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.

Instead, do the customer a favour and point out that they can paint vinyl siding for a fraction of the cost of repairing or replacing the siding.

The Best Way to Paint Vinyl Siding

In addition to saving the customer money, painting their siding offers a number of other advantages, including protecting the siding and increasing their home’s curb appeal. By using the following steps on your next siding paint job, you’ll end up with a job well done and a happy customer.

1. Thoroughly Clean the Siding – You know the importance of adhesion. And the years of dirt and grime on the siding doesn’t help. To clean the vinyl siding, you can hand scrub or use a pressure washer with a vinyl-safe cleaning solution.
   
2. Apply a Primer Coat – In addition to that adhesion thing, the siding may have pitted or porous areas that a primer will help to fill.
   
3. Pick Your Paint – Of course, your customer will choose a paint color, but here’s what to offer them. Exterior paints designed for use on vinyl is a must due to the expansion and contraction that vinyl goes through. Latex paints will make cleaning up faster and easier. Benjamin Moore paints’ Aura Exterior, Regal Select Exterior and ben Exterior are quality paints that are durable, resist mildew growth and, perhaps best of all, can be applied in temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius, which can help extend your outdoor painting season. Darker colors will help hide the old finish better in fewer coats.
   
4. Get the Job Done – With a clean surface and the right paints, now it’s up to you to put your professional skills to work!

If you liked this post, check out our recent article on the Benjamin Moore 2019 colour trends we’re most excited about.

The post 4 Steps to Paint Vinyl Siding appeared first on The Paint People.

You and your guests can spot an Ikea kitchen miles away.  

How to Just Love Your Ikea Kitchen

Fortunately, there are hacks for your Ikea kitchen that let you eliminate the hate list and create a customized look. Whether you have a small kitchen or a space big enough for a kitchen island, these ideas will make it look like you hired an interior designer instead of shopping at Ikea.

Ikea Hacks for Your Kitchen

You can take your Ikea kitchen customization to whatever level you want. But the following hacks are all easily doable and relatively affordable.

1. Reface the Cabinets: if there’s one sure sign of an Ikea kitchen, it is the whiteness. But you can say goodbye to all that by refacing the cabinets. The most DIY way to do that is to pick your favourite Benjamin Moore paint colour and simply paint the cabinets. Or you can kick it up a notch with professional cabinet refacing.
   
2. Swap the Countertop: while Ikea gives you options for your counter space, they might still say ‘Ikea’. But a look around the internet or local counter specialists can reveal some bargains that may just fit even a small space. Whether you prefer a granite or marble top, it will definitely do the trick.
   
3. Get Creative with the Knobs and Handles – They may be one of the smallest elements of the overall kitchen. But you’ll be amazed at the difference that custom knobs and pulls will make. Again, you can find a great variety of pulls and handles at a hardware store, or you can get a little more eclectic by shopping at antique stores or collectors’ websites.

Need some color inspiration for your next IKEA hack project? Check out Benjamin Moore’s new 2019 colour of the year and prepare to swoon.

The post 3 Amazing Ikea Hacks For Your Kitchen appeared first on The Paint People.

metropolitan (me-truh-pol-i-tn) adj. 1. of, noting, or characteristic of a metropolis or its inhabitants, especially in culture, sophistication, or in accepting and combining a wide variety of people, ideas, etc. (dictionary.com)

A light, silver grey, the choice of Metropolitan AF-690 is a marked change in direction for Benjamin Moore’s Colours of the Year over the past two years.

2017’s Shadow 2117-30 was variously described as ‘bold’. ‘moody’, ‘saturated’ and ‘striking’. And the name says it all for 2018’s Caliente AF-290. This red-hot chili pepper of a shade was called a ‘game changing’ colour of the year.

In stark contrast to Shadow and Caliente, Benjamin Moore describes Metropolitan this way:

“Calm, composed and effortlessly sophisticated, Metropolitan AF-690, exudes glamour, beauty and balance.”

Metropolitan is Very, Well, Metropolitan

It’s quite telling that the word ‘sophisticated/sophistication’ appears in both the dictionary definition of ‘metropolitan’ and Benjamin Moore’s description of Metropolitan AF-690.

Where Shadow and Caliente were statements all on their own, Metropolitan has the sophistication to work harmoniously with a wide variety of decors, styles, textures, and colours. And to let others have the spotlight while it sits elegantly in the background.

As Ellen O’Neill of Benjamin Moore puts it, “Metropolitan AF-690 emanates nuance, harmony and extravagant ease. Always adaptable, it softens to matte or shimmers with sheen. It’s neutral. It’s composed. It just is. This is colour, off-duty.”

Metropolitan’s versatile neutrality means you can use it in combination with other lighter shades to create a sense-soothing ambiance or let it be the ‘off-duty’ shade that plays the supporting role to bold statements in your furniture and accessories.

To learn more about Benjamin Moore’s 2019 Colour of the Year, Metropolitan AF-690, call or drop into your nearest The Paint People location today.

The post Introducing Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year for 2019 – Metropolitan appeared first on The Paint People.

And it can be one of the toughest steps to get through. Especially if you’ve painted a room a few times, coming up with a colour scheme can be one of the more frustrating parts of the project.

Try the ‘Golden Ratio’ to Choose Paint Colour Combinations that Work Every Time

You can use a basic guiding principle of interior design to help you choose paint colours for any room in your home. But the guideline has nothing to do with paint colours. Instead, it is a rule of thumb for the proportion each colour in your combination should occupy in the finished room.

And the color combination might not be exclusive to wall paint colours. It could include other elements of your room, like furniture, accessories or accents.

60/30/10

It’s known as the ‘golden ratio’ of choosing colour combinations for interior designs. It’s why if you ever hire a professional interior designer they will likely, at some point in process, show you colour combinations of three colours for a room.

The primary colour (60%) might appear on most walls, the accent colour (30%) can work for a single wall or signature piece of furniture, and the accessories colour (10%) can work for things like door trim or throw pillows.

How to Start Choosing Colours

Even knowing something as important as the golden rule still doesn’t tell you which colour combinations work together. Sometimes using a colour wheel, designers often begin with just a colour pairing. These can be either analogous colours, which are often more calm and soothing, or complementary colours, which can be stronger and more energetic.

The third colour in your combination depends on the first two you choose. If the original pairing is more subdued, you might be able to go bolder with your third colour. If one or both of your first two colours are fairly strong or bold, you might not want to compete with that in your choice for colour number three.

The only real rule for choosing paint colour combinations is that there are no rules. If you find a colour combination and proportion that doesn’t fit any of the guidelines listed here, but it works, then you’re done!

If you’d like to take even more of the guessing out of which paint colours will work, Benjamin Moore’s Colour Handbook offers lots of colour combinations that work every time.

If you’re still stuck, or simply want to talk to a human being about it, call or visit us here at The Paint People.

The post This Key Interior Design Guideline Can Help You Choose Paint Colours for any Room appeared first on The Paint People.

But then we realized, even if you choose the right colour, it front door isn’t painted properly, it might not matter. So, without further ado, here’s how to paint your front door like a pro.

9 Steps for Painting the Front Door Like a Pro

The tips below can work for previously painted wood, fibreglass or steel doors.

Oil or Water?

Before you begin, you need to know if the current paint on the door is oil- or water-based. Dab the corner of a rag into some methyl hydrate. Wipe the dabbed corner across an inconspicuous part of the door. If the paint colour shows up on the rag, the paint is water-based. If there’s no paint colour on the rag, the paint is oil-based.

Choose Your Colour Outside

Paint colours on swatches can look a lot different outside than in the store or living room. Make sure you look at them outside, near your door.  

Remove the Door from its Hinges

Wedge the head of a screwdriver into the gap between the head of the door pin and the hinge. With the screwdriver angled upwards tap gently to remove the pin.

Prepare the Door

Everything you do to prepare the door for painting will make the finished project look that much better.

Use Sawhorse or Workmates

Lay the door across two sawhorses or Workmates. If you can, set up in your garage so you can vent it properly and leave the paint to dry overnight. If paint the door inside the house, make sure the area is well ventilated. If you’re painting it outside, do so in the shade.

Remove the Hardware

Including all hinge plates, mail slots, knobs and knockers.

Clean & Scrape

Clean the door as best you can. Scrape off any paint bubbles, chips or cracks.

Sand and Fill

Sand the door first with a coarse grit paper and then with a fine grit paper. You’re not trying to get rid of the paint, but to make the surface as smooth as possible. Repair any cracks with paintable filler. When the filler dries, sand it level to the rest of the door.

Wipe it Off

Use damp cloths or sponges to completely remove the dust from the surface of the door.

Tape it Of

Use painter’s tape to protect glass inserts on the door.

Choose Your Weapons

If your door has a clean design, you can use a wider brush or roller to paint the door. To prevent paint collecting in the grooves and contours of door panels, bevels, and around glass inserts, it can help to paint those sections with brushes that are about as wide as the section. Use a wider brush or roller for the surrounding sections of the door (the stiles and rails).

Apply Primer Paint

Using a primer coat is always important, but it’s especially so for your front door. Primer helps seal a wooden door and helps topcoats to adhere better on all doors. Considering the extremes of heat and cold that the door will face, that’s not a bad thing.

Tips for the Topcoat

To reduce the chances of excess paint drips and drops, paint the door panels and bevels around them first and paint the stiles and rails second. A second coat is always a good idea for exterior surfaces to help the paint work last longer.

What About the Door Edges?

If the the inside and outside of the door are different colours and you’re not sure what colour to paint the edges, here’s a general rule of thumb. The colour of the top and bottom edges don’t really matter because they won’t be seen. If the door swings into the home, then the side edge nearest the door handle would get the interior colour and the hinged edge would get the exterior colour. If the door swings out, then the handle edge gets the exterior colour and the hinged edge gets the interior colour.

With the fall just around the corner, it’s a great time of year to paint your exterior doors. It’s not too hot and not too cool. For more tips and tricks, call or visit us here at The Paint People.

The post How to Paint Your Front Door appeared first on The Paint People.

Correct?

OK, please forgive the feeble attempt at trying to creatively illustrate the point that most office paint colours are generally the same and similarly subdued.

We probably had you at ‘off-white’.

And it makes sense. Neutral, less saturated paint colours affect us less than rich, bold colours, so they are perfect for the office.

How Paint Colours Affect People in the Workplace

According to colour psychologist, Angela Wright, we are impacted by different colours in the following ways.

Blue for the Mind

If your office is home to people who need to do a lot of brain work, like an architectural office, then blue, like Benjamin Moore’s Heaven on Earth 1661, creates the right environment.

Yellow Evokes Emotions

Optimistic and bright, yellows can lift the spirit and spur creativity is design studios and marketing agencies.

Green is Balanced

Like Mother Nature, green brings balance, calm and reassurance. Perfect qualities for financial institutions.

Red for Energy

If you’re looking for a great colour for your health club office or anywhere you want a talkative or social atmosphere, red will do nicely

There’s More to the Perfect Paint Colours for Your Office

So let’s say it was your job to choose the paint colours for the aforementioned  architectural office. As beautiful as it is, if you painted every wall in Heaven on Earth, the office might get a bit boring.

Colour saturation also has a significant effect. A deep rich red might perk you up in the morning, but it might also contribute to the afternoon crash, versus a less saturated version of the same colour.

There are no absolutely right or wrong answers for what are the best paint colours to use in your office. Even if you like it very subdued, you might just want to keep your employees awake with a splash of Benjamin Moore’s 2018 Colour of the Year, Caliente AF-290, on one wall.

Please call or visit us at The Paint People to learn more about the best paint colours for your office.

The post Paint Colour Tips for the Office 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.

Perfectly planned in the weeks before spring begins, this year’s show had a large focus on plants, of both florals and foliage. The priority of creating beautiful landscapes both inside and outside the home have never been so important. It’s apparent, the trends behind design understand and appreciate the importance of healthy and sustainable design within the beauty of each style. I found it was an appealing showcase of how integrating organic and natural elements into interior and exterior design can both support a design or be the defining impact. With the trades and knowledge that’s accessible, it’s also never been easier to implement and take advantage of establishing a well-defined space that highlights greenery!

In interiors, there’s an evident push towards contemporary and modern lines, as we see a gradual transformation from traditional to modern, in design overall.

The model home exhibit was a demonstration of a family home prepared in a modern, contemporary exterior with inviting and soft interior furnishings, which maintain a pleasing balance of refined lines and comfortable living.

Conversely, more specific sections of design, like flooring and appliances for example, have taken a luxurious stance on honing distressed yet curated materials. The hint of heritage character and antique value is influential in many designs. But, it’s the accessibility of these opposing styles we currently see, that creates opportunity to achieve competent designs amidst many varying styles.

The most favourable aspect of design trends in 2018 is the harmonized contrast of warm, organic materials juxtaposed to luxurious metals and clean lines. Now is the time to utilize the very best of distinctly differentiating designs to create a uniquely satisfying oasis in your own home!

The post National Home Show appeared first on The Paint People.

Century is more than paint; it’s an experience.

The artisan believes in precision. In keeping strict standards when not surpassing them. And more than anything… in stirring the senses.

Similar to a soft leather glove, the tactile experience of Century’s Soft Touch Matte Finish is not easily achieved.

Our craftsmen bring years of experience and exacting standards to the making of this paint. The formulation is so intricately balanced, it can only be made in small batches.

Every can of Century is produced in the same Benjamin Moore workshop. And to guarantee true colour, each can is delivered pre-mixed and sealed.

Years of research led to a unique resin and coloring system that created Soft Touch Matte Finish.

This innovative finish adds a tactile dimension to walls. It creates energy in the room and an unprecedented depth of colour.

It’s both science and spectacle.

Made for designers, this innovative paint comes in a curated collection of 75 colours with unprecedented depth. The complex blend of art and science creates a paint that stands in a category of its own.

Century is a new dimension in paint and design.

www.experiencecentury.com

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