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 

Our experts get asked this question a lot.

A paint job is only as good as the steps you took to prepare for it. Thorough and proper paint preparation is the key to a professional-looking paint job that will last.

What we’re saying is that before you do anything else, you need to make sure you're intended surfaces are prepared correctly to ensure a beautiful, long-lasting finish. We’ve seen many attempts at painting that were performed with very little or no paint preparation at all and the results were disappointing.

We’ve heard it said that once you apply a coat of paint onto a surface, it's like a magnifying glass was put over it. That statement is very accurate. The smallest imperfections and mistakes, dirt, grime, whatever, come shining out at you like a spotlight! Careless paint preparation can result in a dirty surface, and peeling or bubbling paint.

Things a good contractor should do in order to ensure your area is ready for a proper prep and paint job include:

• Clear intended work space of furniture, and other stuff
• Remove all wall (receptacle) and switch plates, and any hardware
• Scrape/Sand peeling paint and dirt spots on surfaces
• Fill and caulk all holes and small cracks
• Thorough cleaning (basic paint preparation!)
• Tape off surface areas you don't want paint on
• Prime any newly repaired surface (especially new drywall or bare wood)

Without preparation like pressure cleaning, scraping, sanding to a tightly adherent feathered edge, etc…. no matter how expensive the paint is, it is not going to last!

We know proper paint preparation is not fun. It’s dirty, and it can be time consuming.  Let us do it for you!

Give Custom Coatings a call at 828-482-0618 when you’re ready for your next paint project. Our trained paint professionals know all the right steps to take in order to ensure the finest quality and longest lasting paint job possible.  We’ll be happy to provide you with a free estimate and set up a time to complete your project.

This question is one of the most commonly asked questions our Custom Coatings experts are asked when we are talking to homeowners about their projects.

Typically, we tell our customers that a well-planned, well thought-out exterior paint job with the right preparation work and a premium acrylic paint should last 8 to 10 years. This is not to say that your paint job will still look brand new in that time, but it should surely last.

Exterior exposures play a large part in determining how long paint will last. The sunny sides of the house will tend to start to deteriorate first, before the sides which may see more shade or be sheltered by trees.

Darker colors will also tend to start to fade faster than lighter colors, so this is another very important consideration when you start thinking about your home painting project.

This is why we encourage our customers to choose the right quality of paint the first time. Many people think that they can save money by choosing a lower grade of paint, but in reality, that paint will not last as long and you will have to repaint your house more times over the life of the house.

That will end up costing you more than if you use a higher quality of paint that lets you wait longer between paint jobs. At Custom Coatings, our experts have decades of experience in understanding the difference between paint manufactures, the types of paint that are available, and how to make sure they match the quality of paint to the application it is being used for.

85 percent of our business is repeat business. We take pride in that. Our customers routinely refer us to the family, friends, and neighbors when the opportunity arises.

Just call us at 828-482-0168 and let us provide you with a free estimate on your next project.

If you knew you needed a heart operation, would you trust that project to an inexperienced physician who is on a break from Med School?  We would guess that your answer would be no. 

You shouldn’t trust something as expensive as your house to an inexperienced contractor either.  Let’s face it; any type of home improvement project is going to come with a price tag.  Shouldn’t you be concerned with the type of quality and skill that you’re getting for that price? 

At Custom Coatings, our experts have decades of not just experience, but certified success. 85 percent of our business is repeat business.  We take pride in that.  Our customers routinely refer us to the family, friends, and neighbors when the opportunity arises.

It is very important for a contractor to listen and understand the needs and wants of his clients. Your contractor should show enthusiasm for your project and suggest ideas that can make your project stand out. A good contractor can help relieve any stress or concerns you have about your project.

Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve. We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety.

Custom Coatings isn't strictly a "big box" company. We bring our expertise and passion for quality work directly to you - where you live. Whether it's a new coat of paint, wallpaper or pressure washing, put the Custom Coatings team to work at your home. We offer worry-free projects with dedicated, background checked employees who are reliable, prompt and trustworthy. Simply select your paint color and we will handle the rest.

When we start thinking about trying to tackle a major project such as repainting the interior or exterior of our building, it is easy to become overwhelmed at the potential costs involved in the project.

One of the ways that we sometimes think we can save money is by hiring a smaller contracting company with just a one or two man paint operation.  While it is true that this can often be a less expensive option, it can also leave us open to some issues of quality and even safety.

You will find that many of the one and two man paint operations are not insured, and often are not licensed.  This can leave you vulnerable to both poorly produced projects and even safety issues if accident or injury occurs on your property while that contractor is doing your job.

Our advice to you would be to do a background check on the company’s owner, and ask the right questions about licenses, insurance, and references before you sign a contract with them.

Look for a contractor who places an emphasis on customer service. Your contractor should be friendly and professional. Check his references and ask if there were any problems in getting the contractor back to fix any problems you might have had or taking care of any warranty work.

Custom Coatings is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience in commercial, industrial, and residential painting and coatings projects. Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve. We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety.

85 percent of our business is repeat business. Trust us to make you our next satisfied client!  Just call us at 828-482-0168 and let’s talk about your project!

It should be common sense that contractors doing any type of work at your home should always clean up on a daily basis, and at the completion of a project. At Custom Coatings, we take pride in the fact that our experts in the field are very mindful of the homeowner’s convenience and safety at all times during and after the completion of a project.

Look for a contractor who places an emphasis on customer service. Your contractor should be friendly and professional. Check his references and ask if there were any problems in getting the contractor back to fix any problems you might have had or taking care of any warranty work.

The contractor should try and honor any special request you might have while working on your house. If you need him to clean up the site because you are having company over for the holidays, he should be glad to accommodate you. The little things make for great customer service.

Custom Coatings is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience in commercial, industrial, and residential painting and coatings projects. Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve. We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety.

Located in Hickory, NC, you can rest assured that with Custom Coatings, you have chosen a company that has earned the trust of top commercial, industrial and property management firms throughout the Southeast. We have hundreds of very satisfied residential clients. That's why 85 percent of our business is repeat business. Trust us to make you our next satisfied client!

Just call us at 828-482-0168 and let us help you choose the right type of paint for your job.

There are many different paint manufacturers and many different types of paint.  Applying the incorrect type of paint for a particular surface can cause paint failure, and necessitate expensive repairs. 

Different paints are suitable for different applications, so for the longevity of your paint job, it is important to choose the right one:

• For external applications, use alkyd paints (this includes enamel), or latex paint. Latex dries quickly, and is moisture resistant. Alkyd paints need long drying times but are very robust when fully cured
• Gloss and high gloss paints for internal use are washable and hard, but require at least three coats. Choose gloss for doors, frames, trim, cupboards and shelving. Gloss is great for the kitchen or bathroom as it is water resistant
• Semi gloss paints include eggshell and satin finishes, and are excellent all round paints. They are relatively easy to clean, and are ideal for walls
• Matte paints are usually washable, but not as robust as the glosses. They are ideal for insides of wardrobes, hallways and other low usage areas, as they don't reflect much light

Choose the right type of paint for the application you have in mind, and don't be afraid to buy different types for different areas of the house, to suit the usage.

When you are choosing paint for your house, it is important to do so based on these practical considerations as well as aesthetic ones. The paint job will last much longer, look better and be more pleasing if you take a little time to plan what will work best before you begin. You'll be pleased you did!

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.