As 2010 rolls in new regulations take affect to regulate the paint retail business.
The paint companies have started to roll out their lines of green paint, namely paint with low VOC's (volatile organic compounds).
These paints have a much shorter open time (working time) and really are still at a stage where improvement is needed. Some of the immediate things painters notice is the way these paints will clog up brushes and will dry on your roll if you don't cover it when you go for coffee.
A small spritzer is a good thing to keep around, I often spray my roller tray if I'm leaving it for more than a few minutes. Also I keep a roll of cling film to wrap my brush at lunch time and put some across my roller tray to prevent that thin skin from forming and later transfered to the wall.
The new paints are a result of legislation in California that trickles around to the rest of us some time later. I personally liked the alkyde modified exterior paints that Benjamin Moore made for decades, and will be sad to see them go.
I've got news for you folks, 100% acrylic is not all it's cracked up to be, acrylic softens in water and is not as good as their modified cousins.
Have a good 2010 painting and stay safe. Ken Wells http://www.mercuryminc.net/
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A trade secret to keep.
Knowledge of any subject takes some research and study. If you intend to do some large painting project in your home and can't find a painter you can trust or can't afford our rates, then arm yourself with knowledge about painting.
Getting the consumer to paint their own homes has been encouraged by retailers for about three decades now. There are good profits in selling paint at full retail, and the consumer doesn't have the knowledge that a professional has.
My advice is to go online and order a book or two. "Paint Magic" is a good start, it goes over all aspects of faux finishing and painting. "The art of faux" would be for the more advanced student of painting.
Of course follow my website and blog also and ask me for specific details or idea's and I'd be pleased to assist you. Our site www.mercuryminc.net
Getting the consumer to paint their own homes has been encouraged by retailers for about three decades now. There are good profits in selling paint at full retail, and the consumer doesn't have the knowledge that a professional has.
My advice is to go online and order a book or two. "Paint Magic" is a good start, it goes over all aspects of faux finishing and painting. "The art of faux" would be for the more advanced student of painting.
Of course follow my website and blog also and ask me for specific details or idea's and I'd be pleased to assist you. Our site www.mercuryminc.net
Celebrate, paint to the music.
OK, our website just got the official nod from the Symantec gods, it took a while but we finally have the little green tick when you Google search us.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Method for painting doors
Painting flush panel doors is a simple job, but here are the steps. Cover the floor with a drop cloth or news paper. I like a piece of thin cardboard especially if there is carpet on the floor.
Remove the door hardware (door handle) and keep them to one side. Sand the surface of the door with a 120 to 220 grit sand paper or a med/fine sanding sponge,(use the fine side).
Wipe the door down with a damp rag and inspect for any imperfections that you may have to fix.
Open the paint, pour it into a roller tray and use a 7 inch roller with a 6 mm sleeve. These smaller rollers are much easier to handle than the 9 inch wall rollers and are great for doors.
Using your sash brush, paint the edge of the door that belongs to the side you are painting.
If the door opens away from you, it's the hinge edge, if it opens towards you, it's the edge with the handle and latch. After you have brushed the edge, go around to the back of the door and wipe off any extra paint that may have crept around on the other face. Now dip the roller and roll the surface. With a flat door you should be able to leave the surface as a roller finish, if you decide to brush it out you will need to work VERY fast especially with the new paints. Brush vertically and be careful to keep the strokes straight and not get drips off the top edge of the door.
visit us @ www.mercuryninc.net
Remove the door hardware (door handle) and keep them to one side. Sand the surface of the door with a 120 to 220 grit sand paper or a med/fine sanding sponge,(use the fine side).
Wipe the door down with a damp rag and inspect for any imperfections that you may have to fix.
Open the paint, pour it into a roller tray and use a 7 inch roller with a 6 mm sleeve. These smaller rollers are much easier to handle than the 9 inch wall rollers and are great for doors.
Using your sash brush, paint the edge of the door that belongs to the side you are painting.
If the door opens away from you, it's the hinge edge, if it opens towards you, it's the edge with the handle and latch. After you have brushed the edge, go around to the back of the door and wipe off any extra paint that may have crept around on the other face. Now dip the roller and roll the surface. With a flat door you should be able to leave the surface as a roller finish, if you decide to brush it out you will need to work VERY fast especially with the new paints. Brush vertically and be careful to keep the strokes straight and not get drips off the top edge of the door.
visit us @ www.mercuryninc.net
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Visualization is a skill
To see a project completed in your (minds eye) or imagination seems to be something some people can do easily and some struggle with. I've even seen famous designers who have to draw what they need to do. Drawing though is a great way to convey what the conceived idea is going to look like. Imagination is where it starts, but communicating it is the first and vital step if other people are going to understand the concept. Without communication you are on your own.
Some designers borrow from magazines or other media, others work at being original.
The main thing for me is for understand what the customers tastes are and how far they can stretch to accept new idea's. The greatest concept will die if presented to the wrong client.
Also presentation is important. I've had projects die because somebody tried a presentation over the phone. Never assume the client sees what you see. Have good visual references and clear imagery for them to look at.
Visit us @ www.mercuryminc.net
Some designers borrow from magazines or other media, others work at being original.
The main thing for me is for understand what the customers tastes are and how far they can stretch to accept new idea's. The greatest concept will die if presented to the wrong client.
Also presentation is important. I've had projects die because somebody tried a presentation over the phone. Never assume the client sees what you see. Have good visual references and clear imagery for them to look at.
Visit us @ www.mercuryminc.net
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Trade Secrets are not secrets.
You have figured out by now that trade secrets are a list of practical suggestions that have been proven over time. It's all basic stuff, but many people miss the basics, thinking the secrets are more complicated.
Here's a note about dark colours. Oddly enough some dark colours cover other colours quite well. While some are like transparent glaze. This is because the paint that is in the can before the colour (tint) is put in by the machine IS transparent. So what do you do?.
Some companies recommend a coloured base coat, use it. The old paints used to require a dark grey under their colours, this also will help, but what ever you do, try a little as a sample before committing to the whole wall. It will save you a lot of grief.
Visit us @ www.mercuryminc.net
Here's a note about dark colours. Oddly enough some dark colours cover other colours quite well. While some are like transparent glaze. This is because the paint that is in the can before the colour (tint) is put in by the machine IS transparent. So what do you do?.
Some companies recommend a coloured base coat, use it. The old paints used to require a dark grey under their colours, this also will help, but what ever you do, try a little as a sample before committing to the whole wall. It will save you a lot of grief.
Visit us @ www.mercuryminc.net
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Basic steps
Just like the Karate Kid who wanted to be a master in the sport, painting is really about the basics. If I had a dollar for how many people who told me "I can paint", I'd be living in a castle.
Yesterday I went to see a small painting job that included 6 doors and frames that were painted with the highest gloss paint I have seen. Before I paint them I will need to sand them to a flat appearance, otherwise you could pull the new paint off with your thumbnail after a month.
To avoid dust I will use automotive emery paper, this is used with water, (usually a wet rag) and works really fast and efficiently. The grit should be 150 or 180, even 220 would be OK. Wipe the surface after you've finished sanding and voila. A good quality semi gloss or eggshell latex will be used to repaint these doors and frames.
Visit us @ www.mercuryminc.net
Yesterday I went to see a small painting job that included 6 doors and frames that were painted with the highest gloss paint I have seen. Before I paint them I will need to sand them to a flat appearance, otherwise you could pull the new paint off with your thumbnail after a month.
To avoid dust I will use automotive emery paper, this is used with water, (usually a wet rag) and works really fast and efficiently. The grit should be 150 or 180, even 220 would be OK. Wipe the surface after you've finished sanding and voila. A good quality semi gloss or eggshell latex will be used to repaint these doors and frames.
Visit us @ www.mercuryminc.net
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