Following our guest appearance on Breakfast Television’s 48 Hour Makeover show, Home Painters Toronto was invited to once again showcase our work with the designers at Canadian House and Home Magazine.

This time the project was to transform the bedroom of a three-year-old boy from the ordinary into something truly unique.

Instead of selecting a shade of paint that just complemented what the designers had planned, we took two different colours and applied them in a way that brought a physical texture to the room.

Creating what’s called a Chair Rail, we separated the space by painting the bottom half of the room with a solid yet subtle shade of grey while finishing the tops half in a comforting mint. This use of contrasting colours creates the aura that something physically has been added to the room like crown moulding.

It also serves as the perfect accent to the furniture, pictures and shelves and is a prime example of how creatively applying paint can do so much more than simply colouring the room.

We don’t want to give away the whole story so check out the May issue of Canadian House & Home and watch the Boy’s Bedroom Makeover episode online at: http://houseandhome.com/tv/segment/boys-bedroom-makeover

And remember we are always here to transform your home with paint just like we did with Canadian House & Home.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com  to schedule a FREE in-home, no obligation meeting with one of our professional colour consultants.

We promise you’ll be amazed by how the right colours will not only increase the curb appeal and value of your home, it will also change the mood of each and every space.

And now as you ponder all the colourful possibilities, we’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Enjoy!

Learning proper paint preparation after you’ve already started the job will cost you time, money and will lead to a sub-par finish.

Preparing your home before the paint even hits the wall is a critical step in the renovation process. Here is what you need to know to prepare you home for a fresh coat of paint.

How Much Paint? 

Sounds simple but this is a time and money saver. You don’t want to spend more on paint than you need and running out mid-job means time wasted to get more.

A rough rule-of-thumb is that 1 gallon of paint will cover about 350 square feet. You’ll need more if you’re painting bare drywall which absorbs more paint, are painting several coats or are covering old paint that is darker.

Remove Hardware

The first step once you’re ready to paint is to remove all hardware from the walls such as:

• • electrical plug covers
• • cable and phone outlet covers
• • curtains
• • all pictures and artwork
• • nails
• • light fixtures if you’re painting the ceiling

Splatter Prevention 

Paint is messy, so you’ll need drop sheets all along the walls and floors. Tape them down so that they stay in place. Next you’ll need to apply painters tape around all moldings, window frames and door frames to prevent stray paint.

Also any furniture should be removed if possible and if not then tightly covered to protect them. Any furniture that can’t be removed should be organized in the center of the room to keep the areas around the walls clear.

Wall Preparation

Many people make the mistake and start painting after removing hardware and laying drop sheets and tape. However it is very important to now prepare the walls to ensure imperfections are fixed and you get the most durable hold for your paint.

• • Inspect walls for cracks and holes. Repair any damage with a spackling compound using a putty knife. Spread the compound over the defect several times and scrape off the excess. Allow it to dry according to the product’s instructions. Then use a fine-grit sandpaper (150-200 grit) and smooth it out until there is a seamless transition to the original wall.
• • Wash the walls. Washing the walls is very important to remove grease and dust which will seriously compromise the life of your paint if you ignore this step. If the walls are very dirty you may need to start with a chemical cleaner like Tri-Sodium Phosphate. After, rinse all walls with clean water and a sponge.
• • Allow your walls to properly dry before applying your primer or paint.

Whether you’re tackling a job yourself or hiring someone, always ensure that proper paint preparation is executed before starting any job.

Removing hardware and protecting surfaces will prevent paint splatter and make clean-up easy, while cleaning walls will ensure you get the longest life out of your paint. That will give you the best finish and save you money in the long-run.

If all this seems overwhelming and makes you nervous, Home Painters is there to answer all your questions and concerns.

Call us at anytime to schedule a FREE, no obligation, in-home consultation. We will come to your home and walk you through all the options to renew the look of your home.

And while prep and paint is one thing, choosing the right colour is a whole other ballgame. Our professional and trained colour consultants can show you how different colours can dramatically change the mood and even the value of your home.

We’ve helped thousands of clients bring out the best in their homes. You can check out what they’re saying about Home Painters Toronto at HomeStars.com.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com to schedule your FREE, in-home consultation today and let our over 25 years experience go to work for you.

No doubt there are criminals out there ready to prey on your hard earned money. However, instead of putting you on high alert, let’s examine the positive side of things: How do you know you’ve finally found a reputable painter that’s worth hiring?

Here are the top signs you’ve found the right person to paint your home.

Proud of their Business and Work

A reputable painter will proudly show you their business license, insurance and won’t hesitate to provide you with references to verify the quality of their work.

Prompt and Punctual

When your phone calls are returned quickly and they take the time to answer all of your questions in a friendly and respectful manner you’re on the right path. This is a good sign they are organized, believe in customer service and care about your needs.

Won’t Demand 100% Payment Upfront                               

While a small deposit may be required, a good painter will never demand full payment before the job is done.

Professionalism is in the Details

Do they have business cards, proper contracts and a clear schedule for their work? A true professional is, well, professional just like you should expect. If it looks like they’re winging it, beware.

Solid Guarantees

You wouldn’t buy a new car from a company without a clear warranty and the same applies to hiring a painter. A real painter will have a written guarantee for their work during and after the job is completed.

Two Thumbs Up

While a painter can sell you the moon in person, they can’t hide from sites like HomeStars.com and the Better Business Bureau. Check these sites and see what people are saying, even contact them. If they’re highly rated here, you have likely found a winner.

Pressure-Free Consultations

Any good business knows you need to take time before spending your hard earned cash. A good painter will never pressure you to make a deal. They will spend the time to give you an accurate and detailed estimate and allow your space to make a decision.

Earning your trust at Home Painters has always been our #1 priority.

That’s why you’ll find and experience everything listed above when we come to your home.

Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and Two-Year Quality Guarantee are unmatched, we carry $5 million in Liability Insurance and even go the extra length by screening all our employees with an annual Criminal Background Check for your peace of mind.

Our thousands of satisfied customers have made us a Top-Rated Company on HomeStars.com and we maintain an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com to schedule your FREE, in-home consultation today. Let us show you why Home Painters has been in business for over 25 years.

And stay tuned for an upcoming blog about our article in the next issue of Canadian House and Home!

If you want your investment to last as long as possible, choosing the right weather to paint your home will go a long way to protecting your home and your money.

Before you set a date for your renovation, here are some critical weather facts to remember before you start painting your home.

Sunlight and U.V Radiation
A beautiful sunny day might be great for spending the day outside, but it can cause premature paint failure. Direct sunlight, especially when it’s extremely hot, deteriorates the binding agents and pigments of paint. This causes chalking, fading and erosion. Low quality paints are more susceptible to sunlight as well.

Water and Moisture
It’s a no brainer that you don’t want to paint when it’s raining. But even after the rain is gone, you need to make sure that the surfaces hit by rain are given enough time to properly dry out before applying paint. Failure to do so can result in cracking, blistering and flaking, especially on permeable surfaces like wood.

Hi and Low Humidity
When it’s sticky and humid outside like a typical Toronto summer day, it will takes your paint a lot longer to dry. When the humidity levels are high, the moisture in the paint takes much longer to escape. This results in poor adhesion and a shorter lifespan.

In low humidity the dry airs pulls the moisture out of the paint too quickly. This rapid drying doesn’t allow the paint to stick properly and again results in poor durability.

Too Cold
When it’s cold outside, paints get thicker and are harder to apply. Drying also takes much longer making it difficult for the paint to bond to surfaces. This results in cracking and chalking.

Too Hot
Hot weather causes paint to dry much too fast. This not only affects the overall lifespan, but also makes applying the paint more difficult. Paint that dries too fast is hard to spread and clogs up brushes and rollers.

So before you plan your next paint project, keep the weather in mind and follow these guidelines to ensure you get the most value and longest life out of your paint.

• Does your laundry take a long time to dry outside? If so, so will your paint.
• Does water spilt on concrete take a long time to dry? If yes, leave your painting for another day.
• A light breeze is ideal to properly dry paint. If it’s too windy you can concentrate on sheltered sides of your home until conditions improve.
• Don’t paint in super hot weather or direct sunlight. Paint on the shaded sides first or start ahead of the sun and adjust your painting as the sun moves above.
• Overcast and cloudy days are the best for painting.
• Overall the ideal conditions are: 15-20°C, 70-80% humidity and a gentle breeze.

While these are the ideal conditions, it doesn’t mean you can’t paint when the conditions are less than ideal. But you need to know how.

Paint thinners can be added to adjust for weather and paints designed specifically to counter changing weather conditions can be used when a job needs to get done. This, however, requires a lot of knowledge and experience and likely a job best left to the professionals.

Whether (no pun intended) the conditions are ideal or not, a reputable and experienced painter knows how to manage weather conditions and ensure that you get the longest and most durable lifespan from your paint. Remember a poor paint job will last but a few years, while a professionally painted home will look great for a decade or more.

With over 25 years of experience in the painting business, Home Painters knows how to tackle any painting project and get it done right the first time.

That’s why we confidently provide a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and all our work comes with an unmatched Two-Year Quality Guarantee.

We use only the top quality paints such as Behr, Dulux and Benjamin Moore and you can verify our high standards on HomeStars.com where we are a Top-Rated Company.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com and schedule your FREE, in-home consultation today.

You might still be recovering from the cold winter blues, but planning ahead and getting a jump on a spring paint makeover will save you work, give you a much more durable paint job and free up your time for the upcoming summer fun.

Spring Weather is Better

The comfortable spring weather that isn’t too cold or too hot provides the ideal weather conditions for applying a fresh coat of paint. Latex-based exterior paints are at their most durable when applied during mild weather. Hot weather causes paint to dry too fast, whereas cold temperatures prolong the drying process resulting in a weaker hold.

Spare Your Garden

If you have flowers around your home, they will be planted in the spring. If you delay your decision to paint until summer, inevitably your flowers will get trampled by ladders and scaffolds no matter how careful you are.

Plan Ahead For Summer Time Fun

Summer is the time for vacations, BBQs and backyard patio parties. By checking your painting chores off the list in the spring, you won’t have to give up that prime summer-time weekend to tend to a paint renovation.

Book Early and Pick Your Schedule

Remember summer is generally the busiest time for painting companies. By booking early, not only will you paint during the best weather conditions, you’ll also have the most flexibility in booking a time that works best for you.

So call Home Painters and schedule your FREE, in-home, no obligation consultation and renew your home with a spring makeover.

Our professional colour consultants are here to help you choose the right colours, answer any questions and get you the most value out of your renovation.

Join the thousands of satisfied customers who have voted us a Top-Rated Company on HomeStars.com. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed and all our work comes with an unmatched Two-Year Quality Guarantee: Even when the work is done, we’re still there for you.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at brian@homepainterstoronto.com.

Unfortunately, the painting industry has its fair share of con artists ready to prey on you. 

Thankfully, if you’re willing to pay close attention and sniff out these common warning signs, you can prevent yourself, and your money, from being scammed by a criminal painter. 

1. Do They Even Exist? 

Not all bad painters show up in a rusty truck and shady clothes. Many will be well dressed and professionally presented to try and steal your money. Ask for a business card and look them up. Do they have a physical address? Have they been reviewed by real customers on sites like HomeStars.com? If you can’t verify their credentials, you can bet a scam is waiting for you at the end.

2. Deal of a Lifetime

When the price they quote sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The only way a painter can give you an abnormally low price is if they cut corners, skip prep work and use cheap paints. This is why it’s important to get several quotes and details about the work they will do. This will arm you with information to compare and reference when selecting your next painter.

3. Quote on the Fly 

No two paint projects are the same. Each job needs a thorough assessment of the prep work and paint needed before a quote can be properly priced out. Beware of a painter who does a quick walk around and throws out a quote. The price will usually go up once the job has started or they’ll use low quality products and skip prep to get the job done.

4. Pressure Tactics

Like buying a car, you should never let yourself be pressured into a deal. It’s a sign of desperation and that’s not someone you want painting your home. And don’t be baited by “discounts” as they try to get you to commit. These are all signs that lead to nowhere good.

5. Pay Attention

Even when all the above warning signs check out, once the job starts you can’t let your guard down. If you agreed upon high quality paints, check to see if those paints are actually being used. Educate yourself on common prep work a paint job requires. If you have things like mold or very old paint, make sure your painter doesn’t simply paint over it. By skimming on proper prep, a painter can cut his time by as much as half and you won’t know it until the paint starts to fail.

As criminals get more sophisticated, it is harder now than ever before to protect yourself from becoming a victim. 

At Home Painters we take your investment seriously and want to put you at ease the moment we step into your home. 

First you can schedule, at your convenience, a FREE, in-home, no obligation consultation. Here we will walk you through all your options and answer any questions you have about painting your home. Our professional colour consultants can also help you choose the right colours to get the most value out of your renovation. 

Then you can verify our work on HomeStars.com where Home Painters is a Top Rated Company and a quick check with the Better Business Bureau will show that we hold and maintain an A+ Rating. 

Home Painters is also an Authorized Service Provider for the Home Depot so you can rest assured that you’ll receive the most professional service, top quality paints and a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. 

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com and schedule your FREE consultation today.

Painting the exterior of your home can be far more taxing job than painting inside.   Furthermore, Toronto weather in particular, is fairly unpredictable which can make being a DIY painter that much more challenging.

Exterior Painting is more time consuming, requires more preparation, bad weather is always an obstacle, and can be extremely dangerous due to the heights involved.   To futher compound this, your exterior paint job also has to endure all kinds of durability issues which makes preparation and proper materials used that much more important.

If you’re not prepared and educated on how to properly apply exterior paint, your hard-earned cash and time could turn into nothing more than a mess of blisters, cracks and flakes.

Here are the most common exterior paint failures and their causes.

• • Peeling: Painting over old paint, moisture and poor preparation are the main causes of peeling. Usually it because the surfaces are not properly cleaned of dirt, dust and grease that can accumulate over the years leading to this type of paint failure.
• • Blistering: Blisters happen when water vapor is trapped by paint. As it tries to escape, it bubbles the surface. This can also happen when painting in excessive heat. You need to make sure all surfaces are completely dry and that the weather is ideal for painting.
• • Chalking: When your painted surface has a powdery residue as you wipe your fingers across it, you’ve got chalking. This happens when there’s a chemical breakdown in the paint and is usually caused by poor priming and overly thinned out paint.
• • Cracking: There are many causes of cracking or flaking. Low-quality paints are one culprit because they generally don’t adhere well and are less flexible. Also spreading your paint too thinly and poor surface preparation, especially on bare wood, will lead to cracks. If you’re using latex paint, cold and windy conditions can cause the paint to dry too fast causing it to flake.
• • Rusty Nails: When you paint over old non-galvanized nails, eventually they will rust and bleed through to the surface. Old nails need to be removed where possible. Otherwise you need to countersink the nailheads, fill them in properly and spot prime each nail to prevent this from ruining your paint.
• • Mildew: Using low quality paints with inadequate amounts of mildewcide and failing to prime bare wood are the main causes for mildew. Also if you paint over areas where mildew is already present, you can be sure it’s going to come back. Certain areas of your home are more prone to moisture, so you need to identify these trouble spots, properly clean them and ensure the paint you use can withstand the elements.

While paint failure is an expensive mistake, it can always be fixed. However, personal injuries while painting are often not so forgiving.

Did you know that falls from ladders have increased by 40% over the last decade and are the leading cause of DIY injuries and death? The exterior of your home is full of high and difficult areas to reach.   So it’s your responsibility to decide if you’re properly prepared and equipped to handle the job.

Sometimes it just makes sense – and cents – to hire a professional.

With over 25 years in the painting business, Home Painters knows how to give you that professionally painted home that will last for decades.

Our many satisfied clients have voted us a Top-Rated Company on HomeStars.com and we hold an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau so you can rest assured we stand behind our word.

All our services are backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee along with an unmatched Two-year Quality Guarantee: Even when the job is done, we’re still there for you.

Call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com and schedule your very own FREE, in-home consultation.

Check out these statistics that face homeowners when they try and tackle the job themselves.

• 3 out of 5 DIYers choose the wrong paint colours when painting their home
• 4 out of 5 homeowners never end up finishing the job

When you fall victim to these statistics, it will end up costing you more time and worst of all, a whole lot more money!

People underestimate the preparation, know-how and experience required to get that professionally painted finish. It might look like simply rolling paint on a wall, but a professional brings a lot more to your home than meets the eye.

Here are the top reasons to hire a professional painter:

• A professional painter starts every job with proper preparation. That means protecting your home with drop cloths, properly cleaning and preparing walls, and ensuring that there is adequate ventilation to keep your home safe from paint fumes.
• No two paints are alike. There are enough different types of paints and primers to make an engineer’s head spin. An experienced painter knows what primers and paints to use for different surfaces, desired finishes and conditions. This will not only result in a quality paint job, but will also ensure that it lasts for years to come.
• A professional comes equipped with all the necessary tools to do the job right the first time. Most Do-It-Yourselfers are unprepared with all the proper materials. Being unprepared wastes time, money and will affect the final result.
• Most homeowners underestimate the time required for a proper paint job. That inevitably eats up your free and/or vacation time.  A professional can complete most any job in just a few days and it will look exactly the way you want.
• Safety is often ignored and overlooked. Climbing high up on ladders and dealing with the potential toxic fumes are dangers people don’t take into consideration. A professional painter knows how to deal with these situations and has the equipment to tackle difficult jobs.
• A reputable painter always guarantees their work. You can rest assured that the final product will last for years to come.

While hiring a professional painter is the best way to get the job done right, you have to make sure that the painter you hire is indeed a professional. 

That’s why with Home Painters, earning your trust is our #1 priority.

We have over 25 years of experience in the painting industry and back all our services with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

And even when the job is done, we’re still there for you. All our work also comes with an unmatched Two Year Quality Guarantee.

Of course we don’t want you to just take our word for it. Home Painters maintains an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau and our many satisfied customers have made us a Top-Rated company on HomeStars.com.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com to schedule a no obligation, FREE in-home consultation and see for yourself the difference Home Painters will bring to your home.

Simply by choosing to add fresh paint to your home whether it’s on the inside or on the outside can raise the asking price for you home. If you’re considering selling your home, any Real estate agent will tell you that the more improvements you make to your home, the better price you’ll get for it when you are ready to sell.

Choosing colors that are popular and rich will give your home a beautiful new look that you will love. You’ll feel like you’re in a brand new house once you’ve completed your paint job. You can choose to do the painting yourself or you can choose to hire a contractor to take care of all of your painting needs for you. Hiring a contractor is probably your best bet considering they will get the job done flawlessly with a nice smooth look. It is a very common practice for homeowners to attempt such a seemingly simple task in painting their house, only to have to hire a professional to fix up the job that they ruined.

A contractor can easily take care of all of those hard to reach places and also take care of all of the clean up when the job is completed. If you are looking to do your painting as affordably as possible, you may choose to do it in sections at a time. You may decide that you will paint one room at a time until you’ve had completed taking care of the entire home. This will help to keep from becoming overwhelmed by the task.

When you are considering your painting needs, you need to look at the big picture. This can be an extremely tedious, messy, long, and potentially dangerous practice. If you are attempting to paint the exterior of the home or even high places inside, you may be using a ladder. This can be an extremely dangerous practice, which is why hiring a professional should be your first option. Not to mention the fact that drips or spills of paint can leave lasting affects of a do it yourself project gone wrong. Ultimately, when you are trying to add value to your home by painting it, you will be wise to hire the best for the job.

Once you get your painting project done why stop there. There are many things that you can do to your home to make improvements. You may choose to change the flooring in your home. Add more weather efficient windows and doors or do a complete renovation that allows you to have new energy efficient appliances in your kitchen. Remodeling your kitchen and baths is a great way to make improvements on your home that will increase the value if you are planning to sell the home. So make your 2013 a productive one and ensure that your home needs are properly met.

This information was written by Ken Torrino, web relations for Elliman, brokers for New York City real estate.

In Toronto and the GTA, there are so many paint brands, and lines to use.   Whether you’re planning to do your own painting or hiring someone, it is critical to educate yourself on the difference between low and high quality paints. Doing so will save you time, money and spare you from the disappointment of an inferior paint job.

Here are the biggest differences between low and high quality paints:

• High quality paints have better pigments. The most expensive pigment in paint is titanium dioxide, a very pure white powder. A quality pigment is small and more pure so it hides what’s underneath better. Cheap paints use pigments like clay and silica which are much larger meaning you need more coats to hide old paint and imperfections.
• Premium paints have better resins (also known as binders). This is what makes it stick better, more durable and longer lasting. They are also smaller which allows it to penetrate deeper which is especially important with wood surfaces.
• Resins are the most expensive component in any paint and why cheap paints will skimp here. Resins are the binding agents in paint that creates a strong film which helps the pigments hold to surfaces.  Cheap resins are larger and don’t penetrate surfaces as well reducing its overall lifespan.
• Quality paints have fewer solvents per gallon versus cheap paint. Fewer solvents (less water) means a thicker paint when dry which can dramatically affect the look.
• Cheaper paints with low quality resins, pigments and more solvents means you’ll also need to do at least two coats. That means more time and more labour. Keep in mind that if you hire a painter that quotes you a very “low price” you can almost guarantee it comes with cheap paint.
• Some expensive paints have primers mixed in which saves you one whole step. Other can have additives that minimize mildew and thickeners for a more thick and even coat.

Remember that even brand names produce both low and high quality paints, so shopping by the logo is not a fool-proof way of avoiding cheap paints.

Going by price is also not a clear-cut strategy in singling out low quality paints. Paint companies employ teams of chemists to create their products. Even if paints had all their ingredients listed on the cans like food, it would still be a challenge to separate the good from the bad.

At Home Painters we understand the value of high quality paints. We use only trusted brands including Behr, Benjamin Moore, Dulux, Sherwin Williams, Para and more. Our 25 years of experience will help you pick the right paint for the right job.

So call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com to schedule a no obligation, FREE in-home consultation and give your home the quality finish it deserves.