Lancaster Painting Blog http://lancasterpainting.com/blog Painting Contractor Blog located in Turlock CA Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:48:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Lancaster’s 2011 Paint It Forward Recipients http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/02/lancaster%e2%80%99s-2011-paint-it-forward-recipients/ http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/02/lancaster%e2%80%99s-2011-paint-it-forward-recipients/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:48:15 +0000 kirstiehoward http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/?p=305 It is always an honor and encouragement to meet someone who is dedicated to serving people and making the world a better place. Each year when we receive our Paint-It-Forward nominations from the community, we are introduced to many such people, and we have the pleasure to choose someone from among them to serve with a free painting project.

This year’s chosen recipients are Roy and Bobbie Baker, of Turlock, who have dedicated more than 15 years of their lives to serving children through foster care. Opening up their home and showing unconditional love to vulnerable and sometimes difficult children, they have shown true character and dedication.

According to Aspiranet, the nonprofit organization that the Bakers work with, Roy and Bobbie “are two of the most giving and kind people you can meet.” They work with children of all ages, providing individual care and attention to their various needs. While Roy has a full-time job outside the home, Bobbie devotes all of her time to serving the children that are placed into their home. They provide such a caring, accepting environment that many of their former foster children continue to keep in contact and visit them.

Because of their faithful service to children in need, Roy and Bobbie have not taken the time or money to perform some of the exterior updates and maintenance that it could use. We at Lancaster are excited for the opportunity to help them out in this way, and our crews and volunteers will be arriving at their home this Saturday, February 25, for a day of fun and service!

Keep tuned for more details! We will post pictures after the event.

]]> http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/02/lancaster%e2%80%99s-2011-paint-it-forward-recipients/feed/ 0 How to Create A Dry Erase Wall http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/02/how-to-create-a-dry-erase-wall/ http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/02/how-to-create-a-dry-erase-wall/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:47:01 +0000 kirstiehoward http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/?p=299 The world thrives off creativity and originality, but unfortunately in today’s society creativity is often thwarted with overabundant sources of technology and less outlets for artistry. A great and easy solution to encourage inventiveness is to provide creativity space with dry-erase walls. Not only are dry-erase walls a great source for exploration and expression of imagination and creativity, but they are also resourceful and economical.

Whiteboard paint is especially recommended for kitchens, bedrooms, offices, and kid’s rooms. All you have to do is apply it just like any other paint, invest in some dry-erase markers, and you have your own, eco-friendly drawing surface, calendar, imagination station – you name it!

Lancaster Painting, established in Turlock, CA, services the Modesto and the surrounding areas of Central Valley. Call us at 209-634-1111 if you would like our skilled painters to do this project for you. Or if you are interested in tackling the project yourself, follow these steps:

  1. Thoroughly clean the wall(s) you want to paint with a damp cloth or soft sponge. If there are any holes in the wall, apply some lightweight spackle. While the spackle dries, mark around the wall or area you want to paint with some painters tape (we suggest the blue-core from 3M).
  2. When the spackle is dry, sand down the rough areas with 280-300 grit sandpaper. (If we do this for you, typically we would use drywall mud, which is more difficult for homeowners to use since it requires specials tools and more practice.) After you’ve sanded the walls, wipe away the drywall dust with a dry (or mildly damp) rag.
  3. Next, apply one coat of Zinsser Primer or another good drywall primer.
  4. Now use either Rust-Oleum‘s whiteboard paint or IdeaPaint for your wall. (Follow the specifications on the paint can for number of coats and drying time allocation.)
  5. After the paint dries completely, carefully remove the painters tape and let imagination run wild!

If you prefer chalkboards to whiteboards, or if you want a ultra-child-safe option for a child’s room, try using chalkboard paint instead.

Let us know if you have any questions. And leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on Dry-Erase Paint!

]]> http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/02/how-to-create-a-dry-erase-wall/feed/ 0 Why should I get a second opinion on paint? http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/01/why-should-i-get-a-second-opinion-on-paint/ http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/01/why-should-i-get-a-second-opinion-on-paint/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:04:32 +0000 chismville http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/?p=291 Every room in a house has a personality. Whether it is a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or living room, each room is unique. Personality in a room comes from it’s furniture, decorations, and size, but primarily from the color scheme. Some colors are versatile and can be used for many different rooms, but others are not. Paint a room black and it may seem modern or ominous, paint it pink and it will seem girly, paint it blue and it will seem more calm and relaxing. Depending on what purpose the room serves, it is obvious when the color is “off;” it may not look bad, but usually it won’t feel right if the color doesn’t fit.
Since there are over 2000 different paint colors to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to pick out a color for a room, so getting a second opinion lightens the load significantly.  Not only is this decision easier when you have another person to help, but getting a second opinion also ensures that the color you choose is especially right for your paint project. Just be sure that the person you ask to help you with color is either an expert, or someone who knows you and your house well enough to know which colors will fit the personality of your family and of your home.
Here are some additional reasons why you should get second opinion on paint color:
  • Perception. All people perceive colors slightly differently. Getting a second or third opinion will better your chances of picking a especially great color.
  • Time and money. Oftentimes people will go to the store and buy a color they think will be great, but when they start painting they find it’s the wrong shade or it just doesn’t look good. Since paint isn’t cheap and it takes time to decide on the right color, it is more efficient to get the color right the first time and not end up with gallons of the wrong paint color.
  • Placement. Some colors are versatile for many different rooms, while others are appropriate for only a few rooms. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook some common standards when faced with so many colors; having a second person helping with ensure that you don’t oversight some color fundamentals.

All things considered, it pays to get a second opinion on color.

If you are uncertain about color, let us know; our color consultants are experts at picking the best colors for all different types of rooms. If you would like to schedule a free estimate with Lancaster Painting, call us at 209-634-1111. We would be happy to serve you.
]]> http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2012/01/why-should-i-get-a-second-opinion-on-paint/feed/ 0 Is it dangerous to sleep in a freshly painted room? http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2011/12/is-it-dangerous-to-sleep-in-a-freshly-painted-room/ http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2011/12/is-it-dangerous-to-sleep-in-a-freshly-painted-room/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:26:49 +0000 kirstiehoward http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/?p=287 This question is often asked by homeowners during bedroom painting projects. However, there are different answers depending on which paint is being used.

The majority of paints can be narrowed down to three different types:
1. Zero-VOC Paint

  • If you use Zero-VOC paint it is perfectly safe to sleep in room the same day you paint. This paint is virtually odorless and does not emit toxic chemicals.  Two great VOC-free paints are Benjamin Moore’s Natura® and Sherwin Williams Harmony®.

2.  Low-VOC Paint

  • Any paint with a “Green Seal“ logo of any kind has few enough VOC’s that it is harmless to sleep in the room the same day the paint is applied. However, the paint is not odorless and will smell for at least 24 hours after painting. Typically the smell will lessen in 2-3 days if you keep the room well ventilated.

3. Oil-based or Regular Latex Paint

  • Paint that is not eco-friendly or oil-based may take quite a bit of curing time. Although the paint may dry within 2-8 hours after painting, it could take over 2 weeks for the released toxins to abate. If you are using this paint for a bedroom, you should wait at least 2 weeks before sleeping in the room. The VOC’s initially released are strong enough to possibly produce adverse health effects if inhaled in a un-ventilated room.

In order to play it safe, we recommend using only Zero or Low-VOC paints for all home interiors. Although because of the strict EPA regulations that require almost all paints on the market to be safe for the home, there is no need to be overly concerned.

Lancaster Painting is the leading painting contractor in Central Valley. We are dedicated to bring each of our customers reliable and quality service. If you have any further questions, contact us online or at 209-634-1111.

]]> http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2011/12/is-it-dangerous-to-sleep-in-a-freshly-painted-room/feed/ 0 When is the best time of year to paint? http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2011/12/when-is-the-best-time-of-year-to-paint/ http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/2011/12/when-is-the-best-time-of-year-to-paint/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:34:07 +0000 kirstiehoward http://lancasterpainting.com/blog/?p=283 In Modesto, Turlock, Patterson, and the other surrounding cities of central valley, there is actually not just one favorable time of year to paint. In fact, almost all year round the temperature stays mellow enough to paint outside. It is not advisable to paint in weather cooler than 40° or hotter than 90° degrees. Usually though, day time temperatures are ideal for painting year-round.

For the days with temperatures bordering on very cold, Sherwin Williams’ Duration®, Resilience®, SuperPaint® and A-100® are good for painting in temperatures as low as 35° degrees. The optimal temperatures for painting are between 55° and 80°, but in central valley, when you use any of these Sherwin Williams products, any day of the year should be okay for painting. As long as the sun is shining, Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn are all painting seasons in Central Valley.

Do you have any exterior painting projects you have been putting off until the Spring? We can help you get a jump-start on those projects so that you can more freely enjoy springtime. Call Lancaster Painting for a free estimate at 1-800-PAINTING.

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