How to Prepare for Exterior Painting

How to Prepare For Exterior Painting

Exterior house painting usually takes a little more time than interior painting. One of the reasons for this is that exterior house painters usually have to do a lot more prep work and work in a much wider space than they do for interior jobs. This means that they need to have more tools and equipment. For instance, scaffolding is a must for a 2-story home.

But if you plan to paint your own home, the most important tool that you will need for your exterior painting job is an all-purpose paint roller and/or a good quality paint sprayer. An ordinary paint roller will not be able to handle the task because it does not have the power to apply a thick enough coat of paint on the exterior walls. 

Before you begin the project you will first need to do a thorough cleaning of all exterior walls. Power washing them would be ideal. Then you have to scrape off all loose paint material, repair any holes, dings, or other structural issues such as dry rot, or wood rot, mold, and fungi that may be present.

Once this work is done you will need to commence with masking off all windows, and other areas that are not to be painted. You should also buy a tarp or drop cloth in order to protect yourself and plants near the house from any splatters or accidents that may occur during the painting process. Another thing that you should do is to wear latex gloves as they are specially made for this purpose.

The next step in the paint job requires trimming. In order to achieve the best possible paint job, you should trim the wood siding. If the siding is well-painted and does not have any scratches or dents, you will have no trouble applying a single coat of paint. However, if you notice that there are some dark or smudges on the siding, trimming it will be necessary. In case your trim is badly damaged, you may have to replace the entire piece.

After trimming is completed, the next task would be painting the exterior walls. We always recommend that you start with a primer coat. The primer will hide blemishes and nicely adhere to the wall. Primer is especially important if you are changing from a darker to a lighter color. Be sure that the primer has completely dried before you begin applying the first coat of paint. One way to know that it is fully dried is by using a smoke point detector. If the detector indicates that it is completely dry, then you can proceed with the exterior painting. 

We also recommend that you purchase a good-quality paint sprayer that has the power to work with either water-based paints or oil-based paints. This is important because water-based paints tend to dry faster than oil-based ones. 

The paint should be applied evenly with the help of a roller or brush by allowing sufficient drying time between coats. 

One of the most important things that you need to keep in mind when you are painting the exterior walls of your house is to paint when there is no rain in the forecast and the temperatures are above 40 degrees F. 

There are two main techniques that you can employ for painting the exteriors of your house: roll-on spray-painting. We always do both, especially with stucco finishes because it allows us to get even coverage for all the nooks and crannies in the stucco. 

Do it Yourself or Hire a Painting Contractor

Unless of course, you love to paint, have all the necessary equipment, and have no problem sacrificing a few weekends to get the job done painting yourself is an option.  If you are like most people, you probably rather spend your free time doing something that you love. If that is the case, Universal Painting Contractors, Inc. located in Fairfield and serving all communities within a 25-mile radius can get your house painted in a few days or less and will make it look like a million bucks. Just give them a call.

What are the 2021 Exterior Paint Color Trends?

What Are the 2021 Exterior Paint Color Trends?

Thinking of painting the exterior of your home but the idea of choosing the right paint color has you immobilized? We understand! There are thousands of paint colors to choose from and picking the one can be daunting. Take a deep breath and read on...

Let’s take a look and see what colors best suit your home in the San Francisco Bay area.

1) Warm, Creamy Whites

Why not pure white? Pure white will emit a harsh glare of light in the sunlight whereas a warmer shade of white will not. Off-white colors will make your home pop, especially with darker trim colors. Sea Pearl and Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore are the best places to start. Swiss coffee is a bit on the bright side, but these two options will transform your exterior beautifully. 

2) Beige

The past few years saw most homeowners shunning beige because the market was flooded with quite a few shades that tended to turn into yellow. Thankfully, that undesirable trait is a thing of the past. 2021 has seen more people opt for a warm beige tone that maintains its color and blends beautifully with whatever environment you live in. Plus, if you live in an area controlled by HOA, you are practically preapproved if you pick beige.

The shade appears off white in bright sunlight and brings out the beige in its fullness when it’s a bit cloudy. You can get in on the trend with Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams or Shaker Beige by Benjamin Moore. These two are all the rage this year.

3) Greige

The trend seems to be towards warm shades of grey. Greige is the clear winner as it was in 2020, as well. Greige is grey with brown undertones, making it a perfect shade of the exteriors. You do not even need to gather up the courage to try this one out. This color is timeless, it's neither too sharp nor too light. 

Apart from Greige, Sherwin Williams has two shades of gray also very attractive for exterior painting if you like that look: Dovetail and Crushed Ice. These colors give your home the look of ambiance and peace, even from afar. You can always use a different color for your accents if you want to spice things up a little.

4) Dark Gray

Dark gray continues to have its place on the top trending colors’ list. It is a beautiful color on your home’s exterior and chosen by many. You can rest assured that it will accentuate all the features of your home. It is also perfect for dusty weather or homes located in dusty areas. 

Our top picks for dark gray would be Cyberspace by Sherwin Williams. Wrought Iron from Benjamin Moore has a bit of a blue undertone, but you will love it on your exterior walls.

5) Bronze

Seems daring, right? If you are ready to leave your regular neutral colors behind Bronze is the one for you. Bronze is a warm neutral color that up until now has mostly been used for interiors. 

If your goal is to make your home look sophisticated and welcoming without using loud colors, Bronze is the color for you. It pairs perfectly with most roof colors and does not appear bluish-white when exposed to bright light.

Look into Urban Bronze by Sherwin Williams. It was the brand’s color of the year in 2020 and with good reason. The color is slowly becoming the preferred bronze shade for most residential painting jobs. Aged Bronze from Benjamin Moore is a great color as well. We recommend pairing it with real bronze furniture on your patio or porch.

6) Pewter

It's never too late to join the trend, quite a few homeowners have caught on already. You've never heard of this color? No to worry, that's why we are including it here.

Pewter is a magnificent metallic shade of gray that gives off a bit of a blue element and is getting quite a bit of attention this year. Looks like blue is ranking highly in residential painting this year. It is darker than your typical gray yet neutral enough for anyone who wants to play it safe.

Look for options like Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore or Pewter Cast by Sherwin Williams.

They are both great shades that can be used for your entire exterior painting and would be dynamite if paired with natural wood for your accents.

7) Slate Blue

Slate Blue is a unique mixture of gray and blue to produce one of the most serene colors you have ever seen. Slate blue is a neutral color so you need not worry about your home looking too flamboyant. 

Slate blue is one of those colors that are affected by light. It may appear different in sunny and cloudy scenarios. Factor this in as you consider your perfect color so that your exterior looks good despite the time or weather.

8) Navy Blue

Navy blue is not one of those colors you just pick and go. There are tens of shades with some appearing bluer than others. Do not be surprised if you stumble upon a navy blue that looks more like royal blue.

We usually suggest neutral shades of blue to all homeowners looking to painting their home’s exterior. Your home will certainly not stick out like a sore thumb in your neighborhood and you can still maintain the elegance that comes with a navy-blue coat.

Look at Admirable Blue from Sherwin Williams. It is a splendid neutral navy blue that is guaranteed to complete your home’s appearance. You can also check out the Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.

These two are the perfect exterior coat for a bungalow on the sunny beach or a midcentury home with a modern touch. You can go all out and have your entire home painted navy blue or go with some warm colors to highlight your accents.

9) Earthy Green

Greens are making a big come-back this year but are not a color for the faint at heart. Although some people may be excited about trying it out, you do not want to make a mistake that could cost you both time and money.

That is why we recommend that you consult with a color consultant or avail yourself of a virtual color consultation many of the major paint manufacturers offer. This is your go-to designer if you need to see how a certain addition will look in contrast to your house. They can create for you a realistic representation of how your home exterior will look with a green coat of paint.

Green Earth from Sherwin Williams and Saybrook Sage from Benjamin Moore are wonderful shades of earthy green and a great place to start.

Special Tips:

How do you avoid a painting job done only to realize that it does not look as you intended? The answer is simple: sample and the sample some more. Instead of using a random board to check out the tone of your colors, you can test them directly on your wall. This way, you have a clear picture of how dark or light your paint color is and how it actually looks on your wall. 

Wood

The trend is moving towards natural colors and textures and wood is the best way to attain a complete look. Some wood stain or actual wood fittings in your home’s exterior are guaranteed to give your home a complete makeover. Feel free to go full board or add a few touches here and there. There is no such thing as too much wood.

Don't Forget Your Front Door

What better way to let your personality shine through your home décor than to get yourself a colorful front door? Most homeowners repaint their interior and exterior and forget to do anything about their doors. Surprise, no house rule says that your door should remain in its original color. Besides, it’s one of the first things guests and passersby can see from the curb.

Let Us Handle Your Exterior Painting Project

Universal Painting Contractors, Inc. is your number one local provider in or near Fairfield, CA. Why hire an amateur contractor when you can get affordable expert services from us? We are licensed and insured so if any mishaps occur, you can rest assured that they will be taken care of at no extra cost to you. Our color consultant will walk you through all the trending colors and help you choose the perfect one for your home. Visit our website for more about our services or give us a call today!

Best Interior Painting Practices to Follow

Best Interior Painting Practice to Follow

It is astounding how much of a difference painting the interiors and exteriors can make to the look of a home. Even though painting is a simple and relatively inexpensive alternative to interior decoration, the difference can be dramatic. Here are 4 steps you can use to help you create the look of a professional home decorator by following these interior painting practices in Fairfield plus one other alternative.

1. Be sure to buy only the highest quality paints available on the market. These can be found at paint and hardware stores or online. The quality of the paint will determine the difference in the look of your home. You will want to ensure you are selecting the highest quality paints as these will last longer, provide more coverage, and be more forgiving in the long term.

2. The second thing you will want to do is to remove as much furniture and decorative items from the room you plan to paint. This will help you to move freely while painting. Items that cannot be removed should be moved to the middle of the room and covered with protective covers or plastic sheeting to avoid paint splatters from ruining them. Be sure to also protect the floor from any inadvertent paint spills or drips.  Paint drips on hardwood floors and some other types of flooring are particularly hard to remove and might even ruin the look of the floor.

3. The third thing you will want to do is to tape off all areas that are not to be painted or painted with a different type of paint or color. This includes all doors, windows, light switches, ceiling fans, etc. The type of masking tape you purchase is equally important.  We always use and recommend frog tape rather than the cheaper regular masking tape. Frog tape will seal off the edges perfectly to prevent paint seepage. This will ensure no additional corrective touch-ups are required and give you a professional-looking smooth line. Although it does cost a bit extra, it is a big time-saver. You want to do all of this before you begin, to avoid problems during painting. We always say a satisfactory outcome lies in the preparation.

4. The final thing you will want to do is to make sure you have a smooth surface and thoroughly cleaned the area prior to painting. You may need to repair dents and holes with spackle prior to painting. In this case, you will want to make sure the spackle has fully dried and sanded to assure a smooth finish. We always recommend that you take the time to fully clean any surface and start with a primer coat for the best possible outcome. This is especially important if you go from a darker color to a lighter color. To avoid any paint from not adhering to the wall be sure to thoroughly clean walls that were exposed to oil and fumes such as walls in the kitchen. Also, inspect walls for mildew and remediate such before you paint. 

By now you are probably thinking that this is a whole bunch of work, and it is. Your best alternative is to hire a painting professional in Fairfield, such as Universal Painting Contractors, Inc. Apart from their expertise and know-how you avail yourself of a crew comprised of a well-oiled machinery of experts that will get your rooms repainted and looking great in a day whereas it might take you a week for the job. If you value your time, or not a handyman or woman by nature, outsourcing the job is definitely the way to go.

Indoor and Outdoor Painting Tips

House painting is an important task that needs to be done in order to beautify the house. A professional house painter is a tradesman who is also called a painting contractor or decorator, that paints the interior and exterior of houses or commercial properties. The main purpose of painting is basically to enhance the look of the property and to safeguard it against damage by natural elements, water, mold, and pests. There are painting contractors that prefer to work on commercial properties and others that prefer to work on residential houses.

Before hiring a painting professional, it is important to know how to properly hire one. It is best to hire the services of a professional painter who is experienced and well-equipped with the necessary tools to paint the property in the desired manner. To ensure a successful venture, a painting professional should have proper knowledge of the various coatings systems to be used on site. There are different types of coatings and systems like latex, gloss, masonry, vinyl, and paint with different finishes.

Latex paint is the most common type used for painting a house. It is the cheapest among all the other house painting materials. However, latex epoxy and top coatings are more expensive than latex paints. Top coatings are made up of thicker layers of resins while latex uses only the outermost layer of resins during the process of exterior painting.

A house painting professional should use top quality latex paints if he/she wants to achieve the best results. A latex coating does not allow rain, moisture, and mildew to penetrate into the walls. Moreover, it does not allow dust and wind to enter the house. It is a perfect choice for newly constructed homes. But, in the case of older houses, it should be avoided as it may give poor results.

If you want a good wall cover, then gloss is the top choice. Gloss is the best choice for areas where moisture is present such as bathrooms and kitchens. It provides a smooth, glossy surface that is easy to clean and is long-lasting. However, it can get damaged easily by ultraviolet rays, heat, extreme cold, and chemicals.

One of the most common problems associated with the house painting project is drywall damage. Drywall damage occurs due to water seepage into the wall. In this process, excess water is carried out away from the house and eventually evaporates leaving the dried-out areas. However, a good house painting professional has the skills and equipment to remove drywall damage and ensure a smooth surface.

In the case of siding, it is recommended to use a paint that is formulated for siding. These paints are specially designed for siding and provide a rich finish and long-lasting protection. Before hiring a painting contractor, make sure you are aware of his previous track record and ask him to paint your house in a way that will best fit your requirements. Moreover, before finalizing the contract, discuss with him various aspects of the job so that there is no misunderstanding.

If you are planning to paint the exterior of your home or commercial property, be sure to evaluate all surfaces first and make the necessary repairs before you repaint. It is always good to first power wash all surfaces and protect the areas with paper or plastic that should not be painted such as windows. To ensure that the paint gets applied properly, you can hire a house painter who has expertise in this field. But if you insist on painting yourself, make sure you apply at least 2 coats of paint.

If you have painted your house doors and interior walls, painting the outside walls will be a different story. This is because painting the outside walls involves a different set of techniques and tools. You can either hire a professional painter or use available DIY tools and products that can help you remove flaky paint and repair damaged surfaces. 

If you are planning to repaint the inside of your house, you will have to take some extra precautions here as well. Before you start, it is important to prepare all surfaces to ensure a smooth finish when you apply house paints. The best way to do this is to make use of a primer. Primer helps seal the surfaces and hide blemishes and darker paints.  

Universal Painting Contractors, Inc. has helped businesses and homeowners with their interior and exterior painting needs since 1984. Our crew of painting professionals knows every trick in the book to make your property sparkle, starting with color consultation and wall remediation if necessary.

We strive for perfection which is why we have hundreds of satisfied customers that not only refer us but keep coming back when the need arises.  If you are in need of any painting work done, just give us a call for a free estimate.  We would love to hear from you.

Universal Painting Contractors, Inc.

Fairfield, CA 94534

(707) 427-0445

Painting Interior Doors - Tips For Success

Painting interior doors can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. Sometimes we take for granted how important interior design and painting can be. We take our eyes off these important details when we walk through doorways. It is not only as good as looking great is to feel great as well. In fact, painting your interior doors can give your home a whole new look and feel.

Over time, your doors will show signs of wear and tear at those frequently touched areas. That is unavoidable and some touch-ups are in order. You can just paint over the worn areas or use this opportunity to brighten up your home by bringing more color into your space. Whatever your goal, you're painting interior doors, so here is a simple guide to follow for the best results. 

Touching-Up the Interior Doors

Ideally, you still have some paint left of the original color. If not, this could be difficult since matching colors can be tricky. However, many of the larger paint companies — including Behr and Sherwin-Williams - offer mobile apps to make color matching easy. Each app works differently but the outcome is the same. You can download the app to your smartphone, take a photo of your door in good lighting (in natural light for best results) and upload the picture to the app. Voila, you will get the manufacturer's closest match.  Additionally, you will be able to also preview recommended accent colors to help you design the perfect color combinations from the comfort of your home. I always recommend that you test the color in an inconspicuous location, just to be sure. 

If you cannot find the perfect match you will need to repaint the whole door. Once you have the right paint to be able to do a touch-up, lightly sand the afflicted area and wash with water to remove all particles. Once the surface is dry you can do your touch-up using a sponge brush or a roller. If you are needing to repaint the whole door, again, lightly sand the entire surface, wash with water, and once dry, use a roller or high-quality paintbrush for best results.

Spice It Up: Choose a Complementary Color For Your Trim

If you are tired of white or off-white which was the standard for so many years you may want to add a touch of color by painting the trim with a different color. There are many methods you can use to tint your interior doors. You can purchase a color tint kit at your local home supply store, or purchase the ready-mixed color. Alternatively, you can create your own color combination by using inexpensive bronzers. These inexpensive products can be found in craft stores and even department stores.

Another way to create a contrasting color on your interior doors is to paint one side of the room a bright, contrasting color and the other a more dark, neutral tone. For example, if you are working on a kitchen that has light coloring, such as cream, you could paint the door or trim a darker color facing the kitchen, and use a different color facing the other room. Adding a contrast like this will help make your room look unique.

Here is How You Do It

Depending on the condition your doors are in you may want to use a primer. A primer is used to make the wood smooth and free of bumps and grain patterns. Primer comes in spray cans and liquid or canisters depending on the type of paint you are going to use. If you are going to use a liquid primer, you should allow it to dry thoroughly between coats. Once you have primed and prepared the interior door, you will want to select a paintbrush to paint on the color you have selected. If possible, choose a roller or brush that will give you good coverage. Paint using smooth strokes and do not overload the roller or brush. Be sure to let the paint dry completely dry. When you have the door completely dry, you can apply a coat of stain and finish. 

Following these simple steps will give your doors and trim a beautiful makeover and a new lease on life.  However, if painting doors is not what you want to spend your free time on, give us a call for a quote. Not only will we transform your doors but we can also assist you with color selection.

Estimating the Cost to Paint Interior of House

There is no better way to keep the interiors and exteriors of your house looking good and know the costs involved is a good start. Though there are many people who claim that they can get the same results by painting their doors and interiors themselves, what they fail to understand is that a lot of time and money is involved in doing so. In fact, it is not an easy thing to undertake such a project on your own. However, before you begin with anything, you should get all the relevant information about the process of painting, the average cost to paint walls, how to prepare the walls, and the other items required for the task.

The average cost to (re)paint the walls of your home depends on several factors such as square footage and type of paint. If you want to paint a bathroom and a master bathroom separately, you need to figure out the amount of paint that needs to be used for each area. Some painters work with only small areas, while others are capable of handling large areas within a single day. If you are working on a large area, then the cost to paint will automatically go up.

One of the main things that you need to consider when determining the cost to (re)paint the interior walls of your house is the type of paint that you choose. When we talk about different types of paints, the most common ones include latex, oil-based and water-based paints. These are the most popular in the market today, but you also have a number of options if you want to paint your walls differently. For example, you can choose to paint the entire walls or just a section or two, you can paint the walls in a variety of colors or you can even use stencils to customize the look of the walls.

You should also consider the extent of the wall damage before deciding on the paint to use. If you have repaired the damaged section, then you can easily get the same result by using the same color of the paint. On the other hand, if you are not yet ready to repair the damaged area, then you can opt for a different type of paint. For example, if your damaged section of the wall has cracks, then you can go for a more durable material to serve as an interim solution. You can use vinyl or rubber paints to cover the cracks until you get the results you want.

You will also need to determine the average cost of labor to paint. The average labor cost to paint the interior or exterior walls of a house varies greatly, and is depending on your location. For this reason, you should make your calculations carefully so as to get accurate figures. For instance, if you are dealing with a house with three rooms, then the average labor cost to paint it might be approximately ten dollars per square foot. However, this figure might vary depending upon the complexity of the project. 

The next thing that you need to consider is the extent of the job that will need to be performed. For instance, if you are just repainting a single room, then the cost to paint it might be less than one thousand dollars. However, if you are going to repaint the entire house obviously it will be much more. Therefore, you need to consider the extent of the project that you will be undertaking before taking up any home painting project. In addition to this, if you will hire a contractor to do the job, then you need to factor in the cost of basic tools and equipment required for the task. Thus, you can estimate the cost of the project before hiring a contractor or doing your own research.

It is always a good idea to hire a professional painter to get the best possible results. One such painter is Universal Painting Contractors, Inc. that has been in business for many years. You can reach them here:

Universal Painting Contractors, Inc.
3230 Cherry Valley Rd.
Fairfield, CA 945934
(707) 427-0445

Things You Ought to Know About Paint

What You Ought to Know About Paint

Most of us have a concept of what paint is. Yet what is it really? Paint is a combination of a pigment, a binder, and also a filler. Paints have been applied for thousands of years and are used for wall surfaces, trims, furnishings, attractive art to automobiles, just to name a few. They are made of many different sorts of pigments such as ultramarine blue, dark blue, deep emerald green, sky blue, walnut brown, and orange. Usually water-based as well as must be combined with a carrier oil. Other ingredients may include binders such as silicone as well as mica to give a much more flexible consistency and also environmental defense or extra sturdiness.

Inside paints are developed for slip resistance, stain-resistance, and also usually to be pleasant to look at. Most interior wall paints are typically water-based so they usually don't require much time to dry after they are applied.

There are 2 main types of indoor paint: Latex and also oil-based paint. Latex is a water-based paint made from acrylic resin. You can find Latex paint in varying degrees of sheen to suit your style. Latex paint is generally used for indoor wall surfaces that are exposed to moisture, grease, and also heavy traffic. Oil-based paint is made with either alkyd (synthetic) or linseed oils and is cleanable, and much more long-lasting. They take longer to dry. Oil-based paint benefits kitchens and bathrooms, in addition, to trim work due to the fact that these areas take more abuse with time than do wall surfaces.

The majority of indoor wall surfaces are either painted with a mineral-based acrylic (Latex) finish or oil-based oil paint. Both of these types of paints are very durable as well as simple to maintain. Commonly, property owners protect interior wall and floor surface areas with paint or varnish to protect them from dirt and also to protect from moisture and make them look good.

Interior paint coatings are not finished without a primer coat. Primer assists to offer the paint a smooth and also consistent appearance throughout and sticking to bare wood as well as steel. The primer might require to be applied to bare steels in areas where an oil-based or water-based paint finish can not be made use of, such as around electrical outlets and in high traffic areas like hallways. The paint application might need to be duplicated a couple of times to obtain a smooth as well as even finish.

Various other interior paint surfaces include gloss and also semi-gloss. Semi-gloss coatings are much more subtle and also give the surfaces an all-natural appearance. Gloss coatings have a traditional sheen that gives your trims a finished appearance. When choosing between a gloss or semi-gloss coating, it is very important to think about exactly how simple it will be to wash.

A specialist paint service provider has the experience to assist you with your paint and color choices. One such service provider is Universal Painting Contractors, Inc. based in Fairfield, CA, and also serving all bordering areas within a 25-mile distance. You can them for a quote at (707) 427-0445 if you value turn-key solutions.