environment surround your home should be brought into play. If you used this technique when choosing both the colors and the decorations, the room will look naturally put together. 

Consider Your Decorations

Is there a piece of furniture in your home that really makes a statement? How about a colorful rug that occupies a large area of your home? By taking the colors already present in your home and finding a way to complement them is a great way to create a pattern or a theme. A common color is a great way to effortlessly tie separate areas of the home together. 

Consider Balance

A great rule of thumb when discussing color is the 60:30:10 ratio. 60% of the room should be the dominant color found on your walls, 30% should be a secondary color, and 10% should be an accent color. 

If you are struggling to choose a color for your home, we can help! Our years of experience has enabled us to feel confident in our ability to assist you in every area of the home remodeling process. Call us today for more information about our services or for your free estimate. 

Let Us Help Prepare Your Exterior For Spring!

Spring is a perfect to revisit the exterior of your home. The warmer and sunnier months bring optimal conditions for painting outside, which allows us to do some of our best work. Although our painting approach is custom to each project,  we abide by the same preparations steps every time.

Start From A Fresh Slate

We begin each painting project by establishing a clear and clean space. Temporarily removing items affixed to the walls of the home, such as light fixtures, decorations or house numbers is the best place to start. In order for the painting process to begin, outdoor furniture, planters, and shutters are relocated.

Avoid A Mess

Even for the most experienced of painters, the job site can get messy. In order to avoid a large amount of cleanup, we take precaution by placing tarps and drop cloths under areas of the home that will come in contact with our tools and our paint. Since the stain on your porch and decking won't look their best with splatters of paint, we proceed with extreme caution in these areas.

Exterior Prep

Before applying a fresh coat of paint, the surface of your exterior must be free of contaminants. First and foremost, grease, mold, mildew and loose paint are scraped from the exterior with a wire brush or power washer.

Although the removal of any exterior contaminants may seem like a manageable, DIY job, it is best to hire a professional for this important step. Not only are professionals great at diagnosing exterior containments, but they are equipt to deal with the removal of paint that may contain harmful substances like lead.

The Final Evaluation

Once your home is debris free, we can truly assess the areas of your home that require the most attention. Our final evaluation process gives us the opportunity for touch ups before we break out our brushes. It is during this last look where we find the majority of cracked walls, exposed nail heads, and old caulking. The final outcome of your exterior paint job hinges on us locating and correcting these problem areas.

Springtime is here and we are ready to bring your home transformation dreams to life. At Hensel Painting we believe that commitment to quality work, integrity, professionalism, and customer satisfaction is the keys to our success. After you receive your free estimate today you will be one step closer to having the home you’ve always wanted