New England Painter's Blog

The Most Common Ceiling Repairs

Companies like M. Brett Painting get many requests for ceiling repairs. Some end up being relatively minor – drywall or a popcorn ceiling needing a touchup – to large-scale projects that involve replacing the material completely.

We list some of the most common ceiling repairs homeowners could encounter:

For Acoustic Ceilings

blog_plasterCeilingHomeowners often want this material, typically called a “popcorn ceiling,” gone for its dated look, easily damaged surface, and potential asbestos risk. While companies can remove it completely, this spray material can also be repaired for:

  • Leaks and water damage
  • Flaking material that leaves patches of bare drywall.
  • Repairing the popcorn ceiling for a more consistent, even look.

For Drywall Repair

Repairs of this type extend from aesthetic touchups to full-on replacement.
This may be:

  • Repairing the texture. Over time, orange peel and other ceiling textures wear away, so adding more drywall and re-texturing it gives the ceiling a uniform look.
  • Repairing small and large holes. The latter option may involve adding additional support to the ceiling and replacing part of the drywall.
  • Repairs stemming from water leaks. In this scenario, the bathroom on the floor above overflows and water then leaks through to the ceiling below. As a result, a contractor needs to clear away the damaged portion of the ceiling – water may be present in the material – and add new drywall.

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How to Maintain the Hardwood Floors in Your Home

blog_hardwoodYou selected hardwood for its rustic quality, and made sure you had a professional install, sand, and finish it. Yet, keeping up its appearance comes down to maintenance; particularly, hardwood requires daily and weekly care. Consider these tips:

Day to Day

Dirt and dust scratch and wear away the wood’s surface. As a result, your daily cleaning plan should include dusting and sweeping.

For this, make sure you have a broom and vacuum on hand for those larger particles. A dust mop made out of microfiber material helps when all you need to do is clean off a thin film.

Weekly

It’s not only dust and dirt that gradually ruin your hardwood floors. Wood loses its luster over time, and ensuring it continues to look its best involves the occasional thorough cleaning.

Experts recommend washing your floors at least weekly with a pH-neutral, biodegradable formula and a terrycloth mop. A compound that’s too acidic ends up eating away at the existing finish, degrading it over time.

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How to Deal With Water Damage

It’s a scenario no homeowner wants to encounter: You arrive home, only to find a flood in your basement, bathroom, or, worse, living room. Your first inclination is to remove your belongings and try to get the water out, but be careful in your approach.

blog-waterWater, whether dripping and accumulating gradually or flowing out of a pipe and flooding your home, causes a significant amount of damage, both to your structure and any possessions inside. Not only that, its presence attracts mold, collects behind walls and inside floors, and may attract bacteria to grow. As well, you never know what’s in the water; the flood could end up exposing you and your family to pathogens and contaminated liquids, both harmful to your health.

So, what can you do to minimize the damage and restore your home?

  1. If the water’s coming from a valve, shut it off as soon as possible. To be safe, shut off any power and natural gas lines.
  2. Disconnect any electronics – anything that could create a current.
  3. After you think the space is safe, remove any furniture, mattresses, pillows, and particle board to a dry area, and pull up the carpet. Be warned: Many of these items may need to be discarded.
  4. Try to remove as much water as you can, through towels to absorb it, pouring it down a drain, sucking it up with a wet/dry vacuum, or using a sump pump.
  5. After the room appears relatively clear and free of water, dry it out with fans or a dehumidifier. Consider opening windows for better circulation.

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When is Pressure Washing Needed?

blog-pressure-deckYou might look at your home’s siding or driveway and marvel at the amount of dirt and algae coating it. Or, you might be doing some spring maintenance and think about adding a brand new coat of paint. In these scenarios and many others, pressure washing is the force that gets rid of the dirt and debris and prepares the exterior for a fresh coat of paint.

However, not all pressure washers are equal, and the size is often related to the task. Models come equipped with an electric or gasoline motor, a water pump, and a high-pressure hose. Through this setup, you or a professional will be able to vary the water intensity and spray models.

Consider the things you can do:

Smaller Pressure Washers

Smaller models, including electric options and gas washers in the 1500 to 1900 PSI range, are best for light to moderate duty tasks – a bit of washing without having to worry about scratching or otherwise damaging the surface:

  • Cleaning patio furniture
  • Washing side walks
  • Washing and cleaning stairs, cars, trucks, decks, patios, driveways, and outdoor grills
  • Washing cars

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Wallpaper or Paint: Which is Better for Your Home’s Interior?

blog-wallpaper-paintAny homeowner wanting to change the appearance of a room has to decide between wallpaper and paint. Both have significant transformative qualities; however, each has its pros and cons.

Paint

These days, paint comes in a vast array of shades, as well as various sheens, finishes, and textures. Essentially, there’s an option out there specifically suited to your vision.

Too, on a practical level, your home needs minimal preparation – nothing more than cleaning the walls, if wallpaper isn’t added – and generally costs less to add.

Yet, costs go up as soon as your home requires a more durable, splash-proof coating – something you’ll definitely need if you have children. On the other hand, you can easily cover marks and blemishes should they occur down the line.

With any type of paint, there always runs the risk that it’ll chip and require frequent touchups. In a more serious instance, paint may start flaking just two years after the job – a sign it wasn’t initially applied correctly.

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5 Reasons to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling

Cblog-ceilingommonly known as a popcorn or cottage cheese ceiling, textured ceilings emerged in the 1930s and grew in popularity from the ‘50s to the ‘80s. Yet, many homes still contain the material, initially sprayed on or added as tiles, and homeowners start to wonder, “Should I keep it or remove it?”

Many choose the latter option for the following reasons:

1. It’s Dated

Because popcorn ceilings haven’t been trendy for nearly 30 years, they give homes an old, dated appearance. Adding paint in place for a flat, even appearance drastically modernizes your space.

2. It May Contain Asbestos

Prior to 1980, textured ceilings and patching compounds contained asbestos. While not harmful if left alone, loose asbestos materials put the fibers into the air; breathing them in increases your risk for developing mesothelioma.

To determine if your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, have an accredited laboratory test the material, and then hire professionals to remove the ceiling.

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4 Tips for Painting a Window

Window-Frame-PaintingThe weather’s just right for getting an interior paint job done, whether it’s a full room or just one window.

When you attempt to do a smaller project on your own, keep these tips in mind:

1. Prep the Area

You want the paint to adhere to the surface as best as possible. For a wooden window frame, wipe it down with a household cleaner first, and then sand with 120-grit sandpaper. This process removes older paint and smoothes out raised grain. If there are any curves or contours, go over them with a sanding block.

Does the wood have any holes or places where it meets the wall? Fill these areas in with putty and caulk, respectively.

Then, prime the bare wood. This later improves adhesion. However, before you add the paint, make sure this coating dries overnight.

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Textured Walls: Should You Use Wallpaper, and What Kind?

Rolls-Of-Wallpaper-In-Differen-80718941You’ve thought about giving your home’s interior a do-over. Economically, wallpaper gives the greatest impact. Yet, you’re dealing with some exposed brick and other textured surfaces, and you’re wondering if this is a good choice.

The fact is, many homeowners planning such a renovation project have to factor in old paneling, brick, and textured walls. So, what do you need to consider?

Modifications

Whether you or a professional like M. Brett Painting gets the job done, these surfaces can display wallpaper, as long as the following are completed prior to the installation process:

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What Makes a Good Pressure Washing Job?

blog-pressurewashPressure washing has turned into the de facto method for cleaning a home’s or commercial building’s exterior. On a very general level, the system emits a fast, concentrated stream of water, which then takes off mildew, dirt, mold, and other accumulated substances. Yet, for it to be effective, kinetic energy comes into play, and this helps loosen the particles before the stream washes them away.

While pressure washing is strong enough to remove even graffiti from a surface, a job is typically more effective through the following points:

You Have the Right Equipment

Whether you or a professional does the job, what’s used makes or breaks it. Too strong a system might result in damage. What’s a good match?

  • 1300 to 1900 PSI: This low-pressure system is best for residential jobs, including for homes, cars, grills, fences, patios, decks, and outdoor furniture.
  • 2000 to 3100 PSI: Go up a notch for larger, stronger decks, patios, siding, fences, and boats.
  • 3200 to 4200 PSI: Try this strength when you want to strip off paint or do surface preparation.

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Should You Paint Your House in Fall?

Come October, you’ve been noticing cracked, chipped, and faded paint on your home’s exterior. So, re-painting it seems like a no-brainer, right?

Not exactly. Unpredictable weather, more so than regular cold or days of heat, is actually the worst time to do an exterior paint job. Consistency means avoiding cold and damp evenings, which ultimately make it harder for the paint to dry and properly bond to the surface.

Because of this, more risks arise when you plan to paint in fall. Things might seem okay at first, but because of the conditions, some of the ingredients eventually rise to the surface, over a year or two, and the paint begins to flake off again.

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