Colorful Insights

Do you know how dangerous lead can be to you or someone you love?  Most people know that lead is something that used to be in paint, but it is not that bad.... FAIL! Lead is serious business and it needs to be given the respect that it deserves. 

Lead chips are harmful and should never be ingested, but they aren't the serious threat like most people think. Lead dust is the real deal! To give you perspective, if one sugar packet contained lead dust instead of sugar and that dust was released it would be enough to completely contaminate a 1,500 square foot home! So if you have an average size three bedroom home and start sanding away, please make sure you don't have lead paint. Lead dust is easily transferred from clothing, to car seats, to couches, to anything... Think about coming home from a hard days job and plopping down on the sofa. If you look closely you will see all this dust float up and away..... If you had been working around lead based paint all day that could pose a serious problem. 

Lead poses the most serious threat to children under the age of six. Lead contamination has been linked to lower IQ's, learning difficulties, poor muscle coordination, hearing damage, and behavior issues. And young children are unable to get away from the lead dust that could be present in places where they lay or sit. Imagine a child strapped into a car seat - the same car seat that was strapped into the car where the parent was working around lead dust all day. Take a close look at the links below and view the case studies of a lead paint inspector from Dallas, TX. 

If you own a home that was built prior to 1978 and would like a painting consultation please let us know - Custom Coatings Inc is RRP certified and we would love to help you with your lead remediation project! 

http://networkedblogs.com/x2EdG 

By Patrick Stilwell 

Why Caulking Is Important

Caulking provides two beneficial purposes.  The first is to cosmetically enhance the appearance of a project by closing gaps and creating a smoother transition;  The second (and most important) is to provide a seal between two areas or surfaces to keep water from getting into the building or house.

Painters generally use caulking for aesthetic reasons. Uncaulked gaps between: exterior surfaces, between two surfaces, along the top of baseboards, in wood trim, along cabinets and counter-tops - will look unsightly and unprofessional. Caulking eliminates the gaps.

Water intrusion into a home or building can have devastating effects on the property. The water can rot wood, freeze inside masonry and cause defects or potentially create mildew. Caulking is just one basic step to help keep these and other problems from happening.

Like any skill, proper caulking requires practice.  Here are some helpful hints to help with your next caulking project…

-          Read the labels and buy the correct caulking for the job. When using caulking on the exterior of your home, be sure not to apply it in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

-          Buy a good caulking gun that comes with a built-in cutting tool and wire attachment for piercing the tube's inner seal.

-          Cut the tip at an angle and at the smallest opening you think you will need. Be sure to apply enough caulking to cover the entire gap properly so that the edges of the caulking can adhere to the surface and the caulk is thick enough to fill the gap. Most errors installing caulking are due to not installing a large enough bead in the gap. However, too much is not good either. It does take practice.

-          Use a damp rag, usually followed by a wipe with your finger, to smooth out the bead of caulking. Do this right away, or it will start to skin over quickly and will get lumpy and hard to work with.

How much time does it take to paint something?  Anything?  Walls, trim, ceilings, furniture, etc….  Time is probably the single most important thing to figure out when thinking of repainting something in your home.  Clients we do estimates for are often shocked at how much time it takes to properly paint something.  They think we should just slap up some paint on the walls and move on.  What we actually do and what people “think” we do are two ENTIRELY different things.  If you have ever done a little painting you know how rewarding it can be.  You also know how frustrating it can be when it does not turn out just how you envisioned.  I know that prior to working for a commercial coatings company I had NO idea how involved such a simple task could be.  I also never knew how to make a wall look good or how to make trim pop!  Painting is truly an art and the absolute biggest hurdle in getting it right is time.  If you follow a few simple rules then you too can achieve the quality results you are looking for!  You can have that “wow” factor!  Take a look at the first article in a two part series on interior painting and go paint something!  OR give Custom Coatings a call and allow us to help you out!

 http://bloggingpainters.com/2011/10/27/homeowner-tips/

Patrick Stilwell

Business Development Manager 

A house is typically the largest investment a family will ever make. So it makes since that you would want to keep your largest investment in tip top condition. One simple, but extremely important part of home maintenance is exterior painting. You can make an important statement about yourself with the design and color of your home. Most people are only concerned with how their home looks, but often don’t think about the quality of the paint they are applying. People seldom realize the importance paint plays in protecting your home against Mother Nature’s elements. Paint is your first line defense against: sun, rain, cold, heat, wind, ice, etc… Paint protects wood from rotting and windows from deteriorating. Part of a good paint job is caulking gaps and transitions that allow moisture and wind to get into your home. A good painting company can explain how important proper maintenance is to the exterior of your home. A great painting company can break down exactly what they are going to do and what they are going to apply to protect your single most important investment.

The link below is to an article on exterior painting advice. It explains steps that should be part of the painting process and the value of using quality coating material. Custom Coatings Inc is a premium painting company and we always include these steps and more in our work. Something we are extremely proud of is our quality, and with 85% of our business coming from repeat customers and referrals – we must be doing something right!    

http://bloggingpainters.com/2011/10/04/exterior-house-painting-advice/

Patrick Stilwell

People often ask our experts at Custom Coatings whether or not a written contract is necessary when hiring a contractor to do work at your home.  The answer is most definitely “yes”. 

Written contracts are very important for both sides.  Every aspect of the job should be clearly detailed, so everyone knows what is expected of them, and in what time frame.  Without a contract, both the owner and the contractor take a chance on misunderstandings, problems on the job, and maybe even a lawsuit. 

Having a written contract which details every aspect of the job is critical. Written contracts are legally binding documents that protect both the contractor and client by compelling each party to adhere to the contract’s contents.

Any and all verbal agreements between the contractor and client will not be enforceable in court in lieu of a written contract, so if it is important, make sure it is in writing!

Your contract should at least include the following details:

1. Full name, contact information, and license # (if required by state law) of the paint contractor.
2. Description of surfaces to be painted.
3. Details of paint application.
4. Description of prep work to be preformed.
5. Number of coats to be applied.
6. Materials and products to be used.
7. Description of cleanup to be preformed.
8. Project schedule.
9. Payment agreement.
10. Warranty information, if any.

In addition to the written contract, it is important that you that your contractor is fully insured, and licensed in your state.  It is also important that you work with him to choose the right materials for your project.