Painting tall buildings in Eugene, Oregon can be both risky and complicated. Accessing higher and unreachable points could cause very serious injuries if not handled carefully. In order to do it effectively, you should use a combination of tools such as stepladders and scaffolding.
Also, apply the paint during the day when there is bright and indirect light with low humidity. Utilizing tools like extension poles and paint rollers will ease your workload when painting tall walls too.
The following are some of the strategies that you can employ to effectively apply paint on tall walls;
Priming the Walls
• Extension poles are important for a successful painting of tall walls. Purchase paint extension poles and rollers that are compatible with the walls you intend to paint. • Assemble your tall ladder by placing its base steadfastly on the floor and cautiously align it in opposition to the wall. The length of the ladder will be dependent on the tallness of your walls. Thus, it is advisable to go for an extension ladder. Ensure that all safety features of the ladder are in proper working condition. • For cases where there are holes or uneven spots on the walls, apply a sparkling paste. Thereafter, wait for the paste to dry before sanding the spots to attain the smoothness you require. • Cover your floor surfaces with a drop cloth to ensure that the floor stays free from unwanted primer and paint drops. The drop cloth should be enough to cover the whole floor surface including the edges. Use the drop cloth to cover fixed fixtures as well. • If painting over dark color or stained surfaces, use a tinted primer. You can request the paint store to tint the primer for you depending on which paint color you will be using.
Paint All the Edges in the Room
• Also referred to as cutting in, painting all the edges in the room should be done before painting the entire walls. Using an angled painting brush, cautiously apply the paint to the corners and edges on the room. • To paint tall surfaces, place your painting brush at the highest point of an extension pole. This pole should be long enough to enable you to paint without straining. For edges that require the use of a tall ladder, get someone to firmly hold a ladder in position as you paint. • Use an extension pole together with a paint edger to paint clean and direct lines. Basically, slip the edger alongside the wall’s perimeter. This will enable you to paint a clear line without spreading the paint to adjacent walls. The best alternative for this would be using a painters’ tape. • Allow four hours (or as recommended by the manufacturer) for the paint to dry before applying a subsequent coat. • After the edges are dry, carefully apply the subsequent coat on the wall surfaces.
Applying the paint
• Carefully attach the roller on to an extension pole. The base of the majority of rollers can screw into the extension pole which makes it easy to attach. • Start painting your wall from the topmost point working downwards. • Immerse the roller in paint making sure that all sides are evenly covered before gently rolling it down from the peak of the walls downwards to the base of the floor. Repeat the process until the whole wall surface is evenly painted. Use ladder where applicable. • Depending on the type of paint used, allow approximately 4 hours for it to dry. You can catalyze the drying process by fanning or air conditioning your room. Close all windows and other outlets if the environment is wet or humid outside. This is because moist walls slow down the drying process. • Use the same procedure in the initial painting to thoroughly apply the second coat to the walls. Ensure that the room is well aerated to remove paint fumes.
Besides saving on money, painting your walls will give you a feeling of accomplishment. Just follow the above tips on how to paint tall walls, and you will be surprised at how simple it is to achieve an excellent outcome. However, if painting tall walls proves to be impossible, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional painting contractor for help.
Painting a kitchen cabinet a huge task, but it’s probably the most transformative makeover you can do to your aging kitchen. At a glance, the process of painting kitchen cabinets can seem deceptively simple, however, it’s not. The process has multiple stages, each requiring specialized skills, experience and time. Rushing through one process only messes the next one.
While you might take the DIY route with the hopes of saving on cost, a single mistake can end up costing you much more or even ruining your cabinets. Here are five mistakes you should avoid while painting your kitchen cabinets.
1. Failing to remove the doors and drawers
Must you really remove all the doors and drawers? After all, you can simply paint over everything, including hinges and pulls, right? Wrong. It’s very critical that you take the cabinet doors and drawers down, and remove any hardware. It’s much easier to paint a door laid out flat on a bench than when attached. Additionally, painting over hardware will only give an unprofessional finish.
2. Not prepping the cabinets thoroughly
Thorough preparation is kind of the golden rule of cabinet repainting. First, you need to clean the surfaces to remove the dust, debris, and grease. Wipe down all the surfaces with a grease remover and allow the cabinets to dry. Even if you don’t see the grease, just wipe –applying a water-based paint on a greasy cabinet surface will ruin the results because the paint won’t stick.
The next important step you should not miss is sanding wooden cabinets. Even if your cabinets are nearly physically perfect, you still need to sand them to allow the paint to stick better. You can achieve this using medium-grade sandpaper.
3. Not Priming
Priming the wood is still an important part of preparing your cabinets, it might seem insignificant, but it’s extremely important. Priming allows the paint to stick properly to the surface without blotches or air bubbles. If necessary, apply two coats of the primer.
As an added bonus tip, consider tinting your primer with a little bit of the paint you will be using. This helps to better cover stains and traces of the previous paint color, allowing for a smooth transition. This is particularly important if you’re transitioning from a darker to a lighter color. Additionally, tinting the primer reduces the number of paint coats you will need to complete the job.
4. You try to rush the process
Painting kitchen cabinets is not a lazy Sunday afternoon task, it’s a lengthy process that needs a lot of labor and patience in between processes. Even if you have a small kitchen, this project can take several days when you factor in the necessary prep time, adequate paint application and drying time.
Because this is a tedious process, it’s definitely not a good idea to jump in and try to rush through it thinking it can be done in one afternoon. At the very least, set aside a long weekend after you’ve gathered everything you need. Most importantly, you need to allow enough time for each coat of the primer and paint to dry before moving on to the next process.
5. Not using the right paint and primer
There’re a lot of things that can go wrong when it comes to paint selection. The most common mistakes people make is buying the wrong color. If you’re new to dealing with paint, you’re very likely to judge the paint color from what you see in the container. However, the best way to tell the actual color of paint is to paint a small section and allow it to dry. You can then judge the actual color of the paint from the dried sample, otherwise, it’s very easy to get an off-color.
The bottom line when choosing your paint is always to go for high-quality paint. Quality paint products always stay true to their color, give smooth finishes and last longer to protect and beautify your cabinets. The roller and brush marks won’t be visible and you will need fewer coats to achieve desired results.
Conclusion
We hope the above tips will go a long way in helping you with your cabinet painting project. However, if you need a seamless, error-free and transformative professional paint job in Eugene, Oregon, reach out to us and we will be more than happy to help.
If you’re looking to refinish your kitchen cabinets in Eugene, Oregon, you might be wondering which is the best option between staining and painting your kitchen cabinets. The value of your kitchen is generally determined by the final finish on your kitchen cabinets. It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying new kitchen cabinets or improving the previous ones, staining and painting are all great options, but not interchangeable in every situation.
To help you make a choice between these two, lets’ take a quick look at the pros and cons of each, and where each is best suited.
Staining kitchen cabinets
Pros
• Showcase wood grain: Stain gives the surface a good balance between color and texture by revealing more wooden features on the surface. In contrast with paint, stain does not conceal the natural characteristic of wood. The fact that stain is thinner than paint, it easily dissolves into the surface ensuring that it maintains the natural beauty of your wood. The final results reveal admirable features such as wood grain which are clearly visible.
• Easier to touch up: Due to the availability of colors that resembles your stain; it is easier to touch up stained surfaces. Touch-ups also produce a better color combination on stained cabinets particularly those with more grains on their surfaces.
• Cost-effective: Cost eventually depends on several factors such as the size of the kitchen, the design of the cabinet and the manufacturer among other factors. However, if you are remodeling your kitchen and you’re right on budget, staining might help you save on your project.
Cons• If your cabinets are made of Medium-density fiberboard, staining might not be the best option for you. Medium-density fiberboard can offer huge savings on cabinets, but it simply doesn’t take stain as well as it takes paint. Whereas paint rarely looks different on MDF exteriors, stains do. You’ll have to seek other ways to lower your cabinet cost if you’re set on stained cabinetry
• Reveals wood blemishes: Stain reveals all wood blemishes such as uneven grain distribution, cracks and color variation that might be present on the wood surface. Some call this character others call it blemishes, it just depends on who you ask.
• Whereas lighter cabinets can stain and chip more easily, they tend to conceal dust. On the other hand, dark stained cabinets don’t conceal dust and require more upkeep.
Painting Cabinets
Pros
• Clean aesthetic: As opposed to staining, painted cabinet produces a sparkling artistic kitchen design. Paint gives wooden surfaces a smooth and clean finish free from visible character marks.
• More color choices: Painted surfaces appear to be more colorful than stained surfaces. Paint bonds with the wooden surface and it doesn’t disappear between the grains and knots the way a stain does. It gives you a chance to modify the general appearance of your kitchen by displaying the real color of your choice.
• Applies better to medium-density fiberboard: Paint blends well with medium density fiberboard cabinets. Regardless of your color choice, it is not easy to tell the difference between these materials and the actual wood on which they are painted.
Cons
• Hides the wood character: One of the main characteristics of paint is that it is thicker than stain hence it does not get absorbed by wood as a stain does. Paint conceals the wood character features of your cabinet surface. If you would like your surfaces to show wooden grains and knots, it is recommended not to go for painted cabinets.
• Cost more than stain: Due to the process involved in applying the paint as well as the cost of tools and materials, many times painting tend to be more costly than staining.
• Harder to touch up: Touch up your paint is more complicated compared to touching up stained surfaces. Chance are you may not know the exact color of your cabinets when buying paint. Additionally, most cabinetmakers apply paint by spraying, and this might be impossible to replicate using a touch-up kit.
After considering all the above pros and cons you will realize that choosing whether to go for stained or painted cabinets is quite easy because you now understand your favorite choice and the general appearance you want to make. As usual, you need any help with cabinet refinishing tasks, we’re always happy to help –contact us.
Painting high walls is scary and can be a bit risky, but then abandoning them without a new paint for a long time will make your house look really dated. Stained walls with fading or peeling paint look unappealing and make the whole house look worn out and tired.
But perhaps the trickiest place to paint in any home is those high
walls above the stairs –how do you access them securely? Well, we thought we
should share some tips on that in this article –here you go;
1. Use the Telescoping Ladder
The giant telescoping ladder can enable you to paint your high walls on stairs effectively and conveniently with minimum or no risks. After setting up the telescoping ladder, it rests very sturdily on the floor with minimum chances of sliding and toppling.
In most cases, people complain about the telescoping ladder being a little too heavy, but that is a small price to pay since extra weight contributes to its stability. Under normal circumstances, you can set the telescoping ladder on four legs, but when there is need, it can be used with a plank, where one end will be on the stairs and the other on the ladder rung.
2. Use the Pivot Ladder Tool
When painting your high walls on stairs a pivot ladder tool is a handy device. Pivot ladder tool comes with adjustable legs for purposes of obtaining flexible heights according to different situations. To make your work easy and to save on time, the ladder is made simple, easy and faster to setup. The pivot ladder tool can also be used for leveling and in setting up a plank. Moreover, the ladder now has a non-skidding surface to enable you to safely position yourself on stairs.
3. Extension Pole Brush Holder
If you are afraid of heights, you don’t have to worry anymore
about how your high walls on stairs will get painted. The best alternative for
you is to use the Extension Pole Brush holder. The extension allows you to hook
a brush at the far end of the stick as use it to access high areas without
necessarily using a ladder.
To use this brush, you need some skill in cutting. The extension
brush is more effective and efficient in cutting than the edging tools and foam
pads available in the market. In most cases, a sixteen-foot extension pole is
enough to access high points of walls in painting.
4. Extension Ladder with Adjustable Legs
The extension ladder with adjustable legs is another best option
for carrying out painting on high walls on stairs and even on any sloped ground
walls. Most professional painters recommend the aluminum type of this kind of
ladder because of its lightness giving you ample time as you maneuver around
when painting. Also, the ladder has locking pins at different adjustment joints
which can be removed for purposes of leg adjustment according to the different
heights required.
5. Scaffolding
The Baker’s Scaffold adds to the best option for painting your high walls on stairs. It has different adjustment points from which you can obtain different heights above your stairs to access far corners of your high walls. This Scaffold, has an ample space on which you can place your painting tools and access them without any problem. Such a feature is not very common among other of the same use, which makes the Baker’s Scaffold special. With the scaffold, you can easily maneuver all-around your working place without much hassle since it’s easy to move.
With the above tools, you can now comfortably apply paint on your high
walls on stairs without much difficult. However, before you begin painting, take
care of the following two important prep processes;
-Covering – covering your floors, furniture,
stairs, stair handles, and other things near your working place saves you time
during cleaning and also saves your items from being ruined by paint.
-Cleaning – the walls to be worked on should be cleaned first to
ensure uniformity and quality painting.
Tips for Painting Sloped Ceilings in multi-level homes
It is quite challenging to paint a sloped ceiling, especially for homeowners who prefer to do this task themselves. Besides the pointed angles that call for careful trimming, sloped ceilings require more attention to details when it comes to choosing appropriate colors. Sloping areas unsurprisingly show a restrained color shade. Since it is more close to walls than the ordinary ceilings, it has a big influence on the room’s color structure which in return influences the feeling of openness.
Material Requirements for Painting
You will require the following tools and materials before you begin the painting; ladder, primer, measuring tape, paint stirring sticks, paintbrush, wide piece of cloth, cleaning rags, soap detergent, masking tape, rollers, and inner paint.
Here are quick tips on how to paint slopped ceilings
1. Choose the Appropriate Type of Interior Wall Paint
The type of interior wall paint determines the appearance of the paint on the final product. Flat or satin are some of the recommended options you can choose from. Make sure that the paint that is being applied to the sloped ceiling compliments the paint on the walls. Determine the quantity of paint you will require to complete painting the ceiling. This can be easily done by calculating the surface area of the ceiling and then dividing the results by 350 (recommended number of square feet painted surface per gallon of paint).
2. Select the Best Color
Choose a color for your sloped ceiling. Although most ceilings are white, match your sloped ceiling with the walls of the room to create a sense of height; this effect, which causes the lines of the ceiling to disappear, makes the ceiling look long and lean. Choose a light color to give a low sloped ceiling the illusion of height or a dark color to enhance the cozy feeling of a study or foyer.
3. Seal Off Unwanted Areas
Using masking tape, seal off the boundaries of the walls and other areas that you want to avoid when painting. These include windows, outlets, lights and vents among others.
4. Protect the Floor SurfaceSpread a large piece of material, on the floor under the ceiling to absorb any paint drops falling off. Use a ladder if necessary with someone to help you in ensuring that it is stable throughout the painting procedure.
5. Clean the Sloped Ceiling
Simply dusting before painting is often enough if the ceiling has a flat finish, but in areas like kitchens and bathroom it is a good idea to use a clean rag with a mixture of warm water and dish soap, clean the entire surface of the sloped ceiling to make sure that it is completely clean and free from dust. Give it time to dehydrate entirely before proceeding with the painting process.
6. Apply the Paint
Using a mixing stick, mix your paint thoroughly and apply to the surface. Insert your paintbrush one to two inches into the paint and paint the surface area of the ceiling, bends, and other hidden spaces. Then, with the aid of a roller or paintbrush, paint the remaining surfaces as soon as possible. For better results apply extended strokes moving in one direction. Give the paint time to dehydrate as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. When dry, check the consistency and apply an extra coat where applicable.
Painting Tips
• Always have a wet rag with you throughout the painting process. This will help you clear any errors you make as you paint. For instance, you could unintentionally extend beyond the lines of a complicated surface.• In case you are painting the whole room, always paint the ceiling first ahead of painting the walls.
Safety Precaution• Ensure that the working environment is well aerated to avoid suffocation from the strong smell from the paint. • Put on protective gears like mouth covers and spectacles while painting. • Follow all instructions given by the manufacturers of your primer and paint. Having followed the above tips for painting sloped ceilings, you can be sure of quality and long-lasting sloped ceiling in your room. If it sounds a little too complicated, you can always enlist the services of a professional painter to have it done right.
