Then, around 1940, everything changed. Following it’s invention by Canadian Norman Breakey, the paint roller revolutionized how we paint our homes by making the process faster while also spreading the paint more evenly and avoiding brush marks.

Today, few people would choose a brush over a roller to paint an entire wall in a house.

But they have another option too. They might choose to spray paint the wall instead of rollering it.

There is an ongoing debate over whether spray painting or roller painting is best for interior or exterior painting.

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Here’s a quick comparison to get us started.

Preparation Time

Without having to set up the spray equipment, put paint in the reservoir, connect hoses and cords, etc., rollering has a much shorter preparation time. And if you include all the masking that spraying can require, it doesn’t even come close.

Application Time

All the time you saved in preparation will be lost in how much longer it takes to roll on paint. Regardless of the preparation time, you can paint a wall many times faster with a paint sprayer than with a roller.

Painting Accuracy

When spray painting interior walls you’ll need to make mask off everything you don’t want to get sprayed, like the ceiling, windows, door and floor. So rollers are more accurate, but you’ll usually need a small brush to do corners.

Spreads Paint Evenly

It’s tough to pick a winner here. Both spraying and rolling spreads paint fairly evenly, but both can run the risk of overlapping unevenly too.

Clean-Up

While it can take some doing to clean your roller brushes and equipment, it’s not nearly as bad as having to clean the spray gun, reservoir bottle, and everything else connected to the gun.

Many professional painters combine spray painting, roller painting and brush painting depending on the exact surface being painted. Starting with the brush, each method is faster than the previous one, but each method is less accurate than the previous one. That means spray painting is the fastest way to paint large areas where you don’t need so much accuracy, like an exterior wall; roller painting is good for interior walls where you need to avoid getting paint on other surfaces; and brushes help you do the detail work.

If you want to learn more about how spray painting can help your next project go faster and look better, visit the the full-service Spray Centre at our Dixie Rd. and Eglinton Ave. location. You’ll find complete lines of paint sprayers and equipment, from the leading manufacturers, including Titan, Graco and Lemmer, that you can buy or rent. Seminars are regularly scheduled to show you how to spray paint like a pro. And, best of all, our specialized spray paint technicians are available to answer all your questions and help you find the right equipment for your needs. Call or visit the Spray Centre today.

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The post Should You Spray or Should You Roll? appeared first on The Paint People.

But who wants to rip out all that paneling, and replace it with drywall?

You’re in luck. There are a number of ways to make wood paneling look cool again, and none of them involve anywhere near the work of replacing the panels.

4 Wood Paneling Painting Tips

Just Paint Them

With the trend towards bolder and brighter paint colours, like Benjamin Moore’s Rocky Mountain Sky, you can use them to to give your panelling a mod makeover.

Lightly sand the finish of the paneling and cover it well with primer before applying the topcoat. But, after that, those old panel grooves will be groovy again with a fresh new colour.

If you want to get even groovier, paint the grooves in a contrasting colour for a pinstripe effect.

Whitewash the Panels

Distressed wood is all the rage in paneling and flooring. You can get the same look by whitewashing your panels. Again, a light sanding will help the paint adhere.
Dilute white latex paint with water, and oil-based paint with turpentine. Use a 2 to 1 ratio of paint to water for thicker coverage, and reverse the ratio for a thinner application.
Brush on your paint and immediately wipe it down until you get the desired colour and look.

Get Rid of the Grooves

Use drywall compound to fill in the groove pattern on the panelling. When you’re done, sand everything and paint the wall. It’ll look like you actually did replace the paneling with drywall.

Wallpaper the Panels

You can apply paintable wallpaper to the panels. Choose flat, untextured paper, or go for one of a variety of patterns for even more new looks.

You can make almost any surface in your home look like new again with a good paint job. Please call or visit us at The Paint People to learn more.

The post 4 Ways to Paint Old Wood Paneling & Make it Cool Again appeared first on The Paint People.

Founded by former Microsoft executives, Zillow is a U.S.-based real estate website that recently announced it will start posting Canadian homes on the site. Earlier this year, Zillow released their 2018 Paint Colour Analysis that showed using the right paint colours in your home can boost its resale value significantly.

The analysis looked at the sale of over 135,000 homes in the Zillow database to compare how homes with certain paint colours compared to similar homes painted in white.

Paint The Front Door this Colour for a $6,000 ROI

The Zillow analysis found that homes with a black or charcoal grey front door sold for an average of $6,271 (US) more than those with white doors. Yes, the Zillow colour analysis is based on homes in the U.S., but we’re all susceptible to the influences of paint colour.

Even if you reduce the average increase in value by 50%, it means for a paint project that you can do for less than $100, you could get a boost of $3,000 in the sale of your house. That’s a 1,000% return!

Choose the Right Paint Colours for Other Rooms in your home to Add Even More Value

The Zillow analysis also found that ‘tuxedo’ kitchen paint schemes, those where the overhead and under-counter cabinets are painted two contrasting colours, added an average of $1,547 (US) to resale values. And homes with neutral paint colours throughout, like light blue and taupe, also sold for more than their white-walled counterparts.

For more advice on choosing the right paint colour for your front door, or any other part of your home, call or visit your nearest The Paint People location.

The post Paint the Front Door This Colour to Add Home Value appeared first on The Paint People.

Just in case you’re looking for something to do outside this summer, it’s a great time to paint your home’s exterior.

What?! Who paints the outside of their house anymore?

While it may not be as common as it used to be, painting even your durable vinyl or metal siding can be one of the fastest ways to increase the curb appeal of your home.

The Four Different Surfaces You Might Need to Paint Outside Your House

While it’s a great way to update the look of your house, painting your home can mean having to paint at least four different surfaces. And that means four different painting processes.

Here are the different surfaces you might need to paint on your house and some of what you’ll need to keep in mind.

1. Wood

The older your home, the more wood it is likely to have. Wood is the most ‘high-maintenance’ surface you’ll need to paint outside your home. First, it must be painted at least every 10 years or so to help preserve it. Second, you will need to strip and sand any peeling or bubbling paint before applying any new coats. And there’ll be more peeling and bubbling than you think.

2. Aluminum

Still a popular siding material, there’s one very important thing to remember when painting aluminum: use an oil-based primer. Latex paint has a slight reaction with aluminum, which can result in bubbling and premature cracking and peeling.

3. Vinyl

Perhaps the most popular material for siding due to its relatively low cost and high durability, vinyl is also one of the easiest to paint. If you clean it as best you can, you’re off to a great start. And you don’t need a primer coat. The main ‘characteristic’ of vinyl that can be frustrating to paint is it’s patterns and textures, like those on a garage door. They can make painting with a brush or roller more difficult than usual, so consider spray painting textured vinyl surfaces.

4. Brick

It’s surprising how many older homes you see with painted brick exteriors. But its uneven surfaces make it a tougher paint job and residential brick was never made to be painted. So not only is it not an easy task, but the paint’s lifespan is relatively short. It usually needs to be repainted more often than wood.

We’re not trying to scare anyone away from painting the outside of the house, but it can be a big project. Preparation is key, and knowing the characteristics of every different surface you’ll need to paint is key to preparation.

The post Get Ready for These 4 Surfaces When Painting Your Home’s Exterior appeared first on The Paint People.

Embrace Your Inner Style.

The front door is a key focal point of your home, so let your personality shine. “It’s less about the architectural style of the house and more about making a personal statement about your style,” explains Grech. “Like a tie for a man’s suit, your front door can be daring, modern, traditional or classic. Really just have fun with it and make it a reflection of how you want to project your home’s personality.”

Choose a Fabulous Colour.

AF-225 Firenze

“Since it’s a relatively small area compared to the rest of the house, you can afford to take risks and try new colours,” recommends Grech. “An interesting trend I’m spotting on front doors is using a pastel colour, like pink, coral or pale blue. This works especially well with a home clad in white or a pale neutral. Coral Spice 2170-40 and Venetian Sky are two of my favourites.” Just remember that dark coloured brick or stone can overwhelm a pale door. For darker coloured homes, choose bold shades. Grech recommends Benjamin Moore Aura Grand Entrance, which is easy to apply and specifically formulated to retain colour integrity and gloss on exterior doors. Let there be light. When selecting a front door colour, it is important to consider natural light. North-facing homes tend to attract cool light, and Grech recommends counter balancing this with warmer colours like Firenze AF-225.

AF-505 Blue Echo

Conversely, for south-facing homes, the light will likely be warm and intense around noon and a mid-tone, such as Blue Echo AF-505, will look great throughout the day. Always view colour selections outside, to see the true effect of exterior lighting. This will help ensure your paint looks fresh throughout the day and rich in the evening.

Whether you decide to be bold with dark colours or prefer lighter hues, Grech suggests earthy tones tend to work well since they are so compatible with the natural elements of the great outdoors.

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And that’s both a good and bad thing.

There are two reasons that house exteriors don’t see a fresh coat of paint as often as before. First, there are far fewer wooden homes and wooden elements on homes than there used to be. Wood needs painting regularly because of its natural moisture absorption, and expansion and contraction, eventually causes paint to bubble, crack and peel.

The second reason is the popularity of vinyl siding, which not only lasts for a very long time, but it keeps looking good throughout that lifespan. So there’s never any cracking and peeling to cover up.

That’s the ‘good’ part about the lack of exterior painting. Vinyl siding, and even the vinyl of your garage doors, is virtually maintenance-free – you don’t have to go through the chore of painting.

So what’s the bad pat about the lack of exterior painting?

Well, it’s not really ‘bad’. Let’s just say that, if you take a look around your neighbourhood, you’ll probably see a lot of white, or beige, or grey siding and garage doors. In other words, lots of shades of gray and brown.

It’s a smart choice. Vinyl siding manufacturers and homebuilders know that homeowners want neutral colours to protect the value of their homes. Buyers are less likely to choose a home with unusually bold exterior colors.

But that’s no reason for you to settle only for the colours of the siding on your home. It might not need to be painted because it’s cracked or worn, but you can paint it to update the look of your home and increase its curb appeal.

When you do, you might just make it more appealing than the houses around you that are still clad in the usual colours.

Take a look at this article, ’10 Gorgeous Paint Colors for Your Home’ that shows how you can use blues and greens and yellows and many other colours to help give your home a whole new look, without being too ‘bold’, and maybe even increase the value of your home.

The post Why Don’t We Paint the Outside of Our Houses Anymore? appeared first on The Paint People.

First, we don’t want you be the victim to paint contractors who, as their business slows down from the busy summer, try to fill the gap with quick jobs in the fall. Some may come to your door offering cut-rate pricing in an effort to squeeze in a few more contracts before the snow flies.

It seems to make sense. The weather is good enough to be working outside and you might be tempted to take the opportunity to refresh the look of your home with a paint job at a great price.

The Science Behind Why You Shouldn’t Paint Outside in the Fall

It can be a costly mistake if you take one of those tempting offers and paint the outside of your home after October 1. If you do, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to repaint within just a few years. And here’s why:

As you know, there are two ‘vehicles’ for exterior paint, latex and oil. After you apply the paint, the vehicle dries up leaving only the paint colour. The other thing that happens after you paint is the chemical reaction within the paint that bonds it to the surface beneath.

Both the drying and bonding processes won’t happen properly if temperatures are too low. The instructions on most cans of exterior paint will tell you not to apply the paint in temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.

But there are lots of days after Oct. 1 that are above 10 degrees, right? While that’s true, especially during the mild fall we’re having here in Toronto and the GTA this year, the temperatures you get from weather reports are daily highs. Even during this warm autumn, many night-time lows have been below 10 degrees. And temperatures are generally lower in suburban and rural areas.

There is a good chance that the paint you apply on your home at temperatures above 10 degrees will not fully dry before the temperatures fall below 10 degrees. While some bonding will take place, the process will be interrupted by the lower temperatures.

The Result? Your paint will not be fully bonded to the surface below after it dries and, after two or three years, it will start to lift off the base, crack and peel. And you’ll need to paint again.

So even though it seems like a good time to paint your home, it isn’t. Keep your money and get a professional paint job in the spring of summer of 2017.

The post Why You Shouldn’t Paint Your Home’s Exterior in the Fall appeared first on The Paint People.

Not only will your home be better protected by a new coat of paint, it will look great too, which adds to its curb appeal when it comes time to sell.

5 Tips for Exterior Painting

Here are a few ways to make sure you get the best results from painting the outside of your home:

1. Safety First

You’ll probably need to get up on a ladder at some point during the project, so remember to do so safely. Make sure the ladder leans well into the wall and tie it off whenever possible. Even when it is tied, don’t lean too far to one side or another when working on the ladder.

2. Surface Preparation

As with any paint project, the better the surface preparation, the better the final finish. You’ll need to scrape, brush and/or power-wash all surfaces to get rid of dirt, chalky residue and grime. You can paint over old paint surfaces as long as they are properly adhered to the surface below. Fill in any holes with exterior-grade putty and sand it after curing to make sure all surfaces are level.

3. Use the Best materials Possible

Exterior paint is subject to wide ranging temperatures and weather, so its pays to buy quality paint. Exterior surfaces can be rougher on brushes and rollers too.

4. Paint From the Top Down

Look for the highest point on your home that needs painting. That’s where to start – and then work your way down.

5. Choose the Right Times

Direct sunlight, wind and cooler temperatures are the enemy of a good exterior paint job. The sunlight will dry the paint too quickly, which will make it difficult or impossible for you to apply it evenly. Wind carries dust and debris that sticks to wet paint. And many paints don’t work well in temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.

Bonus Tip: Talk to the people at your local paint store. They’ve done it before and they will be able to offer more valuable painting tips and information that may be particular to your neighbourhood and location.

The post How to Paint Your Home’s Exterior Like a Pro appeared first on The Paint People.