Ben is a new green paint from Benjamin Moore

I like the new low VOC paint from Benjamin Moore called BEN. I know I sound like a rep and not a professional customer who uses their products. I like the way it spreads and the way it looks, top marks to the paint designers down at BM.
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Latex and allergies

Is latex paint responsible for the same allergies as latex gloves?
No, because latex paint is made with synthetic resins and not natural rubber from trees.

Here is a link for more detailed information.

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Finishing Fir

We have built our own home and have decked it out with fir everything. Doors, windows, trim, baseboards etc. Knowing that stain can end up blotchy if the grain is less than perfect, I opted for a tinted "Stays Clear" an Benjamin Moore product.
I add some tint (colourant) to the product and apply it directly onto the wood.
If you are a beginner don't do this as the finish will show every overlap and dry edge.
I have found that it gives a great, even overall colour to my wood, with none of the problems you get from stains.
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Time to paint the exterior?

It's a bit early to paint anything outside if you live above the 49th paralel. 10 degrees celsius is the minimum the paint companies have on their cans. What you need is two weeks of sunny warm weather before you paint an exterior. You will need to check any exposed wood to see if it is dry. Moisture sits deep in the wood and will lift the paint when the temperatures rise.
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Olympic pride

I've taken a break for the Olympics here in BC. That was a great experience. So much fun and pride at seeing people from all over the world enjoying our BC. It will set up  2010 as a year to remember.
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Applying a faux finish

When you are dabbing on a glaze over a base colour you can use a rag, cheescloth, or a sponge. The most popular sponge is a natural sea sponge. This is because by rotating it after each dab you can avoid the cat tracks that are the bane of a faux finisher. Also let me ease your mind about glazes; when dabbing on you can use thinned latex paint with no other additives. I start dabbing by keeping my dabs about a foot apart. This will avoid clumping the dabs and allow you to fill in gradually. Also as your sponge runs out of paint the lighter dabs will be spread out. It's the same proccess with rags or other methods of application. Make sure your paint/glaze is thin enough and you will need to mask the trim and corners to prevent the dabbing from getting on surounding surfaces.
Here is Wikipedia's Faux Finishing link.
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Faux Finishing glaze

Glaze is a transparent coating, used to create faux finishing effects.
The correct mix of glaze is the most important part of success. A sample board is a good start. This is used to try your colours and see the result before it gets to the wall. Paint the sample board with the same base colour you are using on your wall.
 I'll assume you have bought the Benjamin Moore "Aqua Glaze", although other brands are available. It comes rather thick for most ragging or marbling, and should be thinned with water. Adding colour to the glaze should be done with care.
 What kind of product do you use to colour the glaze?
You can use acrylic paint that artists use; it comes in tubes and is good for choosing colours and blending them.
The second way is to have your paint retail store add a little tint using the tinting machine. This requires a good relationship with someone who won't mess up your glaze.
Thirdly, you can purchase little tubes of colourant (not paint) at some paint retail outlets. These are the best because they will give you the most transparent look and are not going to speed the set-up time of your glaze.
There are also kits for faux finishing that have all the products in one package, although these are costly and I have not used them myself.
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