Washable Flat Paint.

Through the years I am constantly asked what is the best finish to put on my walls?
The answer is, it all depends on what you the client is looking to achieve.
A majority of my clients all want washable walls. Most have the misconception that and eggshell or semi-gloss is the best choice. Both eggshell and satin have there pro’s, and con’s. These finishes always enhance wall imperfections, things like nail pops and plastered joints. This can be a nightmare especially on large walls and entry halls. To circumvent this problem flat has been used, but flat does not wash! You only make a bigger stain.
Recently paint manufactures have been rushing to develop washable flat paint.
Some brands have done real well, as I can attest from professional use. Please understand
That these paints are not dead flat, they do have a very slight sheen, but they work real well. If you are interested in brand recommendations please contact us, we would be happy to share our experience.
Peace
John

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Cracks, dirt and mold and mildew are clear signs that it is time to refinish your deck. But signs of an unsafe deck are often less obvious. If yours was built before 2004 it was most likely made of chromate copper arsenate (CCA) lumber. These chemicals need to be sealed as to be effective and non-hazardous to people and pets. There have been cases of people getting a splinter in their hand or foot and having an allergic reaction, some needing hospitalization. CCA lumber is no longer used due to these hazards. In order to keep you and yours safe, your deck needs to be properly sealed. Not all sheens of stain or stain themselves will seal in CCA. If you are unsure please contact a professional or better yet drop us a line.

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Labels: advice, mildew, mold, semi-transparent, stain seal

                     

Do You Give Free Estimates?
Yes We still Do!!! Don't get Upset!!

With the economic conditions today a lot of contractors are starting to charge for estimates. Though we understand being a professional paint contractor firm the
Expense involved chasing down leads; we have decided to maintain our long standing
Practice of FREE estimates. Being in the painting business for as long as we have, we have made provisions and instituted certain guidelines to enable us to keep estimates FREE. So, no matter if you live in Alpharetta, Roswell, and Johns Creeks Sandy Springs. Gainesville, Duluth, Dunwoody, Sugarhill the city of Atlanta or Buckhead when you need a professional Interior or Exterior Painter, or are in need of expert deck staining or sealing, you can count on us. We will give you a detailed estimate for FREE.

Peace
John

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Finished Deck Before & After


Hi There- Discussed here is the before and after of a quality deck refinishing job. This deck you see was neglected. It was let to weather without any coating. The before
Picture you see is after a pressure wash, cleaner and conditioner. The deck should look somewhat like this before you stain it. The after shot speaks for it’s self; we used a semi transparent oil stain by Cabot. You need to ensure the stain you use on your deck floor is walk able.

Peace
John

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Labels: advice, conditioner, deck, pressure wash, seal, stain

                     

What to do with a problem deck.

Some decks require extra prep work to achieve a quality finish. I will discuss how to finish a deck that has multiple problems. Use this link to go to my Youtube page. "http://www.youtube.com/user/MannionCustomPaintin"


Here you will see a deck that has about three coats on it two of stain and one with a clear sealer. Also present was mold and mildew. What we did was to use a chemical stripper and allow it to sit for about thirty minutes, we then pressure washed it off using as little pressure as possible and a wide tip. After the wash we soaked deck cleaner on all areas, let it sit for about five minutes and then followed up with a wood conditioner. The conditioner is needed as the grain is raised during the pressure wash. As you can see the
Deck came out great.

Peace
John

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Deck Preparation.. The Key Ingredient to a Beautiful Deck!

Above you will see two pictures of a deck we did recently. The one to the left shows the
Deck after we pressured washed it and conditioned it. Notice the bright color with darker grain show through? We do not use bleach. This oicture shows how the deck should look prior to staining. The after picture shows is almost done. Please notice how we brush between each board, an important step to ensure a good quality job. Yes, there is a lot of labor involved, but the fruit is well worth it.

Peace

John


Tags: advice free deck stain seal bleach pressurewash georgia lamb painter exterior alpharetta wool professional grain wood painting contractor

Labels: advice, conditioner, deck, mildew, pressure wash, semi-transparent, stain, wood

                     

Why you should not use bleach on your deck.

We never recommend using household bleach, because it only kills mildew and does not clean other contaminates on the deck that lead to pre-mature coating failure. Fact is that labotory tests have shown that decks cleaned with bleach suffer from a coating breakdown 60% sooner then that deck that has not bleach. Think about it, do you wash your cloths with bleach only? Of course not! Bleach also can damage the celouse fiber in the wood especially if a pressure washer is used. There are plenty of good deck cleaners on the market and we recommend using one of them.

Peace
John (2011)

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How to Paint your Walls by Mannion Custom Painting, LLC

· The next step is to cut in around the ceiling, baseboards, moldings corners, light switches, sockets and any doors/windows.

· To cut in to the ceiling use a good quality 2.5 to 3 inch brush. Paint along the top of the wall keeping the edge of the brush tight to the ceiling, use firm steady strokes to give yourself a nice straight edge.

· Then turn the brush and go over the paint again with a steady stroke to smooth the previous coat, this time there is no need to get too close to the ceiling but close enough to smooth the paint out.

· You can use this technique to cut in around the horizontal runs of any windows, doors, sockets and light switches.

· To cut in to the baseboards boards use a similar technique holding the brush at a 90 degree angle to the skirting board, then turn the brush and go over the paint again to smooth the coat.

We will continue with the process on our next blog.

Peace
John
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How To Paint Your Walls. By Mannion Custom Painting
1. First remove curtains, shades and pillows and sheets, place them in a closet or out of the room. Paint has a way of finding them! Remove all switch plates and outlet covers. Place all furniture in the center of the room and cover with old sheets or plastic drop cloths.

2. Wash down the wall with TSP or a suitable detergent to remove all dust, smoke stains if applicable. Inspect the wall surfaces for painted over dirt and hair and such. If present take 250 grit sandpaper and sand area. I highly advise wearing a proper mask and open windows to allow fresh air to enter the room.

3. For small cracks use suitable crack filler, for larger cracks and holes use a more suitable filler (see manufacturer's instructions).

4. To check for any loose plaster, tap the wall around any suspect areas and remove any loose flaky plaster.

5. When filling cracks or small holes leave a nice smooth finish, it is better to leave the filled area slightly proud of the surrounding area and then sand down with fine sandpaper until flush.

6. Certain plaster will “flash” if not primed before painting. Shellac base spray is best can be purchased for around $3.

7. Caulk around all woodwork, baseboards, window and door trim and moldings.

On my next blog I will continue discuss the process.

Peace
John

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Mannion Custom Painting: Is One Coat of Paint Enough?

We are asked all the time is one coat of paint enough? Both interior and exterior customers ask the same question. It’s a difficult question to answer because circumstances differ from job to job. We generally recommend that you use two coats of top quality paint. The best time to try for one-coat coverage is when you are painting a darker color over a lighter hue. Apply the first coat and let it dry. If the coverage is acceptable, one will do, if not a second is called for. Most instructions and for warranties to be honored paint manufactures require two coats.

Peace

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The first reason that comes to mind is that a "professional paint job" will increase the homes value! There are many other reasons for painting before listing your home for sale. Another reason is damage repair, when the sellers have children or pets and there are loads of hand prints, scuff marks and wall marks that need more than a touch up. All those hand prints add up, especially when you see them all by the light switches, and doors. If you try and touch them up, they usually look worse, the professional term is flashing. Ever try spot removing on cheap flat paint?..You end up with a bigger mess! Nothing cheapens the look of a room when you see "touch-ups" or stains. Another reason to paint is due to the wrong color. Those reds or lime green or baby blues need to go. Nothing makes a room look smaller then these colors, neutral is the name of the game. A fresh coat of paint can hide a multitude of sins, most notable those of the smelly category.

On the exterior of a home, probably the most important, especially the front entrance way. While the realtor is trying to gain access, this gives the most important first impression to the buyers. Nothing more embarrassing then a poorly painted entry door. Rotten wood, peeling paint, mold and mildew is not exactly a selling point, in actuality it can cost you at closing. Home inspectors always point these things out.


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