Painters Picking Apples

The Painter’s Favorite Dessert: Apple Crisp

The PW Asks: Do you have any stories about cows, corn, pumpkins, ghosts, spooks or scary people?

The Painter Says: No.

PW: How about apples?

Painter: One time we painted a house in the country and we stopped along the roadside and picked apples off trees. They were good, we ate them and I think we made an apple pie.

PW: Was I married to you then? Because I don't remember no apple pie!

Bedroom Design for Kids with Allergies

PW: The Painter talks about painting in homes with kids with severe allergies.

The Painter: We have painted several homes where kids rooms are being refurbished by pulling all the carpet out and installing hardwood floors to create a more dust and mildew free environment. We then paint the walls and woodwork with volatile organic compounds (VOC) free acrylic products so no allergens are sent out into the air. No hot chemicals can be used. This has worked out well.

Party Season Prep

The PW Asks: What are some key things to do in the fall to prepare for the holidays and guests?

The Painter Says: Three things come to mind.

1. Freshen up the paint on the walls.
2.  Refinish wood table tops.
3. Paint the front door, before it gets too cold. If it’s wood, it may need to be stripped and refinished. If not, some clean-up and touch –up or a fresh coat on the whole surface.

Girls Bedroom Idea Age 13-18

Kid Room Idea: Girl 13 – 18yrs

Walls: Eggplant Purple

Ceiling: Eggplant purple (NOTE: ceiling should be smooth or paintable surface – not popcorn texture)

Wood Trim: White (This is all window trim, base trim, jambs and doors)

Window Covering: White shutters

Furniture: White

Bed Covering: Patterned spread with eggplant, white and green.

Floor: Light toned carpet

How to Stop Bees: Do Not Try This at Home

The Painter has another story about bees:

There was a garage with a soffit made up of the stringers coming across. There were five or so wasp nests. We didn’t have any spray and we needed to paint where they were. So we sucked them into a shop-vac directly out of the nests or even in the air as they flew around. We had 100 to 150 bees so we also sucked up some powdered sheet rock compound so it caked them up so they couldn’t fly.

PW: Nice touch with the sheet rock compound. Makes their limp chalked up bodies easier to dispose of. I think we could launch a new ad campaign for Shop-Vac. Show a painter waving a vacuum wand wildly in the air sucking down wasps. Sooo not OSHA approved.

This is not from the Painter's story but wow - somebody had some bees in a shop vac.

The Problem with Paint and Air Conditioning

The PW Asks: As people switch in the fall from running air conditioners to throwing open the windows, are there any effects on painting surfaces?

The Painter Says: There is no problem with throwing the windows open, rather, the problem is with air conditioned homes that are cooled to 65 degrees. A home can take an extra day or more to paint because the air conditioner must pull the moisture out of the air for the paint to dry. In the winter, paint dries well because the furnace blows dry heat into the home. 

Kids Bedroom Weekly Kick Off

Each week this fall, the Painter will share one kids bedroom painting and decorating idea.

The PW Asks: Give us some ideas for kids rooms. What are you seeing out there?

The Painter Says: We see a lot of accent walls using a solid purple, blue or green. The headboard wall is a popular place to do an accent color. We still see border paper used related to interests such as sports.

"Fall" Into Some Garage Floor Logic

The PW Asks: Tell us about garage floor coatings.

The Painter Says: In order to coat a garage floor there needs to be an air temperature of at least 55 degrees. There are a variety of ways to handle a garage floor, from simple to complex.

1.       A simple clear coat on a garage floor creates a dust barrier and the concrete is not “dry” looking.

2.       A 2-part epoxy is another option which can add color. Next, taking it a step further is a 2-part epoxy plus clear urethane layers with colored chips added. The surface can be smooth with chips suspended in the urethane for a sleek look. Or the chips can actually protrude from the urethane for a skid proof surface. An epoxy garage floor can serve many different purposes and will last the longest if the floor is professionally prepared and coated.

Early fall is an ideal time to coat a garage floor.

Fall Changes Everything

Once Labor Day weekend rolls around we start thinking about getting the kids back in school and assessing the fallout of a wonderful summer season. Smudged walls and dirty carpet can be tidied up just in time for throwing the windows open and taking in the fresh, crisp air. This fall, kids will be our focus and the Painter will be giving us ideas for kids bedrooms and even for kids with allergies. Be watching for our weekly "Kids Room" painting and decorating ideas.

The PW Asks: What changes in the painting world in the fall?

The Painter Says: We leave humidity behind and temps become cooler. This means we may switch products, especially in wood finishing that are compatible with the colder weather. Sometimes we add additives so products dry correctly and do not flash.

Painting and Storms Don't Mix - Part 2

The Painter: (Regarding the farmhouse that was primed 3 hours before an unexpected storm): When we came back the next day, we found that on the south side of the house, water got behind the paint and formed softball sized pockets that were still full of water.

PW Comments: Take me out to the ballpark, take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,,,, (yum, I love Cracker Jack - remember when you used to get a real toy - a real ring!) Hmmm hummm hmmm hmmm hummmmm..........